Once there was a king who groaned many a day; doctors came from far
and near, but they could not cure him. At last his condition was such
that one day all thought he must die. The following night he had a
marvellous dream. It seemed to him that he was on Black Island, had
freed three princesses, and straightway recovered. When he woke he
felt a certain relief, but had almost forgotten the dream. The next
night he had the same dream, and again on waking felt easier, but did
not ascribe the relief to his dream. The third night he had no dream,
but a vision, in which the three princesses appeared to him and said:
"Free us, and thou wilt recover; if not, thou wilt die." Then they
vanished, and the terrified king felt such pain that he could barely
wait till morning. He summoned his twelve sons in haste, and when he
had told them of his vision he said in a sad voice: "But how can I,
poor man, go on a long journey to Black Island, of which I have never
even heard?"
"I will go instead of thee," said Boyislav, the youngest son, with
decision.
"We will all go," said the others, looking angrily at Boyislav, whom
they hated with all their hearts, because he was his father's
favorite.
"Ye cannot all leave me; and thou, Boyislav, surely not," said the
king, shaking his head. "Who would there be to reign in my place?"
"Let Boyislav stay at home," said the eldest; "besides, he would be
merely a hindrance to us on the road."
"I a hindrance!" said Boyislav, flushing up with anger and pity. "Let
me go, father; I will free the princesses alone."
His brothers began to laugh at him and then to dispute as to who
should go to Black Island. Since they could not decide, the king said:
"I know that ye would all gladly serve me, but since some of you must
stay at home, I will make six blank lots and six written ones; whoever
draws a written one will go, whoever a blank will remain."
The princes were satisfied and drew lots. They were angry when
Boyislav drew a prize, and the king was sad; but he had given his word
and could not withdraw it. That very day the princes set out and
Boyislav with them. While on dry land they were prosperous; it was
worse when they entered a boat and knew not whither to turn. Boyislav
said that they ought to go north, but his brothers laughed at him.
When they had sailed many weeks in one direction and another without
finding Black Island, they were glad to follow his advice; and the
third day they arrived at the place, but so terrible was it that no
one dared to land save Boyislav. He took provisions and sprang on
shore, telling his brothers to await his return. While light lasted he
ran up and down on the island, but saw nothing except black rocks. He
was forced to pass the night on a bare stone, but rose early,
completely refreshed by sleep, and examined farther.
One day passed, and a second; the third day appeared, and still he
found nothing. At last, in the evening, he came to a large stone,
which seemed to him hewn out by men's hands. He lifted with all his
might, turned it over, and found a great dark opening, from which a
pleasant odor arose. He went down without delay, and soon found
himself in a glorious garden, in which were three golden castles at a
great distance. He gazed with astonishment; though there were things
there without number such as he had never seen before, still his
attention was attracted first by three horses, which rushed around him
three times in a wild gallop, and then vanished in the twinkle of an
eye. Boyislav looked after them, and heard a voice saying: "I welcome
thee, Boyislav, youngest of twelve!"
He looked on every side, but could see no one. The voice cried out the
second time: "I welcome thee, Boyislav, youngest of twelve!"
Now he knew where the voice came from; but though he went in that
direction and examined everything very carefully, he could see no one.
Only after the voice had called much louder than the first and second
time, "I welcome thee, Boyislav, youngest of twelve!" did he see
behind a rock a famished little horse, so poor that he could count all
its ribs.
"What dost thou want of me?" asked Boyislav, not a little astonished
that the horse knew him.
"'Tis thy wish to free the three princesses," answered the horse;
"then listen to what I advise: In the first castle thou wilt find the
first princess, who will greet thee with kindness beyond measure, and
offer thee food and drink. Eat with relish, but let not the princess
eat with thee or kiss thee. Take what is left of the food when thou
hast eaten, and go to the second castle; there the second princess
will greet thee with still greater kindness, and offer food and drink.
Eat with relish, but for no reason let her eat with thee or kiss thee.
Take what is left after eating, and go to the third castle, where the
third princess will give thee the most kindly reception of all, and
place food and drink before thee; eat freely, but let not the princess
eat with thee or kiss thee. Take what is left, and come here to me."
