There was a king, and he had seven sons,--young men strong and healthy
as deer, except the seventh, the youngest, whose name was Jalmir. He
was in his twentieth year, and still a nurse had to care for him as
for a little child. It was pitiful to look at Jalmir; he was as
shapely as a maiden, and beautiful as a spring day, still could not
walk from weakness. How much the king had paid to doctors, quacks, and
every kind of old woman, to cure him, but in vain! At last the
afflicted father lost all hope that his dearest son would ever grow
strong.
For this reason there reigned in the king's palace deep distress,
which was in no way to the taste of Jalmir's brothers, especially
since they could not hunt in the neighborhood. "What shall we do in
future?" asked the eldest one day when they were resting in the forest
after a hunt. "Let us go into the world."
"Yes, yes!" answered all the others. They went home and laid their
wishes before their father.
"What am I to do?" objected the king. "Jalmir is sickly; I shall be
without aid in my old age."
The sons agreed with him in this, but wheedled him so slyly that at
last they received his consent to go out in the world. They rushed
with rejoicing to the stable, chose the best horses, took what money
they could, and that same day rode away from their father's house at a
gallop, without even saying good-by to their brother Jalmir. How
strange was the feeling at the heart of the poor fellow when his nurse
told him of this! He turned from her in silence; but under the pillow
with which he covered his face he shed many tears. When it was growing
dark the nurse hurried out of his chamber to chat with the servants.
She began with the cook, and they talked till midnight was near before
she knew it.
Meanwhile Jalmir was lying on his bed sadder than ever. This time he
was not thinking of his bodily pain, but of his brothers who had left
him without saying farewell; this troubled him most. He thought,
"Shall I ever be well?" and some internal voice said that he would.
Filled with hope he fell into a doze, and saw himself hunting on
horseback, and hurling a spear at wild beasts as his brothers had
done. All at once, and near midnight, a venerable man, with snow-white
beard reaching to his waist, stood before the bed, and said: "Jalmir
art thou sleeping?"
Jalmir started, opened his eyes, but saw no one. "That was a dream,"
thought he. He meditated a while, and again closed his eyes. After a
short time the old man stood before him again, and asked: "Jalmir art
thou sleeping?" Jalmir opened his eyes quickly, but saw no one. "That
was only a dream then," said he to himself, and again closed his eyes.
But soon the old man stood before him and inquired a third time:
"Jalmir art thou sleeping?"
"I am not," said Jalmir, and rubbing his eyes, saw the old man at his
bed.
"Rise in the morning," said the old man, "provide thyself with
everything for the road, and go through the southern gate. Outside the
town thou wilt find under an old pear-tree a white horse; mount that
horse and ride after thy brothers." Then the old man vanished in a
twinkle.
Jalmir rubbed his eyes again, and looked around his chamber, but there
was no old man anywhere. "It was only a dream," thought he. Again he
lay down and slept soundly; but when he woke in the morning he felt so
well that he sprang from his bed, and jumped around the chamber from
gladness. His nurse returned at that moment; but when she saw that her
weakly charge was well, she ran to the king, and before she had
reached the door, cried: "Jalmir is well!"
The king went out, and asked in a sad voice: "Hast thou lost thy
senses?"
"He is really well," said the nurse with greater rejoicing; but the
king shook his head.
Meanwhile Jalmir recollected his supposed dream, and ascribed his
recovery to that majestic old man. "Since he has cured me, I must
obey him," said he to himself. He dressed quickly and went to the
king. When the king saw him he believed the nurse, and, thoroughly
happy, fell on the young man's neck; but he was astonished still more
when Jalmir said: "Now, father, let me go; I must follow my brothers."
"And thou wilt leave me?" complained the father.
"I must," answered Jalmir seriously, and he told his dream. The king
shook his head incredulously, and at first would not even hear of the
departure of his favorite son; but at last he consented with tears.
Jalmir made ready for the journey without delay.
The king gave him a carriage and four servants, he took money, and
departed straightway. Outside the town he dismissed the servants,
giving them the carriage and the horses, and walked on alone to the
pear-tree, where a splendid white steed was waiting, stamping the
ground impatiently. "Sit on me, quickly," said he with the voice of a
man, "or we shall be late."
Jalmir sprang to his back and they went on, not on the ground though,
but through the air. In a short time the white steed asked: "Dost thou
see thy brothers?"
"I do not see," answered Jalmir.
"But the hill on which they are?"
"Neither do I see that."
"Thou wilt soon see it," said the steed, and hastened his course.
"Dost thou see the hill now?" asked he after a time.
"I see," answered Jalmir, "and on it are six ants."
"Those are thy brothers," said the white steed. "But now listen; we
shall soon come up with them, but do not make thyself known. We shall
pass the night in an inn. Thy brothers will feast, but will not be
able to pay, for they lost all their money foolishly yesterday. Pay
for them; in the morning we shall go farther."
Jalmir promised to do this, and then the white steed came down to the
earth. Soon they overtook the brothers, who did not know Jalmir; and
indeed, how could they in that stately, fiery hero recognize their
weakly brother. Jalmir bowed to them courteously, and asked permission
to travel in their company.
