King Thrushbeard
There was once a King who had a Daughter. She was more beautiful thanwords can tell, but at the same time so proud and haughty that no manwho came to woo her was good enough for her. She turned away one afteranother, and even mocked them.
One day her father ordered a great feast to be given, and invited toit all the marriageable young men from far and near.
They were all placed in a row, according to their rank and position.First came Kings, then Princes, then Dukes, Earls, and Barons.
The Princess was led through the ranks, but she had some fault to findwith all of them.
One was too stout. 'That barrel!' she said. The next was too tall.'Long and lean is no good!' The third was too short. 'Short and stout,can't turn about!' The fourth was too white. 'Pale as death!' Thefifth was too red. 'Turkey-cock!' The sixth was not straight.'Oven-dried!'
So there was something against each of them. But she made speciallymerry over one good King, who stood quite at the head of the row, andwhose chin was a little hooked.
'Why!' she cried, 'he has a chin like the beak of a thrush.'
After that, he was always called 'King Thrushbeard.'
When the old King saw that his Daughter only made fun of them, anddespised all the suitors who were assembled, he was very angry, andswore that the first beggar who came to the door should be herhusband.
A few days after, a wandering Musician began to sing at the window,hoping to receive charity.
When the King heard him, he said: 'Let him be brought in.'
The Musician came in, dressed in dirty rags, and sang to the King andhis Daughter, and when he had finished, he begged alms of them.
The King said: 'Your song has pleased me so much, that I will give youmy Daughter to be your wife.'
The Princess was horror-stricken. But the King said: 'I have sworn anoath to give you to the first beggar who came; and I will keep myword.'
No entreaties were of any avail. A Parson was brought, and she had tomarry the Musician there and then.
When the marriage was completed, the King said: 'Now you are abeggar-woman, you can't stay in my castle any longer. You must go awaywith your Husband.'
The Beggar took her by the hand and led her away, and she was obligedto go with him on foot.
When they came to a big wood, she asked:
'Ah! who is the Lord of this forest so fine?' 'It belongs to King Thrushbeard. It might have been thine, If his Queen you had been.' 'Ah! sad must I sing! I would I'd accepted the hand of the King.'
After that they reached a great meadow, and she asked again:
'Ah! who is the Lord of these meadows so fine?' 'They belong to King Thrushbeard, and would have been thine, If his Queen you had been.' 'Ah! sad must I sing! I would I'd accepted the love of the King.'
Then they passed through a large town, and again she asked:
'Ah! who is the Lord of this city so fine?' 'It belongs to King Thrushbeard, and it might have been thine, If his Queen you had been.' 'Ah! sad must I sing! I would I'd accepted the heart of the King.'
'It doesn't please me at all,' said the Musician, 'that you arealways wishing for another husband. Am I not good enough for you?'
At last they came to a miserable little hovel, and she said:
'Ah, heavens! what's this house, so mean and small? This wretched little hut's no house at all.'
The Musician answered: 'This is my house, and yours; where we are tolive together.'
The door was so low that she had to stoop to get in.
'Where are the servants?' asked the Princess.
'Servants indeed!' answered the Beggar. 'Whatever you want done, youmust do for yourself. Light the fire, and put the kettle on to make mysupper. I am very tired.'
But the Princess knew nothing about lighting fires or cooking, and toget it done at all, the Beggar had to do it himself.
When they had finished their humble fare, they went to bed. But in themorning the Man made her get up very early to do the housework.
They lived like this for a few days, till they had eaten up all theirstore of food.
Then the Man said: 'Wife, this won't do any longer; we can't live herewithout working. You shall make baskets.'
So he went out and cut some osiers, and brought them home. She beganto weave them, but the hard osiers bruised her tender hands.
'I see that won't do,' said the Beggar. 'You had better spin; perhapsyou can manage that.'
So she sat down and tried to spin, but the harsh yarn soon cut herdelicate fingers and made them bleed.
'Now you see,' said the Man, 'what a good-for-nothing you are. I havemade a bad bargain in you. But I will try to start a trade inearthenware. You must sit in the market and offer your goods forsale.'
