A young peasant, in the parish of Mellby, who often amused himself with
hunting, saw one day three swans flying toward him, which settled down
upon the strand of a sound near by.
Approaching the place, he was astonished at seeing the three swans
divest themselves of their feathery attire, which they threw into the
grass, and three maidens of dazzling beauty step forth and spring into
the water.
After sporting in the waves awhile they returned to the land, where
they resumed their former garb and shape and flew away in the same
direction from which they came.
One of them, the youngest and fairest, had, in the meantime, so smitten
the young hunter that neither night nor day could he tear his thoughts
from the bright image.
His mother, noticing that something was wrong with her son, and that
the chase, which had formerly been his favorite pleasure, had lost its
attractions, asked him finally the cause of his melancholy, whereupon
he related to her what he had seen, and declared that there was no
longer any happiness in this life for him if he could not possess the
fair swan maiden.
“Nothing is easier,” said the mother. “Go at sunset next Thursday
evening to the place where you last saw her. When the three swans come
give attention to where your chosen one lays her feathery garb, take it
and hasten away.”
The young man listened to his mother’s instructions, and, betaking
himself, the following Thursday evening, to a convenient hiding place
near the sound, he waited, with impatience, the coming of the swans.
The sun was just sinking behind the trees when the young man’s ears
were greeted by a whizzing in the air, and the three swans settled down
upon the beach, as on their former visit.
As soon as they had laid off their swan attire they were again
transformed into the most beautiful maidens, and, springing out upon
the white sand, they were soon enjoying themselves in the water.
From his hiding place the young hunter had taken careful note of where
his enchantress had laid her swan feathers. Stealing softly forth, he
took them and returned to his place of concealment in the surrounding
foliage.
Soon thereafter two of the swans were heard to fly away, but the third,
in search of her clothes, discovered the young man, before whom,
believing him responsible for their disappearance, she fell upon her
knees and prayed that her swan attire might be returned to her. The
hunter was, however, unwilling to yield the beautiful prize, and,
casting a cloak around her shoulders, carried her home.
Preparations were soon made for a magnificent wedding, which took place
in due form, and the couple dwelt lovingly and contentedly together.
One Thursday evening, seven years later, the hunter related to her how
he had sought and won his wife. He brought forth and showed her, also,
the white swan feathers of her former days. No sooner were they placed
in her hands than she was transformed once more into a swan, and
instantly took flight through the open window. In breathless
astonishment, the man stared wildly after his rapidly vanishing wife,
and before a year and a day had passed, he was laid, with his longings
and sorrows, in his allotted place in the village church-yard.