"But where art thou going?" inquired one of the brothers.
"To see the world," answered Jalmir.
"We too," cried the others; "so thou must go with us."
Jalmir bowed to them, and in silence agreed with a nod. But his
brothers all gave him their hands, and soon began to tell him how
delightfully they had passed the previous day. Jalmir did not,
however, find much that was pleasant in it, and frowned.
"Art sorry that thou wert not there?" asked one of the brothers.
"Never mind, we can have such days yet without number."
With that they came to an inn. The innkeeper, seeing through the
window so many lords, ran out and took the horses. When he took the
white steed, Jalmir asked: "Hast thou a stable apart?"
"Yes; and such a one!" boasted the innkeeper.
"Then put my horse in it alone," said Jalmir, "for he is very
vicious."
Then he followed his brothers to a room where they were already seated
at a table, and calling with terrible uproar on the innkeeper for
wine. In a short time the innkeeper brought all that he had, and the
brothers drank, sang, shouted, and rioted till the inn trembled; but
Jalmir barely drank for one, because he was sick from the action of
his brothers. But how grieved was he when one of the brothers said:
"This is a different life from being at home with that grumbling
father and that sickly brother."
Gradually one after the other dropped under the table, overcome by
wine. When all were asleep Jalmir said to the innkeeper: "Be careful
that no harm comes to them; I will sleep a little too."
Then he was going to lie on a bench near the fire. "Do not," said the
innkeeper; "I have a bed ready for thee. Come with me."
Jalmir, after useless refusals, followed him at last; but before he
lay down he visited the white steed to see if he had plenty of oats
and water.
When the brothers woke in the morning they looked for Jalmir with a
great outcry: "It would have been a nice thing if he had run away
from us!" cried one to another. "Who would pay?--for I have no money."
Soon Jalmir came to the room and told them to travel farther; all was
settled.
"Thou art ours," said they. All embraced him,--'tis a wonder they did
not suffocate him. Escaping from the brothers, Jalmir went to his
horse. The brothers followed his example, and soon the inn was far
behind.
"Listen," said the white steed to Jalmir, when the brothers had gone
ahead. "In the evening we shall come to a castle, in which lives a
sorceress with her seven daughters; they will take your horses, and
lead you to a chamber. The sorceress will bring you wine after supper,
but drink not. What will take place later, thou wilt see."
"Why loiter so?" called one of the brothers suddenly to Jalmir.
"I am coming," answered he; and the white steed soon galloped so that
in a few moments he was ahead of the brothers.
"Slower or thou wilt leave us!" cried the brothers; and the white
steed waited for them of his own accord. Soon they entered a forest,
rode and rode, but there was no end to the forest; only in the evening
did they come out on a plain. In the middle of the plain was a
beautiful castle. "Oh, now we are in luck," said the brothers, and
they began to rejoice.
They galloped into the court of the castle, and were still more
rejoiced when seven princesses came forth to meet them. They sprang
from their horses in a moment to give a courteous salute; but how did
they wonder when the princesses took their horses by the bridles and
led them to the stable. Jalmir begged the youngest princess, who had
taken his steed, to put the horse in a stable apart, for he was very
vicious.
She did as he wished; he saw this, and only then did he go to the
supper chamber, where his brothers and the six princesses were already
sitting at a great table, covered with the daintiest dishes. He came
to them with the youngest princess, but ate very little, though she
urged him continually; but when the vile old woman who served them
brought wine and poured it to each one in a golden goblet, Jalmir
seized his goblet eagerly, but did not drink the wine. He poured it
out on one side.
By degrees the brothers began to doze; at last one after another they
fell asleep. Jalmir suspected that the old woman had drugged
them,--which was true,--and that she had no good thoughts regarding
them; therefore he feigned sleep so that in the hour of need he might
aid his brothers. Soon after the old woman came and put away each
brother with his partner on a couch, of which there were seven in the
adjoining chamber; then she went out, but returned straightway with a
great broom, and began to strike the brothers. First she struck the
eldest, but he moved not; when she had finished with the six she came
to Jalmir, and said to herself: "If six are asleep, so is the
seventh." She went out, but soon returned with sulphur in her hand,
and burned it under the nose of each brother. She began with the
eldest, and as not one of them moved, she said when she reached
Jalmir: "If six are asleep, so is the seventh."
She went out, but came back bringing pitch, which she burned on the
breast of each brother. She began with the eldest, and as none of them
sighed, she said when she reached Jalmir: "If six are asleep, so is
the seventh; now I may cut off their heads without fear."
Jalmir quivered; and when the old woman went out, he sprang quickly
from the couch, put each of his brothers in the place of a princess
and did the same with himself. The old woman returned with a sword,
but without a light, and cut off the heads of the seven princesses;
then she went out. Jalmir sprang up in a moment and tried to rouse his
brothers, but in vain. What anguish the poor fellow suffered; only
towards morning did the brothers wake and look in terror at the dead
bodies of the princesses. But Jalmir exclaimed in a voice of despair:
"Let us flee!" and rushed forth; the brothers followed him. In the
stable they untied their horses, and springing on them hurried in a
wild chase from the castle and across the broad plain.