{The Beggar took her by the hand and led her away.}]
'Alas!' she thought, 'if any of the people from my father's kingdomcome and see me sitting in the market-place, offering goods forsale, they will scoff at me.' But it was no good. She had to obey,unless she meant to die of hunger.
All went well the first time. The people willingly bought her waresbecause she was so handsome, and they paid what she asked them--nay,some even gave her the money and left her the pots as well.
They lived on the gains as long as they lasted, and then the Man laidin a new stock of wares.
She took her seat in a corner of the market, set out her crockeryabout her, and began to cry her wares.
Suddenly, a drunken Hussar came galloping up, and rode right in amongthe pots, breaking them into thousands of bits.
She began to cry, and was so frightened that she did not know what todo. 'Oh! what will become of me?' she cried. 'What will my Husband sayto me?' She ran home, and told him her misfortune.
'Who would ever think of sitting at the corner of the market withcrockery?' he said. 'Stop that crying. I see you are no manner of usefor any decent kind of work. I have been to our King's palace, andasked if they do not want a kitchen wench, and they have promised totry you. You will get your victuals free, at any rate.'
So the Princess became a kitchen wench, and had to wait upon the Cookand do all the dirty work. She fixed a pot into each of her pockets,and in them took home her share of the scraps and leavings, and uponthese they lived.
It so happened that the marriage of the eldest Princess just then tookplace, and the poor Woman went upstairs and stood behind the door topeep at all the splendour.
When the rooms were lighted up, and she saw the guests streaming in,one more beautiful than the other, and the scene grew more and morebrilliant, she thought, with a heavy heart, of her sad fate. Shecursed the pride and haughtiness which had been the cause of herhumiliation, and of her being brought to such depths.
Every now and then the Servants would throw her bits from the savourydishes they were carrying away from the feast, and these she put intoher pots to take home with her.
All at once the King's son came in. He was dressed in silk and velvet,and he had a golden chain round his neck.
When he saw the beautiful Woman standing at the door, he seized her bythe hand, and wanted to dance with her.
But she shrank and refused, because she saw that it was KingThrushbeard, who had been one of the suitors for her hand, and whomshe had most scornfully driven away.
Her resistance was no use, and he dragged her into the hall. Thestring by which her pockets were suspended broke. Down fell the pots,and the soup and savoury morsels were spilt all over the floor.
When the guests saw it, they burst into shouts of mocking laughter.
She was so ashamed, that she would gladly have sunk into the earth.She rushed to the door, and tried to escape, but on the stairs a Manstopped her and brought her back.
When she looked at him, it was no other than King Thrushbeard again.
He spoke kindly to her, and said: 'Do not be afraid. I and theBeggar-Man, who lived in the poor little hovel with you, are one andthe sa
me. For love of you I disguised myself; and I was also theHussar who rode among your pots. All this I did to bend your proudspirit, and to punish you for the haughtiness with which you mockedme.'
She wept bitterly, and said: 'I was very wicked, and I am not worthyto be your wife.'
But he said: 'Be happy! Those evil days are over. Now we willcelebrate our true wedding.'
The waiting-women came and put rich clothing upon her, and her Father,with all his Court, came and wished her joy on her marriage with KingThrushbeard.
Then, in truth, her happiness began. I wish we had been there to seeit, you and I.
Iron Hans
There was once a King whose castle was surrounded by a forest full ofgame. One day he sent a Huntsman out to shoot a deer, but he nevercame back.
'Perhaps an accident has happened to him,' said the King.
Next day he sent out two more Huntsmen to look for him, but they didnot return either. On the third day he sent for all his Huntsmen, andsaid to them, 'Search the whole forest without ceasing, until you havefound all three.'
But not a single man of all these, or one of the pack of hounds theytook with them, ever came back. From this time forth no one wouldventure into the forest; so there it lay, wrapped in silence andsolitude, with only an occasional eagle or hawk circling over it.
This continued for several years, and then one day a strange Huntsmansought an audience of the King, and offered to penetrate into thedangerous wood. The King, however, would not give him permission, andsaid, 'It's not safe, and I am afraid if you go in that you will nevercome out again, any more than all the others.'
The Huntsman answered, 'Sire, I will take the risk upon myself. I donot know fear.'
