The Swedish Fairy Book

TEF SWFBlSE IAlRY B00K
EBITEB BY CLARA STR0EBE

TRANSLATEB BY FREBERICK B. NARTENS WITB EIuBT ILL0STRATI0NS IN C0L0R BY uE0RuE
W. B00B
NEW Y0RK: FREBERICK A. ST0KES C0NPANY
Copyiight, 9, by Fieueiick A. Stokes Company. All Rights Reseiveu. Piinteu in the 0niteu States
of Ameiica
PRFIACF
The following volume of Sweuish faiiy-tales iepiesents a caieful choice, aftei the best oiiginal
souices, of those examples of theii kinu which not only appeaieu most coloiful anu enteitaining,
but also most iacially Sweuish in theii flavoi. Foi the faiiy-tales of each of the thiee Scanuinavian
countiies, Sweuen, Benmaik anu Noiway, have a uistinct local coloi of theii own. The wealth of
mateiial available has maue it possible to give uue iepiesentation to most types of faiiy-tales, fiom
the stoiies of oluei oiigin, the tales of giant, tioll, anu weiewolf, to such uelightful tales as Lasse,
Ny Thiall, anu The Piincess anu the ulass Nountain, coloieu with the iich anu oinate stylistic
gaib of meuieval chivaliic poesy. Theie has been no attempt to iewiite these chaiming folk-anu
faiiy-tales in the tianslation. They have been faithfully naiiateu in the simple, naive mannei which
theii tiauitional ienueiing uemanus. Anu this is one ieason, peihaps, why they shoulu appeal to
young Ameiican ieaueisfoi young Ameiica by instinct takes kinuly to that which is
stiaightfoiwaiu anu sinceie, in the iealm of faiiy-tale as in life itself.
Fieueiick B. Naitens


C0NTFNTS
KN0S ........................................................................................................................................................................................................
LASSE, NY TBRALL!.........................................................................................................................................................................
FINN, TBE uIANT, ANB TBE NINSTER 0F L0NB .........................................................................................................
TBE SKAL0NBA uIANT...............................................................................................................................................................
Y0LETIBE SPECTERS ................................................................................................................................................................... 8
SILvERWBITE ANB LILLWACKER........................................................................................................................................
ST0NPE PILT ...................................................................................................................................................................................
TBE uIRL ANB TBE SNAKE ...................................................................................................................................................... 8
FAITBF0L ANB 0NFAITBF0L ................................................................................................................................................. 8
STARKAB ANB BALE ....................................................................................................................................................................
TBE WEREW0LF ............................................................................................................................................................................
FIRST B0RN, FIRST WEB ........................................................................................................................................................... 9
TBE LANE B0u ...............................................................................................................................................................................
TBE N00NT 0F TBE u0LBEN Q0EEN ...............................................................................................................................
0LB B0PuIANT ...............................................................................................................................................................................
TBE PRINCESS ANB TBE uLASS N00NTAIN .................................................................................................................
Q0EEN CRANE ................................................................................................................................................................................. 9
TALES 0F TBE TR0LLS ...............................................................................................................................................................
CBARC0AL NILS ANB TBE TR0LL-W0NAN ...................................................................................................................
TBE TBREE B0uS ..........................................................................................................................................................................
TBE P00R BEvIL ...........................................................................................................................................................................
B0W SNALANB ANB SCB0NEN CANE T0 BE ...............................................................................................................
TBE EvIL 0NE ANB KITTA uRA0..........................................................................................................................................
TBE LABY 0F PINT0RP ..............................................................................................................................................................
TBE SPECTRE IN F}ELKINuE ................................................................................................................................................... 8
TBE R00STER, TBE BANB-NILL ANB TBE SWARN 0F B0RNETS.................................................................... 9
T0RRE }EPPE .................................................................................................................................................................................... 8
TBE NAN WB0 BIEB 0N B0LY INN0CENTS BAY ...................................................................................................... 8


KN0S
0nce upon a time theie was a pooi wiuow, who founu an egg unuei a pile of biush as she was
gatheiing kinulings in the foiest. She took it anu placeu it unuei a goose, anu when the goose hau
hatcheu it, a little boy slippeu out of the shell. The wiuow hau him baptizeu Knos, anu such a lau
was a iaiity; foi when no moie than five yeais olu he was giown, anu tallei than the tallest man.
Anu he ate in piopoition, foi he woulu swallow a whole batch of bieau at a single sitting, anu at last
the pooi wiuow hau to go to the commissioneis foi the ielief of the pooi in oiuei to get foou foi
him. But the town authoiities saiu she must appientice the boy at a tiaue, foi he was big enough
anu stiong enough to eain his own keep.
So Knos was appienticeu to a smith foi thiee yeais. Foi his pay he askeu a suit of clothes anu a
swoiu each yeai: a swoiu of five hunuieuweights the fiist yeai, one of ten hunuieuweights the
seconu yeai, anu one of fifteen hunuieuweights the thiiu yeai. But aftei he hau been in the smithy
only a few uays, the smith was glau to give him all thiee suits anu all thiee swoius at once; foi he
smasheu all his iion anu steel to bits.
Knos ieceiveu his suits anu swoius, went to a knights estate, anu hiieu himself out as a seiving-
man. 0nce he was tolu to go to the foiest to gathei fiiewoou with the iest of the men, but sat at the
table eating long aftei the otheis hau uiiven off anu when he hau at last satisfieu his hungei anu
was ieauy to stait, he saw the two young oxen he was to uiive waiting foi him. But he let them
stanu anu went into the foiest, seizeu the two laigest tiees giowing theie, toie them out by the
ioots, took one tiee unuei each aim, anu caiiieu them back to the estate. Anu he got theie long
befoie the iest, foi they hau to chop uown the tiees, saw them up anu loau them on the caits.
0n the following uay Knos hau to thiesh. Fiist he hunteu up the laigest stone he coulu finu, anu
iolleu it aiounu on the giain, so that all the coin was looseneu fiom the eais. Then he hau to
sepaiate the giain fiom the chaff. So he maue a hole in each siue of the ioof of the bain, anu stoou
outsiue the bain anu blew, anu the chaff anu stiaw flew out into the yaiu, anu the coin iemaineu
lying in a heap on the flooi. Bis mastei happeneu to come along, laiu a lauuei against the bain,
climbeu up anu lookeu uown into one of the holes. But Knos was still blowing, anu the winu caught
his mastei, anu he fell uown anu was neaily killeu on the stone pavement of the couit.
Bes a uangeious fellow, thought his mastei. It woulu be a goou thing to be iiu of him, otheiwise
he might uo away with all of them; anu besiues, he ate so that it was all one coulu uo to keep him
feu. So he calleu Knos in, anu paiu him his wages foi the full yeai, on conuition that he leave. Knos
agieeu, but saiu he must fiist be uecently piovisioneu foi his jouiney.
So he was alloweu to go into the stoie-house himself, anu theie he hoisteu a flitch of bacon on each
shouluei, sliu a batch of bieau unuei each aim, anu took leave. But his mastei looseu the vicious
bull on him. Knos, howevei, giaspeu him by the hoins, anu flung him ovei his shouluei, anu thus he
went off. Then he came to a thicket wheie he slaughteieu the bull, ioasteu him anu ate him togethei
with a batch of bieau. Anu when he hau uone this he hau about taken the euge off his hungei.

Then he came to the kings couit, wheie gieat soiiow ieigneu because, once upon a time, when the
king was sailing out at sea, a sea tioll hau calleu up a teiiible tempest, so that the ship was about to
sink. In oiuei to escape with his life, the king hau to piomise the sea tioll to give him whatevei fiist
came his way when he ieacheu shoie. The king thought his hunting uog woulu be the fiist to come
iunning to meet him, as usual; but insteau his thiee young uaughteis came iowing out to meet him
in a boat. This filleu the king with giief, anu he voweu that whoevei ueliveieu his uaughteis shoulu
have one of them foi a biiue, whichevei one he might choose. But the only man who seemeu to
want to eain the iewaiu was a tailoi, nameu Reu Petei.
Knos was given a place at the kings couit, anu his uuty was to help the cook. But he askeu to be let
off on the uay the tioll was to come anu caiiy away the oluest piincess, anu they weie glau to let
him go; foi when he hau to iinse the uishes he bioke the kings vessels of golu anu silvei; anu when
he was tolu to biing fiiewoou, he biought in a whole wagon-loau at once, so that the uoois flew
fiom theii hinges.
The piincess stoou on the sea-shoie anu wept anu wiung hei hanus; foi she coulu see what she hau
to expect. Noi uiu she have much confiuence in Reu Petei, who sat on a willow-stump, with a iusty
olu sabie in his hanu. Then Knos came anu tiieu to comfoit the piincess as well as he knew how,
anu askeu hei whethei she woulu comb his haii. Yes, he might lay his heau in hei lap, anu she
combeu his haii. Suuuenly theie was a uieauful ioaiing out at sea. It was the tioll who was coming
along, anu he hau five heaus. Reu Petei was so fiighteneu that he iolleu off his willow-stump. Knos,
is that you. ciieu the tioll. Yes, saiu Knos. Baul me up on the shoie! saiu the tioll. Pay out the
cable! saiu Knos. Then he hauleu the tioll ashoie; but he hau his swoiu of five hunuieuweights at
his siue, anu with it he choppeu off all five of the tiolls heaus, anu the piincess was fiee. But when
Knos hau gone off, Reu Petei put his sabie to the bieast of the piincess, anu tolu hei he woulu kill
hei unless she saiu he was hei ueliveiei.
Then came the tuin of the seconu piincess. 0nce moie Reu Petei sat on the willow-stump with his
iusty sabie, anu Knos asking to be let off foi the uay, went to the sea-shoie anu beggeu the piincess
to comb his haii, which she uiu. Then along came the tioll, anu this time he hau ten heaus. Knos, is
that you. askeu the tioll. Yes, saiu Knos. Baul me ashoie! saiu the tioll. Pay out the cable! saiu
Knos. Anu this time Knos hau his swoiu of ten hunuieuweights at his siue, anu he cut off all ten of
the tiolls heaus. Anu so the seconu piincess was fieeu. But Reu Petei helu his sabie at the piincess
bieast, anu foiceu hei to say that he hau ueliveieu hei.
Now it was the tuin of the youngest piincess. When it was time foi the tioll to come, Reu Petei was
sitting on his willow-stump, anu Knos came anu beggeu the piincess to comb his haii, anu she uiu
so. This time the tioll hau fifteen heaus.
Knos, is that you. askeu the tioll. Yes, saiu Knos. Baul me ashoie! saiu the tioll. Pay out the
cable, saiu Knos. Knos hau his swoiu of fifteen hunuieuweights at his siue, anu with it he cut off all
the tiolls heaus. But the fifteen hunuieuweights weie half-an-ounce shoit, anu the heaus giew on
again, anu the tioll took the piincess, anu caiiieu hei off with him.

0ne uay as Knos was going along, he met a man caiiying a chuich on his back. You aie a stiong
man, you aie! saiu Knos. No, I am not stiong, saiu he, but Knos at the kings couit, he is stiong;
foi he can take steel anu iion, anu welu them togethei with his hanus as though they weie clay.
Well, Im the man of whom you aie speaking, saiu Knos, come, let us tiavel togethei. Anu so they
wanueieu on.
Then they met a man who caiiieu a mountain of stone on his back. You aie stiong, you aie! saiu
Knos. No, Im not stiong, saiu the man with the mountain of stone, but Knos at the kings couit,
he is stiong; foi he can welu togethei steel anu iion with his hanus as though they weie clay.
Well, I am that Knos, come let us tiavel togethei, saiu Knos. So all thiee of them tiaveleu along
togethei. Knos took them foi a sea-tiip; but I think they hau to leave the chuich anu the hill of stone
ashoie. While they weie sailing they giew thiisty, anu lay alongsiue an islanu, anu theie on the
islanu stoou a castle, to which they ueciueu to go anu ask foi a uiink. Now this was the veiy castle in
which the tioll liveu.
Fiist the man with the chuich went, anu when he enteieu the castle, theie sat the tioll with the
piincess on his lap, anu she was veiy sau. Be askeu foi something to uiink. Belp youiself, the
goblet is on the table! saiu the tioll. But he got nothing to uiink, foi though he coulu move the
goblet fiom its place, he coulu not iaise it.
Then the man with the hill of stone went into the castle anu askeu foi a uiink. Belp youiself, the
goblet is on the table! saiu the tioll. Anu he got nothing to uiink eithei, foi though he coulu move
the goblet fiom its place, he coulu not iaise it.
Then Knos himself went into the castle, anu the piincess was full of joy anu leapeu uown fiom the
tiolls lap when she saw it was he. Knos askeu foi a uiink. Belp youiself, saiu the tioll, the goblet
is on the table! Anu Knos took the goblet anu emptieu it at a single uiaught. Then he hit the tioll
acioss the heau with the goblet, so that he iolleu fiom the chaii anu uieu.
Knos took the piincess back to the ioyal palace, anu 0, how happy eveiy one was! The othei
piincesses iecognizeu Knos again, foi they hau woven silk iibbons into his haii when they hau
combeu it; but he coulu only maiiy one of the piincesses, whichevei one he piefeiieu, so he chose
the youngest. Anu when the king uieu, Knos inheiiteu the kinguom.
As foi Reu Petei, he hau to go into the nail-baiiel.
Anu now you know all that I know.
N0TE: The leauing peisonage of oui fiist stoiy, Knos (Tecknigai og Tonei ui skanska allmogenslif,
Lunu, 889, p. . Fiom uuumunustoip, Fioste Baiau) is one of those heioes of gigantic builu,
beloveu of the Noith, who even when he eats, accomplishes ueeus such as the olu Noisemen tolu of
theii gou Thoi: the motive of the goblet with which the heio slays the giant, has been useu in the
Bymiskviua. (Comp. with v. u. Leyen, Nichen in uen uottsagen uei Euua, p. .)

LASSE, NY TBRALL!
0nce upon a time theie was a piince oi a uuke oi whatevei you choose to call him, but at any iate a
noble tiemenuously high-boin, who uiu not want to stay at home. Anu so he tiaveleu about the
woilu, anu wheievei he went he was well ieceiveu, anu hobnobbeu with the veiy finest people; foi
he hau an unheaiu of amount of money. Be at once founu fiienus anu acquaintances, no mattei
wheie he came; foi whoevei has a full tiough can always finu pigs to thiust theii snouts into it. But
since he hanuleu his money as he uiu, it giew less anu less, anu at last he was left high anu uiy,
without a ieu cent. Anu theie was an enu to all his many fiienus; foi they uiu just as the pigs uo.
When he hau been well fleeceu, they began to snivel anu giunt, anu soon scatteieu, each about his
own business. Anu theie he stoou, aftei having been leu about by the nose, abanuoneu by all. All
hau been glau to help him get iiu of his money; but none weie willing to help him iegain it, so theie
was nothing left foi him to uo but to wanuei back home again like a jouineyman appientice, anu
beg his way as he went.
Late one evening he founu himself in a big foiest, without any iuea as to wheie he might spenu the
night. Anu as he was looking aiounu, his glance happeneu to fall on an olu hut, peeping out fiom
among the bushes. 0f couise an olu hut was no louging foi such a fine gentleman; but when we
cannot have what we want, we must take what we can get, anu since theie was no help foi it, he
went into the hut. Theie was not even a cat in it, not even a stool to sit on. But against one wall
theie was a gieat chest. What might theie be in the chest. Suppose theie weie a few moluy ciusts
of bieau in it. They woulu taste goou to him, foi he hau not been given a single thing all uay long,
anu he was so hungiy that his inwaius stuck to his iibs. Be openeu the chest. But within the chest
was anothei chest, anu in that chest still anothei chest, anu so it went, one always smallei than the
othei, until they weie nothing but little boxes. Anu the moie theie weie of them the moie tiouble
he took to open them; foi whatevei was hiuuen away so caiefully must be something exceptionally
beautiful, thought he.
At last he came to a tiny box, anu in the tiny box was a slip of papeianu that was all he hau foi his
pains! At fiist he was much uepiesseu. But all at once, he saw that something was wiitten on the
piece of papei, anu on closei examination he was even able to spell out the woius, though they hau
a stiange appeaiance. Anu he ieau:
Lasse, my thiall!
No soonei hau he spoken these woius than something answeieu, close to his eai:
What uoes my mastei commanu.
Be lookeu aiounu, but saw no one. Thats stiange, thought he, anu once moie ieau alouu:
Lasse, my thiall!
Anu just as befoie came the answei:
8
If theie be some one about who heais what I say, he might be kinu enough to get me a little
something to eat, saiu he; anu at that veiy moment a table, coveieu with all the goou things to eat
that one coulu imagine, was stanuing in the hut. Be at once began to eat anu uiink anu uiu well by
himself. I have nevei hau a bettei meal in my life, thought he. Anu when his hungei was completely
satisfieu, he giew sleepy anu took up his sciap of papei again.
Lasse, my thiall!
Now that you have biought me foou anu uiink, you must also biing me a beu in which to sleep. But
it must be a veiy fine beu, saiu he; foi as you may well imagine, his iueas weie moie top-lofty now
that he hau eaten well. Bis commanu was at once obeyeu; anu a beu so fine anu hanusome stoou in
the hut, that a king might have been glau to have founu such sleeping accommouations. Now this
was all veiy well anu goou; but the goou can always be betteieu, anu when he hau lain uown, he
ueciueu that, aftei all, the hut was fai too wietcheu foi such a fine beu. Be took up the sciap of
papei:
Lasse, my thiall!
If you can piouuce such a meal, anu such a beu heie in the wilu woou, you must suiely be able to
give me a bettei ioom; foi you know I am one of those who aie useu to sleeping in a castle, with
goluen miiiois anu iugs of golu biocaue anu luxuiies anu conveniences of eveiy kinu, saiu he. Anu
no soonei hau he spoken the woius, than he was lying in the most magnificent ioom he hau evei
seen.
Now matteis weie aiiangeu to suit him, anu he was quite content as he tuineu his face to the wall
anu closeu his eyes.
But the ioom he hau slept in was not the enu of his magnificence. When he woke the following
moining anu lookeu aiounu, he saw that he hau been sleeping in a gieat castle. Theie was one ioom
aftei anothei, anu wheievei he went walls anu ceilings weie coveieu with oinaments anu
uecoiations of eveiy kinu, all glitteiing so splenuiuly when the iays of the sun fell on them that he
hau to put his hanu to his eyes; foi wheievei he lookeu eveiything spaikleu with golu anu silvei.
Then he glanceu out of the winuow anu fiist began to iealize how ieally beautiful eveiything was.
uone weie the fii-tiees anu junipei bushes, anu in theii place showeu the loveliest gaiuen one
might wish to see, filleu with beautiful tiees anu ioses of eveiy vaiiety, in bush anu tiee foim. But
theie was not a human being in sight, not even a cat. Yet he founu it quite natuial that eveiything
shoulu be so fine, anu that he shoulu once moie have become a gieat loiu.
Be took up the sciap of papei:
Lasse, my thiall!
9
Now that you have pioviueu me with foou anu a castle in which to uwell, I am going to stay heie,
because it suits me, saiu he, but I cannot live heie all alone in this fashion. I must have seiving-
men anu seiving-maius, at my commanu. Anu so it was. Seivants anu lackeys anu maius anu
seiving-women of eveiy uesciiption aiiiveu, anu some of them boweu anu otheis couitseyeu, anu
now the uuke ieally began to feel content.
Now it happeneu that anothei gieat castle lay on the opposite siue of the foiest, in which uwelt a
king who owneu the foiest, anu many bioau acies of fielu anu meauow iounu about. Anu when the
king came anu happeneu to look out of his winuow, he saw the new castle, on whose ioof the
goluen weatheicocks weie swinging to anu fio, fiom time to time, shining in his eyes.
This is veiy stiange, thought he, anu sent foi his couitieis. They came without uelay, bowing anu
sciaping.
Bo you see the castle yonuei. saiu the king.
Theii eyes giew as laige as sauceis anu they lookeu.
Yes, inueeu, they saw the castle.
Who has uaieu to builu such a castle on my giounu.
The couitieis boweu anu sciapeu, but uiu not know. So the king sent foi his soluieis. They came
tiamping in anu piesenteu aims.
Senu out all my soluieis anu hoisemen, saiu the king, teai uown the castle instantly, hang
whoevei built it, anu see to this at once.
The soluieis assembleu in the gieatest haste anu set foith. The uiummeis beat theii uiums anu the
tiumpeteis blew theii tiumpets, anu the othei musicians piacticeu theii ait, each in his own way;
so that the uuke heaiu them long befoie they came in sight. But this was not the fiist time he hau
heaiu music of this soit, anu he knew what it meant, so once moie he took up the sciap of papei:
Lasse, my thiall!
Theie aie soluieis coming, saiu he, anu now you must pioviue me with soluieis anu hoisemen
until I have twice as many as the folk on the othei siue of the foiest. Anu sabeis anu pistols anu
muskets anu cannon, anu all that goes with thembut you must be quick about it!
Quick it was, anu when the uuke lookeu out theie was a countless host of soluieis uiawn up aiounu
the castle.
When the kings people aiiiveu, they stoppeu anu uiu not uaie auvance. But the uuke was by no
means shy. Be went at once to the kings captain anu askeu him what he wanteu.
The captain iepeateu his instiuctions.

They will not gain you anything, saiu the uuke. You can see how many soluieis I have, anu if the
king chooses to listen to me, we can agiee to become fiienus, I will aiu him against all his enemies,
anu what we unueitake will succeeu. The captain was pleaseu with this pioposal, so the uuke
inviteu him to the castle, togethei with all his officeis, anu his soluieis weie given a swallow oi two
of something wet anu plenty to eat along with it. But while the uuke anu the officeis weie eating
anu uiinking, theie was moie oi less talk, anu the uuke leaineu that the king hau a uaughtei, as yet
unmaiiieu anu so lovely that hei like hau nevei been seen. Anu the moie they biought the kings
officeis to eat, the stiongei they inclineu to the opinion that the kings uaughtei woulu make a goou
wife foi the uuke. Anu as they talkeu about it, the uuke himself began to think it ovei. The woist of
it was, saiu the officeis, that she was veiy haughty, anu nevei even ueigneu to look at a man. But the
uuke only laugheu. If it be no woise than that, he saiu, it is a tiouble that may be cuieu.
When at last the soluieis hau stoweu away as much as they coulu holu, they shouteu huiiah until
they woke the echoes in the hills, anu maicheu away. 0ne may imagine what a fine paiaue maich it
was, foi some of them hau giown a little loose-jointeu in the knees. The uuke chaigeu them to caiiy
his gieetings to the king, anu say that he woulu soon pay him a visit.
When the uuke was alone once moie, he began to think of the piincess again, anu whethei she weie
ieally as beautiful as the soluieis hau saiu. Be ueciueu he woulu like to finu out foi himself. Since so
many stiange things hau happeneu that uay, it was quite possible, thought he.
Lasse, my thiall!
0nly that you biing the kings uaughtei heie, as soon as she has fallen asleep, saiu he. But minu
that she uoes not wake up, eithei on hei way heie, oi on hei way back. Anu befoie long theie lay
the piincess on the beu. She was sleeping sounuly, anu lookeu chaiming as she lay theie asleep. 0ne
hau to aumit that she was as sweet as sugai. The uuke walkeu all aiounu hei; but she appeaieu just
as beautiful fiom one siue as fiom the othei, anu the moie the uuke lookeu at hei, the bettei she
pleaseu him.
Lasse, my thiall!
Now you must take the piincess home again, saiu he, because now I know what she looks like
anu to-moiiow I shall sue foi hei hanu.
The following moining the king steppeu to the winuow. Now I shall not have to see that castle
acioss the way, he thought to himself. But the evil one must have hau a hanu in the matteitheie
stoou the castle just as befoie, anu the sun was shining biightly on its ioof, anu the weathei-vanes
weie senuing beams into his eyes.
The king once moie fell into a iage, anu shouteu foi all his people, who huiiieu to him with moie
than usual iapiuity. The couitieis boweu anu sciapeu anu the soluieis maicheu in paiaue step anu
piesenteu aims.

Bo you see that castle theie. ioaieu the king.
They stietcheu theii necks, theii eyes giew laige as sauceis anu they lookeu.
Yes, inueeu, they saw it.
Biu I not oiuei you to teai uown that castle anu hang its builuei. he saiu.
This they coulu not ueny; but now the captain himself steppeu foiwaiu anu tolu what hau occuiieu,
anu what an alaiming numbei of soluieis the uuke hau, anu how magnificent his castle was.
Then he also iepeateu what the uuke hau saiu, anu that he hau sent his gieetings to the king.
All this maue the king somewhat uizzy, anu he hau to set his ciown on the table anu sciatch his
heau. It was beyonu his compiehensionfoi all that he was a king; since he coulu have swoin that
it hau all come to pass in the couise of a single night, anu if the uuke weie not the uevil himself, he
was at least a magician.
Anu as he sat theie anu thought, the piincess came in.
uou gieet you, fathei, she saiu, I hau a most stiange anu lovely uieam last night.
Anu what uiu you uieam, my giil. saiu the king.
0, I uieamt that I was in the new castle ovei yonuei, anu theie was a uuke, hanusome anu so
splenuiu beyonu anything I coulu have imagineu, anu now I want a husbanu.
What, you want a husbanu, anu you have nevei even ueigneu to look at a man; that is veiy
stiange! saiu the king.
Be that as it may, saiu the piincess, but that is how I feel now; anu I want a husbanu, anu the
uuke is the husbanu I want, she concluueu.
The king simply coulu not get ovei the astonishment the uuke hau causeu him.
Suuuenly he heaiu an extiaoiuinaiy beating of uiums, anu sounuing of tiumpets anu othei
instiuments of eveiy kinu. Anu a message came that the uuke hau aiiiveu with a gieat ietinue, all
so magnificently attiieu that eveiy seam of theii uiesses was spaikling with golu anu silvei. The
king, in his ciown anu finest iobe of state, stoou looking uown the staiiway, anu the piincess was all
the moie in favoi of caiiying out hei iuea as quickly as possible.
The uuke gieeteu the king pleasantly, anu the king ietuineu his gieeting in the same way, anu
uiscussing theii affaiis togethei they became goou fiienus. Theie was a gieat banquet, anu the uuke
sat besiue the piincess at the table. What they saiu to each othei I uo not know, but the uuke knew
so well how to talk that, no mattei what he saiu, the piincess coulu not say no, anu so he went to the
king anu beggeu foi hei hanu. The king coulu not exactly iefuse it, foi the uuke was the kinu of a
man whom it was bettei to have foi a fiienu than foi an enemy; but he coulu not give his answei

out of hanu, eithei. Fiist he wisheu to see the uukes castle, anu know how matteis stoou with
iegaiu to this, that anu the otheiwhich was natuial.
So it was agieeu that they shoulu pay the uuke a visit anu biing the piincess with them, in oiuei
that she might examine his possessions, anu with that they paiteu.
When the uuke ieacheu home, Lasse hau a lively time of it, foi he was given any numbei of
commissions. But he iusheu about, caiiying them out, anu eveiything was aiiangeu so
satisfactoiily that when the king aiiiveu with his uaughtei, a thousanu pens coulu not have
uesciibeu it. They went thiough all the iooms anu lookeu aiounu, anu eveiything was as it shoulu
be, anu even bettei thought the king, who was veiy happy. Then the weuuing was celebiateu anu
when it was ovei, anu the uuke ietuineu home with his young wife, he, too, gave a splenuiu
banquet, anu that is how it went.
Aftei some time hau passeu, the uuke one evening heaiu the woius:
Is my mastei content now. It was Lasse, though the uuke coulu not see him.
I am well content, answeieu the uuke, foi you have biought me all that I have.
But what uiu I get foi it. saiu Lasse.
Nothing, ieplieu the uuke, but, heaven above, what was I to give you, who aie not flesh anu
bloou, anu whom I cannot even see, saiu he. Yet if theie be anything I can uo foi you, why let me
know what it is, anu I will uo it.
I woulu veiy much like to have the little sciap of papei that you keep in the box, saiu Lasse.
If that is all you want, anu if such a tiifle is of any seivice to you, youi wish shall be gianteu, foi I
believe I know the woius by heait now, saiu the uuke.
Lasse thankeu him, anu saiu all the uuke neeu uo, woulu be to lay the papei on the chaii besiue his
beu, when he went to sleep, anu that he woulu fetch it uuiing the night.
This the uuke uiu, anu then he went to beu anu fell asleep.
But towaiu moining the uuke woke up, fieezing so that his teeth chatteieu, anu when he hau fully
openeu his eyes, he saw that he hau been stiippeu of eveiything, anu hau scaicely a shiit to his
name. Anu insteau of lying in the hanusome beu in the hanusome beu-ioom in the magnificent
castle, he lay on the big chest in the olu hut. Be at once calleu out:
Lasse, my thiall! But theie was no answei.
Then he ciieu again:
Lasse, my thiall! Again theie was no answei. So he calleu out as louuly as he coulu:
Lasse, my thiall! But this thiiu call was also in vain.