The sorceress soon saw their flight, and pursued; but as they had
crossed the boundary of her castle lands she had power over them no
longer, and with work undone was forced to go home, where she cursed
herself above the dead bodies of her daughters. The brothers rode
without stopping, farther and farther, till at last the castle
disappeared from their sight; then they made the first halt to rest
and inquire of Jalmir what had been done to them. When they heard that
he had saved them from certain death, they fell upon his neck and
cried: "Tell us who thou art, since thou hast done so much for us."
"Who else but your brother Jalmir," answered he, almost swimming in
tears; and he pressed brother after brother to his breast. But how
astonished was he when he saw that they were much colder to him than
they had been when they knew him not! Still, they asked how he had
recovered, why he had ridden after them, and what their father was
doing. But gradually they grew silent and hung their heads. Beyond
doubt it was not to their liking that just the youngest of them was so
wise.
Jalmir also was silent, and his white steed dropped behind of his own
accord. When the brothers could not hear him, he said to his master:
"I told thee not to discover thyself, but thou didst not obey me. The
results thou canst lay to thyself. In a few days we shall come to a
mighty king; thou and thy brothers will enter his service. When in
need come to me for advice."
Jalmir stroked the white steed, and begged his forgiveness. From that
time the brothers were no longer joyous as before, and kept noticeably
aside from Jalmir. But since they had no money they wheedled him
greatly whenever they saw an inn, since he always paid for them. After
some days they came to a great city. Their first road, however, was to
the inn, where they ate moderately but drank beyond measure; and now
they began to do such senseless things that Jalmir went to his steed
as quickly as possible to get consolation.
When the brothers were alone the eldest said: "I have had favors
enough from that sickly brother; to-morrow we will go to the king of
this country and serve him. What do ye think?"
"We will all go with thee," cried the others; but suddenly they were
confused, for Jalmir had returned.
"Where are ye going?" inquired he. "I will go with you."
The brothers answered him sullenly, but Jalmir said he would go.
Towards evening, when the brothers had had a good sleep, they went to
the king, who made them men of his court without delay. Now they had a
good living, large pay, and almost nothing to do; but as an offset
they were still not at rest, for Jalmir was always a thorn in their
eyes, especially since the friendship of the king for him increased
every day.
Once when the brothers, from idleness, were examining the chambers of
the king's castle, they came to one in which were all kinds of books,
small and great, piled up to the ceiling. They fell to reading these
books with great eagerness.
"Brothers," cried one of them suddenly, "I read here that the king has
not a bird in his kingdom."
"Is this true?" exclaimed the others in wonder; "we have not noticed
it."
"But know ye," asked the eldest, "to what use we may put this?" All
shook their heads. "Listen," said he in a whisper; "we will tell the
king that Jalmir knows about birds, and to send him for them."
"And the king will do so at once," said the brother who had read of
the birds, "for here is written the great cost of the birds eaten on
the king's table in a year."
They stopped reading at once and went straight to the king, to whom
they told what they thought. "But, gracious king," said the eldest,
"thou must sharply insist, or Jalmir will excuse himself, saying that
he knows nothing of birds."
The king nodded graciously and sent for Jalmir. He came quickly, and
the king said: "As thou knowest well I have no birds in my kingdom,
therefore I command thee to bring them."
"I, gracious king," said Jalmir, in fright, "know nothing of birds."
"Whether thou knowest or knowest not," said the king, in sudden
anger, "thou'lt get birds." With that he waved his hand, and poor
Jalmir went out with drooping head. Whither can he go? Who can help
him in peril? He went straight to the white steed and complained.
"Grieve not," said the steed; "at dusk we will go for the birds."
Jalmir thanked the horse, and could hardly wait till evening. The
moment the sun had disappeared behind the woods he was ready for the
road; and when the first star had appeared in the sky he led out the
white steed, sprang on his back, and flew off like the wind. "But
where are we going?" inquired Jalmir of his steed on the way.
"To that sorceress in whose castle thou didst save thy brothers from
death," answered the horse.
"To that place!" cried Jalmir in fright.
"Have no fear," said the steed, comforting him; "only do to a hair
what I tell thee."
The good steed now increased his speed so that he went like an arrow,
and about an hour later he came to the ground at the castle of the
sorceress. Jalmir sprang from him, and the steed said: "When thou art
in the first chamber thou wilt see silver cages, and in them silver
birds; in the second chamber will be golden cages with golden birds;
in the third chamber diamond cages with diamond birds. Of all these
touch nothing, or such a blow will fall that the whole castle will
tremble, and the sorceress will seize thee to kill thee. But go to the
fourth chamber; there take a wooden cage in which is a mean-looking
bird, and hasten to me."
Jalmir entered the first chamber with courage, but cautiously, and
looking at nothing, went to the second chamber; there the glitter of
gold dazzled him somewhat. When he opened the door to the third
chamber he stood almost blind on the threshold; but quickly
recovering, he shaded his eyes, ran to the fourth chamber, and seizing
the cage with the bird in an instant, rushed out swift as an arrow. He
sprang on the horse, which rose with him through the air in a moment.