"Is nothing more needed to gain their freedom?" asked Boyislav.
"Nothing," answered the horse; "but thou must not speak a word all
this time."
"That is very easy," thought Boyislav.
But the horse said with great emphasis: "Have a care; for to thee 'tis
a question of life or death."
Boyislav went with quick step to the first castle, where a princess
of wonderful beauty ran forth toward him. "I welcome thee, Boyislav,
youngest of twelve!" cried she, with glad voice. "How art thou here?
Come to my chamber; let me give thee good cheer. What is thy father
doing? How are thy brothers?"
Then she took his hand and seated him at the table, to which she
brought the most savory food and drink, continually speaking of his
home. But he gave no regard; and when she wished to eat with him, he
thrust her aside without mercy. Then he seized what was left of the
food and hurried away. The princess gave him the sweetest of names,
and stretched her hands toward him, but he acted as if he neither saw
her nor heard her.
At the second castle a still more beautiful princess ran toward him,
greeted him with still greater gladness, led him into a chamber,
seated him at a table, and brought the most savory food and drink,
talking continually. She moved toward him, wishing to kiss him; but he
thrust her aside very rudely, so that she fell to the floor. Before
she could rise he had taken what was left of the food, and was gone.
He had barely reached the third castle when a princess ran out to meet
him. She was far more beautiful than the other two, and wished to fall
on his neck straightway. He was amazed at her beauty; but keeping in
mind the words of the horse, he thrust her away. But still she led him
into the castle, seated him at a table in the loftiest chamber, and
entertained him with the best food and drink. Boyislav ate and drank
heartily, but when the princess wished to eat, he pushed her aside so
rudely that, after staggering a few steps, she fell to the floor.
Then, quickly gathering the remnants of food, he ran off, though the
princess called him with heart-rending voice.
When he came to the horse he spread on the rock the remnants of food,
which the horse devoured eagerly. "What now?" asked Boyislav.
"Go for the three princesses, and bring them to thy brothers in the
boat; they are free, for they are the horses which thou hast seen
running around thee. A wicked sorceress enchanted them, so that twelve
hours they were horses and twelve hours princesses. Then come for me,
or thou wilt suffer."
Boyislav did as the horse desired, and brought to his brothers the
three princesses, who, with tearful eyes, thanked him for their
liberation. Then he returned to the horse, which said, with sad voice:
"Too bad! too bad!"
"What has happened?" asked Boyislav.
"Thou art unfortunate," answered the horse; "thy departure from home
was unfortunate, for know that thy brothers have gone."
"Then I must perish here!" cried Boyislav.
"Now thou wilt not perish; but hadst thou gone on the boat thy death
would be sure, for thy brothers had conspired to kill thee."
"Oh, the thankless wretches!" cried Boyislav. "What shall I do now?"
"If thou wilt obey me," said the horse, "thou wilt gain thy object in
time. Go now to the garden of the first castle, and pluck four golden
apples, but only four."
Boyislav went, and for the first time noticed the beauty of the whole
garden; he went back and forth, and would have soon forgotten the
apples had he not heard the neighing of the horse. Now he saw the tree
with golden apples, and plucked four. Since they were so beautiful, he
wanted more, but the horse neighed so fiercely that the whole castle
trembled; his arm, which was stretched to the apples, dropped of
itself, and he returned to the horse, which said, "Now sit on me."
Boyislav did so, and the horse bore him soon to the shore of the sea,
and said, "Throw an apple in the sea."
"But it is a pity to lose it!" said Boyislav.
"Throw it in!" repeated the horse, with stern voice; and Boyislav
obeyed. That moment a road five hundred miles long rose out of the
sea. The horse stepped on the road, and hurried along night and day.
When the domes of a great city were seen in the distance, he said to
Boyislav: "Now we are going to Red Island, to a king who has a very
ugly daughter; but have no fear in the world of her. When she casts
eyes on thee, say that thou art seeking a bride, but before choosing
thou must consult thy father. Then the king will offer thee a present;
take nothing but a piece of rope for my bridle."
