When he opened a room, he found two beautiful beds. So they lay down in them, but just as they were about to fall asleep, it occurred to the timid carpenter that they had not said their prayers. As he got up, he saw a cupboard on the wall. He opened it, and inside there was a crucifix with two prayer books. He immediately woke the soldier and got him up. Then they knelt down and said their prayers and fell asleep once more in peace. The next morning the soldier felt such a violent blow that he jumped into the air.
“Hey, why are you hitting me?” he yelled at his companion, who had also received a blow and replied, “I didn’t hit you. Why did you hit me?”
Then the soldier said, “It’s probably a signal that we should get up.”
When they left the room, breakfast was already on the table. But the timid carpenter said, “Before we touch it, let’s first look for some people.”
“All right,” said the soldier. “I agree. Anyway, since the cat prepared and cooked the meal, I’ve lost my desire to eat it.”
So they went from the bottom of the castle to the top but couldn’t find a soul. Finally, the soldier said, “Let’s go search down in the cellar, too.”
When they went down the stairs, they saw an old woman sitting in front of the first cellar. They began speaking to her and said, “Good day! Did you cook that good meal for us?”
“Yes, children, did it taste all right?”
They went farther and came to a second cellar, where a young boy of fourteen was sitting. They greeted him, too, but he didn’t answer them. Finally, they moved on to the third cellar, where a maiden of twelve was sitting, and she, too, didn’t answer their greeting. Then they continued walking through all the cellars but didn’t find anyone else. When they returned, the maiden had already stood up from her seat, and they said to her, “Do you want to go upstairs with us?”
But she asked, “Is the red swan still on the pond up there?”
“Yes, we saw it at the entrance.”
“That’s sad. Then I can’t go upstairs with you.”
The young boy was also standing when they came to him, and they asked him: “Do you want to come upstairs with us?”
But he said, “Is the black dog still in the courtyard?”
“Yes, we saw him at the entrance.”
“That’s sad. Then I can’t go upstairs with you.”
When they came to the old woman, she had also stood up.
“Granny,” they said. “Do you want to come upstairs with us?”
“Is the gray cat still upstairs in the kitchen?”
“Yes, she’s sitting at the hearth by a pot and cooking.”
“That’s sad. Unless you kill the red swan, the black dog, and the gray cat, we can’t leave the cellar.”
When the two companions went upstairs and into the kitchen again, they wanted to pet the cat, but her fiery eyes began to flash, and she looked very wild. Now, there was still a small room left that they hadn’t explored, and when they opened it, they discovered that it was completely empty except for a bow and arrow, a sword, and iron tongs, which were hanging on the wall. Written over the bow and arrow were the words, “This will kill the red swan.” Over the sword, “This will chop off the black dog’s head.” Over the tongs, “This will pinch off the gray cat’s head.”
“Ah,” said the timid carpenter. “Let’s get out of here!”
But the soldier replied, “No, let’s go after the animals.”
So they took the weapons off the wall and went into the kitchen, where the three animals, the swan, the dog, and the cat, were standing together as if they had something evil in mind. When the timid carpenter saw them, he ran away. The soldier followed and tried to give his companion courage, but the carpenter wanted something to eat first. After he had eaten, he said, “I saw some suits of armor in a room, and I want to put one on first.”
When he was in the room, he looked for a way to escape and said, “We’d be better off if we climbed through that window. Those animals are not our concern!”
However, when he went over to the window, he found strong iron bars in front of it. Now he no longer had a way out and went over to the suits of armor. He tried to put one on, but they were all too heavy. Then the soldier said, “Stop this! Let’s go the way we are.”
“All right,” said the other, “but I wish there were three of us.”
Just as he uttered those words a white dove began flapping its wings on the outside of a window and bumped up against it. The soldier opened the window, and as soon as the dove hopped inside, a handsome young man stood before them and said, “I’ll lend you support and help you.”
