face in his hands, and wept most bitterly, and as he sobbed and moaned
the little foal asked: "What are you crying about now?" Jack told the
foal what the king had ordered him to do, and what the punishment would
be if the order were not obeyed.
"Don't weep, dear master, don't fret; the thing can be done if you
follow my directions. Go up stairs to the king and beg of him twelve
buffalo-hides, twelve balls of twine, a grubbing-hoe, and an ordinary
hoe, besides a stout awl to sew the buffalo-hides together with."
Jack went to the king and declared himself willing to carry out his
order if he would let him have these things, to which the king replied:
"Go and take anything that you may require, there must be some sixty
buffalo-hides still left hanging in the loft."
Jack went up to the loft and took what he wanted; then he ate and drank,
gave his foal a bucketful of wine, and set out in search of the horses
with the golden hair.
He journeyed on till, after a short lapse of time, he reached the Red
Sea, which he crossed on the back of his foal. As soon as they emerged
from the water and gained the opposite shore, the foal said: "Look, my
dear master; can you see the pear-tree on that hill yonder? Let's go up
on the hill, take your hoe and dig a hole big enough to hold me; and as
soon as you have dug the hole sew the twelve buffalo-hides together and
wrap them round me, as it would not be advisable for me to get into the
hole without them. As soon as I have got in, blow this whistle and the
stallion will appear; and the moment you see it touching the buffalo
skins, throw a halter over its head."
Jack tucked up his shirt-sleeves, dug the hole, sewed the twelve
buffalo-hides on to the foal, and his steed got into the hole. Then he
blew the whistle, and lo! a fine stallion, with golden hair, and almost
entirely covered with golden froth, jumped out of the ground; it pranced
about, and kicked out in all directions, whereupon Jack's foal said:
"Now then, my dear master, throw that halter over its head and jump on
its back." Jack did as he was told; when, no sooner was he on its back,
than the stallion gave a tremendous neigh that rent all the mountains
asunder. At its call a vast number of golden-haired horses appeared; so
many, that Jack was not able to count them. The whole herd immediately
took to their heels, and galloped off with the speed of lightning. The
king had not yet finished dressing in the morning when the whole stud
with golden hair stood arrayed in his courtyard. So soon as he caught
sight of them he rushed off to the girl with the golden hair and
exclaimed: "Well, my love, the golden horses are all here, and now you
are mine." "Oh, no! I shan't be yours. I won't touch either food or
drink until the lad who has fetched my animals milks the mares."
The king sent for Jack.
"I say, my boy, if you do not at once milk the mares, I'll play the
hangman with you."
"How can I milk them, sir? Even as they are, I find it difficult to save
myself from being trampled to death."
"Do not let us waste any words; it must be done!"
Jack returned to the stables, and looked very sad; he would not touch
any food or drink. His foal again addressed him and asked: "Why all this
sorrow, dear master?"
"How could I help being sad? The king has ordered me to milk the mares
no matter what happens, whether I get over it dead or alive."
"Don't fret. Ask him to lend you the tub up in the loft, and milk the
mares. They won't do you the least harm."
And so it happened. Jack fetched the tub and milked the mares. They
stood all the time as quietly as the most patient milch-cows. The king
then said to the girl with the golden hair, "Well, my darling; your wish
is fulfilled, and you are mine."
"I shan't be yours until the lad who milked the mares has bathed in the
milk."
The king sent for Jack.
"Well, my boy, as you have milked the mares, you had better bathe in the
milk."
"Gracious majesty! How could I do that? The milk is boiling hot, and
throws up bubbles as high as a man."
"Don't talk; you have to bathe in the milk or you forfeit your life."
Jack went down and cried, and gave up all hope of life; he was sure of
death on the gallows. His foal again spoke, and said: "Don't cry, dear
master, but tell me what is the matter with you." Jack told him what he
had to do under penalty of death.
"Don't fret, my dear master; but go to the king and ask his permission
to allow you to lead me to the tub, and be present when you take your
bath. I will draw out all the heat, and you can bathe in the milk
without any fear."
So Jack went to the king, and said, "Well, gracious majesty, at least
grant me the favour of allowing my foal to be present when I am having
my bath, so that it may see me give up the ghost."
