As the young lady had the egg in her hand, she strikes the monster
as he had told her, and he falls stark dead. In an instant the ant
comes out joyously (from his hiding-place), and he says to her:
"We must set out instantly for your father's house."
They open a window, and the young man makes himself a hawk, and he
says to the young lady:
"Cling firmly to my neck."
And he flies off, and they arrive at the other side of the island. He
writes immediately to the king his lord, to send and fetch them as
quickly as possible. The king sent; and judge what joy and what feasts
there were in that court. The king wished them to marry directly,
but Malbrouk would not do so. (He said) that he ought to bring his
dowry. The king said to him:
"You have gained enough already."
He will not hear of that, but goes off far, far, far away, to the
house of his godfather.
They had there a cow with golden horns, and these horns bore fruits of
diamonds. A boy used to guard her in the field. Malbrouk said to him:
[83]
"What! do you not hear that the master is calling you? Go, quickly,
then, and learn what he wants of you."
The boy, (believing it), goes off. The master calls to him from
the window:
"Where are you going to, leaving the cow? Go quickly; I see that
Malbrouk is about there."
The boy sets off running back, but he cannot find the cow. Malbrouk
had got off proudly with his cow, and he gives it to his future wife,
who was very much pleased with it. The king wished him, then, to marry,
(saying) that he was quite rich enough. Malbrouk would not yet. He
must make a present to the king. He goes again to his godfather's
house. He wished to steal from him a moon, which lighted for seven
leagues round. Old Malbrouk used to drink a barrel of water every
night. Young Malbrouk goes and empties this barrel. When night came,
Malbrouk goes to drink at his barrel, and finds it empty. He goes to
find his wife, and says to her:
"I have not got a drop of water; go directly, and fetch me some. I
cannot bear this thirst."
His wife said to him, "It is night, light your moon." He lights it,
and puts it by the chimney, on the roof. When everyone has gone to
the fountain, young Malbrouk goes and takes this moon, and carries
it to the king. And he, astonished, said to him:
"Now you have done grandly; now be married."
But he would not; (he said) that he ought to bring something more. His
godfather had a violin, which it was enough only to touch for it to
play, no matter what beautiful music, and it would be heard seven
leagues off. He goes into his godfather's house to take the violin,
and as soon as he has touched it, it begins to play music. Old Malbrouk
rushes off, and catches his godson in the act. He seizes him, and puts
him into an iron cage. He and his wife are right well pleased. They
say to him:
"This evening we are going to roast you, and eat you."
Old Malbrouk goes to the forest to fetch wood, and his wife was busy
cutting some small--she was taking a great deal of trouble about
it. Malbrouk says to her:
"Let me get out of here; I will cut that wood for you. You can kill
me all the same this evening."
She lets him out. After having cut up some, he takes one of the
largest pieces and strikes the wife of Malbrouk, and kills her. He
makes a great fire, and puts her in the caldron to boil. He takes
the violin, and leaves the house. When old Malbrouk hears the violin,
he says to himself:
"My wife, not being able to hold out any longer, has, doubtless,
killed Malbrouk, and to show me her joy she has taken the violin."
And he does not trouble himself any more about it. When he approaches
the house he stands, well pleased, looking at the caldron on the
fire, but, on coming nearer, he sees some long hairs. He pulls out a
little more, and perceives that it is his wife, who is there already,
half-boiled. Think what a rage he was in. The young Malbrouk went to
the king's house, and married his well-beloved princess. They made
great rejoicings. As the king was somewhat aged, he gives his crown to
Malbrouk, saying that he had well gained it. They all lived happily,
and he made his two brothers kings also.
Laurentine,
About 35 years old; learnt it from her mother.