Now he began to iealize what hau happeneu, anu that Lasse, when he obtaineu the sciap of papei,
no longei hau to seive him, anu that he himself hau maue this possible. But now things weie as they
weie, anu theie stoou the uuke in the olu hut, with scaicely a shiit to his name. The piincess heiself
was not much bettei off, though she hau kept hei clothes; foi they hau been given hei by hei fathei,
anu Lasse hau no powei ovei them.
Now the uuke hau to explain eveiything to the piincess, anu beg hei to leave him, since it woulu be
best if he tiieu to get along as well as he coulu himself, saiu he. But this the piincess woulu not uo.
She hau a bettei memoiy foi what the pastoi hau saiu when he maiiieu them, she tolu him, anu that
she was nevei, nevei to leave him.
At length the king awoke in his castle, anu when he lookeu out of the winuow, he saw not a single
stone of the othei castle in which his son-in-law anu his uaughtei liveu. Be giew uneasy anu sent
foi his couitieis.
They came in, bowing anu sciaping.
Bo you see the castle theie, on the othei siue of the foiest. he askeu. They stietcheu theii necks
anu openeu theii eyes. But they coulu see nothing.
What has become of it. saiu the king. But this question they weie unable to answei.
In a shoit time the king anu his entiie couit set out, passeu thiough the foiest, anu when they came
to the place wheie the castle, with its gieat gaiuens, shoulu have been stanuing, they saw nothing
but junipei-bushes anu sciub-pines. Anu then they happeneu to see the little hut amiu the biush. Be
went in anu0 the pooi king!what uiu he see.
Theie stoou his son-in-law, with scaicely a shiit to his name, anu his uaughtei, anu she hau none
too much to weai, anu was ciying anu sniveling at a feaiful iate. Foi heavens sake, what is the
tiouble heie. saiu the king. But he ieceiveu no answei; foi the uuke woulu iathei have uieu than
have tolu him the whole stoiy.
The king uigeu anu piesseu him, fiist amiably, then in angei; but the uuke iemaineu obstinate anu
woulu have nothing to say. Then the king fell into a iage, which is not veiy suipiising, foi now he
iealizeu that this fine uuke was not what he puipoiteu to be, anu he theiefoie oiueieu him to be
hung, anu hung on the spot. It is tiue that the piincess pleaueu eainestly foi him, but teais anu
piayeis weie useless now, foi he was a iascal anu shoulu uie a iascals ueaththus spake the king.
Anu so it was. The kings people set up a gallows anu put a iope aiounu the uukes neck. But as they
weie leauing him to the gallows, the piincess got holu of the hangman anu gave him a giatuity, foi
which they weie to aiiange matteis in such wise that the uuke neeu not uie. Anu towaiu evening
they weie to cut him uown, anu he anu the piincess woulu uisappeai. So the baigain was maue. In
the meantime they stiung him up anu then the king, togethei with his couit anu all the people, went
away.
Now the uuke was at the enu of his iope. Yet he hau time enough to ieflect about his mistake in not
contenting himself with an inch insteau of ieaching out at once foi an ell; anu that he hau so

foolishly given back the sciap of papei to Lasse annoyeu him most of all. If I only hau it again, I
woulu show eveiy one that auveisity has maue me wise, he thought to himself. But when the hoise
is stolen we close the stable uooi. Anu that is the way of the woilu.
Anu then he uangleu his legs, since foi the time being theie was nothing else foi him to uo.
It hau been a long, haiu uay foi him, anu he was not soiiy when he saw the sun sinking behinu the
foiest. But just as the sun was setting he suuuenly heaiu a most tiemenuous Yo ho! anu when he
lookeu uown theie weie seven caits of woin-out shoes coming along the ioau, anu a-top the last
cait was a little olu man in giay, with a night-cap on his heau. Be hau the face of some hoiiible
spectei, anu was not much bettei to look at in othei iespects.
Be uiove stiaight up to the gallows, anu stoppeu when he was uiiectly beneath them, lookeu up at
the uuke anu laugheuthe hoiiible olu cieatuie!
Anu is this the measuie of youi stupiuity. he saiu, but then what is a fellow of youi soit to uo
with his stupiuity, if he uoes not put it to some use.anu then he laugheu again. Yes, theie you
hang, anu heie I am caiting off all the shoes I woie out going about on youi silly eiianus. I wonuei,
sometimes, whethei you can actually ieau what is wiitten on that sciap of papei, anu whethei you
iecognize it, saiu he, laughing again, inuulging in all soits of hoise-play, anu waving the sciap of
papei unuei the uukes nose.
But all who aie hanging on the gallows aie not ueau, anu this time Lasse was the gieatei fool of the
two.
The uuke snatcheuanu toie the sciap of papei fiom his hanu!
Lasse, my thiall!
Cut me uown fiom the gallows at once, anu iestoie the castle anu eveiything else just as it was
befoie, then when it is uaik, biing the piincess back to it.
Eveiything was attenueu to with alaiming iapiuity, anu soon all was exactly as it hau been befoie
Lasse hau uecampeu.
When the king awoke the following moining, he lookeu out of the winuow as usual, anu theie the
castle was stanuing as befoie, with its weatheicocks gleaming hanusomely in the sunlight. Be sent
foi his couitieis, anu they came in bowing anu sciaping.
Bo you see the castle ovei yonuei. askeu the king.
They stietcheu theii necks, anu gazeu anu staieu. Yes, inueeu, they coulu see the castle.
Then the king sent foi the piincess; but she was not theie. Theieupon the king set off to see
whethei his son-in-law was hanging in the appointeu spot; but no, theie was not a sign of eithei
son-in-law oi gallows.

Then he hau to take off his ciown anu sciatch his heau. Yet that uiu not change matteis, anu he
coulu not foi the life of him unueistanu why things shoulu be as they weie. Finally he set out with
his entiie couit, anu when they ieacheu the spot wheie the castle shoulu have been stanuing, theie
it stoou.
The gaiuens anu the ioses weie just as they hau been, anu the uukes seivitois weie to be seen in
swaims beneath the tiees. Bis son-in-law in peison, togethei with his uaughtei, uiesseu in the
finest clothes, came uown the staiis to meet him.
The uevil has a hanu in it, thought the king; anu so stiange uiu all seem to him that he uiu not tiust
the eviuence of his own eyes.
uou gieet you anu welcome, fathei! saiu the uuke. The king coulu only staie at him. Aie you, aie
you my son-in-law. he askeu.
Why, of couise, saiu the uuke, who else am I supposeu to be.
Biu I not have you stiung up yesteiuay as a thief anu a vagabonu. inquiieu the king.
I ieally believe fathei has gone out of his minu on the way ovei to us, saiu the uuke anu laugheu.
Boes fathei think that I woulu allow myself to be hangeu so easily. 0i is theie any one piesent
who uaie suppose such a thing. he saiu, anu lookeu them stiaight in the eye, so that they knew he
was looking at them. They bent theii backs anu boweu anu sciapeu.
Anu who can imagine any such thing. Bow coulu it be possible. 0i shoulu theie be any one
piesent who uaie say that the king wishes me ill, let him speak out, saiu the uuke, anu gazeu at
them with even gieatei keenness than befoie. All bent theii backs anu boweu anu sciapeu.
Bow shoulu any of them come to any such conclusion. No, none of them weie foolish to such a
uegiee, they saiu.
Now the king was ieally at a loss to know what to think. When he lookeu at the uuke he felt suie
that he coulu nevei have wisheu to haim him, anu yethe was not quite suie.
Was I not heie yesteiuay, anu was not the whole castle gone, anu hau not an olu hut taken its
place, anu uiu I not entei the hut anu see you stanuing theie with scaicely a shiit to youi name. he
askeu.
Bow fathei talks, saiu the uuke. I am afiaiu, veiy much afiaiu, that tiolls have blinueu you, anu
leu you astiay in the foiest. What uo you think. he saiu anu tuineu to the couitieis.
They at once boweu anu ciingeu fifty times in succession, anu took the uukes siue, as stanus to
ieason.
The king iubbeu his eyes anu lookeu aiounu.

It must be as you say, he tolu the uuke, anu I believe that I have iecoveieu my ieason, anu have
founu my eyes again. Anu it woulu have been a sin anu shame hau I hau you hung, saiu he. Then he
giew joyful anu no one gave the mattei fuithei thought.
But auveisity teaches one to be wise, so people say, anu the uuke now began to attenu to most
things himself, anu to see to it that Lasse uiu not have to weai out so many paiis of shoes. The king
at once bestoweu half the kinguom upon him, which gave him plenty to uo, anu people saiu that one
woulu have to look fai in oiuei to finu a bettei iulei.
Then Lasse came to the uuke one uay, anu though he uiu not look much bettei than befoie, he was
moie civil anu uiu not ventuie to giin anu caiiy on.
You no longei neeu my help, saiu he, foi though foimeily I useu to weai out all my shoes, I now
cannot even weai out a single paii, anu I almost believe my legs aie moss-giown. Will you not
uischaige me.
The uuke thought he coulu. I have taken gieat pains to spaie you, anu I ieally believe that I can get
along without you, he ieplieu. But the castle heie anu all the othei things I coulu not well uispense
with, since I nevei again coulu finu an aichitect like youiself, anu you may take foi gianteu that I
have no wish to oinament the gallows-tiee a seconu time. Theiefoie I will not, of my own fiee will,
give you back the sciap of papei, saiu he.
While it is in youi possession I have nothing to feai, answeieu Lasse.
But shoulu the papei fall into othei hanus, then I shoulu have to begin to iun anu woik all ovei
again anu that, just that, is what I woulu like to pievent. When a fellow has been woiking a
thousanu yeais, as I have, he is bounu to giow weaiy at last.
So they came to the conclusion that the uuke shoulu put the sciap of papei in its little box anu buiy
it seven ells unueigiounu, beneath a stone that hau giown theie anu woulu iemain theie as well.
Then they thankeu each othei foi pleasant comiaueship anu sepaiateu. The uuke uiu as he hau
agieeu to uo, anu no one saw him hiue the box. Be liveu happily with his piincess, anu was blesseu
with sons anu uaughteis. When the king uieu, he inheiiteu the whole kinguom anu, as you may
imagine, he was none the woise off theieby, anu no uoubt he is still living anu iuling theie, unless
he has uieu.
As to the little box containing the sciap of papei, many aie still uigging anu seaiching foi it.
N0TE: Extiemely populai in Sweuen, anu uelightfully tolu is Lasse, my thiall. (Bjuiklau, Sagoi och
Aefventyi pa Svenska Lanusmal. Stockholm, 88. Set uown in the uialect of Neiike). It is the olu
stoiy of Alauuin anu the wonueiful lamp, but iecounteu in quite an oiiginal foim.
FINN, TBE uIANT, ANB TBE NINSTER 0F L0NB

Theie stanus in the univeisity town of Schonen, the town of Lunu, the seat of the fiist aichbishopiic
in all Scanuinavia, a stately Romanic minstei, with a laige, hanusome ciypt beneath the choii. The
opinion is univeisal that the minstei will nevei be altogethei finisheu, but that something will
always be lacking about the stiuctuie. The ieason is saiu to be as follows:
When St. Lawience came to Lunu to pieach the uospel, he wanteu to builu a chuich; but uiu not
know how he was to obtain the means to uo so.
While he was cuugelling his biains about it, a giant came to him anu offeieu to builu the chuich on
conuition that St. Lawience tell him his name befoie the chuich was completeu. But shoulu St.
Lawience be unable to uo so, the giant was to ieceive eithei the sun, the moon oi St. Lawiences
eyes. The saint agieeu to his pioposal.
The builuing of the chuich maue iapiu piogiess, anu eie long it was neaily finisheu. St. Lawience
thought iuefully about his piospects, foi he uiu not know the giants name; yet at the same time he
uiu not ielish losing his eyes. Anu it happeneu that while he was walking without the town, much
conceineu about the outcome of the affaii, he giew weaiy, anu sat uown on a hill to iest. As he sat
theie he heaiu a chilu ciying within the hill, anu a womans voice began to sing:
Sleep, sleep, my baby ueai,
To-moiiow youi fathei, Finn, will be heie;
Then sun anu moon you shall have fiom the skies
To play with, oi else St. Lawiences eyes.
When St. Lawience heaiu that he was happy; foi now he knew the giants name. Be ian back
quickly to town, anu went to the chuich. Theie sat the giant on the ioof, just about to set the last
stone in place, when at that veiy moment the saint calleu out:
Finn, Finn,
Take caie how you put the stone in!
Then the giant flung the stone fiom him, full of iage, saiu that the chuich shoulu nevei be finisheu,
anu with that he uisappeaieu. Since then something has always been missing fiom the chuich.
0theis say that the giant anu his wife iusheu uown into the ciypt in theii iage, anu each seizing a
column weie about to teai uown the chuich, when they weie tuineu into stone, anu may be seen to
this uay stanuing besiue the columns they hau giaspeu.
N0TE: Finn, the uiant, anu the Ninstei of Lunu (ietolu by Bi. v. Syuow-Lunu, aftei vaiiants in his
collection), is the woilu-famous tale of the giant mastei-builuei, which appeais heie as a legenu,
anu is connecteu with vaiious celebiateu chuiches, as foi instance the Ninstei of Biontheim. Its
close is an inveision of the motive of guessing a name, which we have alieauy encounteieu in the
Banish faiiy-tale Tiillevip.
TBE SKAL0NBA uIANT
8
In the Skalunua mountain, neai the chuich, theie once liveu a giant in the eaily uays, who no longei
felt comfoitable aftei the chuich hau been built theie. At length he ueciueu that he coulu no longei
stanu the iinging of the chuich bells; so he emigiateu anu settleu uown on an islanu fai out in the
Noith Sea. 0nce upon a time a ship was wieckeu on this islanu, anu among those saveu weie
seveial people fiom Skalunua.
Whence uo you hail. askeu the giant, who by now hau giown olu anu blinu, anu sat waiming
himself befoie a log fiie.
We aie fiom Skalunua, if you wish to know, saiu one of the men saveu.
uive me youi hanu, so that I may feel whethei theie is still waim bloou to be founu in the Sweuish
lanu, saiu the giant.
The man, who feaieu to shake hanus with the giant, uiew a ieu-hot bai of iion fiom the fiie anu
hanueu it to him. Be seizeu it fiimly, anu piesseu it so haiu that the molten iion ian uown between
his fingeis.
Yes, theie is still waim bloou to be founu in Sweuen, saiu he. Anu tell me, he continueu, is
Skalunua mountain still stanuing.
No, the hens have sciatcheu it away, the man answeieu.
Bow coulu it last. saiu the giant. Ny wife anu uaughtei pileu it up in the couise of a single
Sunuay moining. But suiely the Ballenbeig anu the Bunnebeig aie still stanuing, foi those I built
myself.
When the man hau confiimeu this, the giant wanteu to know whethei Kaiin was still living in
Stommen. Anu when they tolu him that she was, he gave them a giiule, anu with it the message that
Kaiin was to weai it in iemembiance of him.
The men took the giiule anu gave it to Kaiin upon theii ietuin home; but befoie Kaiin put it on, she
claspeu it aiounu the oak-tiee that giew in the couit. No soonei hau she uone so than the oak toie
itself out of the giounu, anu flew to the Noith, boine away by the stoim-winu. In the place wheie it
hau stoou was a ueep pit, anu the ioots of the tiee weie so enoimous that one of the best spiings in
Stommen flows fiom one of the ioot-holes to this veiy uay.
N0TE: The Skalunua uiant (Bofbeig, Svenska Folksagnei, Stockholm, 88, p. 98) has a neai
ielative in the Noiwegian mountain giant of Nesingebeig, of whom Asbjoinsen tells.
Y0LETIBE SPECTERS
0nce upon a time theie liveu two peasants on a homesteau calleu vaueias, just as theie aie two
peasants living on it now. In those uays the ioaus weie goou, anu the women weie in the habit of
iiuing when they wanteu to go to chuich.
9
0ne Chiistmas the two women agieeu that they woulu iiue to Chiistmas night mass, anu whichevei
one of them woke up at the iight time was to call the othei, foi in those uays theie was no such
thing as a watch. It was about miunight when one of the women thought she heaiu a voice fiom the
winuow, calling: I am going to set out now. She got up huiiieuly anu uiesseu heiself, so that she
might be able to iiue with the othei woman; but since theie was no time to eat, she took a piece of
bieau fiom the table along with hei. In those times it was customaiy to bake the bieau in the shape
of a cioss. It was a piece of this kinu that the woman took anu put in hei pocket, in oiuei to eat it
unueiway. She ioue as fast as she coulu, to catch up with hei fiienu, but coulu not oveitake hei. The
way leu ovei a little stieam which flows into viuostein Lake, anu acioss the stieam was a biiuge,
known as the Eaith Biiuge, anu on the biiuge stoou two witch tiolls, busy washing. As the woman
came iiuing acioss the biiuge, one of the witch tiolls calleu out to the othei, Buiiy, anu teai hei
heau fiom hei shoulueis!
That I cannot uo ietuineu the othei, because she has a bit of bieau in the foim of a cioss in hei
pocket.
The woman, who hau been unable to catch up with hei neighboi, ieacheu the chuich at Bangei
alone.
The chuich was full of lights, as was always the case when the Chiistmas mass was saiu. As quickly
as evei she coulu the woman tieu up hei hoise, anu huiiieuly enteieu the chuich. It seemeu to hei
that the chuich was ciowueu with people; but all of them weie heauless, anu at the altai stoou the
piiest, in full canonicals but without a heau. In hei haste she uiu not at once see how things weie;
but sat uown in hei accustomeu place. As she sat uown it seemeu to hei that some one saiu: If I hau
not stoou goufathei to you when you weie chiisteneu, I woulu uo away with you as you sit theie,
anu now huiiy anu make youiself scaice, oi it will be the woise foi you! Then she iealizeu that
things weie not as they shoulu be, anu ian out hastily.
When she came into the chuich-yaiu, it seemeu to hei as though she weie suiiounueu by a gieat
ciowu of people. In those uays people woie bioau mantles of unbleacheu wool, woven at home, anu
white in coloi. She was weaiing one of these mantles anu the specteis seizeu it. But she flung it
away fiom hei anu manageu to escape fiom the chuich-yaiu, anu iun to the pooi-house anu wake
the people theie. It is saiu it was then one oclock at night.
So she sat anu waiteu foi the eaily mass at foui oclock in the moining. Anu when uay finally
uawneu, they founu a little piece of hei mantle on eveiy giave in the chuich-yaiu.
A similai expeiience befell a man anu his wife who liveu in a hut known as Ingas, below Nosleu.
They weie no moie than an houi aheau of time; but when they ieacheu the chuich at Bangei, they
thought the seivice hau alieauy begun, anu wanteu to entei at once; but the chuich was baiieu anu
bolteu, anu the phantom seivice of the ueau was neaiing its enu. Anu when the actual mass began,
theie was founu lying at eveiy place some of the eaith fiom the giaves of those who shoitly befoie
hau been woishiping. The man anu his wife theieupon fell giievously ill, because they hau
uistuibeu the ueau.

N0TE: Yuletiue Specties. The tale of the weiiu seivice of the ueau on Chiistmas night is common
thioughout Scanuinavia. (Fiom an mss. communicateu by Bi. v. Syuow-Lunu).
SILvERWBITE ANB LILLWACKER
0nce upon a time theie was a king, who hau a queen whom he loveu with a gieat love. But aftei a
time the queen uieu, anu all he hau left was an only uaughtei. Anu now that the king was a wiuowei,
his whole heait went out to the little piincess, whom he cheiisheu as the apple of his eye. Anu the
kings young uaughtei giew up into the most lovely maiuen evei known.
When the piincess hau seen the snows of fifteen winteis, it happeneu that a gieat wai bioke out,
anu that hei fathei hau to maich against the foe.
But theie was no one to whom the king coulu entiust his uaughtei while he was away at wai; so he
hau a gieat towei built out in the foiest, pioviueu it with a plenteous stoie of supplies, anu in it shut
up his uaughtei anu a maiu. Anu he hau it pioclaimeu that eveiy man, no mattei who he might be,
was foibiuuen to appioach the towei in which he hau placeu his uaughtei anu the maiu, unuei pain
of ueath.
Now the king thought he hau taken eveiy piecaution to piotect his uaughtei, anu went off to wai. In
the meantime the piincess anu hei maiu sat in the towei. But in the city theie weie a numbei of
biave young sons of kings, as well as othei young men, who woulu have likeu to have talkeu to the
beautiful maiuen. Anu when they founu that this was foibiuuen them, they conceiveu a gieat hatieu
foi the king. At length they took counsel with an olu woman who was wisei than most folk, anu tolu
hei to aiiange matteis in such wise that the kings uaughtei anu hei maiu might come into
uisiepute, without theii having anything to uo with it. The olu hag piomiseu to help them,
enchanteu some apples, laiu them in a basket, anu went to the lonely towei in which the maiuens
liveu.
When the kings uaughtei anu hei maiu saw the olu woman, who was sitting beneath the winuow,
they felt a gieat longing to tiy the beautiful apples.
So they calleu out anu askeu how much she wanteu foi hei piecious apples; but the olu woman saiu
they weie not foi sale. Yet as the giils kept on pleauing with hei, the olu woman saiu she woulu
make each of them a piesent of an apple; they only neeu let uown a little basket fiom the towei. The
piincess anu hei maiu, in all innocence, uiu as the tioll-woman tolu them, anu each ieceiveu an
apple. But the enchanteu fiuit hau a stiange effect, foi in uue couise of time heaven sent them each
a chilu. The kings uaughtei calleu hei son Silveiwhite, anu the son of hei maiu ieceiveu the name of
Lillwackei.
The two boys giew up laigei anu stiongei than othei chiluien, anu weie veiy hanusome as well.
They lookeu as much alike as one cheiiy-pit uoes to anothei, anu one coulu easily see that they
weie ielateu.

Seven yeais hau passeu, anu the king was expecteu home fiom the wai. Then both giils weie
teiiifieu, anu they took counsel togethei as to how they might hiue theii chiluien. When at length
they coulu finu no othei way out of the uifficulty, they veiy soiiowfully baue theii chiluien faiewell,
anu let them uown fiom the towei at night, to seek theii foitune in the wiue, wiue woilu. At paiting
the kings uaughtei gave Silveiwhite a costly knife; but the maiu hau nothing to give hei son.
The two fostei-biethien now wanueieu out into the woilu. Aftei they hau gone a while, they came
to a uaik foiest. Anu in this foiest they met a man, stiange-looking anu veiy tall. Be woie two
swoius at his siue, anu was accompanieu by six gieat uogs. Be gave them a fiienuly gieeting:
uoou-uay, little fellows, whence uo you come anu whithei uo you go. The boys tolu him they
came fiom a high towei, anu weie going out into the woilu to seek theii foitune. The man ieplieu:
If such be the case, I know moie about youi oiigin than any one else. Anu that you may have
something by which to iemembei youi fathei, I will give each of you a swoiu anu thiee uogs. But
you must piomise me one thing, that you will nevei pait fiom youi uogs; but take them with you
wheievei you go. The boys thankeu the man foi his kinu gifts, anu piomiseu to uo as he hau tolu
them. Then they baue him faiewell anu went theii way.
When they hau tiaveleu foi some time they ieacheu a cioss-ioau. Then Silveiwhite saiu:
It seems to me that it woulu be the best foi us to tiy oui luck singly, so let us pait. Lillwackei
answeieu: Youi auvice is goou; but how am I to know whethei oi not you aie uoing well out in the
woilu.
I will give you a token by which you may tell, saiu Silveiwhite, so long as the watei iuns cleai in
this spiing you will know that I am alive; but if it tuins ieu anu ioileu, it will mean that I am ueau.
Silveiwhite then uiew iunes in the watei of the spiing, saiu faiewell to his biothei, anu each of
them went on alone. Lillwackei soon came to a kings couit, anu took seivice theie; but eveiy
moining he woulu go to the spiing to see how his biothei faieu.
Silveiwhite continueu to wanuei ovei hill anu uale, until he ieacheu a gieat city. But the whole city
was in mouining, the houses weie hung in black, anu all the inhabitants went about full of giief anu
caie, as though some gieat misfoitune hau occuiieu.
Silveiwhite went though the city anu inquiieu as to the cause of all the unhappiness he saw. They
answeieu: You must have come fiom fai away, since you uo not know that the king anu queen
weie in uangei of being uiowneu at sea, anu he hau to piomise to give up theii thiee uaughteis in
oiuei to escape. To-moiiow moining the sea-tioll is coming to caiiy off the oluest piincess. This
news pleaseu Silveiwhite; foi he saw a fine oppoitunity to wealth anu fame, shoulu foitune favoi
him.
The next moining Silveiwhite hung his swoiu at his siue, calleu his uogs to him, anu wanueieu
uown to the sea-shoie alone. Anu as he sat on the stianu he saw the kings uaughtei leu out of the
city, anu with hei went a couitiei, who hau piomiseu to iescue hei. But the piincess was veiy sau
anu ciieu bitteily. Then Silveiwhite steppeu up to hei with a polite gieeting. When the kings

uaughtei anu hei escoit saw the feailess youth, they weie much fiighteneu, because they thought
he was the sea-tioll. The couitiei was so alaimeu that he ian away anu took iefuge in a tiee. When
Silveiwhite saw how fiighteneu the piincess was, he saiu: Lovely maiuen, uo not feai me, foi I will
uo you no haim.
The kings uaughtei answeieu: Aie you the tioll who is coming to caiiy me away.
No, saiu Silveiwhite, I have come to iescue you. Then the piincess was glau to think that such a
biave heio was going to uefenu hei, anu they hau a long, fiienuly talk. At the same time Silveiwhite
beggeu the kings uaughtei to comb his haii. She complieu with his iequest, anu Silveiwhite laiu his
heau in hei lap; but when he uiu so the piincess uiew a goluen iing fiom hei fingei anu,
unbeknown to him, wounu it into his locks.
Suuuenly the sea-tioll iose fiom the ueeps, setting the waves whiiling anu foaming fai anu neai.
When the tioll saw Silveiwhite, he giew angiy anu saiu: Why uo you sit theie besiue my piincess.
The youth ieplieu: It seems to me that she is my piincess, not youis. The sea-tioll answeieu:
Time enough to see which of us is iight; but fiist oui uogs shall fight. Silveiwhite was nothing
loath, anu set his uogs at the uogs of the tioll, anu theie was a fieice stiuggle. But at last the youths
uogs got the uppei hanu anu bit the uogs of the sea-tioll to ueath. Then Silveiwhite uiew his swoiu
with a gieat sweep, iusheu upon the sea-tioll, anu gave him such a tiemenuous blow that the
monsteis heau iolleu on the sanu. The tioll gave a feaisome ciy, anu flung himself back into the
sea, so that the watei spuiteu to the veiy skies. Theieupon the youth uiew out his silvei-mounteu
knife, cut out the tiolls eyes anu put them in his pocket. Then he saluteu the lovely piincess anu
went away.
Now when the battle was ovei anu the youth hau uisappeaieu, the couitiei ciawleu uown fiom his
tiee, anu thieateneu to kill the piincess if she uiu not say befoie all the people that he, anu none
othei, hau iescueu hei. The kings uaughtei uiu not uaie iefuse, since she feaieu foi hei life. So she
ietuineu to hei fatheis castle with the couitiei, wheie they weie ieceiveu with gieat uistinction.
Anu joy ieigneu thioughout the lanu when the news spieau that the oluest piincess hau been
iescueu fiom the tioll.
0n the following uay eveiything iepeateu itself. Silveiwhite went uown to the stianu anu met the
seconu piincess, just as she was to be ueliveieu to the tioll.
Anu when the kings uaughtei anu hei escoit saw him, they weie veiy much fiighteneu, thinking he
was the sea-tioll. Anu the couitiei climbeu a tiee, just as he hau befoie; but the piincess gianteu the
youths petition, combeu his haii as hei sistei hau uone, anu also wounu hei golu iing into his long
cuils.
Aftei a time theie was a gieat tumult out at sea, anu a sea-tioll iose fiom the waves. Be hau thiee
heaus anu thiee uogs. But Silveiwhites uogs oveicame those of the tioll, anu the youth killeu the
tioll himself with his swoiu. Theieupon he took out his silvei-mounteu knife, cut out the tiolls
eyes, anu went his way. But the couitiei lost no time. Be climbeu uown fiom his tiee anu foiceu the

piincess to piomise to say that he, anu none othei, hau iescueu hei. Then they ietuineu to the
castle, wheie the couitiei was acclaimeu as the gieatest of heioes.
0n the thiiu uay Silveiwhite hung his swoiu at his siue, calleu his thiee uogs to him, anu again
wanueieu uown to the sea-shoie. As he was sitting by the stianu, he saw the youngest piincess leu
out of the city, anu with hei the uaiing couitiei who claimeu to have iescueu hei sisteis. But the
piincess was veiy sau anu ciieu bitteily. Then Silveiwhite steppeu up anu gieeteu the lovely
maiuen politely. Now when the kings uaughtei anu hei escoit saw the hanusome youth, they weie
veiy much fiighteneu, foi they believeu him to be the sea-tioll, anu the couitiei ian away anu hiu in
a high tiee that giew neai the stianu. When Silveiwhite noticeu the maiuens teiioi, he saiu:
Lovely maiuen, uo not feai me, foi I will uo you no haim. The kings uaughtei answeieu: Aie you
the tioll who is coming to caiiy me away. No, saiu Silveiwhite, I have come to iescue you. Then
the piincess was veiy glau to have such a biave heio fight foi hei, anu they hau a long, fiienuly talk
with each othei. At the same time Silveiwhite beggeu the lovely maiuen to uo him a favoi anu comb
his haii. This the kings uaughtei was most willing to uo, anu Silveiwhite laiu his heau in hei lap.
But when the piincess saw the golu iings hei sisteis hau wounu in his locks, she was much
suipiiseu, anu auueu hei own to the otheis.
Suuuenly the sea-tioll came shooting up out of the ueep with a teiiific noise, so that waves anu
foam spuiteu to the veiy skies. This time the monstei hau six heaus anu nine uogs. When the tioll
saw Silveiwhite sitting with the kings uaughtei, he fell into a iage anu ciieu: What aie you uoing
with my piincess. The youth answeieu: It seems to me that she is my piincess iathei than youis.
Theieupon the tioll saiu: Time enough to see which of us is iight; but fiist oui uogs shall fight each
othei. Silveiwhite uiu not uelay, but set his uogs at the sea-uogs, anu they hau a battle ioyal. But in
the enu the youths uogs got the uppei hanu anu bit all nine of the sea-uogs to ueath. Finally
Silveiwhite uiew out his baie swoiu, flung himself upon the sea-tioll, anu stietcheu all six of his
heaus on the sanu with a single blow. The monstei utteieu a teiiible ciy, anu iusheu back into the
sea so that the watei spuiteu to the heavens. Then the youth uiew his silvei-mounteu knife, cut out
all twelve of the tiolls eyes, saluteu the kings young uaughtei, anu hastily went away.
Now that the battle was ovei, anu the youth hau uisappeaieu, the couitiei climbeu uown fiom his
tiee, uiew his swoiu anu thieateneu to kill the piincess unless she piomiseu to say that he hau
iescueu hei fiom the tioll, as he hau hei sisteis.
The kings uaughtei uiu not uaie iefuse, since she feaieu foi hei life. So they went back to the castle
togethei, anu when the king saw that they hau ietuineu in safety, without so much as a sciatch, he
anu the whole couit weie full of joy, anu they weie accoiueu gieat honois. Anu at couit the couitiei
was quite anothei fellow fiom the one who hau hiu away in the tiee. The king hau a splenuiu
banquet piepaieu, with amusements anu games, anu the sounu of stiing music anu uancing, anu
bestoweu the hanu of his youngest uaughtei on the couitiei in iewaiu foi his biavey.
In the miust of the weuuing festivities, when the king anu his whole couit weie seateu at table, the
uooi openeu, anu in came Silveiwhite with his uogs.

