 The story of Prince Hamid and Ferry Paribannou at Blue Ferry Book. This is a LibriBox recording. All LibriBox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriBox.org. Recording by Enes Fusimão de Portugal. The Blue Ferry Book by Andrew Lang. The story of Prince Hamid and Ferry Paribannou. There was a Sultan who had three sons and a niece. The eldest of the princes were called Fusim, the second Ali, the youngest Hamid, and the princess, his niece, Nurunyar. The princess Nurunyar was the daughter of the younger brother of the Sultan, who died and left the princess very young. The Sultan took upon himself the care of his daughter's education and brought her up in his palace with the three princes, proposing to marry her when she arrived at the proper age and to contract an alliance with some neighboring prince by that means. But when he perceived that the three princes, his sons, loved her passionately, he thought more seriously on that affair. He was very much concerned. The difficulty he foresaw was to make them agree and that the two young girls should consent to yell her up to their elder brother. As they found them positively obstinate, he sent for all them together and said to them, Children, since for your good and quiet I have not been able to persuade you no longer to aspire to the princess, your cousin, I think it would not be a miss if everyone traveled separately into different countries so that you might not meet each other. And, as you know I'm very curious and delight in everything that's singular, I promise my niece in marriage to him that shall bring me the most extraordinary rarity and for the purchase of the rarity you shall go in search after and the expense of traveling I will give you everyone a sum of money. As the three princes were always submissive and obedient to the sultan's will and each flatter himself fortune might prove favorable to him, they all consented to it. The sultan paid them the money he promised them and that very day they give orders for the preparations for their travels and took their leave up to the sultan that they might be more ready to go the next morning. Accordingly, they all set out at the same gate of the city each dressed like a merchant attended by an officer of confidence dressed like a slave and all well mounted on the equips. They went first day's journey together and lay all at the inn where the road was divided into three driven tracks. At night, when they were at supper together they all agreed to travel for a year and to meet at that inn and that first that came should wait for the rest. That, as they had all three taken their leave together of the sultan they might all return together. The next morning by break of day after they had embraced and wished each other good success they mounted their horses and took each a different road. Prince Hussein, the eldest brother arrived at Bisnegar, the capital of the kingdom of that name and residence of its king. He went and lodged the kind appointed for foreign merchants and, having learned that there were four principal divisions where merchants of all sort sold their commodities and kept shops and in the midst of which stood Castle or rather the king's palace he went to one of these divisions the next day. Prince Hussein could not view this division without admiration. It was large and divided into several streets all vaulted and shaded from the sun and yet very light too. Shops were all of a size and all that dealt in the same sort of goods lived in one street as also the handicrafts men who kept their shops in smaller streets. The multitude of shops stocked with all sorts of merchandise as finest linens from several parts of India some painted in the most lively colors and representing beasts, trees and flowers. Silks and brook rates from Parisia, China and other places porcelain booths from Japan and China and tapestries surprised him so much that he knew not how to believe his own eyes. But when he came to the gold smith and jewelers he was in a kind of ecstasy to behold such prodigious quantities of rough golden silver and was dazzled by the lustre of pearls, diamonds, rubies emeralds and other jewels exposed to sale. Another thing Prince Hussein particularly admired was the great number of rose sellers who crowded the streets. For the Indians are so great lovers of that flower that no one will stir it out a nose-gay in his hand or a garland on his head and the merchants kept him in posts in their shops that the air is perfectly perfumed. After Prince Hussein had drawn to that division street by street he thought fully employed and rich as he had seen. He was very much tired which a merchant perceiving civilly invited him to sit down in his shop when he accepted. But had not been sat long down long before he saw a crier pass by which a piece of tapestry on his arm about six feet square and a cry that thirty purses. The Prince called to the crier and asked to see the tapestry which seemed to him to be valid at an exorbitant price not only for the size of it but meanness of the stuff. When he had examined it well he told the crier that he could not comprehend how so small a piece of tapestry and of so indifferent a purist could be set at a higher price. The crier, who took him for a merchant, replied If this piece seems so extravagant to you your amazement will be greater and I shall have orders to raise it to forty persons and not to part with it under. Searchingly, answered Prince Hussain it must have something very extraordinary in it which I know nothing of. You have guessed it, sir. Reply the crier and I'll own it when you come to know that whoever sits on this piece of tapestry may be transported in an instant wherever he desires to be without being stopped by any obstacle. At this discourse of the crier the Prince of the Indies considering that the principal motive of his travel was to carry the Sultan, his father whom some singular rarity thought that he could not meet with any which could give him more satisfaction. If the tapestry set here to the crier as virtue you assigned it I shall not think forty persons too much but shall make you present besides. Sir, reply the crier I have told you the truth and it is an easy matter to convince you of it as soon as you have made bargain for forty persons on condition I show you the experiment but as I suppose you have not so much about you and to receive them I must go with you to your con where you lodge with leave of master of the shop we will go into the back shop and I will spread the tapestry and when we have both set down and you have formed the wish to be transported into your apartment of the can if we are not transported cheater it shall be no bargain and you shall be at your liberty as to your present though I am paid for my trouble by the seller I shall receive it as a favor and be very much obliged to you and thankful. On the credit of the crier the prince accepted the conditions and concluded bargain and having got master's leave they went into his back shop they both set down on it and to form this wish to be transported into his apartment as the can he presently found himself and the crier there and as he wanted not the more sufficient proof of the virtue of the tapestry he countered the crier out for the pieces of gold and gave him twenty pieces for himself in this manner prince Usain became the possessor of the tapestry and was overjoyed that at his arrival at Pistnegar he had found so rare a piece to dispute it would gain him the end of Naroniar in short he looked upon it as an impossible thing for the princess his younger brothers to meet with anything to be compared with it it was in his power by sitting on his tapestry to be at place of meeting that very day but as he was obliged to stay there for his brothers as they had agreed and he was curious to see the king of Pistnegar on this court and to inform himself of his strengths, loss, customs and religion of the kingdom he chose to make a longer boat there and to spend some month in satisfying his curiosity Prince Usain might have made a longer boat in the kingdom and court of Pistnegar but he was so eager to be nearer to the princess that, spreading the tapestry he and the officer he had brought with him sat down and as soon as he had formed his witch were transported to the inn at which and where he passed for immersion till they came Prince Ali Prince Usain's second brother who designed to travel to Prussia took to road having three days after he parted with his brothers joined the caravan and after four days travel arrived at Chiras which was the capital of the kingdom of Prussia here he passed for a jeweler the next morning Prince Ali would travel only for his pleasure and had brought nothing but just necessaries along with him after he had dressed himself to go walking to that part of the town which they at Chiras called the Bezestain among all the criers who passed backward and forward with several sorts of goods offering to sell them he was not a little surprised to see one who held an ivory telescope in his hand of about the foot in length and thickness of a man's thumb and credited thirty purses at first he thought a crier mad and to inform himself went to a shop and settled immersion who stood the door Prussia is not that man pointed to the crier who cried the ivory perspective class thirty purses mad, if he is not I am very much deceived indeed sir answered the merchant he was in his right senses yesterday I can assure you he is one of the ablest criers we have and the most employed of anyone anything valuable is to be sold and if he cries the ivory perspective class of thirty purses it must be worth as much or more on some account or other he will come by presently and will call him and you shall be satisfied in the meantime sit on our sofa and rest yourself Prince Ali accepted the merchant's suppliging offer and presently afterward the crier passed by the merchant called him by his name and pointing to the prince said to him tell that gentleman who asked me if you were in your right senses what you mean by crying that ivory perspective class which seems not to be worth much at thirty purses I should be very much amazed myself if I did not know you the crier addressing himself the prince Ali said sir, you are not the only person that takes me for a madman on account of this perspective class you shall judge yourself whether I am or know when I have told you its property and I hope you will value it at as high price as those I have showed it to already who have as bad an opinion of me as you first sir pursue the crier presenting the ivory pipe to the prince observe that this pipe is furnished with a glass at both ends and consider that by looking through one of them you see whatever object you wish to behold I am said the prince ready to make you all imaginable reparations for the scandal I have thrown on you if you'll make the truth of what you advance appear and as he had ivory pipe in his hand after he had looked at the two glasses he said which at this end I must look