The sorceress burst out of the castle, and cursing fearfully because
she could not stop him, screamed: "But thou wilt come here again!"
When the white steed was beyond the boundary of the castle land, he
said to Jalmir: "Open the cage and let the bird fly."
"But shall I not bring it to the king?"
"Only do what I ask," said the steed, with such a stern voice that
Jalmir obeyed without thinking.
It was yet night when they reached home. Jalmir tied the horse in the
stable and went to his room to strengthen himself with sleep, but he
did not sleep long. The morning dawn had barely shown itself when in
the king's garden was heard such a loud and cheerful singing of birds
that all the people were soon on their feet, and earlier than any the
king. At the first moment he was so astonished that he asked whence
these wonderful creatures had come.
"Royal Grace," said one of the brothers, "thou didst send Jalmir for
them."
"True," said the king, as he bethought himself; "but where is Jalmir?"
A courtier soon brought him, and the king fell on his neck from very
joy. He was now really dear to the king; but for that reason was held
in more hatred by his brothers.
"How can we get rid of him?" asked the brothers when they were alone.
"Maybe we can read something else," said one of them.
"Very good," answered all, at once; and they hurried to the chamber in
which so many books were collected, and it was not long before one of
the brothers cried out: "The king has no beasts, and they cost him
more than the birds, since he uses many more of them in a year."
"Then let Jalmir go for them," said the sixth brother, smiling
maliciously; and they went straight to the king, to whom they told
their minds. The king nodded graciously; dismissed them, called Jalmir
and said: "I have no beasts in my kingdom; and since they cost me much
in a year, I command thee to get me beasts."
"I, gracious king," said Jalmir in wonder, "know of none."
"Thou knowest well," said the king in anger, "for thy brothers told
me."
"Did they?" said Jalmir in astonishment. "Well, I will try;" and he
went to his white steed, to whom he told everything.
"Be not down-hearted," said the steed, comforting him. "Come to me in
the evening; we will go for the beasts."
When it was dark the good steed was flying through the air. "But where
shall we go?" asked Jalmir.
"To the sorceress from whom we got the birds," answered the steed.
"But I am afraid that she will catch me," said Jalmir.
"Fear not," said the steed; "only do to a hair what I tell thee." When
he came to the ground in front of the castle, he said: "In the first
chamber thou wilt see a beast with silver hair, tied with silver
chains; in the second chamber a beast with golden hair and golden
chains; in the third, one with pearl hair and pearl chains. Touch not
any of these, or a blow will fall so that the whole castle will
tremble, and the sorceress will seize thee to kill thee. But go to the
fourth chamber; there seize an ugly dog that is tied with a ragged
rope, and hurry to me."
Somewhat timidly, but all the more carefully, did Jalmir pass the
first, second, and third chamber, shading his eyes with his hands so
the glitter of the silver, gold, and pearl might not blind him. When
he entered the fourth chamber he broke the rope, seized the dog in his
arms, rushed out, and swift as an arrow sprang on the horse, which
rose in the air. And it was high time; for scarcely had he sat on the
horse when the sorceress ran out after him. When she was unable to
stop him, she cursed fearfully, and screamed: "But thou wilt come here
again!"
When the steed had sprung over the boundary of the castle land, he
said: "Now let the dog go."
Jalmir obeyed at once, for he was sure the steed gave good counsel.
When they came home, dawn was already appearing; still Jalmir lay on
the bed, for he was greatly wearied. He did not sleep long, however;
for barely had the dawn come when there was a noise in the castle, in
the town, and outside the town, as if the earth were breaking. The
king sprang in wonder to the window. But how astonished was he! Right
in the garden he saw deer, stags, rabbits; on the trees squirrels; on
the ground under the trees mice; in short, such myriads of beasts that
his eyes danced. In the king's garden it was pleasant for the beasts;
but in the town and outside the town the people killed them, chased
wildly after them, and threw stones at them. This displeased the king;
and he issued an order that all beasts belonged to him, and that no
man should dare to injure them. Then he went to Jalmir, thanked him
cordially, and expressed his friendship with an ardent embrace.
The whole kingdom was pleased with the beasts, but Jalmir's brothers
were not pleased.
"What shall we do with him?" asked the eldest of the others. "Instead
of getting rid of him we have brought him into still greater favor
with the king."
"But let us go and read again."
"Yes, yes," said a third; and all hurried off to the well-known room.
They had read a long time when at last one cried out: "The king has no
wine, and of course wine costs him money."
"Then let Jalmir go for it," answered the eldest, quietly; "and he
must get luck from hell if he comes back."
They went straight to the king, and very insinuatingly they told him
that Jalmir might easily supply him with wine.
"Then he will do it;" and dismissing them graciously he had Jalmir
summoned, and told him his wish.
"Gracious king," answered Jalmir, "I know nothing of wine, but I will
go and see."
The king was somewhat angry, thinking surely that Jalmir was
unwilling, and thereupon said: "Thou wilt answer to me with thy head."
Jalmir, bowing in silence, went out to the steed.
"Fear not," said the steed; "in the evening we will go for the wine."