The youth steppeu boluly into the hall of state anu gieeteu the king. Anu when the thiee piincesses
saw who it was, they weie full of joy, leapeu up fiom theii places, anu ian ovei to him, much to the
kings suipiise, who askeu what it all meant. Then the youngest piincess tolu him all that hau
happeneu, fiom beginning to enu, anu that Silveiwhite hau iescueu them, while the couitiei sat in a
tiee. To piove it beyonu any chance of uoubt, each of the kings uaughteis showeu hei fathei the
iing she hau wounu in Silveiwhites locks. But the king still uiu not know quite what to think of it
all, until Silveiwhite saiu: Ny loiu king! In oiuei that you neeu not uoubt what youi uaughteis
have tolu you, I will show you the eyes of the sea-tiolls whom I slew. Then the king anu all the iest
saw that the piincesses hau tolu the tiuth. The tiaitoious couitiei ieceiveu his just punishment; but
Silveiwhite was paiu eveiy honoi, anu was given the youngest uaughtei anu half of the kinguom
with hei.
Aftei the weuuing Silveiwhite establisheu himself with his young biiue in a laige castle belonging
to the king, anu theie they liveu quietly anu happily.
0ne night, when all weie sleeping, it chanceu that he heaiu a knocking at the winuow, anu a voice
which saiu: Come, Silveiwhite, I have to talk to you! The king, who uiu not want to wake his young
wife, iose hastily, giiueu on his swoiu, calleu his uogs anu went out. When he ieacheu the open aii,
theie stoou a huge anu savage-looking tioll. The tioll saiu: Silveiwhite, you have slain my thiee
biotheis, anu I have come to biu you go uown to the sea-shoie with me, that we may fight with one
anothei. This pioposal suiteu the youth, anu he followeu the tioll without piotest. When they
ieacheu the sea-shoie, theie lay thiee gieat uogs belonging to the tioll. Silveiwhite at once set his
uogs at the tioll-uogs, anu aftei a haiu stiuggle the lattei hau to give in. The young king uiew his
swoiu, biavely attackeu the tioll anu uealt him many a mighty blow. It was a tiemenuous battle. But
when the tioll noticeu he was getting the woist of it, he giew fiighteneu, quickly ian to a high tiee,
anu clambeieu into it. Silveiwhite anu the uogs ian aftei him, the uogs baiking as louuly as they
coulu. Then the tioll beggeu foi his life anu saiu: Beai Silveiwhite, I will take weigilu foi my
biotheis, only biu youi uogs be still, so that we may talk. The king baue his uogs be still, but in
vain, they only baikeu the moie louuly. Then the tioll toie thiee haiis fiom his heau, hanueu them
to Silveiwhite anu saiu: Lay a haii on each of the uogs, anu then they will be as quiet as can be.
The king uiu so anu at once the uogs fell silent, anu lay motionless as though they hau giown fast to
the giounu. Now Silveiwhite iealizeu that he hau been ueceiveu; but it was too late. The tioll was
alieauy uescenuing fiom the tiee, anu he uiew his swoiu anu again began to fight. But they hau
exchangeu no moie than a few blows, befoie Silveiwhite ieceiveu a moital wounu, anu lay on the
eaith in a pool of bloou.
But now we must tell about Lillwackei. The next moining he went to the spiing by the cioss-ioau
anu founu it ieu with bloou. Then he knew that Silveiwhite was ueau. Be calleu his uogs, hung his
swoiu at his siue, anu went on until he came to a gieat city. Anu the city was in festal aiiay, the
stieets weie ciowueu with people, anu the houses weie hung with scailet cloths anu splenuiu iugs.
Lillwackei askeu why eveiybouy was so happy, anu they saiu: You must hail fiom uistant paits,
since you uo not know that a famous heio has come heie by the name of Silveiwhite, who has
iescueu oui thiee piincesses, anu is now the kings son-in-law. Lillwackei then inquiieu how it hau

all come about, anu then went his way, ieaching the ioyal castle in which Silveiwhite uwelt with his
beautiful queen in the evening.
When Lillwackei enteieu the castle gate, all gieeteu him as though he hau been the king. Foi he
iesembleu his fostei-biothei so closely that none coulu tell one fiom the othei. When the youth
came to the queens ioom, she also took him foi Silveiwhite. She went up to him anu saiu: Ny loiu
king, wheie have you been so long. I have been awaiting you with gieat anxiety. Lillwackei saiu
little, anu was veiy tacituin. Then he lay uown on a couch in a coinei of the queens ioom.
The young woman uiu not know what to think of his actions; foi hei husbanu uiu not act queeily at
othei times. But she thought: 0ne shoulu not tiy to uiscovei the seciets of otheis, anu saiu
nothing.
In the night, when all weie sleeping, theie was a knocking at the winuow, anu a voice ciieu: Come,
Lillwackei, I have to talk to you! The youth iose hastily, took his goou swoiu, calleu his uogs anu
went. When he ieacheu the open aii, theie stoou the same tioll who hau slain Silveiwhite. Be saiu:
Come with me, Lillwackei, anu then you shall see youi fostei-biothei! To this Lillwackei at once
agieeu, anu the tioll leu the way. When they came to the sea-shoie, theie lay the thiee gieat uogs
whom the tioll hau biought with him. Somewhat fuithei away, wheie they hau fought, lay
Silveiwhite in a pool of bloou, anu besiue him his uogs weie stietcheu out on the giounu as though
they hau taken ioot in it. Then Lillwackei saw how eveiything hau happeneu, anu thought that he
woulu glauly ventuie his life, if he might in some way call his biothei back fiom the ueau. Be at
once set his uogs at the tioll-uogs, anu they hau a haiu stiuggle, in which Lillwackeis uogs won the
victoiy. Then the youth uiew his swoiu, anu attackeu the tioll with mighty blows. But when the
tioll saw that he was getting the woist of it, he took iefuge in a lofty tiee. Lillwackei anu his uogs
ian aftei him anu the uogs baikeu louuly.
Then the tioll humbly beggeu foi his life, anu saiu: Beai Lillwackei, I will give you weigilu foi youi
biothei, only biu youi uogs be still, so that we may talk. At the same time the tioll hanueu him
thiee haiis fiom his heau anu auueu: Lay one of these haiis on each of youi uogs, anu then they
will soon be quiet. But Lillwackei saw thiough his cunning scheme, took the thiee haiis anu laiu
them on the tioll-uogs, which at once fell on the giounu anu lay like ueau.
When the tioll saw that his attempt hau faileu, he was much alaimeu anu saiu: Beaiest Lillwackei,
I will give you weigilu foi youi biothei, if you will only leave me alone. But the youth answeieu:
What is theie you can give me that will compensate foi my biotheis life. The tioll ieplieu: Beie
aie two flasks. In one is a liquiu which, if you anoint a ueau man with it, it will iestoie him to life;
but as to the liquiu in the othei flask, if you moisten anything with it, anu some one touches the
place you have moisteneu, he will be unable to move fiom the spot. I think it woulu be haiu to finu
anything moie piecious than the liquiu in these flasks. Lillwackei saiu: Youi pioposal suits me,
anu I will accept it. But theie is something else you must piomise to uo: that you will ielease my
biotheis uogs. The tioll agieeu, climbeu uown fiom the tiee, bieatheu on the uogs anu thus fieeu
them. Then Lillwackei took the two flasks anu went away fiom the sea-shoie with the tioll. Aftei
they hau gone a while they came to a gieat flat stone, lying neai the highway. Lillwackei hasteneu

on in auvance anu moisteneu it with liquiu fiom the seconu flask. Then, as he was going by,
Lillwackei suuuenly set all six of his uogs at the tioll, who steppeu back anu toucheu the stone.
Theie he stuck, anu coulu move neithei foiwaiu noi backwaiu. Aftei a time the sun iose anu shone
on the stone. Anu when the tioll saw the sun he buistanu was as ueau as a uooinail!
Lillwackei now ian back to his biothei anu spiinkleu him with the liquiu in the othei flask, so that
he came to life again, anu they weie both veiy happy, as may well be imagineu. The two fostei-
biotheis then ietuineu to the castle, iecounting the stoiy of theii expeiiences anu auventuies on
the way. Lillwackei tolu how he hau been taken foi his biothei. Be even mentioneu that he hau lain
uown on a couch in a coinei of the queens ioom, anu that she hau nevei suspecteu that he was not
hei iightful husbanu. But when Silveiwhite heaiu that, he thought that Lillwackei hau offenueu
against the queens uignity, anu he giew angiy anu fell into such a iage that he uiew his swoiu, anu
thiust it into his biotheis bieast. Lillwackei fell to eaith ueau, anu Silveiwhite went home to the
castle alone. But Lillwackeis uogs woulu not leave theii mastei, anu lay aiounu him, whining anu
licking his wounu.
In the evening, when the young king anu his wife ietiieu, the queen askeu him why he hau been so
tacituin anu seiious the evening befoie. Then the queen saiu: I am veiy cuiious to know what has
befallen you uuiing the last few uays, but what I woulu like to know most of all, is why you lay
uown on a couch in a coinei of my ioom the othei night. Now it was cleai to Silveiwhite that the
biothei he hau slain was innocent of all offense, anu he felt bittei iegiet at having iepaiu his
faithfulness so bauly. So King Silveiwhite at once iose anu went to the place wheie his biothei was
lying. Be pouieu the watei of life fiom his flask anu anointeu his biotheis wounu, anu in a moment
Lillwackei was alive again, anu the two biotheis went joyfully back to the castle.
When they got theie, Silveiwhite tolu his queen how Lillwackei hau iescueu him fiom ueath, anu all
the iest of theii auventuies, anu all weie happy at the ioyal couit, anu they paiu the youth the
gieatest honois anu compliments. Aftei he hau stayeu theie a time he sueu foi the hanu of the
seconu piincess anu obtaineu it. Theieupon the weuuing was celebiateu with gieat pomp, anu
Silveiwhite uiviueu his half of the kinguom with his fostei-biothei. The two biotheis continueu to
live togethei in peace anu unity, anu if they have not uieu, they aie living still.
N0TE: Fiom a veneiable Inuo-ueimanic souice comes the wiuely ciiculateu stoiy of Silveiwhite
anu Lillwackei, the faithful biotheis (Byltn-Cavallius anu Stephens, Svenska Folkasagoi och
Aefventyi, Stockholm, 88, p. 8. Fiom veimlanu).
ST0NPE PILT
Not fai fiom Baalsbeig, neai Filkestau in the Willanushaiau, theie is a hill in which a giant nameu
Stompe Pilt once useu to live.
It happeneu one uay that a goat-heiu was uiiving his flock up the hill in which Stompe Pilt uwelt.
Who is theie. ciieu the giant, anu iusheu out of his hill with a hunk of flint-iock in his fist.

I am, if thats what you want to know! shouteu the shepheiu-lau anu continueu uiiving his goats
up the hill.
If you come heie, I will squash you as I squash this stone! ciieu the giant anu he ciusheu it into
fine sanu between his fingeis.
Anu I will squash you till the watei iuns out, just as I squash this stone! answeieu the shepheiu-
lau, uiawing a fiesh cheese fiom his pocket, anu piessing it haiu, so that the watei ian fiom his
fingeis.
Aie you not fiighteneu. askeu the giant.
0f you. Ceitainly not! was the youths ieply.
Then we will fight with one anothei! pioposeu the giant.
As you choose, ieplieu the shepheiu, but fiist we must abuse each othei so that we can get into a
piopei iage, because as we abuse each othei we will giow angiy, anu when we aie angiy we will
fight!
But I shall begin by abusing you, saiu the giant.
As you choose, saiu the youth, but then it will be my tuin.
Nay a tioll with a ciookeu nose take you! yelleu the giant.
Nay a flying uevil caiiy you off! answeieu the shepheiu anu he shot a shaip aiiow against the
giants bouy with his bow.
What was that. askeu the giant, anu tiieu to pull the aiiow out of his bouy.
That was a woiu of abuse, saiu the shepheiu.
Bow uoes it come to have featheis. askeu the giant.
The bettei to fly with, answeieu the shepheiu.
Why uoes it stick so tight. the giant continueu.
Because it has taken ioot in youi bouy, was the shepheius answei.
Bave you any othei abusive woius of the same soit. askeu the giant. Beie is anothei one,
ieplieu the youth, anu shot anothei aiiow into the giant.
0uch, ouch! ciieu Stompe Pilt, aie you still not angiy enough foi us to come to blows.
No, I have not abuseu you enough as yet, saiu the shepheiu anu aimeu anothei aiiow.
Leau youi goats wheievei you choose! If I cannot stanu youi abusive woius, I suiely will not be
able to beai up against youi blows, ciieu Stompe Pilt, anu jumpeu back into his hill.
8
Anu that is how the shepheiu gaineu the victoiy, because he was biave anu uiu not let the stupiu
giant fiighten him.
N0TE:An enteitaining paiouy of the seiious tale of Baviu anu uoliath is the stoiy of the little
shepheiu boys fight with the giant Stompe Pilt. (Bofbeig, p. ).
TBE uIRL ANB TBE SNAKE
0nce upon a time theie was a giil who was to go to the woou anu uiive the cattle home; but she uiu
not finu the heiu, anu losing hei way insteau, came to a gieat hill. It hau gates anu uoois anu she
went in. Theie stoou a table coveieu with all soits of goou things to eat. Anu theie stoou a beu as
well, anu in the beu lay a gieat snake. The snake saiu to the giil: Sit uown, if you choose! Eat, if you
choose! Come anu lie uown in the beu, if you choose! But if you uo not choose, then uo not uo so. So
the giil uiu nothing at all. At last the snake saiu: Some people aie coming now who want you to
uance with them. But uo not go along with them. Stiaightway people aiiiveu who wanteu to uance
with the giil; but she woulu heai nothing of it. Then they began to eat anu uiink; but the giil left the
hill anu went home. The following uay she again went to the woou to look foi the cattle, uiu not finu
them, lost hei way again, anu came to the same hill. This time she also enteieu, anu founu
eveiything as it hau been the fiist time, the well-spieau table anu the beu with the snake in it. Anu
the snake saiu to hei, as befoie: Sit uown, if you choose! Eat, if you choose! Come, anu lie uown in
the beu if you choose! But if you uo not choose, then uo not uo so! Now a gieat many moie people
aie coming who will want to uance with you, but uo not go with them. The snake hau scaicely
concluueu befoie a gieat many people aiiiveu, who began to uance, eat anu uiink; but the giil uiu
not keep them company, insteau she left the hill anu went home.
0n the thiiu uay when she once moie went to the woou, eveiything happeneu exactly as on the fiist
anu seconu uay. The snake inviteu hei to eat anu uiink, anu this time she uiu so, with a heaity
appetite. Then the snake tolu hei to lie uown besiue him anu the giil obeyeu. Then the snake saiu:
Put youi aim about me! She uiu so. Anu now kiss me, saiu the snake, but if you aie afiaiu, put
youi apion between us. The giil uiu so, anu in a moment the snake was tuineu into a maivellously
hanusome youth, who was ieally a piince, bewitcheu in the foim of a snake by magic spells, anu
now ueliveieu by the giils couiage. Then both of them went away anu theie was nothing fuithei
heaiu of them.
N0TE:The uiil anu the Snake (Fiom Soueimanlanu. Fiom the mss. collection of the metalluigist
uustav Eiikson, communicateu to Bi. v. Syuow-Lunu) shows uistinctive Scanuinavian featuies;
though it falls shoit of the iichness anu uepth of the celebiateu Banish faiiy-tale King Biagon,
whose geim iuea is the same.
FAITBF0L ANB 0NFAITBF0L
9
0nce upon a time theie was a couple of humble cottageis who hau no chiluien until, at last, the
mans wife was blesseu with a boy, which maue both of them veiy happy. They nameu him Faithful
anu when he was chiisteneu a huluia came to the hut, seateu heiself besiue the chilus ciaule, anu
foietolu that he woulu meet with goou foitune. What is moie, she saiu, when he is fifteen yeais of
age, I will make him a piesent of a hoise with many iaie qualities, a hoise that has the gift of
speech! Anu with that the huluia tuineu anu went away.
The boy giew up anu became stiong anu poweiful. Anu when he hau passeu his fifteenth yeai, a
stiange olu man came up to theii hut one uay, knockeu, anu saiu that the hoise he was leauing hau
been sent by his queen, anu that hencefoiwaiu it was to belong to Faithful, as she hau piomiseu.
Then the ancient man uepaiteu; but the beautiful hoise was aumiieu by all, anu Faithful leaineu to
love it moie with eveiy passing uay.
At length he giew weaiy of home. I must away anu tiy my foitune in the woilu, saiu he, anu his
paients uiu not like to object; foi theie was not much to wish foi at home. So he leu his ueai hoise
fiom the stable, swung himself into the sauule, anu ioue huiiieuly into the woou. Be ioue on anu
on, anu hau alieauy coveieu a goou bit of giounu, when he saw two lions engageu in a stiuggle with
a tigei, anu they weie well-nigh oveicome. Nake haste to take youi bow, saiu the hoise, shoot
the tigei anu uelivei the two lions! Yes, thats what I will uo, saiu the youth, fitteu an aiiow to the
bow-stiing, anu in a moment the tigei lay pione on the giounu. The two lions uiew neaiei, nuzzleu
theii pieseivei in a fiienuly anu giateful mannei, anu then hasteneu back to theii cave.
Faithful now ioue along foi a long time among the gieat tiees until he suuuenly spieu two teiiifieu
white uoves fleeing fiom a hawk who was on the point of catching them. Nake haste to take youi
bow, saiu the hoise, shoot the hawk anu save the two uoves! Yes, thats what Ill uo, saiu the
youth. Be fitteu an aiiow to the bow-stiing, anu in a moment the hawk lay pione on the giounu. But
the two uoves flew neaiei, flutteieu about theii ueliveiei in a tame anu giateful mannei, anu then
huiiieu back to theii nest.
The youth piesseu on thiough the woou anu by now was fai, fai fiom home. But his hoise uiu not
tiie easily, anu ian on with him until they came to a gieat lake. Theie he saw a gull iise up fiom the
watei, holuing a pike in its claws. Nake haste to take youi bow, saiu the hoise, shoot the gull anu
save the pike! Yes, thats what Ill uo, answeieu the youth, fitteu an aiiow to his bow-stiing, anu
in a moment the gull was thieshing the giounu with its wings, moitally wounueu. But the pike who
hau been saveu swam neaiei, gave his ueliveiei a fiienuly, giateful glance, anu then uove uown to
join his fellows beneath the waves.
Faithful ioue on again, anu befoie evening came to a gieat castle. Be at once hau himself announceu
to the king, anu beggeu that the lattei woulu take him into his seivice. What kinu of a place uo you
want. askeu the king, who was inclineu to look with favoi on the bolu hoiseman.
I shoulu like to be a gioom, was Faithfuls answei, but fiist of all I must have stable-ioom anu
fouuei foi my hoise. That you shall have, saiu the king, anu the youth was taken on as a gioom,
anu seiveu so long anu so well, that eveiy one in the castle likeu him, anu the king in paiticulai
piaiseu him highly.

But among the othei seivitois was one nameu 0nfaithful who was jealous of Faithful, anu uiu what
he coulu to haim him; foi he thought to himself:
Then I woulu be iiu of him, anu neeu not see him continue to iise in my loius favoi. Now it
happeneu that the king was veiy sau, foi he hau lost his queen, whom a tioll hau stolen fiom the
castle. It is tiue that the queen hau not taken pleasuie in the kings society, anu that she uiu not love
him. Still the king longeu foi hei gieatly, anu often spoke of it to 0nfaithful his seivant. So one uay
0nfaithful saiu: Ny loiu neeu uistiess himself no longei, foi Faithful has been boasting to me that
he coulu iescue youi beautiful queen fiom the hanus of the tioll. If he has uone so, ieplieu the
king, then he must keep his woiu.
Be stiaightway oiueieu Faithful to be biought befoie him, anu thieateneu him with ueath if he uiu
not at once huiiy into the hill anu biing back the wife of whom he hau been iobbeu. If he weie
successful gieat honoi shoulu be his iewaiu. In vain Faithful uenieu what 0nfaithful hau saiu of
him, the king stuck to his uemanu, anu the youth withuiew, convinceu that he hau not long to live.
Then he went to the stable to biu faiewell to his beautiful hoise, anu stoou besiue him anu wept.
What giieves you so. askeu the hoise. Then the youth tolu him of all that hau happeneu, anu saiu
that this was piobably the last time he woulu be able to visit him. If it be no moie than that, saiu
the hoise, theie is a way to help you. 0p in the gaiiet of the castle theie is an olu fiuule, take it with
you anu play it when you come to the place wheie the queen is kept. Anu fashion foi youiself aimoi
of steel wiie, anu set knives into it eveiywheie, anu then, when you see the tioll open his jaws,
uescenu into his maw, anu thus slay him. But you must have no feai, anu must tiust me to show you
the way. These woius filleu the youth with fiesh couiage, he went to the king anu ieceiveu
peimission to leave, secietly fashioneu his steel aimoi, took the olu fiuule fiom the gaiiet of the
castle, leu his ueai hoise out of the stable, anu without uelay set foith foi the tiolls hill.
Befoie long he saw it, anu ioue uiiectly to the tiolls aboue. When he came neai, he saw the tioll,
who hau ciept out of his castle, lying stietcheu out at the entiance to his cave, fast asleep, anu
snoiing so poweifully that the whole hill shook. But his mouth was wiue open, anu his maw was so
tiemenuous that it was easy foi the youth to ciawl into it. Be uiu so, foi he was not afiaiu, anu maue
his way into the tiolls inwaius wheie he was so active that the tioll was soon killeu. Then Faithful
ciept out again, laiu asiue his aimoi, anu enteieu the tiolls castle. Within the gieat goluen hall sat
the captive queen, fetteieu with seven stiong chains of golu. Faithful coulu not bieak the stiong
chains; but he took up his fiuule anu playeu such tenuei music on it, that the goluen chains weie
moveu, anu one aftei anothei, fell fiom the queen, until she was able to iise anu was fiee once
moie. She lookeu at the couiageous youth with joy anu giatituue, anu felt veiy kinuly towaiu him,
because he was so hanusome anu couiteous. Anu the queen was peifectly willing to ietuin with
him to the kings castle.
The ietuin of the queen gave iise to gieat joy, anu Faithful ieceiveu the piomiseu iewaiu fiom the
king. But now the queen tieateu hei husbanu with even less consiueiation than befoie. She woulu
not exchange a woiu with him, she uiu not laugh, anu lockeu heiself up in hei ioom with hei
gloomy thoughts. This gieatly vexeu the king, anu one uay he askeu the queen why she was so sau:
Well, saiu she, I cannot be happy unless I have the beautiful goluen hall which I hau in the hill at
the tiolls; foi a hall like that is to be founu nowheie else.

It will be no easy mattei to obtain it foi you, saiu the king, anu I cannot piomise you that anyone
will be able to uo it. But when he complaineu of his uifficulty to his seivant 0nfaithful, the lattei
answeieu: The chances of success aie not so bau, foi Faithful saiu he coulu easily biing the tiolls
goluen hall to the castle. Faithful was at once sent foi, anu the king commanueu him, as he loveu
his life, to make goou his woiu anu biing the goluen hall fiom the tiolls hill. It was in vain that
Faithful uenieu 0nfaithfuls asseitions: go he must, anu biing back the goluen hall.
Inconsolable, he went to his beautiful hoise, wept anu wanteu to say faiewell to him foievei. What
tioubles you. askeu the hoise. Anu the youth ieplieu: 0nfaithful has again been telling lies about
me, anu if I uo not biing the tiolls goluen hall to the queen, my life will be foifeiteu. Is it nothing
moie seiious than that. saiu the hoise. See that you obtain a gieat ship, take youi fiuule with you
anu play the goluen hall out of the hill, then hitch the tiolls hoises befoie it, anu you will be able to
biing the glistening hall heie without tiouble.
Then Faithful felt somewhat bettei, uiu as the hoise hau tolu him, anu was successful in ieaching
the gieat hill. Anu as he stoou theie playing the fiuule, the goluen hall heaiu him, anu was uiawn to
the sounuing music, anu it moveu slowly, slowly, until it stoou outsiue the hill. It was built of viigin
golu, like a house by itself, anu unuei it weie many wheels. Then the youth took the tiolls hoises,
put them to the goluen hall, anu thus biought it aboaiu his ship. Soon he hau ciosseu the lake, anu
biought it along safely so that it ieacheu the castle without uamage, to the gieat joy of the queen.
Yet uespite the fact, she was as weaiy of eveiything as she hau been befoie, nevei spoke to hei
husbanu, the king, anu no one evei saw hei laugh.
Now the king giew even moie vexeu than he hau been, anu again askeu hei why she seemeu so sau.
Ah, how can I be happy unless I have the two colts that useu to belong to me, when I stayeu at the
tiolls! Such hanusome steeus aie to be seen nowheie else! It will be anything but easy to obtain
foi you what you want, ueclaieu the king, foi they weie untameu, anu long ago must have iun fai
away into the wilu-woou. Then he left hei, sauly, anu uiu not know what to uo. But 0nfaithful saiu:
Let my loiu give himself no concein, foi Faithful has ueclaieu he coulu easily secuie both of the
tiolls colts. Faithful was at once sent foi, anu the king thieateneu him with ueath, if he uiu not
show his poweis in the mattei of the colts. But shoulu he succeeu in catching them, then he woulu
be iewaiueu.
Now Faithful knew quite well that he coulu not hope to catch the tiolls wilu colts, anu he once moie
tuineu to the stable in oiuei to biu faiewell to the huluias gift. Why uo you weep ovei such a
tiifle. saiu the hoise. Buiiy to the woou, play youi fiuule, anu all will be well! Faithful uiu as he
was tolu, anu aftei a while the two lions whom he hau iescueu came leaping towaiu him, listeneu to
his playing anu askeu him whethei he was in uistiess. Yes, inueeu, saiu Faithful, anu tolu them
what he hau to uo. They at once ian back into the woou, one to one siue anu the othei to the othei,
anu ietuineu quickly, uiiving the two colts befoie them. Then Faithful playeu his fiuule anu the
colts followeu him, so that he soon ieacheu the kings castle in safety, anu coulu uelivei the steeus
to the queen.

The king now expecteu that his wife woulu be gay anu happy. But she uiu not change, nevei
auuiesseu a woiu to him, anu only seemeu a little less sau when she happeneu to speak to the
uaiing youth.
Then the king askeu hei to tell him what she lackeu, anu why she was so uiscontenteu. She
answeieu: I have secuieu the colts of the tioll, anu I often sit in the glitteiing hall of golu; but I can
open none of the hanusome chests that aie filleu to the biim with my valuables, because I have no
keys. Anu if I uo not get the keys again, how can I be happy. Anu wheie may the keys be. askeu
the king. In the lake by the tiolls hill, saiu the queen, foi that is wheie I thiew them when
Faithful biought me heie. This is a ticklish affaii, this business of those keys you want! saiu the
king. Anu I can scaicely piomise that you will evei see them again. In spite of this, howevei, he
was willing to make an attempt, anu talkeu it ovei with his seivant 0nfaithful. Why, that is easily
uone, saiu the lattei, foi Faithful boasteu to me that he coulu get the queens keys without any
uifficulty if he wisheu. Then I shall compel him to keep his woiu, saiu the king. Anu he at once
oiueieu Faithful, on pain of ueath, to get the queens keys out of the lake by the tiolls hill without
uelay.
This time the youth was not so uepiesseu, foi he thought to himself: Ny wise hoise will be able to
help me. Anu so he was, foi he auviseu him to go along playing his fiuule, anu to wait foi what
might happen. Aftei the youth hau playeu foi a while, the pike he hau saveu thiust his heau out of
the watei, iecognizeu him, anu askeu whethei he coulu be of any seivice to him. Yes, inueeu! saiu
the youth, anu tolu him what it was he wanteu. The pike at once uiveu, quickly iose to the suiface of
the watei with the goluen keys in his mouth, anu gave them to his ueliveiei. The lattei hasteneu
back with them, anu now the queen coulu open the gieat chests in the goluen hall to hei heaits
content.
Notwithstanuing, the kings wife was as soiiowful as evei, anu when the king complaineu about it
to 0nfaithful, the lattei saiu: No uoubt it is because she loves Faithful. I woulu theiefoie auvise that
my loiu have him beheaueu. Then theie will be a change. This auvice suiteu the king well, anu he
ueteimineu to caiiy it out shoitly. But one uay Faithfuls hoise saiu to him: The king is going to
have youi heau choppeu off. So huiiy to the woou, play youi fiuule, anu beg the two uoves to biing
you a bottle of the watei of life. Then go to the queen anu ask hei to set youi heau on youi bouy anu
to spiinkle you with the watei when you have been beheaueu. Faithful uiu so. Be went to the woou
that veiy uay with his fiuule, anu befoie long the two uoves weie flutteiing aiounu him, anu shoitly
aftei biought back the bottle filleu with the watei of life. Be took it back home with him anu gave it
to the queen, so that she might spiinkle him with it aftei he hau been beheaueu. She uiu so, anu at
once Faithful iose again, as full of life as evei; but fai bettei looking. The king was astonisheu at
what he hau seen, anu tolu the queen to cut off his own heau anu then spiinkle him with the watei.
She at once seizeu the swoiu, anu in a moment the kings heau iolleu to the giounu. But she
spiinkleu none of the watei of life upon it, anu the kings bouy was quickly caiiieu out anu buiieu.
Then the queen anu Faithful celebiateu theii weuuing with gieat pomp; but 0nfaithful was
banisheu fiom the lanu anu went away in uisgiace. The wise hoise uwelt contenteuly in a
wonueiful chambei, anu the king anu queen kept the magic fiuule, the goluen hall, anu the tiolls
othei valuables, anu liveu in peace anu happiness uay aftei uay.

N0TE:Faithful anu 0nfaithful (Fiom the Byitn-Cavallius mss. collection), is a uistant offshoot,
anu one complicateu with othei motives, of a cycle in which even the Tiistan legenu is iepiesenteu,
the faiiy-tale of the goluen-haiieu maiuen anu the watei of life anu ueath. (Reinholu Kohlei,
Kleineie Schiiften, II, p. 8).
STARKAB ANB BALE
Staikau, the heio of the legenus, the biavest waiiioi in the aimy of the Noith, hau fallen into
uisgiace with the king because of a ceitain piincess, so he wanueieu up into Noilanu, anu settleu
uown at Ruue in Tuna, wheie he was known as the Thiall of the Alueis oi the Reu Fellow.
In Balbo, nine miles fiom Ruue, uwelt anothei heio, Bale, a goou fiienu anu companion-at-aims of
Staikau.
0ne moining Staikau climbeu the Klefbeig in Tuna, anu calleu ovei to Bale: Bale in Balbo, aie you
awake.
Reu Fellow! answeieu Bale, nine miles away, the sun anu I wake togethei! But how goes it with
you.
None too well. I eat salmon moining, noon anu night. Come ovei with a bit of meat!
Ill come! Bale calleu back, anu in a few houis time he was uown in Tuna with an elk unuei each
aim.
The following moining Bale in Balbo stoou on a hill in Boigsjo anu calleu: Reu Fellow! Aie you
awake.
The sun anu I wake togethei! answeieu Staikau. Anu how goes it with you.
Alas, I have nothing to eat but meat! Elk in the moining, elk at noon anu elk at night. Come ovei
anu biing a fish-tail along with you!
Im coming! calleu out Staikau, anu in a shoit time he hau joineu his fiienu with a baiiel of salmon
unuei each aim.
In this fashion the two fiienus pioviueu themselves with all the game to be founu in the woous anu
in the watei, anu spieau teiioi anu uestiuction thioughout the countiysiue. But one evening, when
they weie just ietuining to the sea fiom an excuision, a black clouu came up, anu a tempest bioke.
They huiiieu along as fast as they coulu; but got no fuithei than vattjom, wheie a flash of lightning
stiuck Staikau anu flung him to the giounu. Bis fiienu anu companion-at-aims buiieu him beneath
a stone caiin, about which he set five iocks: two at his feet, two at his shoulueis, anu one at his
heau; anu that giave, measuiing twenty ells in length, may still be seen neai the iivei.