that I may be satisfied the crier presently showed him and he looked through wishing at the same time to see the sultan his father whom he immediately beheld in perfect health set on his throne in the midst of his council afterward as there was nothing in the world so dear to him after the sultan as the prince is no runy heart he wished to see her laughing and in a pleasant humour with the women about her Prince Ali wanted no other proof to be persuaded that this perspective glass was most valuable thing in the world and believed that if he should neglect to purchase it he should never meet again with such another rarity he therefore took the cry with him to the can where he lodged and counted him out to money and received the perspective glass Prince Ali was overjoyed at his bargain and persuaded himself that as his brothers would not be able to meet with anything so rare and admirable the prince's no runy hair would be the recompense of his fatigue and trouble there he thought of nothing but visiting the court of pursing cognito and seeing whatever was curious in Shiraz and thereabouts till the caravan with which he came returned back to the Indies as soon as the caravan was ready to set out the prince joined them and arrived happily without any accident or trouble otherwise than the length of the journey and fatigue of travelling at the place of Rendezvous where he found Prince Usain and was waited for Prince Hamid Prince Hamid who took the road of summer-cant the next day after his arrival there went as his brothers had done into the Bethesdaime where he had not walked long but heard a crier and said to him let me see that apple and tell me what virtue and extraordinary properties it has to be valued at so high rate sir said the crier giving it into its hand if you look at the outside of this apple it is very worthless but if you consider its properties virtues and great use and benefittedest mankind you will see it no price for it and that he who possesses it is master of a great treasure in short it cures all sick persons of the most mortal diseases and if the patient is dying it will recover it immediately and restore him to perfect health and this is done after the easiest man in the world which is by the patient smelling the apple if I may believe you replied Prince Hamid the virtues of this apple are wonderful and it is invaluable but what crown have I for all you tell me to be persuaded of the truth of this manner sir replied the crier the thing is known and avert by the whole city of summer camp but without going any further as all these merchants you see here and hear what they say you will find several of them and I tell you they have not been alive this day if they have not made use of this excellent remedy and that you may better comprehend what it is I must tell you it is a fruit of study and experiment of the celebrated philosopher of this city who applied himself all his lifetime to the study of knowledge of the virtues of plants and minerals and at last a chain to this composition by which he performed such surprising cures in this sound that he forgot but died suddenly himself before he could apply his sovereign remedy and left his wife and the great many young children behind him in very different circumstances who to support her family and provide for her children is resolved to sell it while the crown informed Prince Hamid as virtues of the artificial apple a great many persons came about him and confirmed what he said and one among the reds said he had a friend dangerously ill whose life was spared of and that was a favorable opportunity to show Prince Hamid the experiment upon which Prince Hamid told the prior he would give him forty purses if he cured the sick person the crier who had ordered to sell it at that price said to Prince Hamid come sir let us go and make the experiment and the apple shall be yours and I can assure you that all is have the desired effect in short the experiment succeeded and the Prince after he had counted out to the cry of forty persons and he had delivered the apple to him waited patiently for the first caravan that to return to the Indies and arrived in perfect health and in where the Prince Usain and Ali waited for him when the princes met they showed each other their treasures and immediately saw through the glass that the princess was dying they then sat down on the carpet wished themselves with her and were there in a moment Prince Hamid no sooner perceived himself in nor only ours chamber than he rose off the tapestry as did also the other two princes and went to the bedside and put the apple under her nose some moments after the princess opened her eyes and turned her head from one side to another looking at persons who stood about her and then rose up in the bed and asked to be dressed just as if she had waken out of a sound sleep the women having presently informed her in a manner that showed their joy that she was obliged to sleep princes for the sudden recovery of her health and particularly Prince Hamid she immediately expressed her joy to see them and thanked them all together and afterward Prince Hamid in particular while the princess was dressing the princess went to throw themselves at Sultan their father's feet and pay their respects to him but when they came before him they found he had been informed of their arrival by the chief of the princess eunuchs and by what means the princess had been perfectly cured but Sultan received and embraced them with greatest joy both for their return and recovered the princess' knees whom he loved as well as if she had been his own daughter and who had been given over by the positions after the usual ceremonies and compliments the princess presented each his rarity Prince Hussein is tapestry which had taken care not to leave behind him in the princess chamber Prince Ali is ivory perspective glass and Prince Hamid is artificial apple and after each had commanded their present when they put it into the sultans hands they begged of him to pronounce their fate and declared to which of them he would give the princess Neroonyar for a wife according to his promise Sultan of Indies having heard without interrupting them all that princess could represent further about their rarities and being well informed of what had happened in relation to the princess Neroonyar's cure remain sometimes silent as if you were thinking on what answer he should make at last he broke the silence and said to them I would declare for one of you children with a great deal of pleasure if I could do it with justice that consider whether I can do it or not this true Prince Hamid the princess my niece is obliged to your artificial apple for a cure but I must ask you whether or no you could have been so serviceable to her if you had not known by Prince Ali's perspective class the danger she was in and if Prince Hussain's tapestry had not brought you so soon your perspective class Prince Ali informed you and your brothers that you are like to lose the princess to your cousin and Terry must own the great obligation you must also grant that knowledge would have been of no service without your artificial apple and the tapestry and lastly Prince Hussain the princess would be very ungrateful it should not show acknowledgement of the service of your tapestry which was so necessary means stored or cured but consider to have been a little used if you had not been acquainted with the princess illness by Prince Ali's class and Prince Hamid had not applied this artificial apple therefore as neither tapestry every perspective class nor artificial apple is preference one before the other but on the contrary there is a perfect equality I cannot grant the princess to Ali one of you and the only through it we have reaped from your travels is the glory of having equally contributed to restore our health if all this be true added the Sultan you see that I must have recourse to other means to determine certainly in the choice I ought to make along you and that, as there is time enough between days and night I'll do it today go and get each of you a bow and arrow and repair to the great plane where they exercise horses I'll succumb to you and declare I'll give the princess Nurunihar to him that shoots the four leaders the three princes had nothing to say against the decision of the Sultan when they were out of his presence they each provided themselves with a bow and arrow which they delivered to one of their officers and went to the plane appointed followed by a great concourse of people Sultan did not make them wait long for him and as soon as he arrived Prince Hussein as eldest took his bow and arrow and shot first Prince Ali shot next and much behind him and Prince Ahmed last of all but it so happened that nobody could see where his arrow fell and, notwithstanding all the diligence that was used by himself and everybody else it was not to be found far or near and though it was believed that he shot furthest and that he therefore deserved the princess Nurunihar it was, however, necessary that his arrow should be found to make the matter more evident and certain and, notwithstanding his remonstrance the Sultan judged him in favor of Prince Ali that he hoped for preparations to be made for the wedding which was celebrated a few days after with great magnificence Prince Hussein would not honor the feast with his presence in short is grieved for so valid and insupportable that he left the court and renounced all the rights of the section to the crown to turn hermit Prince Ahmed too did not come to Prince Ali and the princess Nurunihar's wedding any more than his brother Hussein but did not renounce the world as he had done but as you could not imagine what had become of his herald he stole away from his attendance and resolved to search after it that he might not have anything to reproach himself with with his intent he went to the place where the princess Hussein's and Ali's were gathered up and going straight forward from there looking carefully on both sides of him he went so far that at last he began to think his labor was all in vain but yet he could not help going forward till he came to some steep craggy rocks which were bound to his journey and were situated in a barren country about four weeks distance from where he set out when Prince Ahmed came pretty night to these rocks he perceived an arrow which he gathered up looked earnestly at it and was in the greatest astonishment and it was the same he shot away suddenly said he to himself neither I nor any man living could shoot an arrow so far and in finding it lay flat not sticking into the ground it shows that it rebounded against the rock there must be some mystery in this said he to himself again and it may be advantageous to me perhaps fortunate to make me a man for the private giving me of what I thought the greatest happiness may have reserved the greater blessing for my comfort as these rocks were full of caves and some of those caves were deep the prince entered into one and, looking about cast his eyes on an