"I don't care if there be a hundred foals present."
Jack returned to the stables, led his foal to the tub, who began to
sniff. At last it took a deep breath, and beckoned to Jack not to jump
in yet. Then it continued drawing in its breath, and suddenly at a sign
Jack jumped into the tub, and had his bath. When he finished and got out
of the tub he was three times more handsome than before; although he was
a very handsome lad then. When the king saw this he said to the lad:
"Well, Jack, you see you would not have the bath at first. I'm going to
have one myself." The king jumped in, but in the meantime the foal had
sent all the heat into the milk back again, and the tyrant was scalded
to death. The heat was so intense that nothing was left of his body
except a few bits of bone, as big as my little finger, which were every
now and then brought up by the bubbles. Jack lost not a moment, but
rushed up to the girl with the golden hair, embraced and kissed her, and
said: "Well, my pretty darling, love of my heart, you are now mine, and
I am yours; not even the spade and the hoe shall separate us one from
another." To which she replied: "Oh, my love, Jackie, for a long time
this has been one of my fondest wishes, as I knew that you were a brave
lad."
The wedding was celebrated with great pomp, that gave people something
to talk about over seven countries. I, too, was present at the banquet,
and kept on shouting: "Chef! Cook! let me have a bone," till, at last,
he did take up a bone and threw it at me. It hit me, and made my side
ache ever since.
THE LOVER'S GHOST.
Somewhere, I don't know where, even beyond the Operencian Seas, there
was once a maid. She had lost her father and mother, but she loved the
handsomest lad in the village where she lived. They were as happy
together as a pair of turtle-doves in the wood. They fixed the day of
the wedding at a not very distant date, and invited their most intimate
friends to it; the girl, her godmother--the lad, a dear old friend of
his.
Time went on, and the wedding would have taken place in another week,
but in the meantime war broke out in the country. The king called out
all his fighting-men to march against the enemy. The sabres were
sharpened, and gallant fellows, on fine, gaily-caparisoned horses,
swarmed to the banners of the king, like bees. John, our hero, too, took
leave of his pretty _fiancée_; he led out his grey charger, mounted, and
said to his young bride: "I shall be back in three years, my dove; wait
until then, and don't be afraid; I promise to bring you back my love and
remain faithful to you, even were I tempted by the beauty of a thousand
other girls." The lass accompanied him as far as the frontier, and
before parting solemnly promised to him, amidst a shower of tears, that
all the treasures of the whole world should not tempt her to marry
another, even if she had to wait ten years for her John.
The war lasted two years, and then peace was concluded between the
belligerents. The girl was highly pleased with the news, because she
expected to see her lover return with the others. She grew impatient,
and would sally forth on the road by which he was expected to return, to
meet him. She would go out often ten times a day, but as yet she had no
tidings of her John. Three years elapsed; four years had gone by, and
the bridegroom had not yet returned. The girl could not wait any longer,
but went to see her godmother, and asked for her advice, who (I must
tell you, between ourselves) was a witch. The old hag received her well,
and gave her the following direction: "As it will be full moon to-morrow
night, go into the cemetery, my dear girl, and ask the gravedigger to
give you a human skull. If he should refuse, tell him that it is I who
sent you. Then bring the skull home to me, and we shall place it in a
huge earthenware pot, and boil it with some millet, for, say, two hours.
You may be sure it will let you know whether your lover is alive yet or
dead, and perchance it will entice him here." The girl thanked her for
her good advice, and went to the cemetery next night. She found the
gravedigger enjoying his pipe in front of the gate.
"Good evening to you, dear old father."
"Good evening, my lass! What are you doing here at this hour of the
night?"
"I have come to you to ask you to grant me a favour."
"Let me hear what it is; and, if I can, I will comply with your
request."
"Well, then, give me a human skull!"
"With pleasure; but what do you intend to do with it?"
"I don't know exactly, myself; my godmother has sent me for it."
"Well and good; here is one, take it."