Boyislav promised obedience. When they came to Red Island, the road
sank in the sea, and the horse hurried on. Boyislav left him on the
meadow outside the city, and went straight to the king's castle, where
he was courteously received. "Where art thou going, noble prince?"
asked the king.
"In search of a bride," answered Boyislav; and the king led him to his
daughter. She was so ugly that Boyislav was frightened.
"Does she not please thee?" asked the king.
"Oh, she pleases me," said Boyislav,--"pleases me greatly; but first I
must talk with my father." The king smiled, and led his guest to the
supper-chamber, where he was entertained in king's fashion. Boyislav
wished to go very soon, but the king took him first to his treasury,
and offered him much gold and silver.
"Thanks to thy Grace!" answered Boyislav. "My father has great
treasures also; but if thou wilt make me some present, give me a piece
of rope to repair my horse's bridle."
"Oh, I will give thee a splendid bridle and saddle!" said the king.
But Boyislav answered: "I wish no rich outfit on the road; it is an
enticement to robbers."
The king tried to persuade him, but could not; then he had a rope
brought which was very slender, but very long, so that Boyislav was
hardly able to bear it away. After a kindly farewell to the king and
the princess, he hastened outside the town, where the horse called
from a distance: "Thou hast done well; now wind that rope round my
body."
Boyislav opened the bundle, and a whole hour passed before he could
wind the rope around the horse. When he had finished, they hurried to
the sea, where the horse said, "Throw a second apple in the sea."
"But it would be an eternal pity!" said Boyislav.
"I tell thee to throw the second apple in the sea!" repeated the
horse, with stern voice. Boyislav obeyed. That moment five hundred
miles of road rose from the waves of the sea, along which the horse
rushed like the wind, night and day. When the domes of a great city
were visible in the distance, he said to Boyislav: "Now we are coming
to Green Island, ruled by a king who has a daughter, not beautiful and
not ugly; thou wilt say that thou art looking for a bride, but before
choosing thou must consult thy father. When thou art taking leave, the
king will offer all kinds of jewels as a gift; accept nothing, but ask
for the cloth of the table from which thou hast eaten."
Boyislav promised this. When they had come to Green Island, the road
sank in the sea, and the horse hurried toward the city. The horse
remained in a meadow outside the gates. Boyislav went to the palace,
where he was welcomed by the king, and presented to the princess.
"What brought thee to me?" asked the king.
"I am in search of a bride," answered Boyislav, looking at the
princess, who seemed pleased at his words.
"And hast thou found one?" asked the king.
"Not yet," replied Boyislav.
"Does my daughter not please thee?" The princess blushed.
"Oh, she pleases me greatly," said Boyislav, "but first I must talk
with my father."
The king frowned at these words, and the princess was flushed with
anger; but Boyislav changed not, and was so courteous that the king
grew ashamed, and conducted him to the supper-chamber, where there was
a small table covered with a poor-looking cloth, but upon which stood
the choicest food and drink. Boyislav ate with relish. When he had
finished, the king took him to his treasure-chamber, where he offered
him the richest presents; but Boyislav said: "My father has many
treasures, and I prefer to travel unburdened." When the king insisted
on his taking something as a keepsake, even if of the smallest value,
Boyislav said: "Give me the cloth of the table on which I was
entertained by thee."
"Oh, I should be ashamed to give such a thing," said the king. "I
will give thee another very skilfully woven."
"I want no other," answered Boyislav, making ready to go.
"Then take it," said the king, giving the cloth with evident
reluctance.
Boyislav parted with him and the princess, and hastened to the horse,
which called out from afar: "Thou hast done well; now sit on my back,
we'll fare farther." Boyislav sprang on the horse, and he raced over
Green Island till he came to the sea.
"Throw the third apple in the sea," said the horse.
"But 'tis a pity forever to lose it," said Boyislav.
"Throw the third apple in the sea, I say," commanded the horse,
sternly; and Boyislav obeyed.
That moment a road five hundred miles long rose from the waves of the
sea. The horse ran like a flash, day and night, till they saw in the
distance the domes of a great city.