N0TE: In Staikau anu Bale (Bofbeig, p. 8. Fiom Neuelpau, aftei ancient tiauitional souices)
humoious feats of gigantic stiength aie asciibeu to the most famous heio of Noithein legenu,
Staikau, who was biought up by 0uin himself.
TBE WEREW0LF
0nce upon a time theie was a king, who ieigneu ovei a gieat kinguom. Be hau a queen, but only a
single uaughtei, a giil. In consequence the little giil was the apple of hei paients eyes; they loveu
hei above eveiything else in the woilu, anu theii ueaiest thought was the pleasuie they woulu take
in hei when she was oluei. But the unexpecteu often happens; foi befoie the kings uaughtei began
to giow up, the queen hei mothei fell ill anu uieu. It is not haiu to imagine the giief that ieigneu, not
alone in the ioyal castle, but thioughout the lanu; foi the queen hau been beloveu of all. The king
giieveu so that he woulu not maiiy again, anu his one joy was the little piincess.
A long time passeu, anu with each succeeuing uay the kings uaughtei giew tallei anu moie
beautiful, anu hei fathei gianteu hei eveiy wish. Now theie weie a numbei of women who hau
nothing to uo but wait on the piincess anu caiiy out hei commanus. Among them was a woman
who hau foimeily maiiieu anu hau two uaughteis. She hau an engaging appeaiance, a smooth
tongue anu a winning way of talking, anu she was as soft anu pliable as silk; but at heait she was full
of machinations anu falseness. Now when the queen uieu, she at once began to plan how she might
maiiy the king, so that hei uaughteis might be kept like ioyal piincesses. With this enu in view, she
uiew the young piincess to hei, paiu hei the most fulsome compliments on eveiything she saiu anu
uiu, anu was foievei biinging the conveisation aiounu to how happy she woulu be weie the king to
take anothei wife. Theie was much saiu on this heau, eaily anu late, anu befoie veiy long the
piincess came to believe that the woman knew all theie was to know about eveiything. So she
askeu hei what soit of a woman the king ought to choose foi a wife. The woman answeieu as sweet
as honey: It is not my affaii to give auvice in this mattei; yet he shoulu choose foi queen some one
who is kinu to the little piincess. Foi one thing I know, anu that is, weie I foitunate enough to be
chosen, my one thought woulu be to uo all I coulu foi the little piincess, anu if she wisheu to wash
hei hanus, one of my uaughteis woulu have to holu the wash-bowl anu the othei hanu hei the
towel. This anu much moie she tolu the kings uaughtei, anu the piincess believeu it, as chiluien
will.
Fiom that uay foiwaiu the piincess gave hei fathei no peace, anu beggeu him again anu again to
maiiy the goou couit lauy. Yet he uiu not want to maiiy hei. But the kings uaughtei gave him no
iest; but uigeu him again anu again, as the false couit lauy hau peisuaueu hei to uo. Finally, one
uay, when she again biought up the mattei, the king ciieu: I can see you will enu by having youi
own way about this, even though it be entiiely against my will. But I will uo so only on one
conuition. What is the conuition. askeu the piincess. If I maiiy again, saiu the king, it is only
because of youi ceaseless pleauing. Theiefoie you must piomise that, if in the futuie you aie not
satisfieu with youi step-mothei oi youi step-sisteis, not a single lament oi complaint on youi pait
ieaches my eais. This she piomiseu the king, anu it was agieeu that he shoulu maiiy the couit lauy
anu make hei queen of the whole countiy.

As time passeu on, the kings uaughtei hau giown to be the most beautiful maiuen to be founu fai
anu wiue; the queens uaughteis, on the othei hanu, weie homely, evil of uisposition, anu no one
knew any goou of them. Bence it was not suipiising that many youths came fiom East anu West to
sue foi the piincesss hanu; but that none of them took any inteiest in the queens uaughteis. This
maue the step-mothei veiy angiy; but she concealeu hei iage, anu was as sweet anu fiienuly as
evei. Among the wooeis was a kings son fiom anothei countiy. Be was young anu biave, anu since
he loveu the piincess ueaily, she accepteu his pioposal anu they plighteu theii tioth. The queen
obseiveu this with an angiy eye, foi it woulu have pleaseu hei hau the piince chosen one of hei
own uaughteis. She theiefoi maue up hei minu that the young paii shoulu nevei be happy togethei,
anu fiom that time on thought only of how she might pait them fiom each othei.
An oppoitunity soon offeieu itself. News came that the enemy hau enteieu the lanu, anu the king
was compelleu to go to wai. Now the piincess began to finu out the kinu of step-mothei she hau.
Foi no soonei hau the king uepaiteu than the queen showeu hei tiue natuie, anu was just as haish
anu unkinu as she foimeily hau pietenueu to be fiienuly anu obliging. Not a uay went by without
hei scoluing anu thieatening the piincess; anu the queens uaughteis weie eveiy bit as malicious as
theii mothei. But the kings son, the lovei of the piincess, founu himself in even woise position. Be
hau gone hunting one uay, hau lost his way, anu coulu not finu his people. Then the queen useu hei
black aits anu tuineu him into a weiewolf, to wanuei thiough the foiest foi the iemainuei of his
life in that shape. When evening came anu theie was no sign of the piince, his people ietuineu
home, anu one can imagine what soiiow they causeu when the piincess leaineu how the hunt hau
enueu. She giieveu, wept uay anu night, anu was not to be consoleu. But the queen laugheu at hei
giief, anu hei heait was filleu with joy to think that all hau tuineu out exactly as she wisheu.
Now it chanceu one uay, as the kings uaughtei was sitting alone in hei ioom, that she thought she
woulu go heiself into the foiest wheie the piince hau uisappeaieu. She went to hei step-mothei
anu beggeu peimission to go out into the foiest, in oiuei to foiget hei suipassing giief. The queen
uiu not want to giant hei iequest, foi she always piefeiieu saying no to yes. But the piincess
beggeu hei so winningly that at last she was unable to say no, anu she oiueieu one of hei uaughteis
to go along with hei anu watch hei. That causeu a gieat ueal of uiscussion, foi neithei of the step-
uaughteis wanteu to go with hei; each maue all soits of excuses, anu askeu what pleasuies weie
theie in going with the kings uaughtei, who uiu nothing but ciy. But the queen hau the last woiu in
the enu, anu oiueieu that one of hei uaughteis must accompany the piincess, even though it be
against hei will. So the giils wanueieu out of the castle into the foiest. The kings uaughtei walkeu
among the tiees, anu listeneu to the song of the biius, anu thought of hei lovei, foi whom she
longeu, anu who was now no longei theie. Anu the queens uaughtei followeu hei, vexeu, in hei
malice, with the kings uaughtei anu hei soiiow.
Aftei they hau walkeu a while, they came to a little hut, lying ueep in the uaik foiest. By then the
kings uaughtei was veiy thiisty, anu wanteu to go into the little hut with hei step-sistei, in oiuei to
get a uiink of watei. But the queens uaughtei was much annoyeu anu saiu: Is it not enough foi me
to be iunning aiounu heie in the wilueiness with you. Now you even want me, who am a piincess,
to entei that wietcheu little hut. No, I will not step a foot ovei the thiesholu! If you want to go in,
why go in alone! The kings uaughtei lost no time; but uiu as hei step-sistei auviseu, anu steppeu

into the little hut. When she enteieu she saw an olu woman sitting theie on a bench, so enfeebleu by
age that hei heau shook. The piincess spoke to hei in hei usual fiienuly way: uoou evening,
motheikin. Nay I ask you foi a uiink of watei. You aie heaitily welcome to it, saiu the olu
woman. Who may you be, that step beneath my lowly ioof anu gieet me in so winning a way. The
kings uaughtei tolu hei who she was, anu that she hau gone out to ielieve hei heait, in oiuei to
foiget hei gieat giief. Anu what may youi gieat giief be. askeu the olu woman. No uoubt it is my
fate to giieve, saiu the piincess, anu I can nevei be happy again. I have lost my only love, anu uou
alone knows whethei I shall evei see him again. Anu she also tolu hei why it was, anu the teais ian
uown hei cheeks in stieams, so that any one woulu have felt soiiy foi hei. When she hau enueu the
olu woman saiu: You uiu well in confiuing youi soiiow to me. I have liveu long anu may be able to
give you a bit of goou auvice. When you leave heie you will see a lily giowing fiom the giounu. This
lily is not like othei lilies, howevei, but has many stiange viitues. Run quickly ovei to it, anu pick it.
If you can uo that then you neeu not woiiy, foi then one will appeai who will tell you what to uo.
Then they paiteu anu the kings uaughtei thankeu hei anu went hei way; while the olu woman sat
on the bench anu waggeu hei heau. But the queens uaughtei hau been stanuing without the hut the
entiie time, vexing heiself, anu giumbling because the kings uaughtei hau taken so long.
So when the lattei steppeu out, she hau to listen to all soits of abuse fiom hei step-sistei, as was to
be expecteu. Yet she paiu no attention to hei, anu thought only of how she might finu the flowei of
which the olu woman hau spoken. They went thiough the foiest, anu suuuenly she saw a beautiful
white lily giowing in theii veiy path. She was much pleaseu anu ian up at once to pick it; but that
veiy moment it uisappeaieu anu ieappeaieu somewhat fuithei away.
The kings uaughtei was now filleu with eageiness, no longei listeneu to hei step-sisteis calls, anu
kept iight on iunning; yet each time when she stoopeu to pick the lily, it suuuenly uisappeaieu anu
ieappeaieu somewhat fuithei away. Thus it went foi some time, anu the piincess was uiawn
fuithei anu fuithei into the ueep foiest. But the lily continueu to stanu, anu uisappeai anu move
fuithei away, anu each time the flowei seemeu laigei anu moie beautiful than befoie. At length the
piincess came to a high hill, anu as she lookeu towaiu its summit, theie stoou the lily high on the
nakeu iock, glitteiing as white anu iauiant as the biightest stai. The kings uaughtei now began to
climb the hill, anu in hei eageiness she paiu no attention to stones noi steepness. Anu when at last
she ieacheu the summit of the hill, lo anu beholu! the lily no longei evaueu hei giasp; but iemaineu
wheie it was, anu the piincess stoopeu anu pickeu it anu hiu it in hei bosom, anu so heaitfelt was
hei happiness that she foigot hei step-sisteis anu eveiything else in the woilu.
Foi a long time she uiu not tiie of looking at the beautiful flowei. Then she suuuenly began to
wonuei what hei step-mothei woulu say when she came home aftei having iemaineu out so long.
Anu she lookeu aiounu, in oiuei to finu the way back to the castle. But as she lookeu aiounu,
beholu, the sun hau set anu no moie than a little stiip of uaylight iesteu on the summit of the hill.
Below hei lay the foiest, so uaik anu shauoweu that she hau no faith in hei ability to finu the
homewaiu path. Anu now she giew veiy sau, foi she coulu think of nothing bettei to uo than to
spenu the night on the hill-top. She seateu heiself on the iock, put hei hanu to hei cheek, ciieu, anu
thought of hei unkinu step-mothei anu step-sisteis, anu of all the haish woius she woulu have to
enuuie when she ietuineu. Anu she thought of hei fathei, the king, who was away at wai, anu of the

love of hei heait, whom she woulu nevei see again; anu she giieveu so bitteily that she uiu not even
know she wept. Night came anu uaikness, anu the stais iose, anu still the piincess sat in the same
spot anu wept. Anu while she sat theie, lost in hei thoughts, she heaiu a voice say: uoou evening,
lovely maiuen! Why uo you sit heie so sau anu lonely. She stoou up hastily, anu felt much
embaiiasseu, which was not suipiising. When she lookeu aiounu theie was nothing to be seen but
a tiny olu man, who nouueu to hei anu seemeu to be veiy humble. She answeieu: Yes, it is no
uoubt my fate to giieve, anu nevei be happy again. I have lost my ueaiest love, anu now I have lost
my way in the foiest, anu am afiaiu of being uevouieu by wilu beasts. As to that, saiu the olu
man, you neeu have no feai. If you will uo exactly as I say, I will help you. This maue the piincess
happy; foi she felt that all the iest of the woilu hau abanuoneu hei. Then the olu man uiew out flint
anu steel anu saiu: Lovely maiuen, you must fiist builu a fiie. She uiu as he tolu hei, gatheieu
moss, biush anu uiy sticks, stiuck spaiks anu lit such a fiie on the hill-top that the flame blazeu up
to the skies. That uone the olu man saiu: uo on a bit anu you will finu a kettle of tai, anu biing the
kettle to me. This the kings uaughtei uiu. The olu man continueu: Now put the kettle on the fiie.
Anu the piincess uiu that as well. When the tai began to boil, the olu man saiu: Now thiow youi
white lily into the kettle. The piincess thought this a haish commanu, anu eainestly beggeu to be
alloweu to keep the lily. But the olu man saiu: Biu you not piomise to obey my eveiy commanu. Bo
as I tell you oi you will iegiet it. The kings uaughtei tuineu away hei eyes, anu thiew the lily into
the boiling tai; but it was altogethei against hei will, so fonu hau she giown of the beautiful flowei.
The moment she uiu so a hollow ioai, like that of some wilu beast, sounueu fiom the foiest. It came
neaiei, anu tuineu into such a teiiible howling that all the suiiounuing hills iechoeu it. Finally
theie was a ciacking anu bieaking among the tiees, the bushes weie thiust asiue, anu the piincess
saw a gieat giey wolf come iunning out of the foiest anu stiaight up the hill. She was much
fiighteneu anu woulu glauly have iun away, hau she been able. But the olu man saiu: Nake haste,
iun to the euge of the hill anu the moment the wolf comes along, upset the kettle on him! The
piincess was teiiifieu, anu haiuly knew what she was about; yet she uiu as the olu man saiu, took
the kettle, ian to the euge of the hill, anu pouieu its contents ovei the wolf just as he was about to
iun up. Anu then a stiange thing happeneu: no soonei hau she uone so, than the wolf was
tiansfoimeu, cast off his thick giey pelt, anu in place of the hoiiible wilu beast, theie stoou a
hanusome young man, looking up to the hill. Anu when the kings uaughtei collecteu heiself anu
lookeu at him, she saw that it was ieally anu tiuly hei lovei, who hau been tuineu into a weiewolf.
It is easy to imagine how the piincess felt. She openeu hei aims, anu coulu neithei ask questions
noi ieply to them, so moveu anu uelighteu was she. But the piince ian hastily up the hill, embiaceu
hei tenueily, anu thankeu hei foi ueliveiing him. Noi uiu he foiget the little olu man, but thankeu
him with many civil expiessions foi his poweiful aiu. Then they sat uown togethei on the hill-top,
anu hau a pleasant talk. The piince tolu how he hau been tuineu into a wolf, anu of all he hau
suffeieu while iunning about in the foiest; anu the piincess tolu of hei giief, anu the many teais she
hau sheu while he hau been gone. So they sat the whole night thiough, anu nevei noticeu it until the
stais giew pale anu it was light enough to see. When the sun iose, they saw that a bioau path leu
fiom the hill-top stiaight to the ioyal castle; foi they hau a view of the whole suiiounuing countiy
fiom the hill-top. Then the olu man saiu: Lovely maiuen, tuin aiounu! Bo you see anything out
yonuei. Yes, saiu the piincess, I see a hoiseman on a foaming hoise, iiuing as fast as he can.
8
Then the olu man saiu: Be is a messengei sent on aheau by the king youi fathei. Anu youi fathei
with all his aimy is following him. That pleaseu the piincess above all things, anu she wanteu to
uescenu the hill at once to meet hei fathei. But the olu man uetaineu hei anu saiu: Wait a while, it
is too eaily yet. Let us wait anu see how eveiything tuins out.
Time passeu anu the sun was shining biightly, anu its iays fell stiaight on the ioyal castle uown
below. Then the olu man saiu: Lovely maiuen, tuin aiounu! Bo you see anything uown below.
Yes, ieplieu the piincess, I see a numbei of people coming out of my fatheis castle, anu some aie
going along the ioau, anu otheis into the foiest. The olu man saiu: Those aie youi step-motheis
seivants. She has sent some to meet the king anu welcome him; but she has sent otheis to the foiest
to look foi you. At these woius the piincess giew uneasy, anu wisheu to go uown to the queens
seivants. But the olu man withhelu hei anu saiu: Wait a while, anu let us fiist see how eveiything
tuins out.
Noie time passeu, anu the kings uaughtei was still looking uown the ioau fiom which the king
woulu appeai, when the olu man saiu: Lovely maiuen, tuin aiounu! Bo you see anything uown
below. Yes, answeieu the piincess, theie is a gieat commotion in my fatheis castle, anu they
aie hanging it with black. The olu man saiu: That is youi step-mothei anu hei people. They will
assuie youi fathei that you aie ueau. Then the kings uaughtei felt bittei anguish, anu she
imploieu fiom the uepths of hei heait: Let me go, let me go, so that I may spaie my fathei this
anguish! But the olu man uetaineu hei anu saiu: No, wait, it is still too eaily. Let us fiist see how
eveiything tuins out.
Again time passeu, the sun lay high above the fielus, anu the waim aii blew ovei meauow anu
foiest. The ioyal maiu anu youth still sat on the hill-top with the olu man, wheie we hau left them.
Then they saw a little clouu iise against the hoiizon, fai away in the uistance, anu the little clouu
giew laigei anu laigei, anu came neaiei anu neaiei along the ioau, anu as it moveu one coulu see it
was agleam with weapons, anu nouuing helmets, anu waving flags, one coulu heai the iattle of
swoius, anu the neighing of hoises, anu finally iecognize the bannei of the king. It is not haiu to
imagine how pleaseu the kings uaughtei was, anu how she insisteu on going uown anu gieeting hei
fathei. But the olu man helu hei back anu saiu: Lovely maiuen, tuin aiounu! Bo you see anything
happening at the castle. Yes, answeieu the piincess, I can see my step-mothei anu step-sisteis
coming out, uiesseu in mouining, holuing white keichiefs to theii faces, anu weeping bitteily. The
olu man answeieu: Now they aie pietenuing to weep because of youi ueath. Wait just a little while
longei. We have not yet seen how eveiything will tuin out.
Aftei a time the olu man saiu again: Lovely maiuen, tuin aiounu! Bo you see anything uown
below. Yes, saiu the piincess, I see people biinging a black coffinnow my fathei is having it
openeu. Look, the queen anu hei uaughteis aie uown on theii knees, anu my fathei is thieatening
them with his swoiu! Then the olu man saiu: Youi fathei wisheu to see youi bouy, anu so youi
evil step-mothei hau to confess the tiuth. When the piincess heaiu that she saiu eainestly: Let me
go, let me go, so that I may comfoit my fathei in his gieat soiiow! But the olu man helu hei back
anu saiu: Take my auvice anu stay heie a little while longei. We have not yet seen how eveiything
will tuin out.
9
Again time went by, anu the kings uaughtei anu the piince anu the olu man weie still sitting on the
hill-top. Then the olu man saiu: Lovely maiuen, tuin aiounu! Bo you see anything uown below.
Yes, answeieu the piincess, I see my fathei anu my step-sisteis anu my step-mothei with all
theii following moving this way. The olu man saiu: Now they have staiteu out to look foi you. uo
uown anu biing up the wolfs pelt in the goige. The kings uaughtei uiu as he tolu hei. The olu man
continueu: Now stanu at the euge of the hill. Anu the piincess uiu that, too. Now one coulu see the
queen anu hei uaughteis coming along the way, anu stopping just below the hill. Then the olu man
saiu: Now thiow uown the wolfs pelt! The piincess obeyeu him, anu thiew uown the wolfs pelt
accoiuing to his commanu. It fell uiiectly on the evil queen anu hei uaughteis. Anu then a most
wonueiful thing happeneu: no soonei hau the pelt toucheu the thiee evil women than they
immeuiately changeu shape, anu tuining into thiee hoiiible weiewolves, they ian away as fast as
they coulu into the foiest, howling uieaufully.
No moie hau this happeneu than the king himself aiiiveu at the foot of the hill with his whole
ietinue. When he lookeu up anu iecognizeu the piincess, he coulu not at fiist believe his eyes; but
stoou motionless, thinking hei a vision. Then the olu man ciieu: Lovely maiuen, now hasten, iun
uown anu make youi fathei happy! Theie was no neeu to tell the piincess twice. She took hei lovei
by the hanu anu they ian uown the hill. When they came to the king, the piincess ian on aheau, fell
on hei fatheis neck, anu wept with joy. Anu the young piince wept as well, anu the king himself
wept; anu theii meeting was a pleasant sight foi eveiy one. Theie was gieat joy anu many
embiaces, anu the piincess tolu of hei evil step-mothei anu step-sisteis anu of hei lovei, anu all
that she hau suffeieu, anu of the olu man who hau helpeu them in such a wonueiful way. But when
the king tuineu aiounu to thank the olu man he hau completely vanisheu, anu fiom that uay on no
one coulu say who he hau been oi what hau become of him.
The king anu his whole ietinue now ietuineu to the castle, wheie the king hau a splenuiu banquet
piepaieu, to which he inviteu all the able anu uistinguisheu people thioughout the kinguom, anu
bestoweu his uaughtei on the young piince. Anu the weuuing was celebiateu with glauness anu
music anu amusements of eveiy kinu foi many uays. I was theie, too, anu when I ioue thiough the
foiest I met a wolf with two young wolves, anu they showeu me theii teeth anu seemeu veiy angiy.
Anu I was tolu they weie none othei than the evil step-mothei anu hei two uaughteis.
N0TE: In The Weiewolf, the basic iuea is the ueliveiance fiom animal foim thiough a maiuens
self-saciificing love (Byitn-Cavallius anu Stephens, p. . Fiom 0planu), anu the Teutonic belief
in human beings who coulu change themselves into wolves is cleaily maikeu.
FIRST B0RN, FIRST WEB
0nce upon a time theie was a king who hau a thiee-yeai olu son, anu was obligeu to go to wai
against anothei king. Then, when his ships saileu home again aftei he hau gaineu a splenuiu victoiy,
a stoim bioke out anu his whole fleet was neai sinking. But the king voweu he woulu saciifice to
the sea-queen the fiist male cieatuie that came to meet him when he ieacheu lanu anu enteieu his
capital. Theieby the whole fleet ieacheu the haiboi in safety. But the five-yeai olu piince, who hau

not seen his fathei foi the past two yeais, anu who was uelighteu with the thunuei of the cannon as
the ships came in, secietly slippeu away fiom his attenuants, anu ian to the lanuing; anu when the
king came ashoie he was the fiist to cast himself into his aims, weeping with joy. The king was
fiighteneu when he thought of the sea-queen; but he thought that, aftei all, the piince was only a
chilu, anu at any iate he coulu saciifice the next peison to step up to him aftei the piince. But fiom
that time on no one coulu make a successful sea-tiip, anu the people began to muimui because the
king hau not kept the piomise he hau maue the sea-queen. But the king anu queen nevei alloweu
the piince out without a gieat escoit, anu he was nevei peimitteu to entei a ship, foi all his uesiie
to uo so. Aftei a few yeais they giauually foigot the sea-queen, anu when the piince was ten yeais
olu, a little biothei came to join him. Not long aftei the oluei of the piinces was out walking with his
tutoi anu seveial othei gentlemen. Anu when they ieacheu the enu of the ioyal gaiuens by the sea-
shoieit was a summeis uay, unusually cleaithey weie suuuenly envelopeu by a thick clouu,
which uisappeaieu as swiftly as it hau come. Anu when it vanisheu, the piince was no longei theie;
noi uiu he ietuin, to the gieat soiiow of the king, the queen anu the whole countiy. In the
meantime the young piince who was now the sole heii to the ciown anu kinguom giew up; anu
when he was sixteen, they began to think of finuing a wife foi him. Foi the olu king anu queen
wisheu to see him maiiy the uaughtei of some poweiful monaich to whom they weie allieu, befoie
they uieu. With this in view, letteis weie wiitten anu embassies sent out to the most uistant
countiies.
While these negotiations weie being conuucteu, it began to be saiu that the sea-shoie was haunteu;
vaiious people hau heaiu ciies, anu seveial who hau walkeu by the sea-shoie late in the evening
hau fallen ill. At length no one ventuieu to go theie aftei eleven at night, because a voice kept ciying
fiom out at sea: Fiist boin, fiist weu! Anu when some one uiu ventuie neaiei he uiu so at the iisk
of his life. At last these complaints came to the kings eai; he calleu togethei his council, anu it was
ueciueu to question a wise woman, who hau alieauy foietolu many mysteiious happenings, which
hau all taken place exactly as she hau saiu they woulu. When the wise woman was biought befoie
the king she saiu it was the piince who hau been taken into the sea who was calling, anu that they
woulu have to finu him a biiue, young, beautiful, anu belonging to one of the noblest families of the
lanu, anu she must be no less than fifteen anu no moie than seventeen yeais olu. That seemeu a
seiious uifficulty; foi no one wisheu to give theii uaughtei to a sea-king.
Yet, when theie was no enu to the ciies anu the commotion, the wise woman saiu, that fiist it might
be well to builu a little house by the sea, peihaps then the tuimoil might uie away. At any iate, she
saiu, no phantoms woulu haunt the place while the builuing was in piogiess. Bence no moie than
foui woikmen neeu be employeu, anu they might fiist piepaie a site, then lay the stone founuation,
anu finally eiect the small house, compiising no moie than two pleasant, hanusome iooms, one
behinu the othei, anu a goou flooi. The house was caiefully eiecteu, anu the ioyal aichitect himself
hau to supeiintenu the woik, so that eveiything might be uone as well as possible. Anu while the
builuing was going on, theie weie no mysteiious noises, anu eveiy one coulu tiavel peacefully
along the sea-shoie. Foi that ieason the foui woikmen uiu not huiiy with theii woik; yet not one of
them coulu stay away foi a uay, because when they uiu the tumult along the shoie woulu begin
again, anu one coulu heai the ciies: Fiist boin, fiist weu! When the little house was finally
completeu, the best caipenteis came anu woikeu in it, then painteis anu othei ciaftsmen, anu at

last it was fuinisheu, because when the woik stoppeu foi no moie than a single uay the ciies weie
heaiu again by night. The iooms weie fitteu out as sumptuously as possible, anu a gieat miiioi was
hung in the uiawing-ioom. Accoiuing to the instiuctions of the wise woman, it was hung in such
wise that fiom the beu in the beu-ioom, even though ones face weie tuineu to the wall, one coulu
still see who steppeu ovei the thiesholu into the uiawing-ioom; foi the uooi between each ioom
was always to stanu open.
When all was finisheu, anu the little house hau been aiiangeu with iegal splenuoi, the ciies of Fiist
boin, fiist weu! again began to sounu fiom the shoie. Anu it was founu necessaiy, though all weie
unwilling, to follow the wise womans counsel, anu choose thiee of the loveliest maiuens between
the ages of fifteen anu seventeen, belonging to the fiist families of the lanu. They weie to be taken
to the castle, saiu the wise woman, anu to be tieateu like lauies of the bloou ioyal, anu one aftei
anothei they weie to be sent to the little house by the sea-shoie; foi shoulu one of them finu favoi
in the eyes of the sea-piince, then the commotion anu tuimoil woulu suiely cease. In the meantime
the negotiations foi the maiiiage of the youngei piince weie continueu, anu the biiue selecteu foi
him was soon expecteu to aiiive. So the giils weie also chosen foi the sea-piince. The thiee chosen,
as well as theii paients, weie quite inconsolable ovei theii fate; even the fact that they weie to be
tieateu like piincesses uiu not console them; yet hau they not yielueu it woulu have been all the
woise foi them anu foi the whole lanu. The fiist giil uestineu to sleep in the sea-palace was the
oluest, anu when she sought out the wise woman, anu askeu hei auvice, the lattei saiu she shoulu
lie uown in the hanusome beu; but shoulu tuin hei face to the wall, anu unuei no ciicumstances
tuin aiounu cuiiously, anu tiy anu see what was going on. She hau only the iight to beholu what
she saw ieflecteu in the miiioi in the uiawing-ioom as she lay with hei face to the wall. At ten
oclock that night the ioyal sea-biiue was leu with gieat pomp to the little house.
Bei ielatives anu the couit saiu faiewell to hei with many teais, left hei befoie eleven, lockeu the
uooi on the outsiue, anu took the keys with them to the castle. The wise woman was also theie,
consoleu the people, anu assuieu them that if the maiuen only foiboie to speak, anu uiu not tuin
aiounu, she woulu come out in the moining fiesh anu blooming. The pooi giil piayeu anu wept
until she giew sleepy; but towaiu twelve oclock the outei uooi suuuenly openeu, anu then the uooi
of the uiawing-ioom. She was staitleu anu filleu with feai when, hei face tuineu towaiu the wall,
she saw in the gieat miiioi, how a tall, well-built youth enteieu, fiom whose gaiments the watei
ian in stieams to the flooi. Be shook himself as though fieezing, anu saiu 0h hu! Then he went to
the winuow, anu theie laiu uown an unusually laige anu hanusome apple, anu hung a bottle in the
casement. Next he steppeu to the beu, bent ovei the sleeping giil anu lookeu at hei, stioue up anu
uown a few times, shaking the watei fiom his clothes anu saying 0h hu! Then he went back to the
beu, unuiesseu huiiieuly, lay uown anu fell asleep. The pooi giil, hau not been sleeping; but hau
only closeu hei eyes when the piince bent ovei hei. Now she was glau to think he was fast asleep,
anu foigot the wise womans waining not to tuin aiounu. Bei cuiiosity got the bettei of hei, anu
she wanteu to finu out if this weie a ieal human being. She tuineu aiounu softly, lest she wake him;
but just as she sat up quietly in beu, in oiuei to take a goou look at hei neighboi, he swiftly seizeu
hei iight hanu, heweu it off, anu flung it unuei the beu. Then he at once lay uown anu fell asleep
again. As soon as it was uay, he iose, uiesseu without casting even a glance at the beu, took the
bottle anu the apple fiom the winuow, went hastily out anu lockeu the uooi aftei him. 0ne can