So the Huntsman went into the wood with his Dog. Before long the Dogput up some game, and wanted to chase it; but hardly had he taken afew steps when he came to a deep pool, and could go no further. Anaked arm appeared out of the water, seized him, and drew him down.
When the Huntsman saw this, he went back and fetched three men withpails to empty the pool. When they got to the bottom they found a WildMan, whose body was as brown as rusty iron, and his hair hanging downover his face to his knees. They bound him with cords, and carriedhim away to the castle. There was great excitement over the Wild Man,and the King had an iron cage made for him in the courtyard. Heforbade any one to open the door of the cage on pain of death, and theQueen had to keep the key in her own charge.
After this, anybody could walk in the forest with safety.
The King had a little son eight years old, and one day he was playingin the courtyard. In his play his golden ball fell into the cage. Theboy ran up, and said, 'Give me back my ball.'
'Not until you have opened the door,' said the Wild Man.
'No; I can't do that,' said the boy. 'My father has forbidden it,' andthen he ran away.
Next day he came again, and asked for his ball. The Man said, 'Open mydoor'; but he would not.
On the third day the King went out hunting, and the boy came again,and said, 'Even if I would, I could not open the door. I have not gotthe key.'
Then the Wild Man said, 'It is lying under your mother's pillow. Youcan easily get it.'
The boy, who was very anxious to have his ball back, threw hisscruples to the winds, and fetched the key. The door was very stiff,and he pinched his fingers in opening it. As soon as it was open theWild Man came out, gave the boy his ball, and hurried away. The boywas now very frightened, and cried out, 'O Wild Man, don't go away, orI shall be beaten!'
The Wild Man turned back, picked up the boy, put him on his shoulder,and walked hurriedly off into the wood.
When the King came home he saw at once the cage was empty, and askedthe Queen how it had come about. She knew nothing about it, and wentto look for the key, which was of course gone. They called the boy,but there was no answer. The King sent people out into the fields tolook for him, but all in vain; he was gone. The King easily guessedwhat had happened, and great grief fell on the royal household.
When the Wild Man got back into the depths of the dark forest he tookthe boy down off his shoulder, and said, 'You will never see yourfather and mother again; but I will keep you here with me, because youhad pity on me and set me free. If you do as you are told, you will bewell treated. I have treasures and gold enough and to spare, more thananybody in the world.'
He made a bed of moss for the boy, on which he went to sleep. Nextmorning the Man led him to a spring, and said, 'You see this goldenwell is bright and clear as crystal? You must sit by it, and take carethat nothing falls into it, or it will be contaminated. I shall comeevery evening to see if you have obeyed my orders.'
The boy sat down on the edge of the spring to watch it; sometimes hewould see a gold fish or a golden snake darting through it, and heguarded it well, so that nothing should fall into it. One day as hewas sitting like this his finger pained him so much that involuntarilyhe dipped it into the water. He drew it out very quickly, but saw thatit was gilded, and although he tried hard to clean it, it remainedgolden. In the evening Iron Hans came back, looked at the boy, andsaid, 'What has happened to the well to-day?'
'Nothing, nothing!' he answered, keeping his finger behind his back,so that Iron Hans should not see it.
But he said, 'You have dipped your finger into the water. It does notmatter this time, but take care that nothing of the kind occursagain.'
Early next morning the boy took his seat by the spring again to watch.His finger still hurt very much, and he put his hand up above hishead; but, unfortunately, in so doing he brushed a hair into the well.He quickly took it out, but it was already gilded. When Iron Hans camein the evening, he knew very well what had happened.
'You have let a hair fall into the well,' he said. 'I will overlook itonce more, but if it happens for the third time, the well will bepolluted, and you can no longer stay with me.'
On the third day the boy again sat by the well; but he took good carenot to move a finger, however much it might hurt. The time seemed verylong to him as he looked at his face reflected in the water. As hebent over further and further to look into his eyes, his long hairfell over his shoulder right into the water. He started up at once,but not before his whole head of hair had become golden, and glitteredlike the sun. You may imagine how frightened the poor boy was. He tookhis pocket-handkerchief and tied it over his head, so that Iron Hansshould not see it. But he knew all about it before he came, and atonce said, 'Take that handkerchief off your head,' and then all thegolden hair tumbled out. All the poor boy's excuses were no good. 'Youhave not stood the test, and you can no longer stay here. You must goout into the world, and there you will learn the meaning of poverty.But as your heart is not bad, and as I wish you well, I will grant youone thing. When you are in great need, go to the forest and cry "IronHans," and I will come and help you. My power is great, greater thanyou think, and I have gold and silver in abundance.'