"Now we are nearing White Island," said the horse, "where a king
reigns who has the most beautiful daughter under the sun. All the
people on the island are asleep; for in the king's palace a taper is
burning which never burns out, and till some one quenches it they must
all sleep. Go to the palace, look at the princess as much as may
please thee, then take the taper, but be careful that it does not go
out on a sudden; if it is quenched, run to me with all speed or thou
wilt have trouble."
Boyislav promised to obey faithfully. When they came to White Island
the road sank in the sea. Boyislav, leaving his horse before the gates
of the city, hastened to the palace. The most luxuriant trees were
growing all over the island, and beautiful flowers were in bloom; the
city was splendid, the palace of silver and gold, but nowhere was a
living creature to be seen. Boyislav moved on carefully through the
empty streets as if afraid of waking some person. When he entered the
palace he was amazed at its matchless beauty, but all was as nothing
in comparison with the beauty of the princess who was sleeping on a
dark purple couch in the last chamber. She was clothed in a light
garment, white as new-fallen snow, her dark hair fell on her white,
slightly moving bosom, her lips were half open, her teeth shone like
pearls, and her whole figure was so full of charm that Boyislav held
his breath. With head inclined, with crossed hands, he looked at her
long,--forgot the horse, the taper, and the whole world, not thinking
whether he was living; he only felt that the princess was beautiful.
When he had waited a long time he remembered the taper, looked around
the room, saw it on the table, and saw on two couches the king and
queen. He stepped quickly to the table to quench the taper and rouse
the princess, when all at once he heard the horse neigh so fiercely
that the palace trembled to its foundation; his hand dropped of
itself, and he muttered: "Thanks to thee, oh horse! Had I quenched
the taper all would have risen, and who knows what might have come to
me?"
He took the taper quickly and turned away, but when passing through
the door he could not refrain from looking at the princess again; she
seemed still more beautiful. He put the taper on the table, knelt and
kissed her hand; with that her face became ruddy as a rose, and around
her mouth appeared a smile. He sprang up; and as dark night had come,
he thought of his return, seized the taper quickly, looked at the
princess, wrote on the table, "Boyislav, youngest of twelve," and went
from the palace, taking care that the taper should not be quenched. He
reached the gate of the city, but there the taper was blown out by the
wind. That moment was heard in the city a shout, which grew louder the
longer it lasted; but the trusty steed appeared and bore him in a
flash to the shore of the sea.
"Throw in the last apple," said the horse.
Boyislav obeyed without a murmur. That moment there rose from the
waves a road which reached to firm land, and as dawn was appearing
they came to the shore. Then the road sank in the sea.
"Now come down," said the horse; "let me rest, and do thou rest, too."
The horse went to the green meadow, and Boyislav lay on the grass and
mused on the princess of White Island. Since he was wearied greatly,
he fell asleep, but thought of the princess so that he sighed from
sorrow when the horse roused him and said, "Let us go."
Boyislav mounted in silence. They travelled till they saw the domes of
a great city. "What city is this?" inquired Boyislav.
"Seest not," asked the horse, "that is thy birthplace?"
"Sure enough! Go quickly, dear horse, that I may embrace my father."
"Hurry not," said the horse; "for it would be better for thee not to
go."
"Why?" asked Boyislav with wonder.
"Because thy father has uttered sentence of death against thee."
"I do not believe that," replied Boyislav, shaking his head; and the
horse was silent.
Boyislav's heart beat with joy when he entered the gates of his native
place, but his joy was short-lived. He had scarcely passed one street
when people began to gather around him, till at last an officer of the
king's army seized the bridle of his horse, and ordered the people who
were standing around to seize his arms. All rushed like hungry birds
of prey on the terrified Boyislav.
"What art thou doing!" cried he, when at length he recovered himself.
"Do ye not know that I am your prince?"
"Prince or not," cried all, "we know thee well enough to know that
to-morrow thou wilt dance in the air." They took the unfortunate
Boyislav to the castle, where, by command of the king, he was cast
into a dark dungeon, and his horse, which they all laughed at, was
shut up in a pen. The officer who brought Boyislav to the palace got a
great reward, and went in high glee to the nearest inn to drink with
his comrades.