iron door which seemed to have no lock but he feared it was fastened however, thrusting against it it opened and discovered an easy descent but no steps which he walked down with his arrow in his hand at first he thought he was going to a dark obscure place but presently a quite different slide succeeded at which he came out of and entering to a large spacious place at about 50 or 60 paces distant he perceived a magnificent palace which he had not then time enough to look at at same time a lady of majestic port and air advanced as far as the porch abandoned by a large troop of ladies so finally dressed and beautiful that it was difficult to distinguish which was the mistress as soon as Prince Hamad perceived the lady he made all imaginable haste to go and pay his respects and the lady on her part seeing him coming prevented him from addressing his discourse to her first that said to him come nearer Prince Hamad you are welcome it was no small surprise to the Prince to hear himself named in a place he had never heard of though so night to his father's capital that he could not comprehend how he should be known to a lady who was stranger to him at last he returned like this compliment by throwing himself at her feet and rising up again said to her Madam I return you a thousand thanks for the assurance you give me of a welcome to a place where I believed my important curiosity traced too far but madam may I without being guilty of ill manners dare to ask you by what adventure you know me and how you who live in same neighborhood with me should be so great a stranger to me Prince said lady let us go into the hall there I'll gratify you in your request after this words the lady led Prince Hamad into the hall then she sat down on a sofa and when the Prince by her entry had done the same she said you are surprised you say that I should know you and not be known by you but you'll be no longer surprised when I inform you who I am you are undoubtedly sensible that your religion teaches you to believe that the world is inhabited by genies as well as men I am the daughter of one of the most powerful and distinguished genies Paribhanu the only thing that I have to add is that you seem to be worthy of a more happy faith than that of possessing the Princess Nerunihar and as you might attend to it I was present when you drew your hair roll and first of all it would not go beyond Princess Sains I took it in the air and gave it necessary motion to strike against the rock near which you found it and I tell you that it lies in your power and use of the favorable opportunity which present itself to make you happy as the Fairy Paribhanu pronounced his last words with a different tone and looked at the same time tenderly up on Prince Hamed with a modest plush under cheeks it was no hard matter for the Prince to comprehend what happiness she meant he presently considered that the Princess Nerunihar could never be ease and that Fairy Paribhanu excelled her infinitely in beauty agreeableness with and as much as he could conjecture by the magnificence of the palace any man's riches he blessed the moment that he thought of seeking after his arrow second time and yelled into his love Madam replied he should I all my life have the happiness of being your slave and the admirer of the many charms which ravish my soul I should think myself the most of man pardoning me the boldness which aspires me to ask this favor and don't refuse to admit me into your court a Prince who is entirely devoted to you Prince answered the Fairy will you not pleasure your faith to me as well I give your mind to you Yes Madam replied the Prince in an ecstasy of joy what can I do better and a greater pleasure my Sultaness, my Queen I'll give you my heart without least reserve then answered the Fairy you are my husband and I am your wife but as I suppose pursued she that you have eaten nothing today a slightly best shall be served up for you while preparations are making for our wedding feasts at night and then I will show you the apartments of my palace and you shall just if this all does not mean this part of it some of the Fairy's women who came into the hall with them and guessed her intentions went immediately out and returned presently with some excellent meats and wines when Prince Hamed ate and drank as much as he cared for the Fairy per revenue carries him through all the apartments where he saw diamonds, rubies, emeralds and all sorts of fine jewels intermixed with pearls agate, jasper, porphyry and all sorts of most precious marbles but not mentioned the richest of furniture which was inestable there was such a profuseness throughout that Prince instead of ever having seen anything like it on that he could not have imagined that there was anything in the world that could come up to it Prince said the Fairy if you admire my palace so much which indeed is very beautiful why could you say to the palaces of the chief of our genies which are much more beautiful spacious and magnificent I could also charming with my gardens but will let that alone till another time night draws near and it will be time to go to supper the next hall which Fairy led the Prince into and where the clothes was laid for the feast was less apartment the Prince had not seen and not in the least inferior to the others at this interest into it he admired the infinite numbers of scones of wax candle perfumed with amber the multitude of which instead of being confused were placed with so just a symmetry as formed on a grible and pleasant side a large side table was set out with all sorts of gold plate so finally rough that workmanship was much more valuable than the weight of the gold several choruses of beautiful women richly dressed and whose voices were ravishing began a concert accompanied with all sorts of most harmonious instruments and when they were set down at the table the Fairy prevenu took care to help Prince Ahmed to the most delicate meets which she named as she invited him to eat of them Prince found to be so exquisitely nice that he commanded them with exaggeration and said that the entertainment far surpassed those of men he found also the same excellence in the wines which neither he nor the Fairy tasted of till the dessert was served up which consisted of choruses sweet meats and fruits the wedding feasts was continued next day or rather the days following the celebration for a continual feast at the end of six months Prince Ahmed who always loved and honored Sultan his father conceived the great desire to know how he was and that desire could not be satisfied without this going to see he told the Fairy of it and desired she should give him leave Prince said she go anew please but first I want to advise how you shall behave yourself where you are going first I don't think it proper for you to tell the salt near father of your marriage nor of my quality nor the place where you have been beg of him to be satisfied in knowing you are happy and desire no more and let him know that soul end of your visit is to make him easy aniformity of your fate she appointed twenty gentlemen than the equipped to attend him when all was ready Prince Ahmed took his leave of the Fairy embrace her and renew this promise to return soon then his horse which is most finally capris in it and was as beautiful a creature as any Sultan of Indy's tables was led to him and he mounted him with an extraordinary grace and after he had with her last adieu set foot on his journey as it was not a great way to his father's capital Prince Ahmed soon arrived there the people, glad to see him again received him with the acclamation of joy and followed him in crowds to the Sultan's apartment the Sultan received and embraced him with great joy complaining at the same time with the fatherly tenderness a reflection his long absence had been to him which he said was the more grievous for that fortune having decided in favor of Prince Ali's brother he was afraid he might have committed some rash action Prince told the story of his adventures without speaking of the Fairy whom he said that he must not mention and ended the only favor I ask of your majesty is to give me leave to come often and pay you my respects and to know how you do son answered Sultan of Indy's I cannot refuse you to leave you ask me but I should much rather you would resolve to stay with me at least tell me where I may send to you if you should fail to come or when I may think a presence necessary sir, plight Prince Ahmed what your majesty asks of me is part of mystery I spoke to your majesty of I beg of you to give me leave to remain silent on this head for I shall come so frequently that I am afraid that I shall be thought troublesome than be accused of negligence in my duty the Sultan of Indy's Prince Ahmed no more but said to him son, I penetrate no further into your secrets but leave you at your liberty but cannot tell you that you could not do me a greater pleasure than to come and by a presence restored to me the toy I have not felt this long time and that you shall always be welcome when you come without interrupting your business or pleasure Prince Ahmed stayed but three days at Sultan's father's court and forced return to the Fairy Paribunu who did not expect him so soon a month after Prince Ahmed returned from paying a visit to his father as the Fairy Paribunu had absurded the prince since the time that he gave her an account of his journey is discussed with his father and leave he asked to go and see him often had never talked to the Sultan as if there had been no such person in the world various before he was always speaking of him she thought he forbade on her account therefore she took an opportunity to say to him one day Prince tell me have you forgot Sultan your father don't you remember the promise you made to go and see him often for my part I have not forgot what you told me to return and so put you in mind of it that you may not be long before but quit yourself of your promise so Prince Ahmed went next morning with same attendance as before but much finer and himself more magnificently mounted equipped and dressed and was received by the Sultan with the same joy and satisfaction for several months he constantly paid his visit always in a richer and finer ekipage at last some viziers the Sultan's favorite who judged of Prince Ahmed's fear and power but figary cut made Sultan jealous of his son saying it was to be feared he might unveil himself into the people's favor and dethrone him the Sultan of the Indies was so far from thinking that Prince Ahmed could be capable of so pernicious a design as his favorites would make him believe that he said to them you are mistaken my son loves me and I am sure of his tenderness and fidelity as I have given him no reason to be disgusted but favorites went on abusing Prince Ahmed till the Sultan said be it as it will I don't believe my son Ahmed is so wicked as you would persuade me he is however I am obliged to you for your good advice and don't dispute but that it proceeds from your good intentions the