The young man picked up the bow and arrow, but the timid carpenter told him that he was taking the best part of the bargain with the bow and arrow because he’d be in a good position after he took a shot to run wherever he wanted. On the other hand, the carpenter and the soldier would have to get physically closer to the enchanted animals to use their weapons. Upon hearing this, the young man exchanged the bow and arrow for the sword.
Now all three went into the kitchen, where the animals were still together. The young man cut off the dog’s head, the soldier grabbed the gray cat with the tongs, and the timid carpenter stood behind and shot the red swan dead. After the three animals had been killed, the old woman and her two children came running from the cellar all at once and let out a great cry, “You’ve killed our dearest friends! You’re traitors!”
They charged at the men and wanted to murder them. But the three men overpowered them and killed them with their weapons. Once they were dead, the men suddenly began to hear all around them strange murmuring sounds that came out of all the corners. Then the timid carpenter said, “Let’s bury the three bodies. After all, they were Christians. We know this from the crucifix.”
So they carried the bodies out into the courtyard, dug three graves, and laid them down inside. While they were working, however, the murmuring in the castle increased. It became louder and louder, and when they were finished with their work, they heard real voices among the murmurs, and one called out, “Who are you? Who are you?”
Since the handsome young man had disappeared, they became afraid and ran away. After they had gone off a little way, the soldier said, “Hey, we shouldn’t have run away. Let’s go back and see what’s there.”
“No,” the other said. “I want nothing to do with those bewitched creatures. I want to go to the city and earn an honest living.”
But the soldier gave him no peace until he went back with him. When they got to the front of the castle, everything was full of life. Horses dashed through the courtyard, and servants ran back and forth. They pretended to be two poor journeymen and asked for a little something to eat. One of the people said, “Yes, just come inside. Everyone will be helped today.”
They were led into a beautiful room and were given food and wine. Afterward they were asked whether they had seen two young men coming from the castle.
“No,” they said.
But when someone saw that they had blood on their hands, he asked where the blood came from.
“I cut my finger,” replied the soldier.
However, a servant went and told his master, who came himself to see who they were. Indeed, it was the handsome young man who had come to their aid, and when he laid eyes on them, he cried out, “These are the two who saved the castle!”
He welcomed them with great joy and told them how everything had happened. “A housekeeper was living in the castle with her two children. However, she was really a witch, and one time, when her masters scolded her, she replied by doing some evil and transformed all living things in the castle into stone. There were three other servants who also knew something about magic, and she had no real power over them and could only turn them into animals. They did their mischief upstairs in the castle, and since she was afraid of them, she fled into the cellar with her children. She had only limited power over me as well. So she changed me into a white dove but only as long as I w
as outside the castle. Inside I could be myself. When you two came into the castle, you were supposed to kill the animals so she would be free. As a reward she wanted to kill you, but God had things turn out better. The castle is no longer enchanted, and the very moment that the wicked witch and her children were killed, the people who had been turned into stone became alive again, and the murmuring sounds you heard were the words these people first spoke upon being freed.”
The young man then led the two companions to the lord of the castle, who gave them his two beautiful daughters, and they lived happily ever after as great knights until the end of their days.
45
PRETTY KATRINELYA AND PIF-PAF-POLTREE
“Good day, Father Berry-Tea.”
“Why, thank you, Pif-Paf-Poltree.”
“Could I have your daughter for my wife?”
“Oh, yes, if Mother Milk-Cow, Brother High-and-Mighty, Sister Dear-Cheese, and Pretty Katrinelya are willing, then you can have her.”
“Then where can I find Mother Milk-Cow?”
“In the barn milking the cow.”
“Good day, Mother Milk-Cow.”
“Why, thank you, Pif-Paf-Poltree.”
“Could I have your daughter for my wife?”
“Oh, yes, if Father Berry-Tea, Brother High-and-Mighty, Sister Dear-Cheese, and Pretty Katrinelya are willing, then you can have her.”