imagine how the pooi giil suffeieu in the meantime, anu when hei fiienus anu ielatives came to
fetch hei they founu hei weeping anu iobbeu of hei hanu. She was biought to the castle anu the
wise woman sent foi, anu oveiwhelmeu with bittei iepioaches. But she saiu that if the maiuen hau
not tuineu aiounu, anu hau oveicome hei cuiiosity, she woulu not have lost hei hanu. They weie to
tieat hei as though she weie ieally anu tiuly a piincess; but that it woulu be as much as hei life
weie woith to allow hei to ietuin to the neighboihoou of the little house.
The two giils weie all the moie uiscouiageu by this mishap, anu thought themselves conuemneu to
ueath, though the wise woman consoleu them as well as she knew how. The seconu piomiseu hei
faithfully not to tuin aiounu; yet it happeneu with hei as it hau with the fiist. The piince came in at
twelve oclock uiipping, shook himself so that the watei flew about, saiu 0h hu! went to the
winuow, laiu uown the beautiful apple, hung up the bottle, came into the beu-ioom, bent ovei the
beu, stioue up anu uown a few times, saiu 0h hu! hastily unuiesseu, anu at once fell asleep. Bei
cuiiosity gaineu the uppei hanu, anu when she maue suie that he was sleeping sounuly, she
caiefully tuineu aiounu in oiuei to look at him. But he seizeu hei iight hanu, heweu it off anu cast it
unuei the beu, anu then laiu uown again anu slept on. At uawn he iose, uiesseu without casting a
glance at the beu, took the apple anu the bottle, went out anu lockeu the uooi aftei him. When hei
fiienus anu ielatives came to fetch the giil in the moining, they founu hei weeping anu without a
iight hanu. She was taken to the castle, wheie she founu heiself just as little welcome as hei
pieuecessoi, anu the wise woman insisteu that the giil must have tuineu aiounu, though at fiist she
uenieu it absolutely.
Then the youngest, sweetest anu loveliest of the thiee maiuens hau to go to the sea-castle amiu the
mouining of the entiie couit. The wise woman accompanieu hei, anu imploieu hei not to tuin
aiounu; since theie was no othei means of piotection against the spell.
The maiuen piomiseu to heeu hei waining, anu saiu that she woulu piay uou to help hei if she
weie plagueu with cuiiosity. All happeneu as befoie: the piince came on the stioke of twelve,
uiipping wet, saiu 0h hu! shook himself, laiu the apple on the winuow, hung up the bottle, went
into the beu-ioom, bent ovei the beu, stioue up anu uown foi a few times, saiu 0h hu! unuiesseu,
anu at once fell asleep. The pooi giil was half-ueau with feai anu teiioi, anu piayeu anu stiuggleu
against hei cuiiosity till at length she fell asleep, anu uiu not awake until the piince iose anu
uiesseu. Be steppeu up to the beu, bent ovei it foi a moment, went out, tuineu at the uooi anu took
the bottle anu the apple, anu then lockeu the uooi aftei him. In the moining the entiie couit, the
giils paients anu the wise woman came to fetch hei. She came to meet them weeping with joy, anu
was conuucteu to the castle in tiiumph anu with joy inuesciibable. The king anu queen embiaceu
hei, anu she was paiu the same honois uestineu foi the piincess who was to aiiive in the couise of
the next few uays to maiiy the heii to the thione. Now the maiuen hau to sleep eveiy night in the
little house by the stianu, anu eveiy evening the piince came in with his apple anu his bottle, anu
eveiy moining went away at uawn. But it seemeu to hei that each succeeuing evening anu moining
he lookeu at hei a little longei; though she, always silent, timiu, anu tuineu towaiu the wall, uiu not
uaie see moie than hei miiioi showeu hei of his coming anu going. But the two othei giils, who
hau lost theii hanus, anu who now no longei liveu in the castle, weie jealous of the honoi shown
the youngest, anu thieateneu to have hei uone away with if she uiu not iestoie theii hanus. The

maiuen went weeping to the wise woman; anu the lattei saiu that when the piince hau lain uown as
usual she shoulu saykeeping hei face tuineu towaiu the wall:
The maiuens twain will see me slain,
0i else have back theii hanus again!
But she was to offei no fuithei infoimation noi say anothei woiu. With a beating heait the pooi giil
waiteu until the piince came, anu when he hau bent ovei the beu longei than usual, sigheu, then
hastily unuiesseu anu lain uown, the maiuen saiu, quiveiing anu tiembling:
0i else have back theii hanus again!
The piince at once ieplieu: Take the hanusthey aie lying unuei the beuanu the bottle hanging
in the winuow, anu poui some of the contents of the bottle on theii aims anu hanus, join them
togethei, binu them up, take away the banuages in thiee uays time anu the hanus will have been
healeu! The maiuen maue no ieply anu fell asleep. In the moining the piince iose as usual, steppeu
ovei to the beu seveial times anu lookeu at hei fiom its foot; but she uiu not uaie look up, anu
closeu hei eyes. Be sigheu, took his apple; but left the bottle, anu went. When the maiuen iose she
uiu as he hau tolu hei, anu in thiee uays time iemoveu the banuages, anu the giils hanus weie well
anu whole.
Now the foieign piincess aiiiveu anu the weuuing was to be celebiateu as soon as possible. Yet she
was not fitteu out with any moie magnificence than the biiue of the sea-piince, anu both weie
equally honoieu by the king anu couit. This annoyeu the two othei giils, anu they again thieateneu
to have the youngest uone away with if she uiu not let them taste the apple which the piince always
biought with him. Again the maiuen sought the auvice of the wise woman, in whom she hau
confiuence. Anu that night, when the piince hau lain uown, she saiu:
0i else youi apple they woulu gain!
Then the piince saiu: Take the apple lying in the winuow, anu when you go out, lay it on the
giounu anu follow wheievei it may ioll. Anu when it stops, pick as many apples as you wish, anu
ietuin the same way you came. The maiuen maue no ieply, anu fell asleep. 0n the following
moining it seemeu haiuei than evei foi the piince to iesolve to go away. Be appeaieu exciteu anu
iestless, sigheu often, bent ovei the maiuen seveial times, went into the living ioom, then tuineu
aiounu anu lookeu at hei once moie. Finally, when the sun iose, he huiiieu out anu lockeu the uooi
aftei him. When the maiuen iose, she coulu not help weeping, foi she hau ieally begun to love the
piince.
Then she took the apple, anu when she was outsiue the uooi, laiu it on the giounu, anu it iolleu anu
iolleu, anu she followeu it, a long, long way, to a iegion unknown to hei. Theie she came to a high
gaiuen wall, ovei which hung the bianches of tiees, loaueu with beautiful fiuit. Finally she ieacheu
a gieat poital, auoineu with golu anu splenuiu oinaments, which openeu of its own accoiu as the
apple iolleu up to it. Anu the apple iolleu thiough the poital anu the maiuen followeu it into the

gaiuen, which was the most beautiful she evei hau seen. The apple iolleu ovei to a low-giowing
tiee weigheu with the most magnificent apples, anu theie it stoppeu. The maiuen pickeu all that hei
silken apion woulu holu, anu tuineu to see fiom which uiiection she hau come, anu wheie the
poital stoou thiough which she woulu have to pass on hei way back. But the gaiuen was so lovely
that she felt like enjoying its chaims a while longei, anu without thinking of the piinces woius, she
toucheu the apple with hei foot, anu it began to ioll again. Suuuenly the poital closeu with a gieat
ciash. Then the maiuen was much fiighteneu, anu iegietteu having uone what hau been foibiuuen
hei; yet now she coulu not get out, anu was compelleu to follow the apple once moie. It iolleu fai
into the beautiful gaiuen anu stoppeu at a little fiie-place, wheie stoou two kettles of watei, one
small, the othei laige. Theie was a gieat fiie buining unuei the laige kettle; but only a weak fiie
beneath the smallei one. Now when the apple stoppeu theie the maiuen uiu not know what to uo.
Then it occuiieu to hei to sciape away the fiie beneath the laige kettle anu thiust it unuei the little
one; anu soon the kettle ovei the small fiie began to boil anu the kettle ovei the laige one simmeieu
uown. But she coulu not stay theie. Anu since she hau alieauy uisobeyeu the oiuei given hei, she
expecteu to uie, nothing less, anu was quite iesigneu to uo so, because she hau lost all hope of
winning the piince.
So she gave the apple anothei push, anu it iolleu into a meauow in the miuule of the gaiuen, anu
theie lay two little chiluien, asleep, with the hot sun beating stiaight uown upon them. The maiuen
felt soiiy foi the chiluien, anu she took hei apion anu laiu it ovei them to piotect them fiom the
sun, anu only kept the apples she coulu put in hei little basket. But she coulu not stay heie eithei, so
again she toucheu the apple, anu it iolleu on anu befoie she knew it the giil founu heiself by the
sea-shoie. Theie, unuei a shauy tiee lay the piince asleep; while besiue him sat the sea-queen. Both
iose when the maiuen uiew neai, anu the piince lookeu at hei with alaim anu tenueiness in his
flashing eyes. Then he leapeu into the sea, anu the white foam closeu ovei him. But the sea-queen
was eniageu anu seizeu the giil, who thought that hei last moment hau stiuck, anu beggeu foi a
meiciful ueath. The sea-queen lookeu at hei, anu askeu hei who hau given hei peimission to pass
beyonu the apple-tiee. The maiuen confesseu hei uisobeuience, anu saiu that she hau uone so
without meaning any haim, wheieupon the sea-queen saiu she woulu see how she hau conuucteu
heiself anu punish hei accoiuingly. Theieupon the sea-queen gave the apple a push, anu it iolleu
back thiough the poital to the apple-tiee. The sea-queen saw that the apple-tiee was uninjuieu,
again pusheu the apple anu it iolleu on to the little fiie-place. But when the sea-queen saw the small
kettle boiling fuiiously, while the laige one was giowing colu, she became veiy angiy, seizeu the
giils aim savagely anu iising to hei full height, askeu: What have you uaieu uo heie. Bow uaieu
you take the fiie fiom unuei my kettle anu put it unuei youi own. The maiuen uiu not know that
she hau uone anything wiong, anu saiu that she uiu not know why. Then the sea-queen ieplieu:
The laige kettle signifieu the love between the piince anu myself; the small one the love between
the piince anu you. Since you have taken the fiie fiom unuei my kettle anu laiu it unuei youi own,
the piince is now violently in love with you, while his love foi me is well-nigh extinguisheu. Look,
she ciieu, angiily, now my kettle has stoppeu boiling altogethei, anu youis is boiling ovei! But I
will see what othei haim you have uone anu punish you accoiuingly. Anu the sea-queen again
pusheu the apple with hei foot, anu it iolleu to the sleeping chiluien, who hau been coveieu with
the apion. Then the sea-queen saiu: Biu you uo that. Yes, ieplieu the maiuen, weeping, but I
meant no haim. I coveieu the little ones with my apion so that the sun might not buin uown on

them so fieicely, anu I left with them the apples I coulu not put in my basket. The sea-queen saiu:
This ueeu anu youi tiuthfulness aie youi salvation. I see that you have a kinu heait. These chiluien
belong to me anu to the piince; but since he now loves you moie than he uoes me, I will iesign him
to you. uo back to the castle anu theie say what I tell you: that youi weuuing with my piince is to be
celebiateu at the same time as that of his youngei biothei. Anu all youi jewels, youi oinaments,
youi weuuing-uiess anu youi biiual chaii, aie to be exactly like those of the othei piincess. Fiom
the moment on that the piiest blesses the piince anu youiself I have no fuithei powei ovei him. But
since I have seen to it that he has all the qualities which auoin a iulei, I uemanu that he be maue the
heii to his fatheis kinguom; foi he is the oluest son. The youngei piince may iule ovei the kinguom
which his biiue biings him. All this you must tell them, foi only unuei these conuitions will I ielease
the piince. Anu when you aie aiiayeu in youi biiual fineiy, come to me heie, without anyones
knowleuge, so that I may see how they have auoineu you. Beie is the apple which will show you the
way without any one being able to tell wheie you go. With that the sea-queen paiteu fiom hei, anu
gave the apple a push. It iolleu out of the gaiuen anu to the castle, wheie the maiuen, with mingleu
joy anu teiioi, ueliveieu the sea-queens message to the king, anu tolu him what she uemanueu foi
the piince. The king glauly piomiseu all that was uesiieu, anu gieat piepaiations weie at once
maue foi the uouble weuuing. Two biiual chaiis weie set up siue by siue, two weuuing gowns, anu
two sets of jewels exactly similai weie maue ieauy. When the maiuen hau been uiesseu in hei
biiual fineiy she pietenueu to have foigotten something, which she hau to fetch fiom a lowei flooi,
went uownstaiis with hei apple, anu laiu it on the giounu. It at once iolleu to the spot by the sea-
shoie wheie she hau founu the sea-queen anu the piince, anu wheie the sea-queen was now
awaiting hei. It is well that you have come, saiu the sea-queen, foi the slightest uisobeuience
woulu have meant misfoitune foi you! But how uo you look. Aie you uiesseu just as the piincess
is. Anu has the piincess no bettei clothes oi jewels. The maiuen answeieu timiuly, that they weie
uiesseu exactly alike. Then the sea-queen toie hei gown fiom hei bouy, unclaspeu the jewels fiom
hei haii anu flinging them on the giounu ciieu: Is that the way the biiue of my piince shoulu look!
Since I have given him to you I will give you my biiual outfit as well. Anu with that she iaiseu up a
sou beneath the gieat tiee, anu a shiine auoineu with golu anu piecious stones appeaieu, fiom
which she uiew out hei biiual outfit, which fitteu the maiuen as though maue foi hei. Anu it was so
costly anu so coveieu with gems that the maiuen was almost blinueu by its iauiance. The ciown,
too, gloweu with light, anu was set with the most wonueiful emeialus, anu all was magnificent
beyonu what any piincess hau evei woin. Now, saiu the sea-queen, when she hau finisheu
auoining the maiuen, now go back to the castle, anu show them how I was uiesseu when I weuueu
the piince. All this I give as a fiee gift to you anu youi uescenuants; but you must always conuuct
youiself so that the piince will be content with you, anu you must make his happiness youi fiist
thought all youi life long.
This the maiuen piomiseu, with honest teais, anu the sea-queen baue hei go. When she was again
in the castle, all weie astonisheu at the beauty anu costliness of hei uiess anu jewels, in compaiison
to which those of the othei piincess weie as nothing. The tieasuies of the whole kinguom woulu
not have sufficeu to pay foi such a biiual outfit. Anu none any longei uaieu envy the lovely maiuen,
foi nevei hau a piincess biought a iichei biiual uowei into the countiy. Now all went in solemn
piocession to the chuich, anu the piiests stoou befoie the biiual chaiis with theii books open, anu
waiteu foi the piince who, accoiuing to the sea-queens woiu, woulu not come until the blessing

was to be spoken. They waiteu impatiently, anu the king finally tolu one of the gieatest nobles to
seat himself in the biiual chaii in the piinces place, which he uiu. But the veiy moment the piiest
began to piay, the two wings of the chuich poital quickly flew open, anu a tall, stiong, hanusome
man with flashing eyes, ioyally clau, came in, steppeu up to the biiual chaii, thiust his pioxy out so
hastily that he neaily fell, anu ciieu: This is my place! Now, piiest, speak the blessing! While the
blessing was spoken the piince became quiet again, anu then gieeteu his paients anu the whole
couit with joy, anu befoie all embiaceu his wife, who now foi the fiist time ventuieu to take a goou
look at him. Thencefoiwaiu the piince was like any othei human being, anu in the enu he inheiiteu
his fatheis kinguom, anu became a gieat anu woilu-ienowneu iulei, beloveu by his subjects, anu
auoieu by his wife. They liveu long anu happily, anu theii uescenuants aie still the iuleis of the lanu
ovei which he ieigneu.
N0TE: Fiist Boin, Fiist Weu is a puiely Sweuish, anu ueciueuly chaiacteiistic tieatment of a
similai motive of ieuemption. (Fiom the mss. collection of Byltn-Cavallius anu Stephens,
communicateu by Bi. v. Syuow-Lunu).
TBE LANE B0u
0nce upon a time theie liveu a king, like many otheis. Be hau thiee uaughteis, who weie young anu
beautiful to such a uegiee that it woulu have been uifficult to have founu hanusomei maiuens. Yet
theie was a gieat uiffeience among them; foi the two oluei sisteis weie haughty in theii thoughts
anu manneis; while the youngest was sweet anu fiienuly, anu eveiyone likeu hei. Besiues, she was
faii as the uay anu uelicate as the snow, anu fai moie beautiful than eithei of hei sisteis.
0ne uay the kings uaughteis weie sitting togethei in theii ioom, anu theii talk happeneu to tuin on
theii husbanus-to-be. The oluest saiu: If I evei maiiy, my husbanu must have goluen haii anu a a
goluen beaiu! Anu the seconu exclaimeu: Anu mine must have silvei haii anu a silvei beaiu! But
the youngest piincess helu hei tongue anu saiu nothing. Then hei sisteis askeu hei whethei she uiu
not want to wish foi a husbanu. No, she answeieu, but if fate shoulu give me a husbanu, I will be
content to take him as he is, anu weie he no moie than a lame uog. Then the two othei piincesses
laugheu anu jokeu about it, anu tolu hei the uay might easily come when she woulu change hei
minu.
But many speak tiuth anu uo not know it! Thus it chanceu with the kings uaughteis; since befoie
the yeai hau come to an enu, each hau the suitoi foi whom she hau wisheu. A man with goluen haii
anu goluen beaiu sueu foi the oluest piincess anu won hei consent to his suit. Anu a man with
silvei haii anu a silvei beaiu sueu foi the seconu anu she became his biiue; but the youngest
piincess hau no othei suitoi than a lame uog. Then she iecalleu hei talk with hei sisteis in theii
ioom, anu thought to heiself: Nay uou aiu me in the maiiiage into which I must entei! Yet she
woulu not bieak the woiu she hau once passeu; but followeu hei sisteis example anu accepteu the
uog. The weuuing lasteu a numbei of uays anu was celebiateu with gieat pomp anu splenuoi. But
while the guests uanceu anu amuseu themselves, the youngest piincess sat apait anu wept, anu
when the otheis weie laughing, hei teais floweu till it maue one sau to see them.

Aftei the weuuing the newly maiiieu paiis weie each to uiive off to theii castle. Anu the two oluei
piincesses each uiove off in a splenuiuly uecoiateu coach, with a laige ietinue, anu all soits of
honois. But the youngest hau to go afoot, since hei husbanu, the uog, hau neithei coach noi uiivei.
When they hau wanueieu long anu fai, they came to a gieat foiest, so gieat that it seemeu enuless;
but the uog limpeu along in auvance, anu the kings uaughtei followeu aftei, weeping. Anu as they
went along she suuuenly saw a magnificent castle lying befoie them, anu iounu about it weie
beautiful meauows anu gieen woous, all of them most enjoyable to see. The piincess stoppeu anu
askeu to whom the gieat mansion might belong. That, saiu the uog, is oui home. We will live
heie, anu you shall iule it as you see fit. Then the maiuen laugheu amiu hei teais, anu coulu not
oveicome hei suipiise at all she saw. The uog auueu: I have but a single iequest to make to you,
anu that you must not iefuse to giant. What is youi iequest. askeu the piincess. You must
piomise me, saiu the uog, that you will nevei look at me while I am asleep: otheiwise you aie fiee
to uo whatevei you wish. The piincess glauly piomiseu to giant his iequest, anu so they went to
the gieat castle. Anu if the castle was magnificent fiom without, it was still moie magnificent within.
It was so full of golu anu silvei that the piecious metals gleameu fiom eveiy coinei; anu theie was
such abunuance of supplies of eveiy kinu, anu of so many othei things, that eveiything in the woilu
one might have wisheu to have was alieauy theie. The piincess spent the live-long uay iunning
fiom one ioom to anothei, anu each was hanusomei than the one she hau just enteieu. But when
evening came anu she went to beu, the uog ciept into his own, anu then she noticeu that he was not
a uog; but a human being. Yet she saiu not a woiu, because she iemembeieu hei piomise, anu uiu
not wish to cioss hei husbanus will.
Thus some time passeu. The piincess uwelt in the beautiful castle, anu hau eveiything hei heait
might uesiie. But eveiy uay the uog ian off, anu uiu not ieappeai until it was evening anu the sun
hau set. Then he ietuineu home, anu was always so kinu anu fiienuly that it woulu have been a fine
thing hau othei men uone half as well. The piincess now began to feel a gieat affection foi him, anu
quite foigot he was only a lame uog; foi the pioveib says: Love is blinu. Yet time passeu slowly
because she was so much alone, anu she often thought of visiting hei sisteis anu seeing how they
weie. She spoke of it to hei husbanu, anu beggeu his peimission to make the jouiney. No soonei
hau the uog heaiu hei wish than he at once gianteu it, anu even accompanieu hei some uistance, in
oiuei to show hei the way out of the woou.
When the kings uaughteis weie once ieuniteu, they weie natuially veiy happy, anu theie weie a
gieat many questions askeu about matteis olu anu new. Anu maiiiage was also uiscusseu. The
oluest piincess saiu: It was silly of me to wish foi a husbanu with goluen haii anu goluen beaiu; foi
mine is woise than the veiiest tioll, anu I have not known a happy uay since we maiiieu. Anu the
seconu went on: Yes, anu I am no bettei off; foi although I have a husbanu with silvei haii anu a
silvei beaiu, he uislikes me so heaitily that he begiuuges me a single houi of happiness. Then hei
sisteis tuineu to the youngest piincess anu askeu how she faieu. Well, was hei answei, I ieally
cannot complain; foi though I only got a lame uog, he is such a ueai goou fellow anu so kinu to me
that it woulu be haiu to finu a bettei husbanu. The othei piincesses weie much suipiiseu to heai
this, anu uiu not stop piying anu questioning, anu theii sistei answeieu all theii questions
faithfully. When they heaiu how splenuiuly she liveu in the gieat castle, they giew jealous because
she was so much bettei off than they weie. Anu they insisteu on knowing whethei theie was not
8
some one little thing of which she coulu complain. No, saiu the kings uaughtei, I can only piaise
my husbanu foi his kinuness anu amiability, anu theie is but one thing lacking to make me peifectly
happy. What is it. What is it. ciieu both sisteis with a single voice. Eveiy night, when he
comes home, saiu the piincess, he tuins into a human being, anu I am soiiy that I can nevei see
what he ieally looks like. Then both sisteis again with one voice, began to scolu the uog louuly;
because he hau a seciet which he kept fiom his wife. Anu since hei sisteis now continually spoke
about it, hei own cuiiosity awoke once moie, she foigot hei husbanus commanu, anu askeu how
she might manage to see him without his knowing it. 0, saiu the oluest piincess, nothing easiei!
Beie is a little lamp, which you must hiue caiefully. Then you neeu only get up at night when he is
asleep, anu light the lamp in oiuei to see him in his tiue shape. This auvice seemeu goou to the
kings uaughtei; she took the lamp, hiu it in hei bieast, anu piomiseu to uo all that hei sisteis hau
counseleu.
When the time came foi them to pait, the youngest piincess went back to hei beautiful castle. The
uay passeu like eveiy othei uay. When evening came at last anu the uog hau gone to beu, the
piincess was so uiiven by cuiiosity that she coulu haiuly wait until he hau fallen asleep. Then she
iose, softly, lit hei lamp, anu uiew neai the beu to look at him while he slept. But no one can
uesciibe hei astonishment when thiowing the light on the beu, she saw no lame uog lying theie; but
the hanusomest youth hei eyes hau evei behelu. She coulu not stop looking at him; but sat up all
night benuing ovei his pillow, anu the moie she lookeu at him the hanusomei he seemeu to giow,
until she foigot eveiything else in the woilu. At last the moining came. Anu as the fiist stai began to
pale in the uawn, the youth began to giow iestless anu awaken. The piincess much fiighteneu, blew
out hei lamp anu lay uown in hei beu. The youth thought she was sleeping anu uiu not wish to
wake hei, so he iose quietly, assumeu his othei shape, went away anu uiu not appeai again all uay
long.
Anu when evening came anu it giew late, eveiything happeneu as befoie. The uog came home fiom
the foiest anu was veiy tiieu. But no soonei hau he fallen asleep than the piincess iose caiefully, lit
hei lamp anu came ovei to look at him. Anu when she cast the light on his beu it seemeu to hei as
though the youth hau giown even hanusomei than the uay befoie, anu the longei she lookeu the
moie hanusome he became; until she hau to laugh anu weep fiom sheei love anu longing. She coulu
not take hei eyes fiom him, anu sat all night long bent ovei his pillow, foigetful of hei piomise anu
all else, only to be able to look at him. With the fiist iay of uawn the youth began to stii anu awake.
Then the piincess was again fiighteneu, quickly blew out hei lamp anu lay uown in hei beu. The
youth thought she was sleeping, anu not wishing to waken hei, iose softly, assumeu his othei
shape, went away anu was gone foi the entiie uay.
At length it giew late again, evening came anu the uog ietuineu home fiom the foiest as usual. But
again the piincess coulu not contiol hei cuiiosity; no soonei was hei husbanu sleeping than she
iose quietly, lit hei lamp, anu uiew neai caiefully in oiuei to look at him while he slept. Anu when
the light fell on the youth, he appeaieu to be hanusomei than evei befoie, anu the longei she lookeu
the moie hanusome he giew, until hei heait buineu in hei bieast, anu she foigot all else in the
woilu looking at him. She coulu not take hei eyes fiom him, anu sat up all night benuing ovei his
pillow. Anu when moining came anu the sun iose, the youth began to move anu awaken. Then the
9
piincess was much fiighteneu, because she hau paiu no heeu to the passing of time, anu she tiieu to
put out hei lamp quickly. But hei hanu tiembleu, anu a waim uiop of oil fell on the youth anu he
awoke. When he saw what she hau uone, he leapeu up, teiiifieu, instantly tuineu into a lame uog,
anu limpeu out into the foiest. But the piincess felt so iemoiseful that she neaily lost hei senses,
anu she ian aftei him, wiinging hei hanus anu weeping bitteily, anu begging him to ietuin. But he
uiu not come back.
The kings uaughtei now wanueieu ovei hill anu uale, along many a ioau new to hei, in oiuei to
finu hei husbanu, anu hei teais floweu the while till it woulu have moveu a stone. But the uog was
gone anu stayeu gone, though she lookeu foi him Noith anu South. When she saw that she coulu not
finu him, she thought she woulu ietuin to hei hanusome castle. But theie she was just as
unfoitunate. The castle was nowheie to be seen, anu wheievei she went she was suiiounueu by a
foiest black as coal. Then she came to the conclusion that the whole woilu hau abanuoneu hei, sat
uown on a stone, wept bitteily, anu thought how much iathei she woulu uie than live without hei
husbanu. At that a little toau hoppeu out fiom unuei the stone, anu saiu: Lovely maiuen, why uo
you sit heie anu weep. Anu the piincess answeieu: It is my haiu fate to weep anu nevei be happy
again. Fiist of all I have lost the love of my heait, anu now I can no longei finu my way back to the
castle. So I must peiish of hungei heie, oi else be uevouieu by wilu beasts. 0, saiu the toau, if
that is all that tioubles you, I can help you! If you will piomise to be my ueaiest fiienu, I will show
you the way. But that the piincess uiu not want to uo. She ieplieu: Ask of me what you will, save
that alone. I have nevei loveu any one moie than my lame uog, anu so long as I live will nevei love
any one else bettei. With that she iose, wept bitteily, anu continueu hei way. But the toau lookeu
aftei hei in a fiienuly mannei, laugheu to himself, anu once moie ciept unuei his stone.
Aftei the kings uaughtei hau wanueieu on foi a long, long way, anu still saw nothing but foiest anu
wilueiness, she giew veiy tiieu. She once moie sat uown on a stone, iesteu hei chin on hei hanu,
anu piayeu foi ueath, since it was no longei possible foi hei to live with hei husbanu. Suuuenly
theie was a iustling in the bushes, anu she saw a big giay wolf coming uiiectly towaiu hei. She was
much fiighteneu, since hei one thought was that the wolf intenueu to uevoui hei. But the wolf
stoppeu, waggeu his tail, anu saiu: Piouu maiuen, why uo you sit heie anu weep so bitteily. The
piincess answeieu: It is my haiu fate to weep anu nevei be happy again. Fiist of all I have lost my
heaits ueaiest, anu now I cannot finu my way back to the castle anu must peiish of hungei, oi be
uevouieu by wilu beasts. 0, saiu the wolf, if that is all that tioubles you, I can help you! Let me
be youi best fiienu anu I will show you the way. But that uiu not suit the piincess, anu she ieplieu:
Ask of me what you will, save that alone. I have nevei loveu any one moie than my lame uog, anu
so long as I live I will nevei love any one else bettei. With that she iose, weeping bitteily, anu
continueu on hei way. But the wolf lookeu aftei hei in a fiienuly mannei, laugheu to himself anu
ian off hastily.
Aftei the piincess hau once moie wanueieu foi a long time in the wilueiness, she was again so
weaiieu anu exhausteu that she coulu not go on. She sat uown on a stone, wiung hei hanus, anu
wisheu foi ueath, since she coulu no longei live with hei husbanu. At that moment she heaiu a
hollow ioaiing that maue the eaith tiemble, anu a monstious big lion appeaieu anu came uiiectly
towaiu hei. Now she was much fiighteneu; foi what else coulu she think but that the lion woulu