Sultan of the Indies said is that his favorites might not know the impressions their discurs have made on his mind which had so alarmed him that he resolved to have Prince Ahmed watch unknown to his grand vizier so he sent for a female magician who was introduced by a back door into his apartment going immediately he said unfollow my son and watch him so well as to find out where he retires and bring me word the magician left Sultan and knowing the place where Prince Ahmed found his arrow went immediately to see her and hid herself near the rocks so that nobody could see her the next morning Prince Ahmed set out by daybreak without taking leave either of the Sultan or any of his court according to custom the magician seeing him coming followed him with her eyes till on a sudden she lost sight of him and his attendants as the rocks were very steep and craggy they were an insurmountable barrier so that magician judged that there were but two things for it either that the Prince retard into some cavern or on the both of genius of Faris there happened she came out of the place where she was hid and went directly to the hollow way which she traced till she came to the further end looking carefully about on all sides but notwithstanding all her diligence could perceive no opening not so much as the iron gate Prince Ahmed discovered which was to be seen and opened to none but men and only such whose presence was agreeable to the fairy Paribanu the magician who saw it was in vain for her to search any further was obliged to be satisfied with the discovery she had made and returned to give the Sultan an account the Sultan was very well pleased with the magician's conduct and said to her do you as you think fit I'll wait patiently the event of your promises and to encourage her with her presence of a diamond of great value as Prince Ahmed had obtained the fairy Paribanu's leave to go to the Sultan of the Indies court once a month he never failed and the magician knowing the time went a day or two before to the foot of the rock where she lost sight of the Prince and his attendants and waited there the next morning Prince Ahmed went out as usual at iron gate with same attendants as before and passed by a magician whom he knew not to be such and seeing her lie with her head against the rock and complaining as if she were in great pain he pitted her, turned his horse about, went to her and asked her what was the matter with her and what he could do to ease her the artful sorcerers looked at Prince in a pitiful manner without ever lifting up her head and answered in broken words and sights as if she could hardly fetch her breath that she was going to the capital city but on the way theater she was taken with so violent a fever that her strength failed her and she was forced to lie down where he saw her far from any habitation and without any hopes of assistance Good woman replied Prince Ahmed you are not so far from help as you imagine I'm ready to assist you and convey you where you will meet with the speedy cure only get up I'll let one of my people take you behind him at this worst magician or pretending thickness only to know where the Prince lived and what he did refused not charitable offer he made her and that her actions might correspond to their words she made many pretended vain endeavors to get up at same time two of the Prince's attendants alighting off their horses helped her up and set her behind another princess again and followed Prince who turned back to the iron gate which was opened by one of its pretty new who wrote before and when he came into the outward court of the ferry without dismounting himself he sent to tell her he wanted to speak with her the ferry paribano came with all imaginable haste not knowing what made Prince Ahmed return so soon who not giving her time to ask him the reason said Princess the ferry would have compassion on this good woman pointing to the magician who was held up by two of his retinue I found her in the condition you see her in and promised her the assistance she stands in need of and I am persuaded that you out of your own goodness as well as up on my entity will not abandon her the ferry paribano whether eyes fixed upon the pretending sick woman all the time that the Prince was talking to her ordered two of her women who followed her to take her from the two men that held her and carry her into an apartment of the palace and take as much care of her as she would herself while the two women executed the ferry's commands she went up to Prince Ahmed and whispering in his ear said Prince this woman is not so sick as she pretends to be and I am very much mistaken if she is not an impostor who will be the cause of your trouble to you but don't be concerned let what will be advised against you be persuaded that I will deliver you out of all the snares that shall be laid for you go and pursue your journey this discursive ferries did not in the least frighten Prince Ahmed my princess said he as I have not remember I ever did or designed anybody an injury I cannot believe anybody can have me one and if they have I shall not nevertheless forbid doing good whenever I have an opportunity then he went back to his father's palace in the meantime the two women carried the magician into a very fine apartment ritly furnished first they sat her down upon a sofa with her back supported with a cushion of gold brocade while they made the bed on the same sofa before her the quilt of which was finally embroidered with silk sheets of finest linen and a cover led to cloth of gold when he had put her into bed for the old sorceress pretended that her fever was so violent she could not help herself in the least one of the women went out and returned soon again with a china dish in her hand full of a certain liquor which she presented to the magician while the other helped her to sit up drink this liquor said she it is water of the fountain of lions and the sovereign remedy against all fevers whatsoever you'll find the effect of it in less than an hour's time the magician dissembled better took it after a great deal of entity but at last she took the china dish and holding back her head swallowed down the liquor when she was laid down again the two women covered her up like quiet said she who brought her the china cup and get a little sleep if you can we'll leave you and hope to find you profiled cure when you come again in our ends the two women came again at the time they said they should and found the magician up and dressed and sitting upon the sofa who was marrable potion she said it was rough it's cure much sooner than you told me it would and I shall be able to prosecute my journey the two women who were fairies as well as their mistress after they had told magician how glad they were that she was cured so soon walked before her and conducted her through several apartments all more noble than that or in Chile into a large hall the most richly and magnificently furnished of all the palace Ferry Paribunu set in this hall on a throne of massive gold enriched with diamonds, rubies and pearls of an extraordinary size and attended on each hand by a great number of beautiful fairies all richly clothed at the side of so much majesty magician was not only dazzled but also amazed that after she had prostrated herself before the throne she could not open her lips to thank Ferry as she proposed however Paribunu savoured the trouble and said to her good woman I am glad I have an opportunity to oblige you and to see you are able to pursue your journey I want to tame you but perhaps you may not be displeased to see my palace follow my women and I will show it to you then the magician went back and related to the Sultan of the Indies all that had happened and how very rich Prince Ahmed was since his marriage with Ferry richer than all the kings in the world and how there was danger that he should come and take the throne from his father though the Sultan of the Indies was very well persuaded that Prince Ahmed's natural disposition was good yet he could not help being concerned at the discursive old sorcerers to whom, when she was thanking her leave, he said I thank thee for the pains thou has taken and I hold some advice I am so sensible of the great importance it is to me that I shall liberate opponent in council now the favourites advice that the prince should be killed but magician advice differently make him give you all kinds of wonderful things by the Ferry's help till she tires of him and sends him away as, for example, every time your majesty goes into the field you are obliged to be at a great expense not only in pavilions and tents for your army but likewise in mills and camels to carry their baggage now, might not you engage him to use this interest with Ferry to procure you a tent in the man's hand and which should be so large as to shelter your whole army against bad weather when the magician had finished her speech the sultan asked his favourites if they had anything better to propose and, finding them all silent determined to follow the magician's advice as the most reasonable and most agreeable to his mild government next day the sultan did as the magician had advised him and asked for the pavilion Prince Hamed never expected that sultan, his father would have asked such a thing which should first appear so difficult not so impossible though he knew not absolutely how great power of genies and fairies was he doubted where it extended so far as to compass such a tent as his father desired at last he replied though it is with the greatest reluctance imaginable I will not feel to ask favour of my wife your majesty desires but will not promise you to obtain it and if I should not have the honour to come again to pyramid the specks that shall be decided I have not had success but beforehand I desire you to forgive me and consider that you yourself have reduced me to this extremity son replied the sultan of the indies I should be very sorry if what I ask of you should cause me the displeasure of never seeing you more I find you don't know the power a husband has of her wife and yours would show that her love to you was very indifferent if she with the power she has of a fairy should refuse so traveling a request as this I desire you to ask of her for my sake the prince went back and was very sad for fear of a fan in the fairy she kept pressing him to tell her what was the matter and at last he said mother you may have observed that I have been content with your love and have never asked you any other favour consider then I conjure you that it is not I but the sultan my father who indiscreetly, or at least I think so begs of you a pavilion large enough to shoulder him his court and the army from the violence of the weather and which a man may carry in his hand but remember it is the sultan my father asked this favour prince replied the fairy smiling I am sorry that so small a marriage to disturb you and make you so uneasy as you appear to me then the fairy sent for a treasurer to whom, when she came she said