The girl carefully wrapped up the skull, and ran home with it. Having
arrived at home, she put it in a huge earthenware pot with some millet,
and at once placed it on the fire. The millet soon began to boil and
throw up bubbles as big as two fists. The girl was eagerly watching it
and wondering what would happen. When, all of a sudden, a huge bubble
formed on the surface of the boiling mass, and went off with a loud
report like a musket. The next moment the girl saw the skull balanced on
the rim of the pot. "He has started," it said, in a vicious tone. The
girl waited a little longer, when two more loud reports came from the
pot, and the skull said, "He has got halfway." Another few moments
elapsed, when the pot gave three very loud reports, and the skull was
heard to say, "He has arrived outside in the yard." The maid thereupon
rushed out, and found her lover standing close to the threshold. His
charger was snow-white, and he himself was clad entirely in white,
including his helmet and boots. As soon as he caught sight of the girl,
he asked: "Will you come to the country where I dwell?" "To be sure, my
dear Jack; to the very end of the world." "Then come up into my saddle."
The girl mounted into the saddle, and they embraced and kissed one
another ever so many times.
"And is the country where you live very far from here?"
"Yes, my love, it is very far; but in spite of the distance it will not
take us long to get there."
Then they started on their journey. When they got outside the village,
they saw ten mounted men rush past, all clad in spotless white, like to
the finest wheat flour. As soon as they vanished, another ten appeared,
and could be very well seen in the moonlight, when suddenly John said:
"How beautifully shines the moon, the moon;
"How beautifully march past the dead.
"Are you afraid, my love, my little Judith?"
"I am not afraid while I can see you, my dear Jack."
As they proceeded, the girl saw a hundred mounted men; they rode past in
beautiful military order, like soldiers. So soon as the hundred vanished
another hundred appeared and followed the others. Again her lover said:
"How beautifully shines the moon, the moon;
"How beautifully march past the dead.
"Are you afraid, my love, my little Judith?"
"I am not afraid while I can see you, my darling Jack."
And as they proceeded the mounted men appeared in fast increasing
numbers, so that she could not count them; some rode past so close that
they nearly brushed against her. Again her lover said:
"How beautifully shines the moon, the moon;
"How beautifully march past the dead.
"Are you afraid, my love, my little Judith?"
"I am not afraid while I see you, Jack, my darling."
"You are a brave and good girl, my dove; I see that you would do
anything for me. As a reward, you shall have everything that your heart
can wish when we get to my new country."
They went along till they came to an old burial-ground, which was
inclosed by a black wall. John stopped here and said to his sweetheart:
"This is our country, my little Judith, we shall soon come to our
house." The house to which John alluded was an open grave, at the bottom
of which an empty coffin could be seen with the lid off. "Go in, my
darling," said the lad. "You had better go first, my love Jack," replied
the girl, "you know the way." Thereupon the lad descended into the grave
and laid down in the coffin; but the lass, instead of following him, ran
away as fast as her feet would carry her, and took refuge in a mansion
that was situated a couple of miles from the cemetery. When she had
reached the mansion she shook every door, but none of them would open to
her entreaties, except one that led to a long corridor, at the end of
which there was a dead body laid out in state in a coffin. The lass
secreted herself in a dark corner of the fire-place.
As soon as John discovered that his bride had run away he jumped out of
the grave and pursued the lass, but in spite of all his exertions could
not overtake her. When he reached the door at the end of the corridor he
knocked and exclaimed: "Dead man, open the door to a fellow dead man."
The corpse inside began to tremble at the sound of these words. Again
said Jack, "Dead man, open the door to a fellow dead man." Now the
corpse sat up in the coffin, and as Jack repeated a third time the words
"Dead man, open the door to a fellow dead man," the corpse walked to the
door and opened it.
"Is my bride here?"
"Yes, there she is, hiding in the corner of the fire-place."
"Come and let us tear her in pieces." And with this intention they both
approached the girl, but just as they were about to lay hands upon her
the cock in the loft began to crow, and announced daybreak, and the two
dead men disappeared.
The next moment a most richly attired gentleman entered from one of the
neighbouring rooms. Judging by his appearance one would have believed it
was the king himself, who at once approached the girl and overwhelmed
her with his embraces and kisses.
"Thank you so much. The corpse that you saw here laid out in state was
my brother. I have already had him buried three hundred and sixty-five
times with the greatest pomp, but he has returned each time. As you have
relieved me of him, my sweet, pretty darling, you shall become mine and
I yours; not even the hoe and the spade shall separate us from one
another!"