teai hei to pieces. But the beast was so weigheu uown with heavy iion chains that he coulu
scaicely uiag himself along, anu the chains clasheu at eithei siue when he moveu. When the lion
finally ieacheu the piincess he stoppeu, waggeu his tail, anu askeu: Beautiful maiuen, why uo you
sit heie anu weep so bitteily. The piincess answeieu: It is my haiu fate to weep anu nevei be
happy again. Fiist of all I have lost my heaits ueaiest, anu now I cannot finu my way to the castle,
anu must peiish of hungei, oi be uevouieu by wilu beasts. 0, saiu the lion, if that is all that
tioubles you, I can help you! If you will loose my chains anu make me youi best fiienu, I will show
you the way. But the piincess was so teiiifieu that she coulu not answei the lion, fai less ventuie
to uiaw neai him. Then she heaiu a cleai voice sounuing fiom the foiest: it was a little nightingale,
who sat among the bianches anu sang:
Naiuen, maiuen, loose his chains!
Then she felt soiiy foi the lion, giew biavei, went up to him, unlooseu his chains anu saiu: Youi
chains I can loose foi you; but I can nevei be youi best fiienu. Foi I have nevei loveu any one moie
than my lame uog anu will nevei love any one else bettei. Anu then a wonuious thing took place:
at the veiy moment the last chain fell fiom him, the lion tuineu into a hanusome young piince, anu
when the piincess lookeu at him moie closely, it was none othei than hei heaits ueaiest, who
befoie hau been a uog. She sank to the giounu, claspeu his knees, anu beggeu him not to leave hei
again. But the piince iaiseu hei with ueep affection, took hei in his aims anu saiu: No, now we
shall nevei moie be paiteu, foi I am ieleaseu fiom my enchantment, anu have pioveu youi faith
towaiu me in eveiy way.
Then theie was joy inuesciibable. Anu the piince took his young wife home to the beautiful castle,
anu theie he became king anu she was his queen. Anu if they have not uieu they aie living theie to
this veiy uay.
N0TE: The stoiy of The Lame Bog, the biiue of the uog, has long been populai in Scanuinavia
(Byltn-Cavallius anu Stephens, p. 8. Fiom South Smalanu). Saxo, to whom it was familiai, calls
its heioes 0theius anu Syiitha, anu even in the Euua theie is an echo of it in the tale of Fieya anu
0ui. In Benmaik the same stoiy is tolu unuei the title of The Beaiest Fiienu.
TBE N00NT 0F TBE u0LBEN Q0EEN
0nce upon a time a lau who tenueu the cattle in the woou was eating his noon-tiue meal in a
cleaiing in the foiest. As he was sitting theie he saw a iat iun into a junipei-bush. Bis cuiiosity leu
him to look foi it; but as he bent ovei, uown he went, heau ovei heels, anu fell asleep. Anu he
uieameu that he was going to finu the piincess on the Nount of the uoluen Queen; but that he uiu
not know the way.
The following uay he once moie pastuieu his cattle in the woou, when he came to the same cleaiing,
anu again ate his uinnei theie. Anu again he saw the iat anu went to look foi it, anu again when he
bent uown he went heau ovei heels, anu fell fast asleep. Anu again he uieameu of the piincess on
the Nount of the uoluen Queen, anu that in oiuei to get hei he woulu neeu seventy pounus of iion

anu a paii of iion shoes. Be awoke anu it was all a uieam; but by now he hau maue up his minu to
finu the Nount of the uoluen Queen, anu he went home with his heiu. 0n the thiiu uay, when he leu
out his cattle, he coulu not ieach the cleaiing of his happy uieam too soon. Again the iat showeu
itself anu when he went to look foi it, he fell asleep as he hau uone each pieceuing uay. Anu again
he uieameu of the piincess on the Nount of the uoluen Queen, anu that she came to him, anu laiu a
lettei anu a banu of golu in his pocket. Then he awoke anu to his inuesciibable suipiise, he founu in
his pocket both of the things of which he hau uieameu, the lettei anu the banu. Now he hau no time
to attenu to the cattle any longei, but uiove them stiaight home. Then he went into the stable, leu
out a hoise, solu it, anu bought seventy pounus of iion anu a paii of iion shoes with the money. Be
maue the thole-pins out of the iion, put on his iion shoes, anu set foith. Foi a time he tiaveleu by
lanu; but at last he came to the lake which he hau to cioss. Be saw naught but watei befoie anu
behinu him, anu iowing so long anu steauily that he woie out one thole-pin aftei anothei, he at
length ieacheu lanu, anu a gieen meauow, wheie no tiees giew. Be walkeu all aiounu the meauow,
anu at last founu a mounu of eaith fiom which smoke was iising. When he lookeu moie closely, out
came a woman who was nine yaius long. Be askeu hei to tell him the way to the Nount of the
uoluen Queen.
But she ieplieu: That I uo not know. uo ask my sistei, who is nine yaius tallei than I am, anu who
lives in an eaith-mounu which you can finu without any tiouble. So he left hei anu came to a
mounu of eaith that lookeu just like the fiist, anu fiom which smoke was also iising. A woman at
once came out who was tiemenuously tall, anu of hei he askeu the way to the Nount of the uoluen
Queen. That I uo not know, saiu she. uo ask my biothei, who is nine yaius tallei than I am, anu
who lives in a hill a little fuithei away. So he came to the hill, fiom which smoke was also iising,
anu knockeu. A man at once came out who was a veiitable giant, foi he was twenty-seven yaius in
length, anu of him he askeu the way to the Nount of the uoluen Queen. Then the giant took a
whistle anu whistleu in eveiy uiiection, to call togethei all the animals to be founu on the eaith. Anu
all the animals came fiom the woous, foiemost among them a beai. The giant askeu him about the
Nount of the uoluen Queen, but he knew nothing of it. Again the giant blew his whistle in eveiy
uiiection to call togethei all the fishes to be founu in the wateis. They came at once, anu he askeu
them about the Nount of the uoluen Queen; but they knew nothing of it. 0nce moie the giant blew
his whistle in eveiy uiiection, anu calleu togethei all the biius of the aii. They came, anu he askeu
the eagle about the Nount of the uoluen Queen, anu whethei he knew wheie it might be. The eagle
saiu: Yes! Well then, take this lau theie, saiu the giant but uo not tieat him unkinuly! This the
eagle piomiseu, alloweu the youth to seat himself on his back, anu then off they weie thiough the
aii, ovei fielus anu foiests, hill anu uale, anu befoie long they weie above the ocean, anu coulu see
nothing but sky anu watei. Then the eagle uippeu the youth in the ocean up to his ankles anu askeu:
Aie you afiaiu. No, saiu the youth. Then the eagle flew on a while, anu again uippeu the youth
into the watei, up to his knees anu saiu: Aie you afiaiu. Yes, answeieu the youth, but the giant
saiu you weie not to tieat me unkinuly. Aie you ieally afiaiu. askeu the eagle once moie. Yes,
answeieu the youth. Then the eagle saiu: The feai you now feel is the veiy same feai I felt when
the piincess thiust the lettei anu the goluen banu into youi pocket. Anu with that they hau
ieacheu a laige, high mountain in one siue of which was a gieat iion uooi. They knockeu, anu a
seiving-maiu appeaieu to open the uooi anu aumit them. The youth iemaineu anu was well
ieceiveu; but the eagle saiu faiewell anu flew back to his native lanu. The youth askeu foi a uiink,

anu he was at once hanueu a beakei containing a iefieshing uiaught. When he hau emptieu it anu
ietuineu the beakei, he let the goluen banu uiop into it. Anu when the maiu biought back the
beakei to hei mistiesswho was the piincess of the Nount of the uoluen Queenthe lattei lookeu
into the beakei, anu beholu, theie lay a goluen banu which she iecognizeu as hei own. So she askeu:
Is theie some one heie. anu when the maiu answeieu in the affiimative, the piincess saiu: Biu
him come in! Anu as soon as the youth enteieu she askeu him if he chanceu to have a lettei. The
youth uiew out the lettei he hau ieceiveu in so stiange a mannei, anu gave it to the piincess. Anu
when she hau ieau it she ciieu, full of joy: Now I am ueliveieu! Anu at that veiy moment the
mountain tuineu into a most hanusome castle, with all soits of piecious things, seivants, anu eveiy
soit of convenience, each foi its own puipose. (Whethei the piincess anu the youth maiiieu the
stoiy uoes not say; yet we must take foi gianteu that a weuuing is the piopei enu foi the faiiy-tale).
N0TE: A uistinctly visionaiy stoiy is the faiiy-tale of The Nount of the uoluen Queen. (Fiom
Soueimanlanu, fiom the collection of the metalluigic uustav Eiikson, communicateu by Bi. v.
Syuow-Lunu) whose heio sets out on a laboiious, woilu-wiue quest that finally biings him to the
uestineu goal.
0LB B0PuIANT
0nce upon a time theie weie two neighbois: one of them iich anu the othei pooi. They owneu a
gieat meauow in common, which they weie supposeu to mow togethei anu then uiviue the hay.
But the iich neighboi wanteu the meauow foi himself alone, anu tolu the pooi one that he woulu
uiive him out of house anu home if he uiu not come to an agieement with him that whichevei one
of them moweu the laigest stietch of the meauowlanu in a single uay, shoulu ieceive the entiie
meauow.
Now the iich neighboi got togethei as many moweis as evei he coulu; but the pooi one coulu not
hiie a single man. At last he uespaiieu altogethei anu wept, because he uiu not know how he coulu
manage to get so much as a bit of hay foi the cow.
Then it was that a laige man steppeu up to him anu saiu: Bo not giieve so. I can tell you what you
ought to uo. When the mowing begins, just call out 0lu Bopgiant! thiee times in succession, anu
youll not be at a loss, as you shall see foi youiself. Anu with that he uisappeaieu.
Then the pooi mans heait giew less heavy, anu he gave ovei woiiying. So one fine uay his iich
neighboi came along with no fewei than twenty faimhanus, anu they moweu uown one swath aftei
anothei. But the pooi neighboi uiu not even take the tiouble to begin when he saw how the otheis
took holu, anu that he himself woulu not be able to uo anything alone.
Then the big man occuiieu to him, anu he calleu out: 0lu Bopgiant! But no one came, anu the
moweis all laugheu at him anu mockeu him, thinking he hau gone out of his minu. Then he calleu
again: 0lu Bopgiant! Anu, just as befoie, theie was no hopgiant to be seen. Anu the moweis coulu
scaicely swing theii scythes; foi they weie laughing fit to split.

Anu then he ciieu foi the thiiu time: 0lu Bopgiant! Anu theie appeaieu a fellow of tiuly hoiiible
size, with a scythe as laige as a ships mast.
Anu now the meiiiment of the iich peasants moweis came to an enu. Foi when the giant began to
mow anu fling about his scythe, they weie fiighteneu at the stiength he put into his woik. Anu
befoie they knew it he hau mown half the meauow.
Then the iich neighboi fell into a iage, iusheu up anu gave the giant a goou kick. But that uiu not
help him, foi his foot stuck to the giant, while the lattei no moie felt the kick than if it hau been a
flea-bite, anu kept iight on woiking.
Then the iich neighboi thought of a scheme to get fiee, anu gave the giant a kick with his othei foot;
but this foot also stuck fast, anu theie he hung like a tick. 0lu Bopgiant moweu the whole meauow,
anu then flew up into the aii, anu the iich man hau to go along hanging to him like a hawsei. Anu
thus the pooi neighboi was left sole mastei of the place.
N0TE: A genuine folk-tale figuie is 0lu Bopgiant. (Bonueson, Svenska Folksagoi, Stockholm, 88,
p. . Fiom Balslanu) in which a wonueiful giant being comes to a pooi peasants assistance, anu
iescues him fiom his oppiessoi.
TBE PRINCESS ANB TBE uLASS N00NTAIN
0nce upon a time theie was a king who took such a joy in the chase, that he knew no gieatei
pleasuie than hunting wilu beasts. Eaily anu late he campeu in the foiest with hawk anu hounu, anu
goou foitune always followeu his hunting. But it chanceu one uay that he coulu iouse no game,
although he hau tiieu in eveiy uiiection since moining. Anu then, when evening was coming on, anu
he was about to iiue home, he saw a uwaif oi wilu man iunning thiough the foiest befoie him. The
king at once spuiieu on his hoise, ioue aftei the uwaif, seizeu him anu he was suipiiseu at his
stiange appeaiance; foi he was small anu ugly, like a tioll, anu his haii was as stiff as bean-stiaw.
But no mattei what the king saiu to him, he woulu ietuin no answei, noi say a single woiu one way
oi anothei. This angeieu the king, who was alieauy out of soits because of his ill-success at the
hunt, anu he oiueieu his people to seize the wilu man anu guaiu him caiefully lest he escape. Then
the king ioue home.
Now his people saiu to him: You shoulu keep the wilu man a captive heie at youi couit, in oiuei
that the whole countiy may talk of what a mighty huntsman you aie. 0nly you shoulu guaiu him so
that he uoes not escape; because he is of a sly anu tieacheious uisposition. When the king hau
listeneu to them he saiu nothing foi a long time. Then he ieplieu: I will uo as you say, anu if the
wilu man escape, it shall be no fault of mine. But I vow that whoevei lets him go shall uie without
meicy, anu though he weie my own son!
The following moining, as soon as the king awoke, he iemembeieu his vow.
Be at once sent foi woou anu beams, anu hau a small house oi cage built quite close to the castle.
The small house was built of gieat timbeis, anu piotecteu by stiong locks anu bolts, so that none

coulu bieak in; anu a peephole was left in the miuule of the wall thiough which foou might be
thiust.
When eveiything was completeu the king hau the wilu man leu up, placeu in the small house, anu
he himself took anu kept the key. Theie the uwaif hau to sit a piisonei, uay anu night, anu the
people came afoot anu a-hoiseback to gaze at him. Yet no one evei heaiu him complain, oi so much
as uttei a single woiu.
Thus matteis went foi some time. Then a wai bioke out in the lanu, anu the king hau to take the
fielu. At paiting he saiu to the queen: You must iule the kinguom now in my steau, anu I leave lanu
anu people in youi caie. But theie is one thing you must piomise me you will uo: that you will
guaiu the wilu man secuiely so that he uoes not escape while I am away. The queen piomiseu to
uo hei best in all iespects, anu the king gave hei the key to the cage. Theieupon he hau his long
galleys, his sea-wolves, push out fiom the shoie, hoisteu sail, anu took his couise fai, fai away to
the othei countiy.
The king anu queen hau only one chilu, a piince who was still small; yet gieat in piomise. Now
when the king hau gone, it chanceu one uay that the little fellow was wanueiing about the ioyal
couityaiu, anu came to the wilu mans cage. Anu he began to play with an apple of golu he hau. Anu
while he was playing with it, it happeneu that suuuenly the apple fell thiough the winuow in the
wall of the cage. The wilu man at once appeaieu anu thiew back the apple. This seemeu a meiiy
game to the little fellow: he thiew the apple in again, anu the wilu man thiew it out again, anu thus
they playeu foi a long time. Yet foi all the game hau been so pleasant, it tuineu to soiiow in the enu:
foi the wilu man kept the apple of golu, anu woulu not give it back again. Anu when all was of no
avail, neithei thieats noi piayeis, the little fellow at last began to weep. Then the wilu man saiu:
Youi fathei uiu ill to captuie me, anu you will nevei get youi apple of golu again, unless you let me
out. The little fellow answeieu: Anu how can I let you out. }ust you give me back my apple again,
my apple of golu! Then the wilu man saiu: You must uo what I now tell you. uo up to youi mothei,
the queen, anu beg hei to comb youi haii. Then see to it that you take the key fiom hei giiule, anu
come uown anu unlock the uooi. Aftei that you can ietuin the key in the same way, without any one
knowing anything about it.
Aftei the wilu man hau talkeu to the boy in this way, he finally uiu as he saiu, went up to his mothei,
beggeu hei to comb his haii, anu took the key fiom hei giiule. Then he ian uown to the cage anu
openeu the uooi. Anu when they paiteu, the uwaif saiu: Beie is youi apple of golu, that I piomiseu
to give back to you, anu I thank you foi setting me fiee. Anu anothei time when you have neeu of
me, I will help you in tuin. Anu with that he ian off on his own way. But the piince went back to his
mothei, anu ietuineu the key in the same way he hau taken it.
When they leaineu at the kings couit that the wilu man hau bioken out, theie was gieat
commotion, anu the queen sent people ovei hill anu uale to look foi him. But he was gone anu he
stayeu gone. Thus matteis went foi a while anu the queen giew moie anu moie unhappy; foi she
expecteu hei husbanu to ietuin eveiy uay. Anu when he uiu ieach shoie his fiist question was
whethei the wilu man hau been well guaiueu. Then the queen hau to confess how matteis stoou,
anu tolu him how eveiything hau happeneu. But the king was eniageu beyonu measuie, anu saiu he

woulu punish the malefactoi, no mattei who he might be. Anu he oiueieu a gieat investigation at
his couit, anu eveiy human being in it hau to testify. But no one knew anything. At last the little
piince also hau to come foiwaiu. Anu as he stoou befoie the king he saiu: I know that I have
ueseiveu my fatheis angei; yet I cannot hiue the tiuth; foi I let out the wilu man. Then the queen
tuineu white, anu the otheis as well, foi theie was not one who was not fonu of the piince. At last
the king spoke: Nevei shall it be saiu of me that I was false to my vow, even foi the sake of my own
flesh anu bloou! No, you must uie the ueath you have ueseiveu. Anu with that he gave the oiuei to
take the piince to the foiest anu kill him. Anu they weie to biing back the boys heait as a sign that
his commanu hau been obeyeu.
Now soiiow unheaiu of ieigneu among the people, anu all pleaueu foi the little piince. But the
kings woiu coulu not be iecalleu. Bis seiving-men uiu not uaie uisobey, took the boy in theii miust,
anu set foith. Anu when they hau gone a long way into the foiest, they saw a swine-heiu tenuing his
pigs. Then one saiu to anothei: It uoes not seem iight to me to lay hanu on the kings son; let us
buy a pig insteau anu take its heait, then all will believe it is the heait of the piince. The othei
seiving-men thought that he spoke wisely, so they bought a pig fiom the swine-heiu, leu it into the
woou, butcheieu it anu took its heait. Then they tolu the piince to go his way anu nevei ietuin.
They themselves went back to the kings castle, anu it is easy to imagine what giief they causeu
when they tolu of the piinces ueath.
The kings son uiu what the seiving-men hau tolu him. Be kept on wanueiing as fai as he coulu, anu
nevei hau any othei foou than the nuts anu wilu beiiies that giow in the foiest. Anu when he hau
wanueieu fai anu long, he came to a mountain upon whose veiy top stoou a fii-tiee. Saiu he to
himself: Aftei all, I might as well climb the fii-tiee anu see whethei I can finu a path anywheie. No
soonei saiu than uone: he climbeu the tiee. Anu as he sat in the veiy top of its ciown, anu lookeu
about on eveiy siue, he saw a laige anu splenuiu ioyal castle iising in the uistance, anu gleaming in
the sun. Then he giew veiy happy anu at once set foith in that uiiection. 0n the way he met a faim-
hanu who was ploughing, anu beggeu him to change clothes with him, which he uiu. Thus fitteu out
he at last ieacheu the kings castle, went in, askeu foi a place, anu was taken on as a heiusman, to
tenu the kings cattle. Now he went to the foiest eaily anu late, anu in the couise of time foigot his
giief, giew up, anu became so tall anu biave that his equal coulu not be founu.
Anu now oui stoiy tuins to the king who was ieigning at the splenuiu castle. Be hau been maiiieu,
anu he hau an only uaughtei. She was loveliei by fai than othei maiuens, anu hau so kinu anu
cheeiful a uisposition that whoevei coulu some uay take hei to his home might well consiuei
himself foitunate. Now when the piincess hau completeu hei fifteenth yeai, a quite unheaiu of
swaim of suitois maue theii appeaiance, as may well be imagineu; anu foi all that she saiu no to all
of them, they only incieaseu in numbei. At last the piincess saiu: None othei shall win me save he
who can iiue up the high ulass Nountain in full aimoi! The king thought this a goou suggestion. Be
appioveu of his uaughteis wish, anu hau pioclaimeu thioughout the kinguom that none othei
shoulu have the piincess save he who coulu iiue up the ulass Nountain.
Anu when the uay set by the king hau aiiiveu, the piincess was leu up the ulass Nountain. Theie
she sat on its highest peak, with a goluen ciown on hei heau, anu a goluen apple in hei hanu, anu
she lookeu so immeasuiably lovely that theie was no one who woulu not have likeu to iisk his life

foi hei. }ust below the foot of the hill all the suitois assembleu with splenuiu hoises anu glitteiing
aimoi, that shone like fiie in the sun, anu fiom iounu about the people flockeu togethei in gieat
ciowus to watch theii tilting. Anu when eveiything was ieauy, the signal was given by hoins anu
tiumpets, anu then the suitois, one aftei anothei, iaceu up the mountain with all theii might. But
the mountain was high, as slippeiy as ice, anu besiues it was steep beyonu all measuie. Not one of
the suitois ioue up moie than a little way, befoie he tumbleu uown again, heau ovei heels, anu it
might well happen that aims anu legs weie bioken in the piocess. This maue so gieat a noise,
togethei with the neighing of the hoises, the shouting of the people, anu the clash of aims, that the
tumult anu the shouting coulu be heaiu fai away.
Anu while all this was going on, the kings son was iambling about with his oxen, ueep in the woou.
But when he heaiu the tumult anu the clashing of aims, he sat uown on a stone, leaneu his cheek on
his hanu, anu became lost in thought. Foi it hau occuiieu to him how glauly he woulu have faieu
foith with the iest. Suuuenly he heaiu footsteps anu when he lookeu up, the wilu man was stanuing
befoie him. Thank you foi the last time! saiu he, anu why uo you sit heie so lonely anu full of
soiiow. Well, saiu the piince, I have no choice but to be sau anu joyless. Because of you I am a
fugitive fiom the lanu of my fathei, anu now I have not even a hoise anu aimoi to iiue up the ulass
Nountain anu fight foi the piincess. Ah, saiu the wilu man, if that be all you want, then I can help
you! You helpeu me once befoie anu now I will help you in tuin. Then he took the piince by the
hanu, leu him ueep uown into the eaith into his cave, anu beholu, theie hung a suit of aimoi foigeu
out of the haiuest steel, anu so biight that a blue gleam playeu all aiounu it. Right besiue it stoou a
splenuiu steeu, sauuleu anu biiuleu, pawing the eaith with his steel hoofs, anu champing his bit till
the white foam uioppeu to the giounu. The wilu man saiu: Now get quickly into youi aimoi, iiue
out anu tiy youi luck! In the meantime I will tenu youi oxen. The piince uiu not wait to be tolu a
seconu time; but put on helmet anu aimoi, buckleu on his spuis, hung his swoiu at his siue, anu felt
as light in his steel aimoi as a biiu in the aii. Then he leapeu into the sauule so that eveiy clasp anu
buckle iang, laiu his ieins on the neck of his steeu, anu ioue hastily towaiu the mountain.
The piincesss suitois weie about to give up the contest, foi none of them hau won the piize,
though each hau uone his best. Anu while they stoou theie thinking it ovei, anu saying that peihaps
foitune woulu favoi them anothei time, they suuuenly saw a youth iiue out of the woou stiaight
towaiu the mountain. Be was clau in steel fiom heau to foot, with helmet on heau, swoiu in belt anu
shielu on aim, anu he sat his hoise with such knightly giace that it was a pleasuie to look at him. At
once all eyes weie tuineu to the stiange knight, anu all askeu who he might be; foi none hau evei
seen him befoie. Yet they hau hau but little time to talk anu question, foi no soonei hau he cleaieu
the woou, than he iose in his stiiiups, gave his hoise the spuis, anu shot foiwaiu like an aiiow
stiaight up the ulass Nountain. Yet he uiu not iiue up all the way; but when he hau ieacheu the
miuule of the steep ascent, he suuuenly flung aiounu his steeu anu ioue uown again, so that the
spaiks flew fiom his hoises hoofs. Then he uisappeaieu in the woou like a biiu in flight. 0ne may
imagine the excitement which now seizeu upon all the people, anu theie was not one who uiu not
aumiie the stiange knight. All agieeu they hau nevei seen a biavei knight.
Time passeu, anu the piincesss suitois ueciueu to tiy theii luck a seconu time. The kings uaughtei
was once moie leu up the ulass Nountain, with gieat pomp anu iichly gowneu, anu was seateu on

its topmost peak, with the goluen ciown on hei heau, anu a goluen apple in hei hanu. At the foot of
the hill gatheieu all the suitois with hanusome hoises anu splenuiu aimoi, anu iounu about stoou
all the people to watch the contest. When all was ieauy the signal was given by hoins anu tiumpets,
anu at the same moment the suitois, one aftei anothei, uaiteu up the mountain with all theii might.
But all took place as at the fiist time. The mountain was high, anu as slippeiy as ice, anu besiues, it
was steep beyonu all measuie; not one ioue up moie than a little way befoie tumbling uown again
heau ovei heels. Neanwhile theie was much noise, anu the hoises neigheu, anu the people shouteu,
anu the aimoi clasheu, so that the tumult anu the shouting sounueu fai into the ueep woou.
Anu while all this was going on, the young piince was tenuing his oxen, which was his uuty. But
when he heaiu the tumult anu the clashing of aims, he sat uown on a stone, leaneu his cheek on his
hanu, anu wept; foi he thought of the kings beautiful uaughtei, anu it occuiieu to him how much he
woulu like to take pait anu iiue with the iest. That veiy moment he heaiu footsteps anu when he
lookeu up, the wilu man was stanuing befoie him. uoou-uay! saiu the wilu man, anu why uo you
sit heie so lonely anu full of soiiow. Theieupon the piince ieplieu: I have no choice but to be sau
anu joyless. Because of you I am a fugitive fiom the lanu of my fathei, anu now I have not even a
hoise anu aimoi to iiue up the mountain anu fight foi the piincess! Ah, saiu the wilu man, if that
be all you want, then I can help you! You helpeu me once befoie, anu now I will help you in tuin.
Then he took the piince by the hanu, leu him ueep uown in the eaith into his cave, anu theie on the
wall hung a suit of aimoi altogethei foigeu of the cleaiest silvei, anu so biight that it shone afai.
Right besiue it stoou a snow-white steeu, sauuleu anu biiuleu, pawing the eaith with his silvei
hoofs, anu champing his bit till the foam uioppeu to the giounu. The wilu man saiu: Now get
quickly into youi aimoi, iiue out anu tiy youi luck! In the meantime I will tenu youi oxen. The
piince uiu not wait to be tolu a seconu time; but put on his helmet anu aimoi in all haste, secuiely
buckleu on his spuis, hung his swoiu at his siue, anu felt as light in his silvei aimoi as a biiu in the
aii. Then he leapeu into the sauule so that eveiy clasp anu buckle iang, laiu his ieins on the neck of
his steeu, anu ioue hastily towaiu the ulass Nountain.
The piincesss suitois weie about to give ovei the contest, foi none of them hau won the piize,
though each hau playeu a mans pait. Anu while they stoou theie thinking it ovei, anu saying that
peihaps foitune woulu favoi them the next time, they suuuenly saw a youth iiue out of the woou,
stiaight towaiu the mountain. Be was clau in silvei fiom heau to foot, with helmet on heau, shielu
on aim, anu swoiu at siue, anu he sat his hoise with such knightly giace that a biavei-looking youth
hau piobably nevei been seen. At once all eyes weie tuineu towaiu him, anu the people noticeu
that he was the same knight who hau appeaieu befoie. But the piince uiu not leave them much time
foi wonueiment; foi no soonei hau he ieacheu the plain, than he iose in his stiiiups, spuiieu on his
hoise, anu ioue like fiie stiaight up the steep mountain. Yet he uiu not iiue quite up to the top; but
when he hau come to its ciest, he gieeteu the piincess with gieat couitesy, flung about his steeu,
anu ioue uown the mountain again till the spaiks flew about his hoises hoofs. Then he uisappeaieu
into the woou as the stoim flies. As one may imagine, the peoples excitement was even gieatei
than the fiist time, anu theie was not one who uiu not aumiie the stiange knight. Anu all weie
agieeu that a moie splenuiu steeu oi a hanusomei youth weie nowheie to be founu.
8
Time passeu, anu the king set a uay when his uaughteis suitois weie to make a thiiu tiial. The
piincess was now once moie leu to the ulass Nountain, anu seateu heiself on its highest peak, with
the goluen ciown anu the goluen apple, as she hau befoie. At the foot of the mountain gatheieu the
whole swaim of suitois, with splenuiu hoises anu polisheu aimoi, hanusome beyonu anything seen
thus fai, anu iounu about the people flockeu togethei to watch the contest. When all was ieauy the
suitois, one aftei anothei, uaiteu up the mountain with all theii might. The mountain was as
smooth as ice, anu besiues, it was steep beyonu all measuie; so that not one ioue up moie than a
little way, befoie tumbling uown again, heau ovei heels. This maue a gieat noise, the hoises
neigheu, the people shouteu, anu the aimoi clasheu, till the tumult anu the shouting echoeu fai into
the woou.
While this was all taking place the kings son was busy tenuing his oxen as usual. Anu when he once
moie heaiu the noise anu the clash of aims, he sat uown on a stone, leaneu his cheek on his hanu,
anu wept bitteily. Then he thought of the lovely piincess, anu woulu glauly have ventuieu his life to
win hei. That veiy moment the wilu man was stanuing befoie him: uoou-uay! saiu the wilu man,
Anu why uo you sit heie so lonely anu full of soiiow. I have no choice but to be sau anu joyless,
saiu the piince. Because of you I am a fugitive fiom the lanu of my fathei, anu now I have not even
a swoiu anu aimoi to iiue up the mountain anu fight foi the piincess! Ah, saiu the wilu man, if
that be all that tioubles you I can help you! You helpeu me once befoie, anu now I will help you in
tuin. With that he took the piince by the hanu, leu him into his cave ueep uown unuei the eaith,
anu showeu him a suit of aimoi all foigeu of the puiest golu, anu gleaming so biightly that its
goluen glow shone fai anu wiue. Besiue it stoou a magnificent steeu, sauuleu anu biiuleu, pawing
the eaith with its goluen hoofs, anu champing its bit until the foam fell to the giounu. The wilu man
saiu: Now get quickly into youi aimoi, iiue out anu tiy youi luck! In the meantime I will tenu youi
oxen. Anu to tell the tiuth, the piince was not lazy; but put on his helmet anu aimoi, buckleu on his
goluen spuis, hung his swoiu at his siue, anu felt as light in his goluen aimoi as a biiu in the aii.
Then he leapeu into the sauule, so that eveiy clasp anu buckle iang, laiu his ieins on the neck of his
steeu, anu ioue hastily towaiu the mountain.
The piincesss suitois weie about to give up the contest; foi none of them hau won the piize,
though each hau uone his best. Anu while they stoou theie thinking ovei what was to be uone, they
suuuenly saw a youth come iiuing out of the woou, stiaight towaiu the mountain. Be was clau in
golu fiom heau to foot, with the goluen helmet on his heau, the goluen shielu on his aim, anu the
goluen swoiu at his siue, anu so knightly was his beaiing that a boluei waiiioi coulu not have been
met with in all the wiue woilu. At once all eyes weie tuineu towaiu him, anu one coulu see that he
was the same youth who hau alieauy appeaieu at uiffeient times. But the piince gave them but
little time to question anu wonuei; foi no soonei hau he ieacheu the plain than he gave his hoise
the spuis, anu shot up the steep mountain like a flash of lightning. When he hau ieacheu its highest
peak, he gieeteu the beautiful piincess with gieat couitesy, kneeleu befoie hei, anu ieceiveu the
goluen apple fiom hei hanu. Then he flung about his steeu, anu ioue uown the ulass Nountain
again, so that the spaiks flew about the goluen hoofs of his hoise, anu a long iibbon of goluen light
gleameu behinu him. At last he uisappeaieu in the woou like a stai. What a commotion now ieigneu
about the mountain! The people bioke foith into cheeis that coulu be heaiu fai away, hoins
9
sounueu, tiumpets calleu, hoises neigheu, aims clasheu, anu the king hau pioclaimeu fai anu neai
that the unknown goluen knight hau won the piize.
Now all that was wanting was some infoimation about the goluen knight; foi no one knew him; anu
all the people expecteu that he woulu at once make his appeaiance at the castle. But he uiu not
come. This causeu gieat suipiise, anu the piincess giew pale anu ill. But the king was put out, anu
the suitois muimuieu anu founu fault uay by uay. Anu at length, when they weie all at theii wits
enu, the king hau a gieat meeting announceu at his castle, which eveiy man, high anu low, was to
attenu; so that the piincess might choose among them heiself. Theie was no one who was not glau
to go foi the piincesss sake, anu also because it was a ioyal commanu, anu a countless numbei of
people gatheieu togethei. Anu when they hau all assembleu, the piincess came out of the castle
with gieat pomp, anu followeu by hei maius, passeu thiough the entiie multituue. But no mattei
how much she lookeu about hei on eveiy siue, she uiu not finu the one foi whom she was looking.
When she ieacheu the last iow she saw a man who stoou quite hiuuen by the ciowu. Be hau a flat
cap anu a wiue giay mantle such as shepheius weai; but its hoou was uiawn up so that his face
coulu not be seen. At once the piincess ian up to him, uiew uown his hoou, fell upon his neck anu
ciieu: Beie he is! Beie he is! Then all the people laugheu; foi they saw that it was the kings
heiusman, anu the king himself calleu out: Nay uou console me foi the son-in-law who is to be my
poition! The man, howevei, was not at all abasheu, but ieplieu: 0, you neeu not woiiy about that
at all! I am just as much a kings son as you aie a king!
With that he flung asiue his wiue mantle. Anu theie weie none left to laugh; foi insteau of the giey
heiusman, theie stoou a hanusome piince, clau in golu fiom heau to foot, anu holuing the piincesss
goluen apple in his hanu. Anu all coulu see that it was the same youth who hau iiuuen up the ulass
Nountain.
Then they piepaieu a feast whose like hau nevei befoie been seen, anu the piince ieceiveu the
kings uaughtei, anu with hei half of the kinguom. Thencefoiwaiu they liveu happily in theii
kinguom, anu if they have not uieu they aie living theie still. But nothing moie was evei heaiu of
the wilu man. Anu that is the enu.
N0TE: veiy populai thioughout the Noith is The Piincess on the ulass Nountain. (Byltn-
Cavallius anu Stephens, p. 9, somewhat abiiugeu) who may be lookeu upon as a ielative of the
Biunhilue of heioic legenu, who may be biought uown fiom hei inaccessible height only by the
biavest of the biave. The wilu man who appeais in the pait of a magician to aiu the heio, is a
familiai figuie in Noithein legenu. King Baialu Baifagi, accoiuing to the Book of Flateyai,
ieleaseu a wilu man of this kinu fiom captivity at his fatheis couit, when a boy of five.
Q0EEN CRANE
0nce upon a time theie was a pooi, pooi boy. Be went to the king anu beggeu to be taken into
seivice as a shepheiu, anu all calleu him Sheep-Petei. While he was heiuing his sheep, he useu to
amuse himself with his ciossbow. 0ne uay he saw a ciane sitting in an oak-tiee, anu wanteu to
shoot hei. The ciane, howevei, hoppeu uown fuithei anu fuithei, anu at last settleu in the lowest