Why was the king enraged with his favorite son? Because shameless lies
had been told by his other sons. When Boyislav brought the three
princesses of Black Island to the boat and returned for his horse, his
brothers weighed anchor at once and sailed off. On the way they forced
the unfortunate princesses to promise on oath to tell the king that
they were the liberators, and to say that Boyislav on Black Island had
attached himself to a worthless woman, and made sport of his old
father.
Meanwhile they agreed to cast lots for the princesses. When the
brothers declared their wish, the princesses said that they would not
break their oaths, but could never be the wives of such men. The
brothers paid small heed to this, for their hearts were hard. They
were satisfied with having got rid of Boyislav. They ordered the
oarsmen to press on. As a favorable wind blew without stopping, they
soon arrived safely on firm land, where they hired horses and hurried
to their native place.
The king, who had recovered as soon as the princesses on Black Island
were freed, welcomed his sons and the princesses with tears in his
eyes. But how he flushed up with anger when they told the story to
which they had been forced by oath! He ordered the death of Boyislav
at once, and offered a great reward for his capture. The wicked
brothers rubbed their hands with glee, but the princesses withdrew to
the chambers given them by the king, and passed their time in silent
grief.
The king was astonished at this, and wished to know what prince they
loved; he would give his blessing at once, and the proper income. But
the princesses only shook their heads, and the king asked his sons the
reason of the princesses' sorrow. The young men evaded the question,
saying that perhaps the princesses were homesick. At last they led the
conversation to Boyislav. The king flushed up with anger, which was
all his sons wanted, so as to avoid speaking of the princesses of
Black Island, for they knew nothing about them.
And now, when Boyislav was in prison, they continued to excite the
king to give an order forbidding any one to ask mercy for him under
pain of death. "Why should I endanger my life?" thought every one;
"the king of course knows why he puts his son to death." Many pitied
the prince, but only one man shed tears. He was an old warrior who had
once commanded the king's armies, and was retained as a friend of the
king; he did not believe that Boyislav deserved death, and resolved to
ask pardon for him. "Well," thought he, "I shall not live till
spring, and it is all the same whether I die a day earlier or later. I
have been in danger of death times without number and have never been
even wounded; perhaps I shall escape now."
He went bravely to the king, who greeted him very kindly, as was his
wont. "What dost thou wish?" asked he of the old man, who was silent.
"I ask mercy for Boyislav," said he.
"How darest thou slight my order?" asked the king, angrily. "Knowest
not thou art doomed to death?"
"I know," answered the old man with dignity; "but I fear not death. I
mean to say that thou art disgracing thyself by giving thy own blood
to the hangman."
The king was struck with these words, and walked up and down the room
with bowed head.
"Who knows whether Boyislav is really guilty or not?" said the old
man, "for the conduct of the princesses from Black Island is strange."
"Thou art right, and I will not give him to the hangman; but still he
must die. I shall have him confined with the lions. Let them tear
him."
The old man made further effort, but the king would not be persuaded.
When night came Boyislav was taken secretly from prison and shut in
with the lions. But the brothers were not satisfied yet; they told the
king that Boyislav could easily escape, and advised him to wall up
the doors. The king consented, and the next day the doors were walled
up, there remaining only a small opening on the other side. This was
fortunate, for otherwise Boyislav must have perished for want of air.
He looked at the lions without fear; they did not harm him. Then he
took out the taper and the tablecloth, which he kept in his bosom,
lighted the taper, laid the cloth on the ground, and asked for the
choicest food; it appeared. He fed the lions first, then ate and drank
himself. The lions lay at his feet in thankfulness; he lay on them and
fell asleep. When awake he played with the lions,--who in a few days
were tame,--or thought of the princess on White Island. In this way
his days passed quickly, and before he knew it a whole year had gone.
Meanwhile the princess of White Island travelled over the world with
an army in search of her liberator; she had already visited many
kings, but in no royal family had she found twelve sons. At last she
came to the dominions of the old king and learned that he had twelve
sons. Her heart jumped for joy, and she marched night and day till she
appeared before the capital. Straightway she sent messengers to the
king, asking him to send her that prince who had freed her and her
whole kingdom.
The king called the five princes who went with Boyislav, and asked if
they had been on White Island.