norgyen, which was her name bring me the largest pavilion in my treasury norgyen returned presently with pavilion which you could not only hold in her hand but in the palm of her hand when she put her fingers and presented it to her mistress who gave it to prince hameth to look at when prince hameth saw the pavilion which the fairy called largest in the treasury he fanced she had the mind to jest with him and there happened the marks of his surprise appeared presently in this continence which for even you perceiving burst out laughing what prince cried she, do you think I jest with you you'll see presently that I am in earnest norgyen said she to her treasurer taking the tent out of prince hameth's hands go and set it up that prince may just whatever it may be large enough for to soften his father the treasurer went immediately with it out of the palace and carried it a great way off and when she had set it up one end reached the very palace at which time the prince thinking it small found it large enough to shelter two greater armies than death of the saltiness fathers and then set up a revenue I asked my prince a sudden pardon for my incredulity after what I have seen I believe there is nothing impossible to you you see said the fairy that pavilion is larger than what your father may have occasion for for you must know that it has one property that it is larger or smaller according to the army it is to cover the treasurer took down the tent again and brought it to the prince who took it and without saying any longer than till the next day mounted his horse and went with the same attendance to the sultan's father the sultan who was persuaded that there could be any such thing as such a tent as he asked for was in great surprise at the prince's diligence he took the tent and after he had a smallness his amazement was so great that he could not recover himself when the tent was set up in the great plane which we have before mentioned he found it large enough to shelter an army twice as large as he could bring into the field but the sultan was not yet satisfied son said he I have already expressed to you how much I am obliged to you for the presence of the tent you have procured me and I look upon it as the most valuable thing in all my treasury but you must do one thing more for me which will be every wheat as agreeable to me I am informed that fairy, your spouse makes use of a certain water called water of the fountain of lions which cures all sorts of fevers even the most dangerous and as I am perfectly well persuaded my elf is there to you I don't doubt but you will ask her for a bottle of that water for me and bring it to me as a sovereign medicine which I make use of when I have occasion do me this other important piece of service and thereby complete the duty of a good son toward the tender father the prince returned and told the fairy what his father had said there's a great deal of wickedness in this demand she answered as you'll understand but I'm going to tell you the fountain of lions is situated in the middle of a court of a great castle the entrance into which is guarded by four fierce lions two of which sleep alternately while the other two are awake but don't let that fright on you I'll give you means to pass by them without any danger the fairy Paribunu was at that time very hard at work and as she had several clues of threat by her she took up one and presenting it to Prince Ameth said first take this shoe of thread I'll tell you presently the use of it in second place you must have two horses one you must ride yourself and the other you must sleep which must be loaded with the sheep cut into four quarters that must be killed today in the third place you must be provided with a bottle of water in set out early tomorrow morning and when you have passed the iron gates through the clue of thread before you which will roll till it comes to the gate of the castle follow it and when it stops as the gates will be open you'll see it for lions the two that are awake will by the roaring wake the other two but don't be frightened but throw each of them a quarter of a mutton first to your horse and ride for the fountain fill your butter without the lighting and then return with the same expedition the lions will be so busy eating they will let you pass by them Prince Ameth set out next morning at the time appointed by the ferry and followed the directions exactly when he arrived at the gates of the castle he distributed the quarters of mutton among four lions and passing through the midst of them bravely got to the fountain fill this bottle and returned back as safe and sound as he went when he had gone a little distance from the castle gates he tuned him about and, perceiving two of the lions coming after him he drew his saber and prepared himself for defense but as he went forward he saw one of them turned out of the road at some distance and showed by this head and tail that he did not come to do him any arm but only to go before him and that the other stayed behind to follow he put his sword up again in its cupboard guarded in this manner he arrived at the capital of the Indies but lions never left him till they had conducted him to the gates of the Sultan's palace after which they returned same way they came though not without threatening all that saw of them for all they went in a very gentle manner and show no fierceness a great many officers came to attend the prince while he dismounted his horse and afterward conducted him into the Sultan's apartment who was at that time surrounded with his favorites he approached toward the throne laid the bottle at Sultan's feet and kissed the rich tapestry which covered his footstool and then said I have brought you, sir the helpful water which your majesty desires so much to keep among your other rarities in your treasury but at same time wish you such extraordinary health as never to have occasion to make use of it after the prince had made an end of this compliment the Sultan placed him on his right hand and then said to him son, I am very much obliged to you for this valuable present as also for the great danger you have exposed yourself to open my account which I have been informed of by a magician who knows the fountains of lions but do me the pleasure continued he to inform me by what address or rather by what incredible power you have been secured sir replied prince Ahmed I have no share in compliments your majesty is pleased to make me all the honor is due to the fairy my spouse whose good advice I followed then he informed the Sultan what those directions were and by the relation of this his expedition let him know how well he had behaved himself when he had done the Sultan who showed outwardly all demonstrations of great joy but secretly became more jealous returned into an inward apartment where he sent for the magician the magician at her arrival saved the Sultan the trouble to tell her of the success of Prince Ahmed's journey which he had heard of before she came and therefore was prepared an infallible means as she pretended this means she communicated to the Sultan who declared it next day to the prince in the midst of all these courtiers in these words son said he I have one thing more to ask of you after which I shall expect nothing more from your obedience nor your interest with your wife this request is to bring me a man not above a foot and a half high and whose beauty is thirty feet long who carries a bar of iron upon his shoulders of five unhundred weight which he uses as a quarter step Prince Ahmed who did not believe that there was such a man in the world as his father described would gladly have excused himself but the Sultan persisted in his demand and told him the fairy could do more incredible things the next day the prince returned to his dear Paribas to whom he told his father's new demand which he said he looked up to be a thing more impossible than the two first for, added he I cannot imagine there can be such a man in the world without doubt he has a mind to try whether or no I am so silly as to go about it or he has a design on my ruin in short how can I suppose that I should lay hold of a man so well armed though he is but little what arms can I make use of to reduce him to my will if there are any means I bet you'll tell them and let me come off with honor this time don't afraid yourself Prince reply the fairy you run a risk in fetching the water of fountain of lions for your father but there's no danger in finding out this man who is my brother's kaisbar but is so far from being like me though he both had same father that he is of so violent a nature that nothing can prevent his giving cruel marks of his resentment for a slight offense yet on the other hand it's so good as to oblige anyone in whatever they desire he is made exactly as sought on your father as described him and has no other arms than a bar of iron a 500 pounds 8 without which he never stirs and which makes him respected I'll send for him and you shall just the truth of what I tell you but be sure to prepare yourself against being frightened at this extraordinary figure when you see him what? my queen replied Prince Ahmed do you say shy bar is your brother let him be never so ugly or deformed I shall be so far from being frightened at sight of him dead as our brother I shall honour and love him the fairy ordered a gold cheffing dish to be set with the fire in it under the porch of her palace with a box of same metal which was a present to her out of which taking a perfume and throwing it into the fire there arose a thick cloud of smoke some moments after the fairy said to Prince Ahmed see there comes my brother the prince immediately perceived shy bar coming gravely with this heavy bar on his shoulder his long beard which he held up before him and a pair of thick mostaceous which he tucked behind his ears and almost covered his face his eyes were very small and deep set in his head which was far from being of the smallest size and on his head he wore a grenadier's cap besides all this he was much hampact if Prince Ahmed had not known that shy bar was Paribhanu's brother he would not have been able to have looked at him without fear but knowing for who he was he stood by the fairy without least concern shy bar as he came forward looked at the prince earnestly enough to have chilled his blood in his veins and asked Paribhanu when he first accosted her who that man was she replied he is my husband brother his name is Hamad he is son to the Sultan of the Indies the reason why I did not invite you to my wedding was I was unwilling to divert you from an expedition you were engaged in and from which I heard with pleasure you returned victorious and so took the liberty now to call for you at this words shy bar looking on Prince Ahmed favorably said is there anything else sister when I can serve him it is enough for me that he is your husband to engage me to do for him whatever he desires the Sultan is father replied Paribhanu as a curiosity to see you and I desire he may be