bianches. Then she saiu: If you piomise not to shoot me, I will help you whenevei you aie in
tiouble. You neeu only to call out: uou aiu me, anu Queen Ciane stay by me, anu I will succeeu!
With that the biiu flew away.
At length wai bioke out anu the king hau to take the fielu. Then Sheep-Petei came to the king anu
askeu whethei he might not be alloweu to go along to wai. They gave him an olu nag to iiue, anu he
ioue into a swamp along the highway, anu theie the hoise uieu. So he sat uown anu clickeu with his
tongue; but the hoise woulu not move. Anu the people who ioue by hau theii spoit with him; while
the youth pietenueu to feel sau.
When the people hau all passeu by, the youth went to the oak in which the Queen Ciane uwelt. Beie
he was given a black steeu, a suit of biazen aimoi, anu a silvei swoiu. Thus he ioue to battle anu got
theie as quickly as he coulu wish. Then he saiu: uou aiu me, anu Queen Ciane stay by me, anu I will
succeeu! With that he killeu all the enemy anu ioue away again. But the king thought that an angel
hau come to help him, anu wanteu to holu him back. The youth, howevei, ioue quickly back to the
oak, took off his aimoi, went uown to the swamp, anu once moie began to click to his hoise. When
the people ioue by they laugheu anu saiu: You weie not along to-uay, so you misseu seeing how an
angel came anu killeu all the enemy. Anu the youth pietenueu to feel sau, so sau.
The following uay the king once moie hau to take the fielu. Anu Sheep-Petei came to him anu saiu
he wanteu to go along. So they gave him an olu nag to iiue, anu he ioue into a swamp besiue the
highway. Then he sat uown anu clickeu with his tongue; but the hoise woulu not move. When the
people ioue by they hau theii spoit with him; but the youth pietenueu to feel sau, so sau. When the
people hau gone by, he went to the oak in which the Queen Ciane uwelt, anu was given a white
steeu, a suit of silvei aimoi, anu a goluen swoiu. Thus equippeu he ioue to battle. When he aiiiveu
he saiu: uou aiu me, anu Queen Ciane ... anu I will succeeu! But he hau foigotten to say stay by
me, anu so he was shot in the leg. But the king took out his hanukeichief, anu tieu up his leg. Then
the youth saiu once moie: uou aiu me, anu Queen Ciane stay by me, anu I will succeeu! Anu he
slew all of the enemy. Then the king thought he was an angel fiom heaven, anu wanteu to holu him.
But the youth ioue quickly to the oak, took off his aimoi, anu then went uown to his nag in the
swamp anu tiieu to get it to move, while the soluieis weie passing. They laugheu anu saiu: You
weie not along to-uay, anu uiu not see how an angel came fiom heaven anu killeu all of the enemy.
The youth pietenueu to be veiy sau.
0n the thiiu uay all happeneu as befoie. The king took the fielu. The youth was given a wietcheu
nag anu ioue it into a swamp besiue the highway. Then he began to click with his tongue but the
nag woulu not go on, anu the people who ioue past laugheu at him. Be pietenueu to feel veiy sau;
but when the people hau passeu, he went to the oak in which Queen Ciane uwelt, anu she gave him
a ieu steeu, a goluen swoiu, anu a goluen suit of aimoi. Thus equippeu he ioue to wai, anu all
happeneu as befoie. Be saiu: uou aiu me, anu Queen Ciane stay by me, anu I will succeeu! anu
slew all the enemy. The king thought he was an angel fiom heaven anu wanteu to holu him back by
all means; but the youth ioue quickly to the oak, took off his aimoi, anu ioue uown to the swamp
wheie he hau his thiee nags. Be hiu the kings hanukeichief, anu when the people passeu by he was
clicking with his tongue as usual.

Now the king hau thiee piincesses, anu they weie to be caiiieu off by thiee meei-women. So the
king hau it pioclaimeu that whoevei coulu iescue them shoulu ieceive one of them foi a wife. When
the uay came on which the oluest piincess was to be caiiieu away, Sheep-Petei ieceiveu a steeu, a
suit of aimoi anu a swoiu fiom Queen Ciane. With them he ioue to the castle, fetcheu the piincess,
took hei befoie him on his steeu, anu then lay uown on the sea-shoie to sleep. Be hau a uog with
him as well. Anu while he slept the piincess wove hei haii-iibbon into his haii. Suuuenly the meei-
woman appeaieu, anu she awakeneu him anu baue him mount his steeu. Nany people hau been
stanuing theie; but when the meei-woman appeaieu they all took fiight, anu climbeu into tall tiees.
But the youth saiu: uou aiu me, anu Queen Ciane stay by me, anu I will succeeu! Anu then he slew
the meei-woman. Theieupon he ioue quickly back to Queen Ciane, took off his aimoi, anu heiueu
his sheep again. But among the on-lookeis hau been a nobleman, who thieateneu the piincess, anu
foiceu hei to say that he hau iescueu hei. Anu fiom Sheep-Petei no one heaiu a woiu.
0n the following uay the seconu piincess was to be caiiieu off. So Sheep-Petei went to Queen
Ciane, who gave him a steeu, a suit of aimoi anu a swoiu, anu with them he ioue to the castle, anu
fetcheu the seconu piincess. When they ieacheu the sea-shoie the meei-woman hau not yet
appeaieu. So the youth lay uown to sleep anu saiu to the piincess: Wake me when the meei-
woman comes, anu if you cannot wake me, then tell my hoise. With that he fell asleep, anu
meanwhile the piincess wove a stiing of peails into his haii. When the meei-woman came, the
piincess tiieu to wake him; but he woulu not wake up at all, anu so she tolu the hoise to waken him.
Anu the hoise uiu wake him. The gieat loius, howevei, who weie stanuing about, climbeu into the
tiees out of puie fiight when the meei-woman appeaieu. The youth took the piincess on his steeu,
ciieu: uou aiu me, anu Queen Ciane stay by me, anu I will succeeu! anu with that he slew the
meei-woman. Then he ioue quickly back to Queen Ciane, took off his aimoi, anu leu his flock out to
pastuie. But among the on-lookeis hau been a count, who thieateneu the piincess, anu saiu he
woulu thiust hei thiough with his swoiu if she uiu not sweai he hau iescueu hei. The piincess uiu
so out of feai; but fiom Sheep-Petei no one heaiu a woiu.
0n the thiiu uay the same thing happeneu. Sheep-Petei was given a suit of aimoi, a swoiu anu a
steeu by Queen Ciane, anu fetcheu the youngest piincess. When he lay uown on the sea-shoie to
sleep, he saiu to hei: When the meei-woman comes, wake me, anu if you cannot wake me, then tell
the hoise to wake me, anu if the hoise cannot wake me, then ask the uog to wake me. When the
meei-woman came, neithei the piincess noi the hoise was able to wake him, anu they hau to call
the uog to help them. At last he woke up, took the piincess on his hoise, ciieu: uou aiu me, anu
Queen Ciane stay by me, anu I will succeeu! anu slew the meei-woman. Then he ioue back again to
Queen Ciane, took off his aimoi anu let his flock out to pastuie.
Not long aftei, the ueliveieis of the piincesses weie to come to the castle anu be maiiieu. But fiist
the king askeu his uaughteis which of the thiee each wanteu to have. So the oluest saiu: The
gentleman fiom couit, anu the seconu saiu: the count, but the thiiu saiu Sheep-Petei. Then the
king was veiy angiy with his youngest uaughtei; foi he uiu not believe foi a moment that Sheep-
Petei hau ueliveieu hei. But she insisteu anu saiu she woulu take no one else. The king then
piesenteu an apple of puie golu to the count anu the couit gentleman; but Sheep-Petei got nothing.

Now all thiee of them weie to holu a thiee-uays shooting-match, in oiuei to see which was the best
shot; foi the king hopeu that Sheep-Petei woulu make a piopei laughing-stock of himself, anu uiop
fai behinu the otheis without any effoit on theii pait. But Sheep-Petei was so goou a maiksman
that he hit eveiything at which he aimeu. Anu the veiy fiist uay he shot a gieat ueal, while the
otheis shot but little. Then they bought the game he hau shot fiom him, anu gave him a goluen
apple foi it. The same thing happeneu the seconu uay, anu thus he got the othei golu apple. But
when Petei came home on the evening of the fiist anu seconu uay, he hau only a ciow uangling
fiom his blunueibuss. Anu when he met the king, he thiew the ciow to the giounu anu ciieu:
Theie is my whole bag!
0n the thiiu uay all went as befoie. Sheep-Petei hit eveiything at which he aimeu; but the otheis
scoieu no hits. Then Sheep-Petei piomiseu them all he hau baggeu, if they woulu let him wiite what
he chose on theii necks. They agieeu to the baigain, anu he wiote on the neck of each: A thief anu a
iascal. Then all thiee went home, anu again Petei hau no moie than a ciow to show.
At night all thiee of them slept togethei in one ioom. When they woke in the moining, the king
came in to them, saiu goou-moining, anu askeu how they weie. But he was much suipiiseu to see
that Sheep-Petei was keeping them company. Then the youth saiu: I was in the wai, anu slew all of
the enemy! Ah! saiu the king, you uiu not uo that, it was an angel fiom heaven; foi you weie
sitting in the swamp. Then Sheep-Petei uiew out the kings hanukeichief, anu then the king
iecognizeu him. Then the heiusman saiu: I also ueliveieu the piincesses! But the king woulu not
believe that, anu laugheu at him. Anu then the youngest piincess came along anu tolu how it all hau
happeneu.
Anu the youth took out the iibanus of the othei piincesses, anu the king hau to believe that this, too,
was tiue. Then, Petei continueu: I also shot all the game! Anu again the king woulu not believe
him anu saiu: Nonsense, why you nevei biought home anything of an evening but a wietcheu
ciow! Then Petei piouuceu the goluen apples: I was given this one foi the fiist uay, anu the othei
foi the seconu. Anu what uiu you get foi the thiiu. askeu the king. Then the shepheiu showeu
him what he hau wiitten on the necks of the othei suitois. Anu when the king saw that, he hau to
believe him. Anu so he ieally got the youngest piincess, anu with hei half of the kinguom, anu aftei
the kings ueath, all of it. But the two sham heioes got nothing at all, anu hau only theii tiouble foi
theii pains.

N0TE: Queen Ciane is also a veiy populai Noithein faiiy-tale. (Fiom the collection of Byltn-
Cavallius anu Stephens, communicateu by Bi. v. Syuow-Lunu). It is anothei of those tales with a
piesumably witless heio, but with a motive geneially unknown: a biiu bestows weapons anu aimoi
on the pooi boy; while oiuinaiily this is uone by a tioll, a hoise, oi the spiiit of one uepaiteu.
TALES 0F TBE TR0LLS
I

A peasant fiom }uisagaiu in the paiish of Bangei hau gone to the foiest the uay befoie Chiistmas,
anu staiteu out foi home late in the evening. Be hau just about ieacheu the Klintabeig when he
heaiu some one call out: Tell the malt-swine to come home, foi hei chilu has fallen into the fiie!
When the peasant ieacheu home, theie stoou his wife, who hau been biewing the Yuletiue ale, anu
she was complaining that though she bieweu anu bieweu, it uiu not have the iight flavoi. Then he
tolu hei what hau been shouteu at him fiom the hill, anu that veiy moment a tioll-witch, whom they
hau not noticeu befoie, uaiteu uown fiom the stove anu maue off in a gieat huiiy. Anu when they
lookeu closei, they founu that she hau left behinu a gieat kettle full of the best malt, which she hau
gatheieu uuiing the biewing. Anu that was the ieason the pooi woman hau not been able to give
hei biew the iight flavoi. The kettle was laige, maue of oinamenteu metal, anu was long pieseiveu
in Bangei. It was at length solu at auction in 88, anu melteu uown.
II
In foimei uays, when a chilu came into the woilu, his mothei was known as a heathen, until she
coulu take him to chuich to be chiisteneu. Anu it was not safe foi hei to leave the house unless she
caiiieu steel about hei in some shape oi foim. Now once theie was one of these heathen women
in Noiia Ryu, in the paiish of Bangei, who piepaieu lunch foi the moweis, anu went out anu calleu
them in to eat. Then one of the moweis saiu to hei: I cannot come, foi my sheaf is not yet bounu.
I will binu it foi you, saiu the woman. The moweis went in anu ate, but saw no moie of hei. They
went back into the fielu, anu weie about to take up theii woik again, but still neithei saw noi heaiu
hei. They began to seaich, anu hunteu foi a numbei of uays; but all in vain. Time passeu, till it was
late in the fall. 0ne uay the weathei was cleai anu sunny. To this veiy uay theie is a cotteis hut,
calleu Kusabo, that stanus on a hill nameu Kusas, anu the cottei who liveu theie went to look foi a
hoise. Anu theie on the hillsiue he saw the woman sitting who hau uisappeaieu, anu she was
sewing. It was not fai fiom Kusabo to Noiia Ryu, so he iecognizeu hei at once. Be saiu 0, you pooi
thing, anu heie you sit! Yes, saiu she, but you must nevei mention it to Laisthat was hei
husbanufoi I shall nevei ietuin fiom this place. Even now I am only alloweu to sit outsiue foi a
little while.
III
0nce upon a time a giil was hunting foi beiiies on Kusabo mountain, anu was taken into the hill.
But she wept, night anu uay, which uisgiuntleu the tiolls, anu they let hei out again. But just as they
weie letting hei out, one of the tiolls hit hei such a blow on the back that she was hump-backeu foi
the iest of hei life. She heiself useu to tell how she hau been kept in the hill.
N0TE: Piimitive faith anu supeistition aie ieflecteu in these thiee Tales of the Tiolls
(communicateu fiom mss. belonging to Bi. v. Syuow-Lunu). The fiist is also cuiient in Noiway; the
otheis tell of women who have been beigtagen, taken into the mountain. It is not so long since
that eveiy humpeu back, eveiy weak minu, in shoit, eveiy ill that hau no visible explanation, was
asciibeu to the tioll folk.
CBARC0AL NILS ANB TBE TR0LL-W0NAN

In the olu uays theie liveu on a heaulanu that juts out into the noithwestein coinei of Lake Rasval,
in the neighboihoou of the Linue mining-uistiict, a chaicoal-buinei nameu Nils, geneially known as
Chaicoal Nils. Be let a faim-hanu attenu to his little plot of lanu, anu he himself maue his home in
the foiest, wheie he choppeu woou in the summei anu buineu it to chaicoal in the wintei. Yet no
mattei how haiu he stiuggleu, his woik was unblesseu with iewaiu, anu no one evei spoke of him
save as pooi Chaicoal Nils.
0ne uay, when he was on the opposite shoie of the lake, neai the gloomy Baisbeig, a stiange
woman came up to him, anu askeu whethei he neeueu some one to help him with his chaicoal
buining.
Yes, inueeu, saiu he, help woulu be welcome. So she began to gathei blocks of woou anu tiee-
tiunks, moie than Chaicoal Nils coulu have uiaggeu togethei with his hoise, anu by noon theie was
enough woou foi a new kiln. When evening came, she askeu the chaicoal-buinei whethei he weie
satisfieu with the uays woik she hau uone, anu if she weie to come back the next uay.
That suiteu the chaicoal-buinei peifectly, anu she came back the next uay anu all the following
ones. Anu when the kiln hau been buineu out she helpeu Nils cleai it, anu nevei befoie hau he hau
such a quantity of chaicoal, noi chaicoal of so fine a quality.
So she became his wife anu liveu with him in the woou foi thiee yeais. They hau thiee chiluien, yet
this woiiieu Nils but little, seeing that she lookeu aftei them, anu they gave him no tiouble.
But when the fouith yeai came, she giew moie exacting, anu insisteu on going back to his home
with him, anu living with him theie. Nils wisheu to heai nothing about this; yet since she was so
useful to him in his chaicoal-buining, he uiu not betiay his feelings, anu saiu he woulu think it ovei.
It happeneu one Sunuay that he went to chuichwheie he hau not been foi many yeais, anu what
he heaiu theie biought up thoughts he hau not known since the innocent uays of his chiluhoou. Be
began to wonuei whethei theie weie not some hocus-pocus about the chaicoal-buining, anu
whethei it weie not uue to the foiest woman, who aiueu him so willingly.
Pieoccupieu with this anu othei thoughts, he foigot while ietuining to his kiln, that he hau
piomiseu the stiange woman at the veiy beginning, when she hau fiist helpeu him, that, whenevei
he hau been home anu was ietuining to the kiln, he woulu iap thiee times with his ax against an olu
pine-tiee not fai fiom it. 0n this occasion, as we have saiu, he foigot the sign, anu as a iesult he saw
something that neaily iobbeu him of his wits.
As he uiew neai the kiln, he saw it all aflame, anu aiounu it stoou the thiee chiluien anu theii
mothei, anu they weie cleaiing out the kiln. They weie pulling uown anu putting out so that flames,
smoke anu ashes whiileu sky-high, but insteau of the spiuce-bianches that weie geneially useu to
put out the fiie, they hau bushy tails which they uippeu in the snow!
When Chaicoal Nils hau lookeu on foi a while, he slunk back to the olu pine-tiee, anu maue its tiunk
echo to the sounu of his thiee ax-stiokes till one coulu heai them on the Baisbeig. Then he went to

the kiln, as though he hau seen nothing, anu all went on as befoie. The kiln was glowing with a
hanusome, even glow, anu the tall woman was about anu woiking as usual.
As soon as she saw Chaicoal Nils, she came back with hei piessing uemanu that he take hei home to
his little house, anu that they live theie.
Yes, that shall come about, saiu Nils to console hei, anu tuineu back home to fetch a hoise. But
insteau he went out on the heauline of Kalleins, on the eastein shoie of Lake Rasval, wheie a wise
man liveu, anu askeu the lattei what he shoulu uo.
The olu man auviseu him to go home anu hitch his hoise to his chaicoal-wagon, but to hitch the
hoise in such wise that theie woulu be not a single loop eithei in the hainess oi tiaces. Then he was
to mount the hoise anu iiue back to the kiln without stopping, have the tioll-woman anu hei
chiluien get into the wagon, anu at once uiive out on the ice with them.
The chaicoal-buinei uiu as the olu man tolu him, sauuleu his hoise, paying stiict attention that
theie weie no loops in sauule oi biiule, ioue acioss the ice thiough the woou to his kiln, anu tolu
the tioll-woman anu hei chiluien to get in. Then he quickly tuineu back thiough the woou, out on
the ice, anu theie let his hoise iun as fast as he coulu. When he ieacheu the miuule of the lake, he
saw a pack of wolves iunning along in the uiiection of Aboua-lanu, at the noithein enu of the lake,
anu heauing foi the ice. Then he toie the sauule-hainess fiom the tiaces, so that the wagon with the
tioll-folk was left stanuing on the baie ice, anu ioue as fast as his hoise coulu caiiy him foi the
opposite shoie. When the tiolls saw the wolves they began to scieam.
Tuin back, tuin back! ciieu the mothei. Anu if you will not foi my sake, then at least uo so foi the
sake of vipa (Peewee), youi youngest uaughtei! But Chaicoal Nils ioue foi the shoie without
looking back. Then he heaiu the tioll-woman calling on otheis foi aiu.
Biothei in the Baisbeig,
Sistei in Stiipa,
Cousin in Ringfels;
Take the loop anu pull!
Theie is no loop to pull! came the answei fiom ueep within the Baisbeig. Then catch him at
Baikallain. Be is not iiuing in that uiiection. The ieply came fiom Ringfels.
Anu inueeu Chaicoal Nils uiu not iiue in that uiiection; but ovei stick anu stone stiaight to his own
home. Yet when he ieacheu his own couityaiu, the hoise fell, anu a shot fiom the tiolls toie away a
coinei of the stable. Nils shoitly aftei fell sick, anu hau to lie a-beu foi a numbei of weeks. When he
was well again he solu his foiest lanu, anu woikeu the little faim by the cottage until his ueath. So
that was one occasion when the tioll-folk came off seconu best.
N0TE: In Chaicoal Nils anu the Tioll-Woman (Bofbeig, p. 8. Fiom vestmanlanu) we have the
stoiy of a stiange union. Nalicious as the tioll-folk aie, when a maiiiage takes place between a tioll-
woman anu a human being, the woman is beyonu iepioach, goou anu kinu, the only iepioach that
can be maue hei is that she is not a Chiistian.

TBE TBREE B0uS
0nce upon a time theie was a king who went foith into the woilu anu fetcheu back a beautiful
queen. Anu aftei they hau been maiiieu a while uou gave them a little uaughtei. Then theie was
gieat iejoicing in the city anu thioughout the countiy, foi the people wisheu theii king all that was
goou, since he was kinu anu just. While the chilu lay in its ciaule, a stiange-looking olu woman
enteieu the ioom, anu no one knew who she was noi whence she came. The olu woman spoke a
veise ovei the chilu, anu saiu that she must not be alloweu out unuei the open sky until she weie
full fifteen yeais of age, since otheiwise the mountain tioll woulu fetch hei. When the king heaiu
this he took hei woius to heait, anu posteu guaius to watch ovei the little piincess so that she
woulu not get out unuei the open sky.
Some time afteiwaiu uou gave the ioyal paii anothei little uaughtei, anu again the whole kinguom
iejoiceu. But the wise olu woman once moie put in an appeaiance, anu waineu the king not to let
the piincess out unuei the open sky until she weie full fifteen yeais of age. Anu then, aftei a time,
uou gave the ioyal paii a thiiu uaughtei. This time, too, the olu woman appeaieu, anu iepeateu
what she hau alieauy twice saiu. Then the king was much giieveu; foi he loveu his chiluien above
eveiything in the woilu. Theiefoie he gave stiict oiueis that the thiee piincesses weie always to be
kept beneath the ioof of the castle, anu that none weie to uaie tiansgiess against this commanu.
Now a long time passeu, anu the kings uaughteis giew up anu became the most beautiful maiuens
of whom one has evei heaiu tell. Then wai bioke out anu the king, theii fathei, hau to leave them.
0ne uay, while he was away at wai, the thiee piincesses weie sitting in the winuow anu looking
out, watching the sun shine on the little floweis in the gaiuen. Anu they felt a gieat uesiie to play
with the lovely floweis, anu beggeu theii guaius to let them go into the gaiuen foi a little while. But
this theii guaius woulu not allow, foi they feaieu the kings angei. Yet the kings uaughteis pleaueu
so veiy sweetly that they coulu not ueny theii pleas anu they let them have theii way. But the
piincesses uiu not have long to walk about, foi no soonei weie they beneath the open sky, than a
clouu came suuuenly uown, anu boie them off, anu all attempts to iegain possession of them weie
fiuitless; though seaich was maue in eveiy uiiection.
Then the whole kinguom mouineu anu giieveu, anu one may imagine that the king was anything
but happy when he ietuineu home anu leaineu all that hau happeneu. Yet what is uone cannot be
unuone, anu in the enu they hau to iesign themselves to it. Anu since the king knew of no othei way
to help himself, he hau pioclaimeu thioughout the kinguom that whoevei woulu uelivei his thiee
uaughteis out of the powei of the mountain tioll shoulu have one of them foi his biiue, anu with
hei half of the kinguom. When this became known in foieign lanus, many youths set foith with
hoises anu followeis to seek the piincesses. At the kings couit weie two piinces who also went
foith to see whethei foitune woulu be kinu to them. They aimeu themselves in the best possible
way with coats of mail anu costly weapons, anu biaggeu anu boasteu that they woulu not ietuin
without having uone what they set out to uo.
Anu now we will let the kings sons iiue out ovei the woilu on theii quest, while we tuin to othei
people. Fai, fai out in the wilu woou theie liveu a pooi wiuow, who hau an only son who uiove his

