Grimms' Fairy Tales by Jacob Grimm (i love reading books .TXT) ๐
Time passed on again, and the youngest son too wished to set out intothe wide world to seek for the golden bird; but his father would notlisten to it for a long while, for he was very fond of his son, andwas afraid that some ill luck might happen to him also, and preventhis coming back. However, at last it was agreed he should go, for hewould not rest at home; and as he came to the wood, he met the fox,and heard the same good counsel. But he was thankful to the fox, anddid not attempt his life as his brothers had done; so the fox said,'Sit upon my tail, and you will travel faster.' So he sat down, andthe fox began to run, and away they went over stock and stone so quickthat their hair whistled in the wind.
When they came to the village, the son followed the fox's counsel, andwithout looking about him w
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When he found himself safe, he was overjoyed to think that he had got the Water of Life; and as he was going on his way homewards, he passed by the little dwarf, who, when he saw the sword and the loaf, said, โYou have made a noble prize; with the sword you can at a blow slay whole armies, and the bread will never fail you.โ Then the prince thought to himself, โI cannot go home to my father without my brothersโ; so he said, โMy dear friend, cannot you tell me where my two brothers are, who set out in search of the Water of Life before me, and never came back?โ โI have shut them up by a charm between two mountains,โ said the dwarf, โbecause they were proud and ill-behaved, and scorned to ask advice.โ The prince begged so hard for his brothers, that the dwarf at last set them free, though unwillingly, saying, โBeware of them, for they have bad hearts.โ Their brother, however, was greatly rejoiced to see them, and told them all that had happened to him; how he had found the Water of Life, and had taken a cup full of it; and how he had set a beautiful princess free from a spell that bound her; and how she had engaged to wait a whole year, and then to marry him, and to give him the kingdom.
Then they all three rode on together, and on their way home came to a country that was laid waste by war and a dreadful famine, so that it was feared all must die for want. But the prince gave the king of the land the bread, and all his kingdom ate of it. And he lent the king the wonderful sword, and he slew the enemyโs army with it; and thus the kingdom was once more in peace and plenty. In the same manner he befriended two other countries through which they passed on their way.
When they came to the sea, they got into a ship and during their voyage the two eldest said to themselves, โOur brother has got the water which we could not find, therefore our father will forsake us and give him the kingdom, which is our rightโ; so they were full of envy and revenge, and agreed together how they could ruin him. Then they waited till he was fast asleep, and poured the Water of Life out of the cup, and took it for themselves, giving him bitter sea-water instead.
When they came to their journeyโs end, the youngest son brought his cup to the sick king, that he might drink and be healed. Scarcely, however, had he tasted the bitter sea-water when he became worse even than he was before; and then both the elder sons came in, and blamed the youngest for what they had done; and said that he wanted to poison their father, but that they had found the Water of Life, and had brought it with them. He no sooner began to drink of what they brought him, than he felt his sickness leave him, and was as strong and well as in his younger days. Then they went to their brother, and laughed at him, and said, โWell, brother, you found the Water of Life, did you? You have had the trouble and we shall have the reward. Pray, with all your cleverness, why did not you manage to keep your eyes open? Next year one of us will take away your beautiful princess, if you do not take care. You had better say nothing about this to our father, for he does not believe a word you say; and if you tell tales, you shall lose your life into the bargain: but be quiet, and we will let you off.โ
The old king was still very angry with his youngest son, and thought that he really meant to have taken away his life; so he called his court together, and asked what should be done, and all agreed that he ought to be put to death. The prince knew nothing of what was going on, till one day, when the kingโs chief huntsmen went a-hunting with him, and they were alone in the wood together, the huntsman looked so sorrowful that the prince said, โMy friend, what is the matter with you?โ โI cannot and dare not tell you,โ said he. But the prince begged very hard, and said, โOnly tell me what it is, and do not think I shall be angry, for I will forgive you.โ โAlas!โ said the huntsman; โthe king has ordered me to shoot you.โ The prince started at this, and said, โLet me live, and I will change dresses with you; you shall take my royal coat to show to my father, and do you give me your shabby one.โ โWith all my heart,โ said the huntsman; โI am sure I shall be glad to save you, for I could not have shot you.โ Then he took the princeโs coat, and gave him the shabby one, and went away through the wood.