The moment it was dark the kind steed shot away with Jalmir through
the air.
"Where are we going this time?" asked Jalmir, a little frightened.
"To the sorceress from whom we got the birds and the beasts. But now
pull a hair from my tail, and one from my mane; from the first make a
rope three hundred yards long, from the other a net large enough to
contain thee."
Jalmir did in silence according to the steed's words; and to his
astonishment, before they came to the castle the rope and the net were
finished.
"Now attend to my words," said the steed when he had come to the
ground. "Tie one end of the rope to my foot and the other to the net,
take the net with thee and put it on the door of the cellar, to which
thou must go down on three hundred steps. In the cellar thou wilt see
vessels with silver and gold and diamond hoops; pay no heed to them,
or a blow will fall, and it will be ill with thee. Go to the farthest
part of the cellar. There thou wilt see in a niche a little vessel
with wooden hoops, take that quickly and hurry to me; but if thou art
not able to come, just spring into the net and I will help thee."
Jalmir did everything according to the words of the steed. It was as
clear as white day in the cellar from the silver, gold, and diamond
hoops, so that he soon saw the little vessel in the niche; but when
he caught it, it is a wonder that he did not fall under its weight.
With a mighty effort he carried it to the steps; but there he struck
his foot against a vessel, and such a blow fell that the castle
trembled from its foundation to the highest points of its tower.
Jalmir, however, did not grow weak; he sprang up like an arrow over
the three hundred steps and jumped into the net.
Meanwhile, the sorceress flew out of the castle and sprang at the
steed; but the steed got her down, and so thrashed her with his feet
that he did not leave a sound bone in her body. At the same time he
wound up the rope so nicely that in a little while he had drawn up the
net containing Jalmir. "Sit quickly on me," said he. Jalmir mounted in
a moment, keeping the vessel carefully in his arms. The steed rose in
the air and flew like lightning, because the sorceress who had picked
herself from the ground was chasing him. But soon they had the
boundary of the castle land behind them, so that they had no further
need to strain their powers.
When they reached home the steed was drooping wearily to the earth, so
that Jalmir had to support him in going to the stable. Jalmir was
barely able to go to his own room; but first, according to the command
of the steed, he left the cask of wine at the door of the king's
chamber, then he lay on his bed and was soon asleep.
When the king opened the door of his chamber in the morning he saw
the cask. "This must be wine," said the king, rejoicing; and taking
off the head, he tried it. "It's wine; it's wine!" rejoiced he; and
calling the people of the castle, he drank a health with them all.
"But what is this?" wondered they; "we have taken ten kegs of wine out
already, and still it comes."
"This must be an enchanted cask," said the king, and began to laugh.
Then he said in serious tones: "Little cask, I should like to have red
wine." He drew some. And what a wonder! the wine was red. "I want
yellow wine," said the king; and yellow wine flowed out.
"In real fact, it is an enchanted cask," said the king. "Oh, Jalmir,"
cried he in delight, "how can I reward thee!"
"I have only obeyed thy command, gracious king," answered Jalmir, who
had just entered the room.
"Yes, thou hast done all that I commanded, and much more," said the
king; "therefore I make thee my son, and proclaim thee viceroy."
All present broke out in tumultuous shouting, but Jalmir's brothers
were silent; they bit their lips and clinched their fists. The king,
altogether joyous and full of tenderness, from success and from wine,
arranged to have a seven day's celebration in honor of the new
viceroy. The people did not wait to have the order repeated, but began
that very day, especially since they had plenty of food, and the wine
which the enchanted cask gave them without stint. The new viceroy was
greeted everywhere with shouts, and won at once the love of the
people.
But his brothers were enraged all the more. Instead of going to the
festivities they went to the room where the books were, and read as
diligently as if they wished to become sages at once. This time,
however, they were not able to find anything for a great while; but at
last they read what they wanted.
"Now I have something for our darling viceroy!" cried one. "In the sea
is a golden castle, and in the castle a princess, the most beautiful
under the heavens. If our king would take her in marriage, he would
grow young and lengthen his life."
"Oh, that is splendid!" said all, rejoicing. "The king will surely
send him for the princess, and darling Jalmir will either be drowned
in the sea or run home to his father."
When the feasting was over the brothers went to the king, who was, as
it were, ill,--just the thing for them. "Gracious king," said the
eldest, insinuatingly, "we are always trying to prepare some pleasure
for thee."
"Indeed, I have need of it," said the king; "old age and disease are
pressing me more and more every day."
"We have just found a remedy for those two evils," said the brothers.
"But what is it,--tell me!" broke out the king, delighted. They told
him what they had read.
"Well, Jalmir must take the road this very day," cried the king; and
calling Jalmir he explained his wish. Jalmir agreed in silence, but
scarcely controlling his tears, hastened to his steed and fell on his
neck, weeping.
"What is the matter now?" asked the steed. Jalmir told him all.
"Do not lose courage," said the horse. "Go to the king, and ask him to
give thee three hundred loaves of bread, three hundred kegs of wine,
and three hundred beeves. Have all put into wagons, and then we will
go for the princess."