So the King's son left the forest, and wandered over trodden anduntrodden paths till he reached a great city. He tried to get work,but he could not find any; besides, he knew no trade by which to makea living. At last he went to the castle and asked if they would employhim. The courtiers did not know what use they could make of him, butthey were taken with his appearance, and said he might stay. At lastthe Cook took him into his service, and said he might carry wood andwater for him, and sweep up the ashes.
One day, as there was no one else at hand, the Cook ordered him tocarry the food up to the royal table. As he did not want his goldenhair to be seen, he kept his cap on. Nothing of the sort had everhappened in the presence of the King before, and he said, 'When youcome into the royal presence, you must take your cap off.'
'Alas, Sire,' he said, 'I cannot take it off, I have a bad wound on myhead.'
Then the King ordered the Cook to be called, and asked how he couldtake such a boy into his service, and ordered him to be sent away atonce. But the Cook was sorry for him, and exchanged him with theGardener's boy.
&n
bsp; Now the boy had to dig and hoe, plant and water, in every kind ofweather. One day in the summer, when he was working alone in thegarden, it was very hot, and he took off his cap for the fresh air tocool his head. When the sun shone on his hair it glittered so that thebeams penetrated right into the Princess's bedroom, and she sprang upto see what it was. She discovered the youth, and called to him,'Bring me a nosegay, young man.'
He hurriedly put on his cap, picked a lot of wild flowers, and tiedthem up. On his way up to the Princess, the Gardener met him, andsaid, 'How can you take such poor flowers to the Princess? Quickly cutanother bouquet, and mind they are the choicest and rarest flowers.'
'Oh no,' said the youth. 'The wild flowers have a sweeter scent, andwill please her better.'
She immediately clutched at his cap to pull it off; but he held it on with both hands.]
As soon as he went into the room the Princess said, 'Take off yourcap; it is not proper for you to wear it before me.'
He answered again, 'I may not take it off, because I have a wound onmy head.'
But she took hold of the cap, and pulled it off, and all his goldenhair tumbled over his shoulders in a shower. It was quite a sight. Hetried to get away, but she took hold of his arm, and gave him ahandful of ducats. He took them, but he cared nothing for the gold,and gave it to the Gardener for his children to play with.
Next day the Princess again called him to bring her a bunch of wildflowers, and when he brought it she immediately clutched at his cap topull it off; but he held it on with both hands. Again she gave him ahandful of ducats, but he would not keep them, and gave them to theGardener's children. The third day the same thing happened, but shecould not take off his cap, and he would not keep the gold.
Not long after this the kingdom was invaded. The King assembled hiswarriors. He did not know whether they would be able to conquer hisenemies or not, as they were very powerful, and had a mighty army.Then the Gardener's assistant said, 'I have been brought up to fight;give me a horse, and I will go too.'
He called three times, 'Iron Hans,' as loud as he could.]
The others laughed and said, 'When we are gone, find one for yourself.We will leave one behind in the stable for you.'
When they were gone, he went and got the horse out; it was lame in oneleg, and hobbled along, humpety-hump, humpety-hump. Nevertheless, hemounted it and rode away to the dark forest. When he came to the edgeof it, he called three times, 'Iron Hans,' as loud as he could, tillthe trees resounded with it.
The Wild Man appeared immediately, and said, 'What do you want?'
'I want a strong horse to go to the war.'
'You shall have it, and more besides.'
The Wild Man went back into the wood, and before long a Groom cameout, leading a fiery charger with snorting nostrils. Behind himfollowed a great body of warriors, all in armour, and their swordsgleaming in the sun. The youth handed over his three-legged steed tothe Groom, mounted the other, and rode away at the head of the troop.