"Of course!" answered the truthless princes; and the eldest one
shamelessly added that he had freed its princess.
"Then hurry to her," said the king. He went.
"Where is the taper?" asked the princess when he came; but he knew
nothing of it. Thereupon the princess became so angry that she drew
her sword and cut off his head with a blow.
Again she sent the messenger with the announcement that if her
liberator were not sent, she would turn the city into dust and ashes.
"I freed her," said the second prince to the frightened king.
"Then go to her."
When she asked the second prince about the taper, he could give no
answer, and lost his life. The messenger returned to the king, and
told him what had happened to the two princes; the three remaining
ones were so terrified that they confessed the truth.
The old man, Boyislav's savior, now said to the king, "I told thee
Boyislav was innocent; thou wouldst not believe me. Now see how thou
hast saved thy city from destruction, for the princess will surely
carry out her threat unless Boyislav is delivered up."
"But how can I deliver him up when he is dead?" asked the king.
"He is not dead," replied the old man, joyfully, "for there is still a
little opening in the lions' den, and there is light there night and
day."
The king sprang up joyfully, hastened to the den, and had the
walled-up doors opened. Boyislav looked on this carelessly; and when
the king implored him with tenderness to come out, that he forgave him
all, he shook his head saying: "I will not go, it is good enough for
me here."
"But the princess will destroy my city," said the king.
"What princess?" asked Boyislav with curiosity.
"The princess from White Island."
In silence, but with gladness in his eyes, Boyislav quenched the
taper, folded the tablecloth, and taking both with him walked out.
When he went with the messenger to the princess, his heart beat with
anxiety so that he could not raise his eyes when he stood before her.
"Thou art the man!" exclaimed the princess, joyfully. But when
Boyislav knew not what to answer, she said reproachfully: "Has the
ardor with which thou didst kiss me grown cold?"
"It has not," murmured Boyislav, wishing to kiss the golden hem of her
robe.
The princess raised him up, and kissing him, said: "This is the
earnest of our betrothal."
Boyislav was glad to respond; and now all returned to the castle,
where feasting began, which was to be closed by the wedding of the
princess and Boyislav. All were rejoiced except the princesses of
Black Island, who were as sad as ever. The three princes who had gone
to Black Island were in deathly terror. Boyislav in the middle of the
feast grew sad, and when asked the reason, he inquired: "Where is my
trusty horse?"
No one could answer him, till at last one of the servants remembered
that the horse had been shut up in a pen. To the great astonishment of
all, Boyislav ran out to him, fell upon his neck, and shed tears of
joy.
"Thou hast done well to come," said the horse, sadly, "or I should
have perished with hunger; for the cord brought from Red Island is
eaten. Every span of it became a bundle of hay. But now thou hast
attained thy object, and I am needed no longer; cut off my head."
"I cut off thy head!" exclaimed Boyislav.
"Then thou dost not wish to free me," said the horse, with chiding
voice.
Boyislav drew his sword and cut off the horse's head at one blow. The
horse disappeared in an instant, but in his stead appeared a beautiful
prince, who fell on Boyislav's neck and shed tears of joy.
"What is this?" asked Boyislav, full of astonishment.
"Come to supper," said the prince; "I will explain it all." Both
hurried to supper; scarcely were they at the door, when the youngest
princess from Black Island fell into his arms, and the other two
pressed his hands. When they had recovered from the first surprise,
the prince said: "I am the only son of a powerful king, whose
dominions are not far from Black Island. I would not marry the
daughter of a queen who was a witch, and she enchanted me; and the
princesses of Black Island--the youngest of whom is my bride--were
turned into horses twelve hours of each day. Boyislav freed the
princesses first, and now has freed me. The moment I regained my form,
the spell was removed from Black Island."
All were delighted with Boyislav; but the king was thoughtful, and
seemed to ponder over important things. At last he summoned the three
princes who went with Boyislav to Black Island, and gave command to
throw them to the lions; the lions tore them to pieces in an instant.
Now came new festivities; and when all was finished, Boyislav went
with his wife to White Island; and the liberated prince, with his wife
and sisters, went to Black Island, where they celebrated at once their
wedding and their liberation.