The girl consented to the proposal of the rich gentleman, and they got
married and celebrated their wedding-feast during the same winter.
This is how far the tale goes. This is the end of it.
SNAKE SKIN.
Far, very far, there was once, I do not know where, even beyond the
frozen Operencian Sea, a poplar-tree, on the top of which there was a
very old, tattered petticoat. In the tucks of this old petticoat I found
the following tale. Whosoever listens to it will not see the kingdom of
heaven.
There was in the world a poor man and this poor man had twelve sons. The
man was so poor that sometimes he had not even enough wood to make a
fire with. So he had frequently to go into the forest and would pick up
there what he could find. One day, as he could not come across anything
else, he was just getting ready to cut up a huge tree-stump, and, in
fact, had already driven his axe into it, when an immense,
dread-inspiring serpent, as big as a grown-up lad, crept out of the
stump. The poor man began to ponder whether to leave it or to take it
home with him; it might bring him luck or turn out a disastrous venture.
At last he made up his mind that after all was said and done he would
take it home with him. And so it happened, he picked up the creature and
carried it home. His wife was not a little astonished at seeing him
arrive with his burden, and said, "What on earth induced you, master, to
bring that ugly creature home? It will frighten all the children to
death."
"No fear, wife," replied the man; "they won't be afraid of it; on the
contrary, they will be glad to have it to play with."
As it was just meal-time, the poor woman dished out the food and placed
it on the table. The twelve children were soon seated and busily engaged
with their spoons, when suddenly the serpent began to talk from
underneath the table, and said, "Mother, dear, let me have some of that
soup."
They were all not a little astonished at hearing a serpent talk; and the
woman ladled out a plateful of soup and placed it under the bench. The
snake crept to the plate and in another minute had drunk up the soup,
and said: "I say, father, will you go into the larder and fetch me a
loaf of bread?"
"Alas! my son," replied the poor man, "it is long--very long--since
there was any bread in the larder. I was wealthy then; but now the very
walls of the larder are coming down."
"Just try, father, and fetch me a loaf from there."
"What's the good of my going, when there is nothing to be found there?"
"Just go and see."
After a good deal of pressing the poor man went to the larder when--oh,
joy!--he was nearly blinded by the sight of the mass of gold, silver,
and other treasure; it glittered on all sides. Moreover, bacon and hams
were hanging from the roof, casks filled with honey, milk, &c., standing
on the floor; the bins were full of flour; in a word, there were to be
seen all imaginable things to bake and roast. The poor man rushed back
and fetched the family to see the miracle, and they were all astounded,
but did not dare to touch anything.
Then the serpent again spoke and said "Listen to me, mother dear. Go up
to the king and ask him to give me his daughter in marriage."
"Oh, my dear son, how can you ask me to do that? You must know that the
king is a great man, and he would not even listen to a pauper like
myself."
"Just go and try."
So the poor woman went to the king's palace, knocked at the door, and,
entering, greeted the king, and said: "May the Lord grant you a happy
good day, gracious king!"
"May the Lord grant the same to you, my good woman. What have you
brought? What can I do for you?"
"Hum! most gracious king, I hardly dare to speak ... but still I will
tell you.... My son has sent me to request your majesty to give him your
youngest daughter in marriage."
"I will grant him the request, good woman, on one condition. If your son
will fill with gold a sack of the size of a full-grown man, and send it
here, he can have the princess at any minute."
The poor woman was greatly pleased at hearing this; returned home and
delivered the message.
"That can easily be done, dear mother. Let's have a wagon, and the king
shall have the gold to a grain."
And so it happened. They borrowed a wagon of the king, the serpent
filled a sack of the required size full of gold, and put a heap of gold
and diamonds loose in the wagon besides. The king was not a little
astonished, and exclaimed, "Well! upon my word, although I am a king I
do not possess so much gold as this lad." And the princess was
accordingly given away.