Jalmir went straightway to the king and asked for these. The king had
all provided quickly, and promised him mountains and valleys if he
would bring the princess. Jalmir took the road that very day, sitting
on his good white steed, which this time did not fly through the air,
but walked with slow step behind the wagons on which the loaves, the
wine, and the beeves were carried. And many times did day and night
change places before they came to the sea. Now they went along the
shore; the white steed, going ahead with Jalmir, showed the road to
the wagons.
Jalmir saw a great fish on the beach which was trying in vain to get
back to the water. "Help it," said the steed; and Jalmir, springing to
the ground, helped the fish.
The fish sank under the water, but soon came to the surface and said
to Jalmir: "Wait, I must reward thee. Take this whistle, and shouldst
thou need aught from me, blow."
Jalmir took the whistle from the fish's lips, gave thanks, and sat
again on his steed. After a time they heard as it were distant
thunder. "What is that?" asked he of the horse.
"We shall soon be at the end of our journey," said the steed; "those
are giants talking."
In a short time Jalmir saw three giants lying on the beach. When he
came up they rose, and now he saw their stature. When he looked in
their faces he had to bend back his head as if looking at the highest
tower.
"What is the good word?" roared one of them, so that Jalmir had to
cover his ears.
"I bring three hundred loaves of bread, three hundred kegs of wine,
and three hundred slaughtered oxen," answered he.
"That is good of thee," said the giants, nodding their heads with
satisfaction; and they rushed to the wagons in which the things were
placed. They built a fire, and stuck the oxen on great spits to roast;
then they went to the bread and wine, and soon had half inside
themselves. A great eagle settled down near by, and looked wistfully
at the beeves. Jalmir cut off a quarter and gave it to the eagle.
"Thank thee!" said the eagle. "I will help thee in time;" and she rose
in the air with the quarter.
The giants did not leave the oxen very long over the fire; and when
they had finished, they said to Jalmir: "Now tell us thy wish; well do
we know that ye little worms of the earth do nothing for nothing."
"I have no wish for myself," said Jalmir; "but my master has sent me
to bring the princess from the golden castle which stands out in the
sea."
"That one over there?" asked the other giant, pointing with his finger
to the sea.
Jalmir looked around and saw for the first time a magnificent castle,
which gleamed in the waves like the rising sun. "Yes," replied Jalmir.
"We will take thee to it," said the first giant; "but will the
princess go with thee?"
"I will ask her," said Jalmir; "but how will ye take me there?"
"Thou wilt soon see," said the giants; and they took pieces of a cliff
and hurled them into the sea. They went on breaking the cliff, and
sooner than Jalmir expected there was a long stretch of dam in the
sea. But the giants did not stop; they worked till the setting of the
sun, so that in the evening they had one third of the dam finished,
and on the third day it was possible to go with dry foot to the golden
castle.
Jalmir thanked the giants heartily, and the morning of the fourth day
he went to the princess. The castle was a wonder to look at; but he
scarcely noticed it. He entered, and how surprised was he when in the
first chamber he saw the princess. With downcast eyes he said: "My
king and master has sent me to beg thee in his name to share his
throne and crown."
"I will go," answered the princess, with a silvery voice; "but wilt
thou remain at his court?"
"I must," said Jalmir. "I am the viceroy."
"Let us go, then," said the princess.
She mounted a splendid crow-black horse, Jalmir his white steed, and
they galloped along the dam. On the way Jalmir took courage to look at
the princess more closely, and thought that the king would grow
younger, and lengthen his life, if the princess would marry him. At
the same time he felt a certain agreeable straitening of the heart. He
bent his head, and rode in silence at the side of the princess; and
the nearer he came to the castle of the king, the more did trouble
take hold of his heart. The more joyous, however, was the princess;
and her eyes rested on him with a certain special delight. They
arrived soon without great adventure.
The king went outside the town to meet them, and conducted them in
solemn procession to the castle. "Art thou willing, honored princess,
to become my spouse?" asked he of the princess when he had led her to
the chambers prepared for her.
"First I must have my golden castle," replied the princess.
The king was amazed; but he bethought himself soon, and turned to
Jalmir, gazing imploringly.
"I will go for it," said Jalmir, with decision, especially when the
princess nodded graciously and smiled at him.
"Go, my dear Jalmir," said the king, with a soft voice. "I will reward
thee in kings' fashion."
Jalmir went to the white steed for advice, and the steed said: "Tell
the king to give thee three hundred loaves of bread, three hundred
kegs of wine, and three hundred slaughtered oxen; then we will go for
the golden castle."
Jalmir told the king his wishes, and the king gave him all. Everything
was ready so soon that Jalmir was able to set out that very day. But
it was a tedious journey; the wagons went slowly, and after them
Jalmir still more slowly, and with drooping head,--why, he knew best
himself. When they came to the giants, Jalmir gave them the loaves,
the wine, and the meat, begging them urgently to bring the golden
castle to the princess.
"Ah, little worm of the earth!" said the giants, laughing, "dost thou
think that the castle is made of wood? but we will try," added they
after they had looked at the three hundred loaves, at the kegs and the
oxen.