When he approached the battle-field a great many of the King's men hadalready fallen, and before long the rest must have given in. Then theyouth, at the head of his iron troop, charged, and bore down the enemylike a mighty wind, smiting everything which came in their way. Theytried to fly, but the youth fell upon them, and did not stop while oneremained alive.
Instead of joining the King, he led his troop straight back to thewood and called Iron Hans again.
'What do you want?' asked the Wild Man.
'Take back your charger and your troop, and give me back mythree-legged steed.'
His request was granted, and he rode his three-legged steed home.
When the King returned to the castle his daughter met him andcongratulated him on his victory.
'It was not I who won it,' he said; 'but a strange Knight, who came tomy assistance with his troop.' His daughter asked who the strangeKnight was, but the King did not know, and said, 'He pursued theenemy, and I have not seen him since.'
She asked the Gardener about his assistant, but he laughed, and said,'He has just come home on his three-legged horse, and the others madefun of him, and said, "Here comes our hobbler back again," and askedwhich hedge he had been sleeping under. He answered, "I did my best,and without me things would have gone badly." Then they laughed at himmore than ever.'
The King said to his daughter, 'I will give a great feast lastingthree days, and you shall throw a golden apple. Perhaps the unknownKnight will come among the others to try and catch it.'
When notice was given of the feast, the youth went to the wood andcalled Iron Hans.
'What do you want?' he asked.
'I want to secure the King's golden apple,' he said.
'It is as good as yours already,' answered Iron Hans. 'You shall havea tawny suit, and ride a proud chestnut.'
When the day arrived the youth took his place among the other Knights,but no one knew him. The Princess stepped forward and threw the appleamong the Knights, and he was the only one who could catch it. As soonas he had it he rode away.
On the second day Iron Hans fitted him out as a White Knight, riding agallant grey. Again he caught the apple; but he did not stay a minute,and, as before, hurried away.
The King now grew angry, and said, 'This must not be; he must comebefore me and give me his name.'
He gave an order that if the Knight made off again he was to bepursued and brought back.
On the third day the youth received from Iron Hans a black outfit, anda fiery black charger.
Again he caught the apple; but as he was riding off with it the King'speople chased him, and one came so near that he wounded him in theleg. Still he escaped, but his horse galloped so fast that his helmetfell off, and they all saw that he had golden hair. So they rode back,and told the King what they had seen.
Next day the Princess asked the Gardener about his assistant.
'He is working in the garden. The queer fellow went to the feast, andhe only came back last night. He has shown my children three goldenapples which he won.'
The King ordered him to be brought before him. When he appeared hestill wore his cap. But the Princess went up to him and took it off;then all his golden hair fell over his shoulders, and it was sobeautiful that they were all amazed by it.
'Are you the Knight who came to the feast every day in a differentcolour, and who caught the three golden apples?' asked the King.
'Yes,' he answered, 'and here are the apples,' bringing them out ofhis pocket, and giving them to the King. 'If you want further proof,here is the wound in my leg given me by your people when they pursuedme. But I am also the Knight who helped you to conquer the enemy.'
'If you can do such deeds you are no Gardener's boy. Tell me who isyour father?'
'My father is a powerful King, and I have plenty of gold--as much asever I want.'
'I see very well,' said the King, 'that we owe you many thanks. Can Ido anything to please you?'
'Yes,' he answered; 'indeed, you can. Give me your daughter to be mywife!'
The maiden laughed, and said, 'He does not beat about the bush; but Isaw long ago that he was no Gardener's boy.'
Then she went up to him and kissed him.
His father and mother came to the wedding, and they were full of joy,for they had long given up all hope of ever seeing their dear sonagain. As they were all sitting at the wedding feast, the musicsuddenly stopped, the doors flew open, and a proud King walked in atthe head of a great following. He went up to the Bridegroom, embracedhim, and said, 'I am Iron Hans, who was bewitched and changed into aWild Man; but you have broken the spell and set me free. All thetreasure that I have is now your own.'
Printed in Great Britain by T. and A. Constable, Printers to His Majesty at the University Press, Edinburgh
Transcriber's Note
Minor punctuation errors have been repaired. Capitalisation and hyphenusage has been made consistent within individual stories.
Thank you fo
r reading books on BookFrom.Net Share this book with friends