Some time after, three grand embassies came to the old kingโs court, with rich gifts of gold and precious stones for his youngest son; now all these were sent from the three kings to whom he had lent his sword and loaf of bread, in order to rid them of their enemy and feed their people. This touched the old kingโs heart, and he thought his son might still be guiltless, and said to his court, โO that my son were still alive! how it grieves me that I had him killed!โ โHe is still alive,โ said the huntsman; โand I am glad that I had pity on him, but let him go in peace, and brought home his royal coat.โ At this the king was overwhelmed with joy, and made it known throughout all his kingdom, that if his son would come back to his court he would forgive him.
Meanwhile the princess was eagerly waiting till her deliverer should come back; and had a road made leading up to her palace all of shining gold; and told her courtiers that whoever came on horseback, and rode straight up to the gate upon it, was her true lover; and that they must let him in: but whoever rode on one side of it, they must be sure was not the right one; and that they must send him away at once.
The time soon came, when the eldest brother thought that he would make haste to go to the princess, and say that he was the one who had set her free, and that he should have her for his wife, and the kingdom with her. As he came before the palace and saw the golden road, he stopped to look at it, and he thought to himself, โIt is a pity to ride upon this beautiful roadโ; so he turned aside and rode on the right-hand side of it. But when he came to the gate, the guards, who had seen the road he took, said to him, he could not be what he said he was, and must go about his business.
The second prince set out soon afterwards on the same errand; and when he came to the golden road, and his horse had set one foot upon it, he stopped to look at it, and thought it very beautiful, and said to himself, โWhat a pity it is that anything should tread here!โ Then he too turned aside and rode on the left side of it. But when he came to the gate the guards said he was not the true prince, and that he too must go away about his business; and away he went.
Now when the full year was come round, the third brother left the forest in which he had lain hid for fear of his fatherโs anger, and set out in search of his betrothed bride. So he journeyed on, thinking of her all the way, and rode so quickly that he did not even see what the road was made of, but went with his horse straight over it; and as he came to the gate it flew open, and the princess welcomed him with joy, and said he was her deliverer, and should now be her husband and lord of the kingdom. When the first joy at their meeting was over, the princess told him she had heard of his father having forgiven him, and of his wish to have him home again: so, before his wedding with the princess, he went to visit his father, taking her with him. Then he told him everything; how his brothers had cheated and robbed him, and yet that he had borne all those wrongs for the love of his father. And the old king was very angry, and wanted to punish his wicked sons; but they made their escape, and got into a ship and sailed away over the wide sea, and where they went to nobody knew and nobody cared.
And now the old king gathered together his court, and asked all his kingdom to come and celebrate the wedding of his son and the princess. And young and old, noble and squire, gentle and simple, came at once on the summons; and among the rest came the friendly dwarf, with the sugarloaf hat, and a new scarlet cloak.
And all the good people they danced and they sung,
And feasted and frolickโd I canโt tell how long.
THE TWELVE HUNTSMEN
There was once a kingโs son who had a bride whom he loved very much. And when he was sitting beside her and very happy, news came that his father lay sick unto death, and desired to see him once again before his end. Then he said to his beloved: โI must now go and leave you, I give you a ring as a remembrance of me. When I am king, I will return and fetch you.โ So he rode away, and when he reached his father, the latter was dangerously ill, and near his death. He said to him: โDear son, I wished to see you once again before my end, promise me to marry as I wish,โ and he named a certain kingโs daughter who was to be his wife. The son was in such trouble that he did not think what he was doing, and said: โYes, dear father, your will shall be done,โ and thereupon the king shut his eyes, and died.
When therefore the son had been proclaimed king, and the time of mourning was over, he was forced to keep the promise which he had given his father, and caused the kingโs daughter to be asked in marriage, and she was promised to him. His first betrothed heard of this, and fretted so much about his faithfulness that she nearly died. Then her father said to her: โDearest child, why are you so sad? You shall have whatsoever you will.โ She thought for a moment and said: โDear father, I wish for eleven girls exactly like myself in face, figure, and
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