They began eating, and when they had eaten heartily, they went to a
neighboring forest, where they pulled up three of the strongest trees;
and when they had played with them as men play with canes, they went
along the dam to the golden castle. After a short time they moved the
castle from its foundations, put it on the oak-trees, and then on to
their shoulders; and as if it were nothing they walked after Jalmir
without weariness till night, when they slept, and next morning went
farther. They worked in this way till they drew near the king's
castle; they did not go to it, however, but waited till night. Then
they put the golden castle in the garden, bade farewell to Jalmir, and
went home.
When the morning sun rose people shouted "Fire!" in the castle. All
ran to the garden to put it out; but the princess standing in her
window cried, "Be quiet! That is my golden castle."
Soon after the king hurried in, and opening his arms in delight,
wished to embrace the princess, calling out, "Now thou art mine!"
"Not yet," answered the princess. "What is my golden castle to me if I
have lost the key of it?"
The king was frightened; but soon he said, with clear face: "My dear
Jalmir will bring it to thee." He wanted to go for him; but Jalmir
came just then to the princess to tell her that he had brought the
castle. The king told his wish; and Jalmir, gaining pleasure and
strength from a gracious smile of the princess, departed. He took
counsel of his steed, who said: "The key is somewhere in the sea near
the dam." Jalmir mounted; they flew through the air, and were soon on
the island where the castle had been.
"But how shall I find the key in the sea?" sighed Jalmir.
"Thou hast the whistle from the fish helped by thee into the water."
"Yes," rejoiced Jalmir; and he blew on the whistle.
That moment the fish swam to the surface, and asked, "What dost thou
wish?"
"The princess has lost the key of her golden castle," answered Jalmir,
who was about to ask the fish to find it; but the fish had already
vanished to tell all fish to look for the key. Now there was life
under water,--such gleaming of fish flying hither and thither, up and
down! till at last after long swimming, one little fish brought the
key to the chief fish. The chief fish gave it to Jalmir; Jalmir gave
heartfelt thanks, and was soon flying through the air on his steed, so
that he was home before night. When he had given the key to the king
he went to his room and shut himself in. Why he did this he knew not
himself; but he felt that it would have been better for him had he
never seen that princess of the golden castle.
The king, perfectly happy, went with the key to the princess; he felt
sure this time that she would make no objection. All the greater was
his grief when she said: "I have the castle and the key to it; but
what would life be in the castle without the water of death, the water
of life, and the water of youth?"
"And where are they to be found?" asked the king.
"They are on my island," answered the princess so decidedly that the
king went away in silence to think whom he should send. He had pity on
Jalmir, and therefore he went to the brothers; but they spoke to him
so convincingly that the king asked Jalmir again to go and do that
last service for him. How could Jalmir refuse? Besides, what he had
done he had done for her for whom he would have jumped into fire if
need be. He went to his steed to ask aid once more, and for the last
time. The steed reproached him for lack of courage, and said: "Sit on
my back; we'll go straight for the water." Jalmir did so with joy, and
was soon going through the air to the island swifter than ever he had
travelled before. In a short time the horse came down on the sea-shore
and said: "Go to the island for the water of death, the water of life,
and the water of youth; but hurry, or the waves will wash down the dam
and thou wilt perish. I will eat grass here a while."
Jalmir went forward, but very slowly; for the image of the princess
rose continually before his eyes. Except her, the whole world was as
naught to him. He was perhaps half way on the dam when all at once the
sea rose and bore it away. Jalmir screamed in terror and disappeared
in the sea. The steed heard his screams, but did not run to help him,
and hanging his head, went with slow step; he knew well that he could
give no aid to Jalmir. Then came a terrible storm on the sea. The
steed thought that Jalmir had perished; he rose in the air and shot
away like a flash.
Not far from the dam--of which there was not a trace after the
storm--was an eagle's nest high on the cliff, and in it five little
eagles that stretched out their necks, without ceasing looking down
eagerly, and crying meanwhile. "What do ye want?" called the old
eagle, which sat near by on a cliff and looked down. But how quickly
did she fly to the beach when she saw a body there! She recognized it
at once; for though she was only a wild creature she remembered well
that Jalmir had done her a kindness by giving her the quarter of beef
for her young. She seized him now in her strong talons and bore him to
the island where the golden castle had been; she plunged him into a
spring, then placing him on the ground, sat near his side. Soon Jalmir
began to breathe,--at first with difficulty and slowly, then more
quickly and evenly, till at last he opened his eyes with a deep sigh.
"Why not let me sleep longer?--I slept so lightly! I dreamed so
sweetly!" said Jalmir, as if waking from slumber. When he looked
around more attentively he called out in amazement, "What has been
done to me?"
"Dost thou not know me?" asked the eagle, standing before him.
"I do not know thee," replied Jalmir, shaking his head.
"But I know thee well," cried the eagle. "Thou didst give me a
quarter of beef for my children. But what art thou looking for now?"
"The princess sent me to this island for the water of death, the water
of life, and the water of youth," answered Jalmir.
"Then take them," said the eagle, and brought him to the three
springs. Jalmir took three flasks from his bosom, and filled them with
the three waters.
"But how shall I leave here?"