your guide to the Sultan's court he needs but plead me way I'll follow him brother replied Paribhanu it is too late to go today for stay till tomorrow morning and in the meantime I'll inform you of all that has passed between the Sultan of the Indies and Prince Hamad since our marriage the next morning after shy bar had been informed of the affair he and Prince Ahmed set out for the Sultan's court when they arrived at the gates of the capital the people no sooner saw shy bar but they ran and hid themselves and some shut up their shops and locked themselves up in their houses while others flying communicated their fear to all they met to stay not to look behind them but ran too in so much that shy bar and Prince Hamad as they went along found streets all desolate till they came to the palaces where the porters instead of keeping the gates ran away too so that the Prince and shy bar advanced without any obstacle to the council hall where the Sultan was seated on his throne and giving audience here likewise the hushers at the approach of shy bar abandoned their posts and gave them free admittance shy bar went boldly and fiercely up to the throne without waiting to be presented by Prince Hamad and the cost of the Sultan of the Indies in these words thou has asked for me said he here I am what would thou have with me the Sultan instead of answering him clapped his hand before his eyes to avoid sight of so terrible an object a twitch uncivil and rude reception shy bar was so much provoked after he had given him the trouble to come so far that he instantly lifted up his iron bar and killed him before Prince Hamad could intercede in his behalf all that he could do was to prevent his killing the Grand Vizier who said no far from him representing to him that he had always given Sultan his father good advice these are they then said shy bar who gave him bed and as he pronounced his words he killed all the other viziers and flattering favorites of Sultan who were Prince Hamad's enemies every time he struck he killed some one or other and none escaped but they who were not so frightened as stand staring and gapping and who saved themselves by flight when this child execution was over shy bar came out of the council hall into the midst of the courtyard with the iron bar up on his shoulder and looking hard at Grand Vizier who owed his life to Prince Hamad he said I know here is a certain magician who is a greater enemy of my brother-in-law than all these base favorites I have just decided let magician be brought to me presently the Grand Vizier immediately sent for her and as soon as she was brought shy bar said at the time he fed to the stroke at her with his iron bar checked the reward of that pernicious council and learned to fend sickness again after this he said this is not yet enough I will use the old town after the same manner if they do not immediately acknowledge Prince Hamad my brother-in-law for their Sultan and Sultan of the Indies then all that were there present made her echo again with repeated exclamation of long life to Sultan Hamad and immediately after he was proclaimed through the whole town shy bar made him be clothed in royal vestments installed him on the throne and after he had caused all to swear homage and fidelity to him went and fetched his sister Perivanu whom he brought with all the pomp and grandeur imaginable it made her to be Sultaness of the Indies as for Prince Ali and Princess Nurunyar as they had no hand in conspiracy against Prince Hamad and knew nothing of any Prince Hamad assigned him a considerable province with its capital where they spent the rest of their lives afterwards he sent an officer to Prince Hussein to acquaint him with the change and make him an offer of which province he liked best but that Prince thought himself so happy in his solitude that he made the officer return to Sultan his brother thanks for the kindness he designed him assuring him of his submission and that only favor he desired of him was to give him leave to live retired in the place he had made choice of for his retreat and of the story of Prince Hamad and Fairy Perivanu the history of Jack the Giant Killer of the Blue 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 Brett Condren the Blue Fairy Book by Andrew Lang the history of Jack the Giant Killer in the reign of the famous King Arthur there lived in Cornwall a lad named Jack who was a boy of bold temper and took to light in hearing or reading of Condor's and used to listen eagerly to the deeds of the knights of King Arthur's round table in those days they lived on St. Michael's Mount off Cornwall a huge giant 18 feet high and 9 feet round his fierce and savage looks were the terror of all who beheld him he dwelt in a gloomy cavern on the top of the mountain and used to wade over to the mainland in search of prey when he would throw half a dozen oxen around his waist and march back to his own abode the giant had done this for many years when Jack resolved to destroy him Jack took a horn a shovel, a pickaxe, his armor and a dark lantern and one winter's evening he went to the mount there he dug a pit 22 feet deep and 20 broad he covered the top over so as to make it look like solid ground he then blew his horn so loudly that the giant awoke and came out of his den crying out say villain you shall pay for this I'll broil you for my breakfast he had just finished when taking one step further he tumbled headlong into the pit and Jack struck him a blow on the head with his pickaxe which killed him Jack then returned home to cheer his friends with the news another giant called Blunderbore vowed to be revenged on Jack if ever he should have him in his power this giant kept an enchanted castle in the midst of a lonely wood time after the death of Cormoran Jack was passing through the wood and being weary sat down and went to sleep the giant passing by and seeing Jack carried him to his castle where he locked him up in a large room the floor of which was covered with the bodies skulls and bones of men and women soon after the giant went to fetch his brother who was likewise a giant to take a meal off his flesh and Jack saw with terror through the bars of his prison the two giants approaching Jack perceiving in one corner of the room a strong cord took courage and making a slip knot at each end he threw them over their heads and tied it to the window bars he then pulled till he had choked them when they were black in the face he slid down the rope and stabbed them to the heart Jack next took a great bunch of keys from the pocket of Blunderbore and went into the castle again he made a strict search through all the rooms and one of them found three ladies tied up by the hair of their heads and almost starved to death they told him that their husbands had been killed by the giants who had then condemned them to be starved to death because they would not eat the flesh of their own dead husbands ladies said Jack I have put an end to the monster and his wicked brother I give you this castle and all the riches it contains to make some amends for the dreadful pains you have felt he then very politely gave them the keys of the castle and went further on his journey to Wales as Jack had but little money he went on as fast as possible at length he came to a handsome house Jack knocked at the door when there came forth a Welsh giant Jack said he was a traveller who had lost his way on which the giant made him welcome and let him into a room where there was a good bed to sleep in Jack took off his clothes quickly but though he was weary he could not go to sleep soon after this he heard the giant walking backward and forward in the next room saying to himself though you lodge here with me tonight you shall not see the morning light my club shall dash your brains out quite say you so thought Jack are these your tricks upon travellers but I hope to prove as cunning as you are then getting out of bed he groped about the room and at last found a large thick billet of wood he laid it in his place in the bed then hid himself in a dark corner of the room the giant about midnight entered the apartment and with his bludge and struck many blows on the bed in the very place where Jack had laid the log and then he went back to his own room thinking he had broken all Jack's bones early in the morning Jack put a bold face upon the matter and walked into the giant's room to thank him for his lodging the giant started when he saw him and began to stammer out oh dear me is it you pray how did you sleep last night did you hear or see anything in the dead of the night nothing to speak of said Jack carelessly a rat I believe gave me three or four slaps with its tail and disturbed me a little but I soon went to sleep again the giant wondered more and more at this yet he did not answer a word but went to bring two great bowls of hasty pudding for their breakfast Jack wanted to make the giant believe that he could eat as much as himself so he can try to button a leather bag inside his coat and slip the hasty pudding into his bag while he seemed to put it into his mouth when breakfast was over he said to the giant now I will show you a fine trick I can cure all wounds with a touch I could cut off my head in one minute and the next put it sound to get on my shoulders you shall see an example he took hold of the knife ripped up the leather bag and all the hasty pudding trembled out upon the floor odd splutter her nails so well-shiant who was quite ashamed to be outdone by such a little fellow as Jack who can do that herself so he snatched up the knife plunged into his own stomach and in a moment dropped down dead Jack, having kitherto been successful in all his undertakings resolved not to be idle in the future he therefore furnished himself with a horse a cap of knowledge, a sword of sharpness shoes of swiftness and an invisible coat the better to perform the wonderful enterprises that lay before him he travelled over high hills and on the third day he came to a large and spacious forest through which his road lay scarcely had he entered the forest when he beheld a monstrous giant dragging along by the hair of their heads a handsome knight and his lady Jack alighted from his horse and tying him to an oak tree put on his invisible coat under which he carried his sword of sharpness when he came up to the giant he made several strokes at him but he could not reach his body but wounded his thighs in several places between both hands of his sword and aiming with all his might he cut off both his legs then Jack, setting his foot upon his neck plunged his sword into the giant's body when the monster gave a groan and expired the knight and his lady thanked Jack for their deliverance and invited him to their house to receive a proper reward for his services no, said Jack I cannot be easy till I find out this monstrous habitation so taking the knight's directions he mounted his horse and soon after came inside of another giant who was sitting on a block of timber waiting for his brother's return Jack alighted from