It happened that the two elder princesses were also to be married
shortly, and orders were issued by the king that the wedding of his
youngest daughter should take place at the same time. The state carriage
was therefore wheeled out of the shed, six fine horses were put to it,
the youngest princess sat in it and drove straight to the poor man's
cottage to fetch her bridegroom. But the poor girl very nearly jumped
out of the coach when she saw the snake approaching. But the snake tried
to allay her fears and said, "Don't shrink from me, I am your
bridegroom," and with this crept into the carriage. The bride--poor
thing, what could she do?--put her arm round the snake and covered him
with her shawl, as she did not wish to let the whole town know her
misfortune. Then they drove to church. The priest threw up his arms in
amazement when he saw the bridegroom approach the altar. From church
they drove to the castle. There kings, princes, dukes, barons, and
deputy-lieutenants of the counties were assembled at the festival and
enjoying themselves; they were all dancing their legs off in true Magyar
style, and very nearly kicked out the sides of the dancing-room, when
suddenly the youngest princess entered, followed by her bridegroom, who
crept everywhere after her. The king upon seeing this grew very angry,
and exclaimed, "Get out of my sight! A girl who will marry such a
husband does not deserve to stay under the same roof with me, and I will
take care that you two do not remain here. Body-guards, conduct this
woman with her snake-husband down into the poultry-yard, and lock them
up in the darkest poultry-house among the geese. Let them stay there,
and don't allow them to come here to shock my guests with their
presence."
And so it happened. The poor couple were locked up with the geese; there
they were left crying and weeping, and lived in great sorrow until the
day when the curse expired, and the snake--who was a bewitched
prince--became a very handsome young man, whose very hair was of pure
gold. And, as you may imagine, great was the bride's joy when she saw
the change.
"I say, love," spoke her prince, "I will go home to my father's and
fetch some clothes and other things; in the meantime, stay here; don't
be afraid. I shall be back ere long without fail."
Then the prince shook himself and became a white pigeon, and flew away.
Having arrived at his father's place he said to his parent, "My dear
father, let me have back my former horse, my saddle, sword, gun, and all
my other goods and chattels. The power of the curse has now passed away,
and I have taken a wife to myself."
"The horse is in the stables, my son, and all your other things are up
in the loft."
The prince led out his horse, fetched down his things from the loft, put
on his rich uniform all glittering with gold, mounted his charger, and
flew up into the air. He was yet at a good distance from the castle
where the festivities were still going on, when all the loveliest
princesses turned out and crowded the balconies to see who the great
swell was whom they saw coming. He did not pass under the crossbeam of
the gate, but flew over it like a bird. He tied his charger to a tree in
the yard, and then entered the castle and walked among the dancers. The
dance was immediately stopped, everybody gazed upon him and admired him,
and tried to get into his favour. For amusement several of the guests
did various tricks; at last his turn came, and by Jove! he did show them
things that made the guests open their mouths and eyes in astonishment.
He could transform himself into a wild duck, a pigeon, a quail, and so
on, into anything one could conceive of.
After the conjuring was over he went into the poultry-yard to fetch his
bride. He made her a hundred times prettier than she already was, and
dressed her up in rich garments of pure silver and gold. The assembled
guests were very sorry that the handsome youth in rich attire, who had
shown them such amusing and clever tricks, had so soon left them.
All at once the king remembered the newly-married couple and thought he
would go to see what the young folks were doing in the poultry-yard. He
sent down a few of his friends, who were nearly overpowered by the shine
and glitter on looking into the poultry-house. They at once unlocked the
door, and led the bride and bridegroom into their royal father's
presence. When they entered the castle, every one was struck with wonder
at discovering that the bridegroom was no one else than the youth who
had amused them shortly before.
Then the bridegroom walked up to the king and said: "Gracious majesty,
my father and king, for the past twelve years I lay under a curse and
was compelled to wear a serpent's skin. When I entered, not long ago,
your castle in my former plight, I was the laughing-stock of everybody,
all present mocked me. But now, as my time of curse has passed, let me
see the man who can put himself against me."
"There is, indeed, nobody, no man living," replied the king.
The bridegroom then led off his bride to the dance, and celebrated such
a fine wedding, that it was talked of over seven countries.
THE FAIRIES' WELL.
Tale, tale, mate; a black little bird flew on the tree; it broke one of
its legs; a new cloak, a shabby old cloak; it put it on.