“Then where can I find Brother High-and-Mighty?”
“In the shed chopping up all the wood he can see.”
“Good day, Brother High-and-Mighty.”
“Why, thank you, Pif-Paf-Poltree.”
“Could I have your sister for my wife?”
“Oh, yes, if Father Berry-Tea, Mother Milk-Cow, Sister Dear-Cheese, and Pretty Katrinelya are willing, then you can have her.”
“Then where can I find Sister Dear-Cheese?”
“Weeding in the garden, if you please.”
“Good day, Sister Dear-Cheese.”
“Why, thank you, Pif-Paf-Poltree.
“Could I have your sister for my wife?”
“Oh, yes, if Father Berry-Tea, Mother Milk-Cow, Brother High-and-Mighty, and Pretty Katrinelya are willing, then you can have her.”
“Then where can I find Pretty Katrinelya?”
“Counting out her pennies in the parlor.”
“Good day, Pretty Katrinelya.”
“Why, thank you, Pif-Paf-Poltree.”
“Do you want to be my bride?”
“Oh, yes, if Father Berry-Tea, Mother Milk-Cow, Brother High-and-Mighty, and Sister Dear-Cheese are willing, then I’ll be your bride.”
“Pretty Katrinelya, how much dowry do you have?”
“Fourteen pennies in cash, three and a half coins that are owed to me, half a pound of dried fruits, a handful of pretzels, and a handful of roots.
As you can surely see,
that makes for a fine dowry.
Now, Pif-Paf-Poltree, what is it that do you do? Are you a tailor?”
“Much better than that.”
“A shoemaker?”
“Much better than that.”
“A farmer?”
“Much better than that.”
“A carpenter?”
“Much better than that.”
“A blacksmith?”
“Much better than that.”
“A miller?”
“Much better than that.”
“Perhaps you’re a broom-maker?”
“Yes, that’s what I am. Isn’t that a wonderful way to earn a living?”
46
THE FOX AND THE HORSE
A farmer had a faithful horse that had grown old and could no longer do his work. So his master didn’t want to feed him anymore and said, “You’re of no more use to me now, but I won’t abandon you entirely. Show me that you’re still strong enough to bring me a lion, then I’ll keep you. But for now, get out of my stable!”
And he chased the horse out into the open field. The horse was sad about this and went into the forest to seek a little shelter from the weather. There he met the fox, who asked, “Why are you hanging your head and moping about all by yourself?”
“Ah,” answered the horse, “greed and loyalty can’t live side by side in the same house. My master has forgotten how much work I’ve done for him over the years, and since I can no longer plow properly, he won’t feed me and has chased me away.”
“Without a word of consolation?” asked the fox.
“The consolation was meager. He told me that if I was still strong enough to bring him a lion, he would keep me, but he knows full well that I can’t do that.”
“Well, I’m going to help you,” said the fox. “Just lie down, stretch yourself out, and don’t move. Pretend you’re dead.”
The horse did what the fox commanded, while the fox went to the lion, whose den was not far away, and said, “There’s a dead horse lying out there. If you want a great meal, come along with me.”
The lion went with him, and when they were at the horse’s side, the fox said, “It’s not so comfortable for you here. You know what I’ll do? I’ll tie the horse to you by his tail so you can drag him and eat him in peace and quiet.”
The lion liked the idea, assumed a position for the fox to attach the horse to him, and kept still. However, the fox bound the lion’s legs together with the horse’s tail, and he tied and twisted it so tightly and firmly that the lion wouldn’t have been able to tear himself loose even if he had used all his might. When the fox finally finished his work, he tapped the horse on his shoulder and said, “Pull, horse, pull!”
All at once the horse jumped up and dragged the lion with him. The lion began to roar so loudly that all the birds in the forest flew away out of fright, but the horse let him roar and pulled and dragged him over the fields to his master’s door. When his master saw that, he reconsidered everything in a better light and said to the horse, “You shall stay here with me and shall be treated well.”