his horse and putting on his invisible coat approached and aimed below at the giant's head but missing his aim he only cut off his nose on this the giant seized his club and laid about him most unmercifully nay, said Jack if this be the case I'd better dispatch you so jumping upon the block he stabbed him in the back down dead Jack then proceeded on his journey and travelled over hills and dales till arriving at the foot of a high mountain he knocked at the door of a lonely house when an old man let him in when Jack was seated the hermit thus addressed him my son on the top of this mountain is an enchanted castle kept by the giant Gallagantus and a vile magician I lament the fate of a Duke's daughter whom they seized as she was walking in her father's garden and brought hither transformed into a deer Jack promised in the morning at the risk of his life he would break the enchantment and after a sound sleep he rose early put on his invisible coat and got ready for the attempt when he had climbed to the top of the mountain he saw two fiery griffins but he passed between them without the least fear of danger for they could not see him because of his invisible coat on the castle gate he found a golden trumpet under which were written these lines whoever can this trumpet blow shall cause the giants overthrow as soon as Jack had read this he seized the trumpet and blew a shrill blast which made the gates fly open and the very castle itself trembled the giant and the conjurer now knew that their wicked course was at an end and they stood biting their thumbs and shaking with fear Jack with his sword of sharpness soon killed the giant and the magician was then carried away by a whirlwind and every night a beautiful lady who had been changed into birds and bees returned to their proper shapes the castle vanished away like smoke and the head of the giant Gallagantus was then sent to King Arthur the knights and ladies rested that night at the old man's hermitage the next day they set out for the court Jack then went up to the king and gave his majesty an account of all his fierce battles Jack's fame had now spread through the whole country the king's desire the duke gave him his daughter in marriage to the joy of all his kingdom after this the king gave him a large estate on which he and his lady could live the rest of their days in joy and contentment end of the history of Jack the giant killer the black bull of norway of the blue 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 Scott Mather the blue fairy book by Andrew Lang the black bull of norway and many a hunting song they sung and song of game and glee then tuned to plaintive strains their tongue of Scotland's live and lee to wilder measures next they turn the black black bull of norway sudden the tapers cease to burn the minstrels cease to play the cute of Kilda by Jay Leiden in norway there lived a certain lady and she had three doctors the oldest of them said to her mother mother bake me a bonnock and roast me a colop for I am gone awa to seek my fortune her mother did say and the doctor gave awa to an old witch washer wife and tell her purpose the old wife bade her stay that day and gang and look out her back door and see what she could see she saw nacht the first day the second day she did the same and saw nacht on the third day she looked again and saw a coach and six coming along the road she ran in and tell the old wife what she saw she said to her mother she said to her mother I am gone awa to seek my fortune her mother did say and awa she gave to the old wife as her sister had done on the third day she looked out of the back door and saw a coach and four coming along the road a week later she saw nacht the doctor said to her mother mother bake me a bonnock and roast me a colob for I am gone awa to seek my fortune her mother did say and awa she gave to the old witch wife she bade her look out her back door and see what she could see she did say and when she came back the doctor said to her mother mother bake me a bonnock and roast me a colob for I am gone awa to seek my fortune her mother did say and awa she gave to the old witch wife And when she came back, said she sa nacht. The second day she did the same, and sa nacht. The third day she looked again, and on coming back, said to the old wife, she sa nacht but a muckled black bull come roaring along the road. A wheel, quoth the old wife, yance for you. On hearing this she was next to distracted with grief and terror, but she was lifted up and set on his back, and the while they went. I, they traveled, and on they traveled, till the lady grew faint, with hunger. Eat, out of my right lug, says the black bull, and drink out of my left lug, and set by your leavings. Say she did as he said, and was wonderfully refreshed. And laying negate, and ser they raid, till they came in sight of a very big and bonny castle. Yonder we mon be this night, quotable for my old brother lives yonder, and presently they were at the place. They lifted her off his back, and took her in, and sent him away to a park for the night. In the morning, when they brought the bull home, they took the lady into a fine, shining part of her, and gave her a beautiful apple, telling her not to break it, till she was in the greatest straight ever mortal was in in the world, and that would bring her out. Again she was lifted on the bull's back, and after she had ridden far, and farer than I can tell, they came in sight to a far bonnier castle, and far farther awad than the last. Says the bull till her, Yonder we mon be this night, for my second brother lives yonder, and they were at the place directly. They lifted her down, and took her in, and sent the bull to the field for the night. In the morning they took the lady into a fine and rich room, and gave her the finest pair she had ever seen, bidding her not to break it, till she was in the greatest straight ever mortal could be in, and that would get her out it. Again she was lifted, and set on his back, and away they went, and laying the gate, and share the raid, till they came in sight to the far biggest castle, and far farther staff they had yet seen. We mon be Yonder the night, says the bull, for my young brother lives Yonder, and they were there directly. They lifted her down, took her in, and sent the bull to the field for the night. In the morning they took her into a room, the finest of all, and gave her a plum, telling her not to break it till she was in the greatest straight mortal could be in, and that would get her out it. Presently they brought him the bull, set the lady on his back, and away they went. And I they gade, and on they raided, till they came to a dark and uggsome glen, where they stopped, and the lady lighted down. Says the bull to her, here Ymon stay till I gang, and fight the deal. Ymon seat your cell on that stain, and move neither hand nor fit till I come back, else I never find ye again. And if everything round about ye turns blue, I have beaten the deal. But should the things turn red, he'll have conquered me. She set her cell down on the stain, and by and by, ah, round her turned blue. O'er come with joy, she lifted the a-foot, and crossed it o'er the ether. Say glad was she that her companion was victorious. The bull returned, and sought for, but never could find her. Lange she sat, and the eye she grat, till she was wearied. At last she raised, and gave the waw, she kidnapped Huartil. On she wandered, till she came to a great hill of glass, that she tried, ah, she could to climb, but was not able. On the bottom of the hill she gave, sobbing, and seeking a passage o'er, till at last she came to a smith's house. And the smith promised, if she would serve him seven years, he would make her iron shun, where she could climb o'er the glassy hill. At seven years end, she got her iron shun, clamped the glassy hill, and chanced to come to the old washer-wife's habitation. There she was tell'd of a gallant young night, that had given in some bloody sarks to wash, and where washed they sarks was to be his wife. The old wife had washed till she was tired, and then she set to her doctor, and bathe washed, and they washed, and they better washed, in hopes of getting a young night. But ah, they could do, they could not bring out a stain. At length they set the stranger damazel to work, and whenever she began, the stains came out pure and clean. But the old wife made the night believe it was her doctor had washed the sarks. So the night and the eldest doctor were to be married, and the stranger damazel was distracted at the thought of it, for she was deeply in love with him. So she bethought her of her apple, and breaking it, found it filled with gold and precious jewelry, the richest she had ever seen. All these, she said to the eldest doctor, I will give you, on condition that you put off your marriage for a day, and allow me to go into his room alone at night. But the lady consented. But meanwhile the old wife had prepared a sleeping drink, and given it to the night, what drank it, and never waken till the next morning. The lee-lang night, their damazel sabbed and sang. O seven-lang years I served for thee, the glassy hill I clamped for thee, the bloody shirt I rang for thee, and wilt thou know waken and turn to me. Next day she kept no what to do for grief. She then brought the pear, and found it filled with jewelry far richer than the contents of the apple. With a jewel she bargained for permission to be a second night in the young night's chamber. But the old wife gave him a neither sleeping drink, and he again sleep it till morning. O night she kept sighing and singing as before. Seven-lang years I served for thee, the glassy hill I clamped for thee, the bloody shirt I rang for thee, and wilt thou know waken and turn to me. Still he sleep it. And she nearly lost hope altogether. But that day, when he was out at the hunting, somebody asked him what noise and moaning was yonder here at all last night in his bedchamber. He said he heard nah, only noise. But they assured him, there was say, and he resolved to keep waking that night to try what he could hear. That being the third night, and the damazel being between hope and despair, she brought her plum, and it held far the richest jewelry of the three. She bargained as before, and the old wife as before took in the sleeping drink to the young night's chamber. But he told her he could not drink it that night without sweetening. And when she gave a waf or some honey to sweeten it with, he poured out the drink, and say, May the old wife think he had drunk it. They went to bed again, and the damazel began as before, singing, Seven lang years I served for thee, the glassy hill I clamped for thee, the bloody shirt I rang for thee, and wilt thou know waken and turn to me. He heard, and turned to her, and she told him all that had befallen her, and he told her all that had happened to him. And he caused the old washer wife and her doctor to be burned. And they were married, and he and she are living happy till this day, for all I can. End