"I would gladly bear thee wherever thou wishest, but I cannot, for I
have children; but I will go to my brother. He has no children." She
flew off in a flash, soon returning, and with her her brother.
"But where has my white steed gone?" asked Jalmir suddenly.
"I will soon tell thee," answered the eagle, and she rose in the sky
till she seemed to the eye of Jalmir as small as the point of a pine
leaf. She remained motionless a moment, then came down like a bolt and
said: "I saw thy steed under the old pear-tree which stands before the
southern gate of the great town."
"Bear me to that place then," said Jalmir, with a voice of entreaty.
The eagle's brother caught him in his strong talons, and was soon
flying with him high in the air; so high that Jalmir saw his native
place, but it was as small as an ant-hill. He went farther, it became
greater, till at last the eagle came to the earth and put Jalmir down
near the old pear-tree; then he parted with him, and soon vanished in
the air.
The white steed was standing behind the pear-tree, with drooping head,
and so gloomy that he did not notice his master.
"My very good steed!" cried Jalmir, and fell on his neck.
"Thou art alive and well?" asked the steed in amazement.
"Yes," answered Jalmir, and told him all that had happened.
"I am happy," said the steed; "but now sit quickly on me, we must go
to the princess or we shall be late."
"What is the matter?" asked Jalmir in fright.
"The king wants the wedding to-day," answered the steed.
"Then let us hurry," said Jalmir, and he sprang on the steed, opened
his arms toward the town, and cried: "Oh, my dear father!"
"Calm thyself," said the steed; "I know that thou wouldst embrace him;
but vain is thy wish, for he died long ago." The steed rose in the air
and flew so swiftly that his native place soon vanished from the
tearful eyes of Jalmir. On the road the steed said: "When thou art
king, judge justly, even if thy heart has to bleed."
Jalmir did not understand him; but when he came to the town and heard
how his brothers were laughing at their puny little Jalmir who had
perished somewhere, an evil feeling seized him. Mastering himself
however, he went to the princess to give her the three waters; and she
hastened to the king to whom she said: "My dear bridegroom, so that
our marriage be equal, thou must become young and beautiful as I am,
and therefore I will rub thee with the water of death so that thy old
age shall perish, then with the water of youth, and last with the
water of life."
The king consented with gladness, and the princess rubbed him with the
water of death; then he straightened himself on the couch so that the
princess herself was terrified. Seizing quickly the water of youth;
she rubbed him with it and the fresh color of youth shone on the face
of the old king. "But still he is not so beautiful as Jalmir," sighed
the princess, greatly grieved. With tearful eyes she reached for the
water of life, but instead of it took the water of death and rubbed
the king. Straightway the pallor of death spread over his face. The
princess fell in a faint at his side and remained in it till Jalmir
came by chance to the chamber, seized the water of life, and rubbed
with it quickly the princess and the king. The princess stood up at
once, but the king remained dead.
"Is there no help for him?" asked Jalmir with trembling voice.
"There is not," said the princess, shaking her head; "whoever is
rubbed twice with the water of death can never live again."
"But what shall I do now?" muttered Jalmir, closing his eyes.
"Thou art king," answered the princess, "but I--"
"Queen!" cried Jalmir eagerly, and sank at her feet saying, "Forgive
me, but I love thee more than myself."
The princess in place of an answer kissed him; and now they went to
announce to the people that the old king was dead.
The people, who had already assembled in the square for the wedding of
the king, were greatly distressed; but when the princess presented
Jalmir as the new king, and herself as his wife, they broke out into
mighty rejoicing, which had no end. But Jalmir's brothers were silent;
and when the new king with his bride retired, they reported that these
two had poisoned the old king. The people raised a tumult; but Jalmir
went out among them and asked the cause. Some were silent, and others
told him what his brothers had said. "Do ye believe this?" asked
Jalmir.
"We do not believe," was shouted from every side.
"Very well," answered Jalmir, "but that ye may believe me I will tell
how my brothers tried to kill me;" and he told them all.
"The wretches!" cried the people in a rage; and they caught all the
six brothers. Before Jalmir could stop them the people had fired a
stack of straw, and when it was blazing high they threw the six
brothers into the flames.
"Now ye are all in one pile," laughed the people, "because hitherto ye
were always setting fire."
Jalmir turned to the princess with tears in his eyes, but she soon
consoled him. After the funeral of the old king they celebrated their
betrothal; but when Jalmir, full of happiness, sat at the feast by the
side of his bride, all at once he remembered his steed, ran to him,
and fell on his neck thanking him as author of all his happiness.
"I have helped thee, do thou help me now," said the steed. "Lead me to
the garden." Jalmir did as he desired; then the steed said: "Cut off
my head."
"I cut off thy head!" cried Jalmir in fright.
"Wilt thou let me suffer one hundred years longer?" asked the steed in
a sad voice.
In place of an answer Jalmir drew his sword, and with one blow cut off
his friend's head. The head fell on the ground, but out of it flew a
white dove which rose toward the sky. Jalmir turned in sorrow to the
princess, but she soon drove the sadness away from his face. They
lived happily together, and because they had the water of life, they
lived so long that no one has memory of it.