And he gave him all he wanted to eat until the day of the horse’s death.
47
THE WORN-OUT DANCING SHOES
Once upon a time there was a king who had twelve daughters, one more beautiful than the other. They slept together in a large room, where their beds stood side by side, and in the evening, when they went to sleep, the king shut and locked the door. However, every morning, their shoes were worn out from dancing, and nobody knew where they had been and how it kept happening. So the king issued a proclamation that whoever could find out where his daughters danced during the night could choose one of them for his wife and be king after his death. But anyone who came and failed to uncover everything after three days and nights would lose his life.
Not long after this proclamation a prince came and was well received. In the evening he was conducted to a room adjoining the bedchamber of the king’s daughters. His bed was set up there, and he was told to watch and find out where they went dancing. And, just to make sure they couldn’t do anything in secret or go out anywhere else, the door of their room that led to his was kept open. However, the prince fell asleep, and when he awoke the next morning, all twelve of them had been to a dance, for their shoes were standing there with holes in the soles. The same thing happened the second and third nights, and his head was cut off. After that there were many who came to try their luck, but they all left their lives behind them.
Now, it so happened that a poor soldier, who had been wounded and could no longer serve in the army, traveled toward the city where the king lived. Along the way he met an old woman, who asked him where he was going.
“I really don’t know myself,” he said, “but I’d certainly like to find out where the king’s daughters go dancing and where they wear out their shoes so I could become king.”
“Oh, that’s not so difficult,” said the old woman. “Just don’t drink the wine that’s brought to you in the evening, and then pretend that you’ve fallen asleep.” She also gave him a little cloak and added, “When
you put this cloak on, you’ll be invisible, and you’ll be able to follow all twelve of them.”
After receiving such good advice, the soldier now became serious about the entire matter and plucked up his courage to present himself in front of the king as a suitor. He was welcomed just as cordially as the others had been and was given royal garments to put on. In the evening, at bedtime, he was led to the antechamber, and as he was preparing to go to bed the oldest daughter brought him a beaker of wine, but he had tied a sponge underneath his chin and let the wine run into it and didn’t drink a single drop. Then he lay down, and after lying there a little while, he began to snore as if in a very deep sleep.
When the princesses heard his snoring, they laughed, and the oldest said: “He, too, could have saved his life.”
After this they stood up, opened the closets, chests, and boxes, and took out splendid clothes. They groomed themselves in front of their mirrors and hurried about, eager to attend the dance. But the youngest said, “I don’t know. You’re all happy, yet I have a strange feeling. I’m sure that something bad is going to happen to us.”
“You’re a silly goose,” said the oldest. “You’re always afraid. Have you forgotten how many princes have already tried in vain? I didn’t really need to give the soldier a sleeping potion. He’d never have awakened, even without it.”
When they were all ready, they first took a look at the soldier, but he had shut his eyes tight, and since he neither moved nor stirred, they thought they were definitely safe. So the oldest went to her bed and knocked on it. Immediately it sank into the ground, and a trap door opened. The soldier watched them climb down through the opening, one after another, with the oldest in the lead. Since there was no time to lose, he got up, put on his little cloak, and climbed down after the youngest. Halfway down the stairs he stepped on her dress slightly, causing her to become terrified and cry out, “What’s that? Who’s holding my dress?”
“Don’t be so stupid,” said the oldest. “You’ve just caught it on a hook.”
They went all the way down, and when they were at the bottom, they stood in the middle of a marvelous avenue of trees whose leaves were all made of silver and glittered and glimmered. “I’d better take a piece of evidence with me,” the soldier thought, and broke off a branch, but the tree cracked and made a tremendous sound. Again the youngest cried out, “Something’s wrong! Didn’t you hear the noise? That never happened before.”