of the black bull of Norway. The Red Etten of the Blue 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 Scott Mather. The Blue Fairy Book by Andrew Lang. The Red Etten. There were once three widows that lived on a small bitter ground which they rented from a farmer. One of them had three sons, and the other had one. And by and by it was time for the wife that had twasans to send them away to seek their fortune. So she told her eldest son a day to take a can, and bring her water from the well, that she might bake a cake for him. And however much or however little water he might bring, the cake would be a great or small, accordingly. And that cake was to be all that she could gie him when he went on his travels. The lad gave way with a can to the well, and filled it with water, and then came him again. But the can being broken, the maced part of the water had run out before he got back. So his cake was very small. Yet small as it was, his mother asked if he was willing to take the half of it with her blessing, telling him that if he chose rather to have the hail, he would only get it where a curse. The young man, thinking he might hate to travel far away, and not knowing when or how he might get other provisions, said he would like to hate a hail cake. Come if his mother's malice and would like. So she gave him the hail cake and her malice in a lang wit. Then he took his brother aside, and gave him a knife to keep till he should come back, desiring him to look at it every morning, and as long as it continued to be clear, then he might be sure that the owner of it was well. But if it grew dim in the rusty, then for certain some ill had befallen him. So the young man set out to seek his fortune. And he gave other day, and other next day, and on the third day in the afternoon. He came up to where a shepherd was sitting with a flock of sheep. And he gave up to the shepherd and asked him, what a sheep be lying to? And the man answered. The red eten of Ireland unslived in Beligan, and stalled King Malcolm's daughter, the king of fair Scotland. He beats her, he binds her, he lays her on a band, and every day he dings her with a bright silver wand. Like Julian the Roman, he's one that fears no man. It said there's un-predestina to be his mortal foe, but that man is yet unborn. In Lang may it be so. The young man then went on his journey, and he had not gone far when he aspired an old man with white locks herding a flock of swine. And he gave up to him, and asked who swine these were, when the man answered. The red eten of Ireland unslived in Beligan, and stalled King Malcolm's daughter, the king of fair Scotland. He beats her, he binds her, he lays her on a band, and every day he dings her with a bright silver wand. Like Julian the Roman, he's one that fears no man. It said there's un-predestina to be his mortal foe, but that man is yet unborn. In Lang may it be so. Then the young man gave on a bit further, and came to another very old man, herding goats. And when he asked whose goats they were, the answer was, the red eten of Ireland unslived in Beligan. And stalled King Malcolm's daughter, the king of fair Scotland. He beats her, he binds her, he lays her on a band, and every day he dings her with a bright silver wand. Like Julian the Roman, he's one that fears no man. It said there's un-predestina to be his mortal foe, but that man is yet unborn. And Lang may it be so. This old man also told him to beware of the next beasts that he should meet, for they were of a very different kind from any he had yet seen. So the young man went on, and by and by he saw a multitude of very dreadful beasts, ilk anodham with twa-heads, and on every head four horns. And he was sore-frightened, and ran away from them as fast as he could, and glad was he when he came to a castle that stood on a hillock, with a door standing wide to the wall. And he gade into the castle for shelter, and there he saw an old wife sitting beside the kitchen fire. He asked the wife if he might stay there for the night, as he was tired with a lang journey, and the wife said he might, but it was not a good place for him to be in, as it be langed to the red eten, who was a very terrible beast with three heads that spared no living man he could get hold of. The young man would have gone away, but he was afraid of the beasts on the outside of the castle, so he beseeched the old woman to conceal him as well as she could, and not to tell the eten that he was there. He thought if he could put over the night he might get away in the morning without meeting with the beasts, and so escape. But he had not been long in his hidey-hole, before the awful eten came in, and nay sooner was he in, and he was heard crying, Snock-butt, and Snock-bane, I find the smell of an earthly man. Be he living or be he dead, his heart this night shall kitchen my bread. The monster soon found the poor young man, and pulled him from his hole, and when he had got him out he told him that if he could answer him three questions his life should be spared. The first was whether Ireland or Scotland was first inhabited. The second was whether man was made for woman or woman for man. The third was whether men or brutes were made first. The lad not being able to answer one of these questions, the red eten took a mace and knocked him on the head, and turned him into a pillar of stone. On the morning after this happened the younger brother took out the knife to look at it, and he was grieved to find it a brown with rust. He told his mother that the time was now come for him to go away upon his travels also, so she requested him to take the can to the well for water that she might bake a cake for him. The can being broken, he brought him as little water as the other had done, and the cake was as little. She asked whether he would have the hail cake with her mallison, or the half were blessing, and like his brother he thought it best to have the hail cake come of the mallison what might. So he gave away, and everything happened to him that had happened to his brother. The other widow and her son heard of all that had happened through a ferry, and the young man determined that he would go also upon his travels and see if he could do anything to relieve his twelve friends. So his mother gave him a can to go to the well, and bring home water that she might bake him a cake for his journey, and he gave. And as he was bringing him the water, a raven, or a boonies head, cried him to look, and he would see that the water was running out. And it was a young man of sense, and seeing the water running out, he took some clay, and patched up the holes, so that he brought home enough water to bake a large cake. When his mother put it to him to take the half cake with her blessing, he took it, in preference to having the hail with her mallison, and yet the half was bigger than what the other lads had got altogether. So he gave away on his journey, and after he had traveled a far way, he met with an old woman that asked him if he would give her a bit of his bannock, and he said he would gladly do that, and so he gave her a piece of the bannock, and for that she gave him a magical wand, that she said might yet be of service to him if he took care to use it rightly. Then the old woman, who was a ferry, told him a great deal that would happen to him, and what he ought to do in all circumstances, and after that she vanished in an instant out of his sight. He gave on a great way further, and then he came up to the old man, herding the sheep, and when he asked whose sheep these were, the answer was. The red eten of Ireland once lived in Beligan, and stole King Malcolm's daughter, the king of Fair Scotland. He beats her, he binds her, he lays her on a band, and every day he dings her with a bright silver wand. Like Julian the Roman, he's one that fares no man, but now I fear his end is near, and destiny at hand, and your to be I plainly see the air of all his land. The young man then went on his journey, and he had not gone far when he inspired an old man with white locks, herding a flock of swine, and he gave up to him and asked whose swine these were, when the man answered. The red eten of Ireland once lived in Beligan, and stole King Malcolm's daughter, the king of Fair Scotland. He beats her, he binds her, he lays her on a band, and every day he dings her with a white silver wand. Like Julian the Roman, he's one that fares no man, but now I fear his end is near, and destiny at hand, and your to be I plainly see the air of all his land. Then the young man gave on a bit further, and came to the very old man, herding goats, and he asked whose goats there were, and the answer was, The red eten of Ireland once lived in Beligan, and stole King Malcolm's daughter, the king of Fair Scotland. He beats her, he binds her, he lays her on a band, and every day he dings her with a bright silver wand. Like Julian the Roman, he's one that fares no man, but now I fear his end is near, and destiny at hand, and your to be I plainly see the air of all his land. This old man also told him to beware of the next beasts that he should meet, for they were of a very different kind from any he had yet seen. When he came to the place where the monstrous beasts were standing, he did not stop nor run away, but went boldly through among them. Then came up roaring with open mouth to devour him, when he struck it with his wand, and laid it in an instant dead at his feet. He soon came to the eten's castle, where he knocked, and was admitted. The old woman that sat by the fire warned him of the terrible eten, and what had been the fate of his twelve brothers, but he was not to be daunted. The monster soon came in saying, Snock butt, and the snock bane, I find the smell of an earthly man. Be he living or be he dead, his heart shall be kitchen to my bread. He quickly aspired the young man, and bade him come forth on the floor, and then he put the three questions to him, but the young man had been told everything by the good fairy, so he was able to answer all the questions. When the eten found this, he knew that his power was gone. The young man then took up the axe, and hewed off the monster's three heads. He next asked the old woman to show him where the king's daughters lay, and the old woman took him upstairs, and opened a great many doors, and out of every door came a beautiful lady who had been imprisoned there by the eten. And under the ladies was the king's daughter. She also took him down into a low room, and there stood two stone pillars that he had only to touch with his wand when his two friends and neighbors started into life. And the hail of the prisoners were overjoyed at their deliverance, which they all acknowledged to be owing to the prudent young man. Next day they all set out for the king's court, and a gallant company they made, and the king married his daughter to the young man that had delivered her, and gave a noble's daughter to Ilke honor the other young men. And so they all lived happily all the rest of their days. End of the Red Eten.