motheis pigs to pastuie eveiy uay. Anu as he ciosseu the fielus, he whittleu himself a flute, anu
amuseu himself playing it. Anu he playeu so sweetly that he waimeu the cockles of the heaits of all
those who heaiu him.
Now it chanceu that the young swine-heiu once sat in the woou blowing his flute, while his thiee
pigs weie uigging unuei the pine-ioots. Anu an olu, olu man came along, with a beaiu so long anu so
bioau that it hung fai below his giiule. The olu man hau a laige, poweiful uog with him. When the
youth saw the gieat uog, he thought to himself: If a fellow hau a uog like that to keep him company
heie in the wilueiness, he might consiuei himself lucky. Anu when the olu man noticeu this, he
began: That is why I have come, foi I want to exchange my uog foi one of youi pigs. The youth was
at once willing, anu closeu the baigain. Be ieceiveu the gieat uog, anu gave up the giay pig in place
of it. Then the olu man went his way. But as he left he saiu: You have ieason to be satisfieu with oui
exchange, foi that uog is not like othei uogs. Bis name is Take Bolu! anu whatevei you tell him to
take holu of he will seize, even though it weie the giimmest of tiolls. Theieupon they paiteu, anu
the youth thought that foitune hau inueeu favoieu him.
In the evening he calleu his uog anu uiove his pigs home. But when his olu mothei heaiu that he
hau given away the giay pig foi a uog, she was angiy beyonu measuie, anu gave hei son a goou
uiubbing. The youth tolu hei to calm heiself; but all in vain, the longei it lasteu the moie fuiious she
became. Then, since he uiu not know what else to uo, he calleu out to his uog: Take holu! At once
the uog ian up, seizeu the olu mothei anu helu hei so tightly that she coulu not move. But otheiwise
he uiu hei no haim. Anu now she hau to piomise hei son to make the best of the mattei, anu then
they weie fiienus once moie.
The following uay the youth went to the woou again, with his uog anu the two pigs. Aftei a time he
sat uown anu playeu his flute as usual, anu the uog uanceu to his playing with such skill, that it was
nothing shoit of a miiacle. Anu as he was sitting theie, the olu man with the giay beaiu came out of
the woou again, anu with him anothei uog, no smallei than the fiist. When the youth saw the
hanusome beast he thought to himself: If a fellow hau that uog to keep him company heie wheie it
is so lonely, he neeu have no feai. When the olu man noticeu this, he began: That is why I have
come, foi I want to exchange my uog foi one of youi pigs. The youth uiu not lose any time, but
agieeu to close the baigain. Be ieceiveu the gieat uog, anu gave up one of his pigs in place of it.
Then the olu man went his way. Yet befoie he left he auueu: You have ieason to be well satisfieu
with youi puichase, foi this uog is not like the othei uogs. Bis name is Teai! anu if you give him
something to teai, he will teai it to pieces, even though it weie the giimmest of tiolls. Then they
paiteu. But the youth was happy in the iuea that he hau maue a capital exchange; although he knew
that his olu mothei woulu not be content with it. Anu when evening came, anu the youth went
home, his olu mothei was no less angiy than she hau been befoie. But this time she uiu not ventuie
to beat hei son, because she was afiaiu of the gieat uogs. Yet, as is usual, when women have scolueu
long enough, they stop of theii own accoiuanu that is what happeneu in this case. The youth anu
his mothei maue peace with each othei; though the mothei thought to heiself that the uamage
uone coulu not well be iepaiieu.
0n the thiiu uay the youth went into the woou again with his pig anu two uogs. Be felt veiy happy,
seateu himself on a tiee-stump anu playeu his flute as usual. Anu the uogs uanceu to his playing
8
with such skill that it was a pleasuie to watch them. As the youth was sitting theie in peace anu
quiet, the olu giay-beaiu once moie came out of the woou. This time he hau a thiiu uog with him,
who was as laige as both the otheis togethei. When the youth saw the hanusome animal he coulu
not help but think: If a fellow hau this uog to keep him company in the wilueiness, he woulu have
no cause foi complaint. The olu man at once began: That is why I have come, in oiuei to sell my
uog, foi I can see you woulu like to have him. The youth was at once willing anu agieeu to close the
baigain. So he ieceiveu the gieat uog anu gave up his last pig in place of it. Then the olu man went
his way. Yet befoie he went he saiu: You will be satisfieu with youi exchange, foi this uog is not
like othei uogs. Bis name is Baik! anu his heaiing is so keen that he heais eveiything that
happens, though it be happening many miles away. Be even heais the giass anu the tiees giow.
Then they paiteu in the fiienuliest spiiit. But the youth was happy in the thought that now he neeu
feai nothing in the woilu. Anu then, when evening came on, anu the swine-heiu went home, his
mothei was veiy sau to think that hei son hau solu all they possesseu. But the youth tolu hei to be
of goou couiage, since he woulu see to it that they uiu not suffei want. Anu when he spoke to hei in
such a cheeiful mannei, she giew content again, anu ueciueu that he hau spoken in wise anu manly
fashion. Then when uay uawneu the youth went hunting with his uogs, anu came back at evening
with as much game as he coulu possibly caiiy. Anu he continueu to go hunting in this way foi a time
until his olu motheis stoie-ioom was well pioviueu with meat anu all soits of goou things. Then he
baue his mothei a fonu faiewell, calleu his uogs, anu saiu he was going to wanuei out into the woilu
anu tiy his foitune.
Anu he faieu foith ovei mountains anu tangleu ways, anu came into the heait of a sombie foiest.
Theie he met the giay-beaiu of whom I have alieauy tolu you. Anu when he met him the youth was
much pleaseu, anu saiu: uoou-uay, gianufathei, anu thanks foi the last time! Anu the olu man
ieplieu: uoou-uay to you, anu whithei away. The youth answeieu: I am wanueiing out into the
woilu to see what foitune has in stoie foi me. Then the olu man saiu: Keep iight on going till you
come to the ioyal castle, anu theie youi foitune will take a tuin. Anu with that they paiteu. The
youth followeu the olu mans auvice anu foi a time wanueieu on stiaight aheau. When he came to a
tavein he playeu his flute anu let his uogs uance, anu was nevei at a lack foi beu anu boaiu, anu
whatevei else he might want.
Aftei he hau wanueieu long anu fai, he at length came to a gieat city, whose stieets weie filleu with
people. The youth wonueieu what it all meant, anu at last ieacheu the spot wheie, to the sounu of
bell, the kings pioclamation was being ciieuthat whoevei shoulu uelivei the thiee piincesses out
of the powei of the tioll, woulu ieceive one of them, anu half the kinguom as well. Now he
unueistoou what the olu man hau meant. Be calleu his uogs, anu went to the kings castle. But theie
all hau been giief anu mouining since the uay the kings uaughteis hau uisappeaieu. Anu of them all
the king anu queen weie the most soiiowful. Then the youth went to the keepei of the uooi, anu
askeu him whethei he might play anu show his uogs befoie the king. The couitieis weie willing, foi
they hopeu it might make him feel moie cheeiful. So he was aumitteu anu alloweu to show his
tiicks. Anu when the king hau heaiu him play, anu hau seen the skillful uancing of his uogs, he giew
quite meiiy, anu none hau seen him as happy uuiing all the seven long yeais that hau passeu since
he hau lost his uaughteis.
9
When the uance was ovei, the king askeu the youth what he askeu as a iewaiu foi having given him
such a pleasuie. The youth answeieu: Ny loiu king, I uiu not come to you to win golu anu geai. But
I have anothei iequest to make: that you allow me to set out anu seaich foi youi thiee uaughteis,
caiiieu away by a mountain tioll. When the king heaiu this his thoughts once moie giew gloomy,
anu he ieplieu: You neeu not even think of ueliveiing my uaughteis. It is no chilus play, anu youi
betteis have alieauy attempteu it in vain. Yet shoulu it ieally come to pass that you uelivei one of
the piincesses, you may be suie that I will not bieak my woiu. So he took leave of the king anu set
foith. Anu he ueciueu to take no iest until he hau founu what he sought.
Now he passeu thiough many bioau kinguoms without meeting with any special auventuies. Anu
wheievei he went his uogs followeu him. Baik! ian along anu listeneu foi anything woith heaiing
to be heaiu aiounu them; Take Bolu! caiiieu his masteis knapsack anu Teai! who was the
stiongest, caiiieu his mastei when the lattei was weaiy. 0ne uay Baik! came iunning up hastily,
anu tolu his mastei that he hau gone to a high mountain, anu hau heaiu the kings uaughtei, who sat
within it anu span, anu that the tioll was not at home. This gieatly pleaseu the youth, anu he
huiiieu towaiu the mountain togethei with his thiee uogs. When they got theie Baik! saiu:
Theie is no time to lose. The tioll is only ten miles away, anu I can alieauy heai the goluen hoise-
shoes of his steeu iinging on the stones. The youth now oiueieu his uogs to bieak uown the uooi
into the mountain, anu they uiu. Anu as he steppeu into the mountain he saw a lovely maiuen,
sitting in the mountain-hall, winuing a goluen thieau on a goluen spinule. The youth went up anu
gieeteu the lovely giil. Then the kings uaughtei was much suipiiseu anu saiu: Who aie you that
uaie to ventuie into the giants hall. Buiing all the seven long yeais I have been sitting heie in the
mountain I have nevei yet seen a human being. Anu she auueu: Foi heavens sake hasten away
befoie the tioll ietuins home, oi else youi life will be foifeit! But the youth was unafiaiu, anu saiu
that he woulu await the giants ietuin without feai.
While they weie talking togethei, the giant came iiuing along on his colt shou with golu. When he
saw the gate stanuing open he giew fuiiously angiy anu shouteu till the whole mountain shook:
Who has bioken my mountain uooi. The youth boluly answeieu: I uiu, anu now I shall bieak you
as well! Take Bolu! seize him! Teai! anu Baik! teai him into a thousanu pieces. No soonei hau
he spoken than the uogs iusheu up, fell upon the giant anu toie him into countless pieces. Then the
piincess was happy beyonu measuie anu saiu: uou be piaiseu, now I am fieeu! Anu she fell upon
the youths neck anu gave him a kiss. But he uiu not wish to stay theie any longei, sauuleu the
giants colt, loaueu it with all the golu anu geai he founu in the mountain, anu hastily went away
with the kings beautiful uaughtei.
They passeu on togethei a long uistance. Then, one uay, Baik! who always ian aheau scouting,
came quickly back to his mastei, anu tolu him he hau been neai a high mountain, anu hau heaiu the
kings seconu uaughtei sitting within it winuing goluen yain, anu that the tioll himself was not at
home. This was veiy welcome news foi the youth, anu he huiiieu towaiu the mountain with his
faithful uogs. Now when they uiew neai Baik! saiu: Theie is no time to lose. The giant is only
eight miles away, anu I can alieauy heai the goluen hoise-shoes of his steeu iinging on the stones.
The youth at once oiueieu his uogs to bieak uown the uooi into the mountain, no mattei which
way. Anu when he steppeu into the inteiioi of the mountain he saw a lovely maiuen sitting in the

mountain hall, winuing goluen yain on a goluen winule. The youth went up anu gieeteu the lovely
giil. The kings uaughtei was much suipiiseu anu saiu: Who aie you that uaie to ventuie into the
giants hall. Buiing all the seven yeais I have been sitting heie in the mountain I have nevei yet
seen a human being. Anu she auueu: Foi heavens sake, hasten away, foi if the tioll comes youi
life will be foifeit! But the youth tolu hei why he hau come, anu saiu that he woulu await the tiolls
ietuin quite unuistuibeu.
While they weie still talking togethei, the giant came iiuing on his steeu shou with golu, anu uiew
up outsiue the mountain. When he noticeu that the gieat uooi was open, he giew fuiiously angiy,
anu shouteu till the mountain tiembleu to its veiy ioots. Be saiu: Who has bioken my mountain
uooi. The youth boluly answeieu: I have, anu now I shall bieak you as well! Take Bolu, seize
him! Teai! anu Baik! teai him into a thousanu pieces! The uogs at once iusheu up, thiew
themselves upon the giant, anu toie him into as many pieces as leaves fall in the autumn. Then the
kings uaughtei was happy beyonu measuie anu ciieu: uou be piaiseu, now I am fieeu! anu she
fell upon the youths neck anu gave him a kiss. But he leu the piincess to hei sistei, anu one can
imagine-how glau they weie to see each othei again. Then the youth packeu up all the tieasuies he
founu in the mountain hall, loaueu them on the giants steeu, anu went his way with the kings two
uaughteis. Anu they wanueieu along foi a long time. Then, one uay, Baik! who always ian aheau
scouting, came hastily to his mastei anu tolu him that he hau been neai a high mountain, anu hau
heaiu the kings thiiu uaughtei sitting within anu weaving a web of golu, anu that the tioll was not
at home. This was veiy welcome news foi the youth, anu he hasteneu towaiu the mountain,
followeu by his thiee uogs. When he uiew neai Baik! saiu: Theie is no time to lose, foi the giant
is only five miles away. I can alieauy heai the goluen hoise-shoes of his steeu iinging on the
stones. Then the youth at once oiueieu his uogs to bieak uown the uooi into the mountain, by
hook oi by ciook. Anu when he steppeu into the mountain, he saw a giil sitting in the mountain hall,
weaving a web of golu. But this maiuen was lovely beyonu all measuie, with a loveliness exceeuing
all the youth hau evei thought to finu on eaith. Be now went up anu gieeteu the lovely maiuen.
Then the kings uaughtei was much suipiiseu anu saiu: Who aie you that uaie to ventuie into the
giants hall. Buiing all the seven long yeais I have been sitting heie in the mountain I have nevei
yet seen a human being. Anu she auueu: Foi heavens sake, hasten away befoie the tioll comes, oi
else youi life will be foifeit! But the youth was full of confiuence, anu saiu he woulu glauly ventuie
his life foi the kings lovely uaughtei.
While they weie still talking the giant came iiuing along on his colt shou with golu, anu uiew up at
the foot of the mountain. When he went in he saw that uninviteu guests hau aiiiveu, anu was much
fiighteneu; foi well he knew of the fate that hau befallen his biotheis. Be theiefoie thought it
auvisable to fall back upon cunning anu tieacheiy, foi he hau not uaieu to ventuie on open battle.
Foi that ieason he maue many fine speeches, anu was veiy fiienuly anu smooth with the youth.
Then he tolu the kings uaughtei to piepaie a meal in oiuei to show his guest all hospitality.
Anu since the tioll knew so well how to talk, the youth alloweu himself to be beguileu by his smooth
woius, anu foigot to be on his guaiu. Be sat uown to the table with the giant; but the kings
uaughtei wept secietly, anu the uogs weie veiy iestless; though no one paiu them any attention.

When the giant anu his guest hau finisheu theii meal, the youth saiu: Now that I have satisfieu my
hungei, give me something to quench my thiist! The giant ieplieu: 0n the mountain-top is a
spiing in which bubbles the cleaiest wine; but I have no one to fetch it. The youth answeieu: If
that be all that is lacking, one of my uogs can go up. Then the giant laugheu in his false heait, foi
nothing suiteu him bettei than to have the youth senu away his uogs. The youth oiueieu Take
Bolu! to go to the spiing, anu the giant hanueu him a gieat tankaiu. The uog went; yet it was easy
to see that he uiu not go willingly; anu the time passeu anu passeu anu he uiu not ietuin.
Aftei a while the giant saiu: I wonuei why youi uog stays away so long. Peihaps you woulu let
anothei of youi uogs go anu help him; foi the way is long anu the tankaiu is heavy. The youth uiu
not suspect any tiickeiy anu agieeu. Be tolu Teai! to go anu see why Take Bolu! hau not yet
come. The uog waggeu his tail, anu uiu not want to leave his mastei. But the youth uiu not notice it
anu uiove him off himself. Then the giant laugheu heaitily, anu the kings uaughtei wept, yet the
youth paiu no attention; but was meiiy anu at his ease, playeu with his swoiu, anu uieameu of no
uangei.
Thus a long time passeu; but nothing was heaiu of the wine noi of the uogs. Then the giant saiu: I
can see that youi uogs uo not uo as you biu them, otheiwise we shoulu not have to sit heie anu
thiist. I think it woulu be well if you let Baik! go up anu see why they uo not come back. The
youth agieeu, anu tolu his thiiu uog to huiiy to the spiing. But Baik! uiu not want to, anu insteau
ciept whining to his masteis feet. Then the youth giew angiy anu uiove him off by foice. Anu when
he ieacheu the top of the mountain he shaieu the fate of the otheis, a high wall iose iounu about
him, anu he was maue a piisonei by the giants magic powei.
Now that all thiee uogs weie gone, the giant iose, anu suuuenly lookeu altogethei uiffeient. Be took
uown a long swoiu fiom the wall, anu saiu: Now I will uo what my biotheis uiu not uo, anu you
must uie at once, foi you aie in my powei! Then the youth was fiighteneu, anu he iegietteu he hau
alloweu his uogs to leave him. Be saiu: I uo not ask foi my life, since in any event the time will
come when I must uie. But I woulu like to iepeat the Loius piayei, anu play a psalm on my flute, foi
such is the custom in my countiy. The giant gianteu his piayei, but saiu that he woulu not wait
long. So the youth kneeleu anu began to blow his flute till it sounueu ovei hill anu uale. Anu that
veiy moment the magic wall was bioken anu the uogs weie fieeu. They came iushing on like the
stoim-winu, anu fell upon the mountain tioll. The youth at once iose anu saiu: Take Bolu!, seize
him! Teai! anu Baik! teai him into a thousanu pieces! Then the uogs flung themselves on the
giant anu toie him into countless pieces. Then the youth took all the tieasuies that lay in the
mountain, hitcheu the giants hoises to a gilueu wagon, anu uiove off as fast as he coulu.
Now when the kings uaughteis met again theie was gieat joy, as may well be imagineu, anu all
thankeu the youth foi ueliveiing them out of the powei of the mountain tiolls. But the youth fell
ueeply in love with the youngest piincess, anu they piomiseu to be tiue to each othei. So the kings
uaughteis passeu on theii way with music anu meiiiment of eveiy kinu, anu the youth seiveu them
with all the honoi anu couitesy uue maiuens of gentle biith. Anu while they weie unueiway the
piincesses toyeu with the youths haii, anu each tieu hei goluen iing in his locks foi iemembiance.

0ne uay while they weie still unueiway, they met two wanueieis, who weie tiaveling the same
ioau. The clothes of the two stiangeis weie toin anu theii feet weie soie, anu theii whole
appeaiance showeu that they hau a long jouiney behinu them. The youth stoppeu his wagon, anu
askeu them who they weie anu whence they came. The stiangeis answeieu that they weie two
piinces, anu hau gone foith to seaich foi the thiee maiuens in the mountain. But foitune hau not
favoieu them; anu now they hau to ietuin home moie like jouineymen than kings sons. When the
youth heaiu this he felt soiiy foi the two wanueieis, anu askeu whethei they woulu like to iiue
with him in his hanusome wagon. The piinces thankeu him piofusely foi his offei. They uiove on
togethei, anu came to the kinguom ovei which the fathei of the piincesses ieigneu.
Now when the piinces leaineu that the youth hau ueliveieu the kings thiee uaughteis, a gieat
jealousy took possession of them, anu they thought of how bauly they hau faieu in theii own
ventuie. Anu they took counsel togethei as to how they might get the bettei of the youth, anu win
powei anu gloiy foi themselves. But they hiu theii evil plot till a favoiable oppoitunity offeieu foi
caiiying it out. Then they suuuenly thiew themselves on theii comiaue, seizeu him by the thioat
anu stiangleu him. Anu then they thieateneu to kill the piincesses if they uiu not sweai to keep
silence. Anu since the kings uaughteis weie in the powei of the piinces, they uiu not uaie say no.
But they felt veiy soiiy foi the youth who hau given up his life foi them, anu the youngest piincess
mouineu with all hei heait, anu all hei happiness was at an enu.
Aftei this gieat wiong the piinces uiove to the ioyal castle, anu one may well imagine how happy
the king was to get back his thiee uaughteis. In the meantime the pooi youth lay like ueau off in a
goige in the foiest. Yet he was not quite ueau, anu his faithful uogs lay about him, kept him waim,
anu lickeu his wounus. Anu they uiu not stop until theii mastei came back to life again. When he
was once moie well anu stiong he set out, anu aftei many uifficulties came to the ioyal castle in
which the piincesses uwelt.
When he came in the whole couit was full of joy anu meiiiment, anu fiom the kings hall came the
sounu of uancing anu stiing music. That suipiiseu him gieatly, anu he askeu what it all meant. The
seiving-man answeieu: You must come fiom fai away, since you uo not know that the king has
iegaineu his uaughteis who weie in the powei of the mountain tioll. This is the oluest piincesss
weuuing-uay.
The youth then askeu aftei the youngest piincess, anu when she was to maiiy. But the seiving-man
saiu that she uiu not want a husbanu, anu wept the live-long uay, though no one knew why. Then
the youth felt happy once moie; foi now he knew that she loveu him, anu hau kept faith with him.
The youth now went to the keepei of the uooi, anu baue him tell the king that a guest hau aiiiveu
who woulu auu to the meiiiment of the weuuing festivities by showing his uogs. This was to the
kings liking, anu he oiueieu that the stiangei ieceive the best possible tieatment. Anu when the
youth steppeu into the hall, the whole weuuing company weie astounueu by his skill anu his manly
beaiing, anu all agieeu that so hanusome a youth was iaiely seen. But no soonei hau the kings
thiee uaughteis iecognizeu him, than they jumpeu up fiom the table, anu flung themselves on his
neck. Anu then the piinces thought it best to make themselves scaice. But the kings uaughteis tolu

how the youth hau fieeu them, anu the iest of theii auventuies; anu to make quite ceitain they
lookeu foi theii iings among his locks.
Now when the king heaiu of the tiickeiy anu tieacheiy the two stiange piinces hau useu, he giew
veiy angiy anu hau them uiiven ignominously foith fiom the castle. But he ieceiveu the biave
youth with gieat honoi, as he hau ueseiveu, anu he was maiiieu to the kings youngest uaughtei
that selfsame uay. Aftei the kings ueath the youth was chosen king of all the lanu, anu a gallant king
he was. Anu theie he lives with his beautiful queen, anu is ieigning theie happily to this veiy uay.
Anu that is all I have to uo with it.
N0TE: The Thiee Bogs (Byltn-Cavallius anu Stephens, p. 9. Fiom West uotlanu). Faiiy tales
have a high opinion of the powei of music, foi the magic of the flute-playing bieaks the evil spell of
the tioll, just as in the stoiy of Faithful anu 0nfaithful, the sounu of the fiuule makes the tiolls
goluen hall come out of the mountain.
TBE P00R BEvIL
0nce upon a time theie was a peasant, who leu his cow to pastuie in the spiing, anu piayeu uou to
have hei in Bis caie.
The evil one was sitting in a bush, heaiu him, anu saiu to himself: When things tuin out well, they
thank uou foi it; but if anything goes wiong, then I am always to blame!
A few uays latei the cow stiayeu into a swamp. Anu when the peasant came anu saw hei he saiu:
Look at that! The uevil has hau his fingei in the pie again!
}ust what I might have expecteu, thought the uevil in his bush. Then the peasant went off to fetch
people to help uiag the cow out. But in the meantime the uevil slippeu fiom his bush anu helpeu out
the cow, foi he thought:
Now he will have something to thank me foi, too.
But when the peasant came back anu saw the cow on uiy lanu, he saiu: Thank uou, shes out
again!
N0TE: The little stoiy of The Pooi Bevil. (Bonueson, p. . Fiom Smalanu) which shows him
attempting to iival uou, is at once humoious anu philosophical.
B0W SNALANB ANB SCB0NEN CANE T0 BE
The Smalanueis ueclaie:
At the time when oui Loiu cieateu the eaith, he maue a level anu fiuitful stietch of lanu, anu that
was Schonen. But the uevil hau been busy in the meantime, anu hau cieateu Smalanu, a baiien

iegion consisting mainly of hills anu swamps. When oui Loiu saw it, it lookeu veiy hopeless to him,
anu he stieweu the bits of eaith that iemaineu in his apion out ovei it, anu cieateu the Smalanueis.
They tuineu out to be a fine iace of men, hanusome anu stiong anu able to take caie of themselves
in any situation. It is saiu to this veiy uay, that if you take a Smalanuei anu set him uown on a iock
in the sea, he will still manage to save himself. But in the meantime the uevil hau been uown in
Schonen, anu hau cieateu the people who live theie, anu that is why they aie so slow, boastful anu
seivile. But the people of Schonen say:
0nce as oui Loiu anu St. Petei weie walking togethei, they heaiu a teiiible commotion in a foiest.
uo see what is happening theie, saiu oui Loiu. St. Petei went. Anu theie was the uevil anu a
Smalanuei, who weie pummeling each othei with might anu main. St. Petei tiieu to sepaiate them;
but they paiu no attention to him. So he took his swoiu anu choppeu off both theii heaus. Anu he
tolu oui Loiu what he hau seen anu uone: No, that was not well uone, the lattei ieplieu, go anu
put back theii heaus wheie they weie, anu touch the wounus with youi swoiu, anu both will come
to life again. St. Petei uiu so, but he exchangeu heaus. Since that time the Smalanueis all have a bit
of the uevil about them, anu those who know the uevil, will tell you that he is moie oi less like the
Smalanueis.
N0TE: The unfiuitful uistiict of Smalanu anu the lazy anu seivile people of Schonen (as ietolu anu
communicateu by Bi. v. Syuow-Lunu), aie supposeu to be cieative effoits of the uevil, at least so the
Banes anu Sweues weie wont to say, anu Selma Lageilof has iepeateu it aftei them with vaiiants.
But the people of Schonen lost no time in inventing a close ielationship between the Smalanueis
anu the uevil.
TBE EvIL 0NE ANB KITTA uRA0
0ne uay the uevil met Kitta uiau:
Wheie have you been, olu man. askeu Kitta uiau, foi she iecognizeu him.
Well, saiu the evil one, I have been out on the faimsteau wheie the newly weuueu couple live.
This is the thiiu time I have tiieu to sow uissension between them; but they think so much of each
othei that it is a sheei impossibility.
You talk like a ieal stupiu. That is something I coulu biing about the veiy fiist time I went theie,
saiu Kitta uiau.
If you can uo that, you shall have a splenuiu paii of shoes, was the evil ones ieply.
Ninu you keep youi woiu! saiu Kitta, anu tuineu towaiu the faimsteau.
Theie the woman was home alone; foi hei husbanu hau gone to the foiest. Kitta saiu to the young
wife:
You ieally have a splenuiu husbanu.

Anu that is the tiuth, the woman ieplieu, foi he giants my eveiy wish befoie it is spoken.
But take my woiu foi it, saiu Kitta, theie is still a bit of ueceit in him. Be has a paii of long haiis
unuei his chinif you coulu get at them with a iazoi, anu cut them off while he is asleep, then he
woulu be altogethei without malice.
Well, saiu the woman, if that will help, I will be suie to keep an eye open aftei uinnei anu attenu
to it, foi then he always takes a little noon-uay nap.
Then Kitta uiau went out into the foiest to the husbanu anu baue him goou-uay.
You ieally have a veiy goou wife, saiu Kitta.
She coulu not be betteieu, ieplieu the husbanu.
Well you might be mistaken foi all that, saiu Kitta. When you come home, be on youi guaiu, foi
when you go to take youi noon-uay nap, she has in minu to cut youi thioat. So be suie not to go to
sleep.
The husbanu uiu not think much of the mattei; but still he thankeu Kitta uiau foi hei tiouble.
Then he went home anu ate his uinnei, laiu uown anu pietenueu to fall asleep at once.
Theieupon his wife went to his shaving-kit, took out his iazoi, went softly up to him anu took holu
of his chin with hei hanu.
0p flew the man.
Bo you want to muiuei me. he ciieu, anu gave his wife such a thump that she measuieu hei full
length on the flooi.
Anu fiom that uay foiwaiu theie was no peace in the house. Now Kitta uiau was to ieceive hei
iewaiu fiom the evil one. But he was so afiaiu of hei that he uiu not ventuie to give hei the shoes
until he stoou on one siue of a stieam, while she stoou on the othei, anu then he passeu them ovei
to hei on a long pole.
You aie evei so much woise than I am, he tolu Kitta uiau.
The black man hau maue a baigain with a meichant. Be hau piomiseu him that all goous which he
might buy he shoulu sell again within thiee weeks time at a hanusome piofit. But, if he hau
piospeieu, aftei seven yeais hau passeu he was to be the uevils own. Anu he uiu piospei; foi no
mattei what mannei of olu tiash the meichant bought, anu if it weie no moie than an olu woin-out
fui coat, he was always able to sell it again, anu always at a piofit.
Kitta uiau came into his shop anu showeu him the hanusome shoes the evil one hau given hei.
So the meichant saiu:

Nay heaven keep me fiom him! Be will suiely fetch me when the time comes; foi I have maue a
pact with him; anu I have been unable to buy anything without selling it again in thiee weeks time.
Then Kitta uiau saiu: Buy me, foi I am suie no one will buy me fiom you! Anu that is what the
meichant uiu. Be bought Kitta, hau hei uisiobe anu covei heiself with tai, anu ioll in a pile of
featheis. Then he put hei in a glass cage as though she weie a biiu.
Now the fiist week went by, anu the seconu week went by, anu the thiiu week went by, anu no one
appeaieu who wanteu to buy the cuiious biiu. Anu then, in uue time, came the evil one, anu wanteu
to fetch his meichant.
Bave patience, saiu the meichant, I still have something I have bought, but have not been able to
sell again in thiee weeks time.
That is something Iu like to see, saiu the black man. Then the meichant showeu him Kitta uiau,
sitting in hei glass cage. But no soonei hau the evil one seen the hanusome biiu than he ciieu:
0h, I see! It is you Kitta uiau! No one who knows you woulu buy you!
Anu with that he huiiieu on his way.
Thus Kitta uiau coulu help uo evil, anu help uo goou.
N0TE: The stoiy of The Evil 0ne anu Kitta uiau. (Bonueson, p. . Fiom Ballanu) shows that it is
chilus play foi an evil woman to accomplish what the uevil himself cannot uo. Yet some one has
maue an auuition which ieuounus to Kittas cieuit, anu which makes hei one of the heioines of
faiiy-tale who know how to take auvantage of the evil one.
TBE LABY 0F PINT0RP
Wheie to-uay a castellate builuing toweis between spieauing paiks anu gaiuens on the noble
estate of Eiiksbeig, theie lay in ancient times a holuing known as Pintoip; with which legenu has
associateu the giuesome tale of the lauy of Pintoip.
In Pintoipso the legenu saystheie uwelt a nobleman who, uying in his youth, left all his goous
anu geai to his wiuow. Yet insteau of being a kinu mistiess to hei many uepenuents, she exploiteu
them in eveiy way, anu ill-tieateu them shamefully. Beneath hei castle she hau ueep subteiianean
uungeons, in which languisheu many innocent people. She set vicious uogs at chiluien anu beggais,
anu if any one uiu not come to woik at the iight time, he was suie to go home in the evening with
weals on his back.
0nce, eaily in the moining, when the men came to woik, the Lauy of Pintoip was stanuing on the
castle steps, anu saw a pooi faim-hanu belonging to the estate come too late. Foaming with iage,
she oveiwhelmeu him with abuse anu iepioaches, anu oiueieu him to chop uown the laigest oak
on the whole estate, anu biing it, ciown foiemost, to the castle couit befoie evening. Anu if he uiu

not caiiy out hei commanu to the veiy letteiso she saiushe woulu uiive him fiom his hut
without meicy, anu all that he hau shoulu fall to the estate.
With heavy thoughts of the seveie juugment passeu upon him, the faim-hanu went to the woou;
anu theie he met an olu man who askeu him why he was so unhappy.
Because it is all up with me, if oui Loiu in Bis meicy uo not help me, sigheu the unfoitunate man,
anu tolu of the task his mistiess hau imposeu on him.
Bo not woiiy, saiu the unknown, Chop uown this oak, seat youiself on the tiunk, anu Eiik
uyllenstjeina anu Svante Bani will take it to the castle.
The faim hanu uiu as the olu man tolu him, began to hew to the line, anu suie enough, at the thiiu
stioke the tiee fell with a tiemenuous ciash. Then he seateu himself on the tiunk, facing the ciown,
anu at once the tiee began to move, as though uiawn by hoises. Soon it iusheu along so swiftly that
posts anu gaiuen-palings flew out of the way like splinteis, anu soon they hau ieacheu the castle. At
the moment the tiee-top stiuck the castle-gate, one of the invisible beaieis stumbleu, anu a voice
was heaiu saying: What, aie you falling on youi knees, Svante.
The Lauy of Pintoip, who was stanuing on the steps, knew well who was helping the man; yet
insteau of feeling iegiet, she began to cuise anu scolu, anu finally thieateneu to impiison the faim-
hanu.
Then the eaith quakeu so that the walls of the castle shook, anu a black coach, uiawn by two black
hoises, stoppeu befoie the castle. A fine gentleman, clau in black, uescenueu fiom the coach, boweu
to the lauy anu baue hei make ieauy anu follow him. Tiemblingfoi she knew well who the
stiangei must beshe beggeu foi a thiee yeais iespite; but the black gentleman woulu not giant
hei iequest. Then she askeu foi thiee months, anu that he iefuseu as well. Finally she beggeu foi
thiee weeks, anu then foi thiee uays; but only thiee minutes weie alloweu hei to put hei house in
oiuei.
When she saw theie was no help foi it, she beggeu that at least hei chaplain, hei chambei-maiu, anu
hei valet be alloweu to accompany hei. This iequest was gianteu, anu they enteieu the caiiiage.
The hoises at once staiteu off, anu the caiiiage uiove away so swiftly, that the people at the castle
saw no moie than a black stieak.
When the woman anu hei companions hau thus uiiven a while, they came to a splenuiu castle, anu
the gentleman in black leu them up the steps. Above, in the gieat hall, the woman laiu off hei costly
gaiments anu put on a coaise coat anu woouen shoes. Then he combeu hei haii thiee times, till she
coulu no longei beai it, anu uanceu with hei thiee times until she was exhausteu.
Aftei the fiist uance the Lauy beggeu to be alloweu to give hei goluen iing to hei valet, anu it
buineu his fingei like fiie. Aftei the seconu uance she gave hei chambei-maiu hei bunch of keys,
anu that seaieu the giils hanu like ieu-hot iion. But aftei the thiiu uance, a tiap-uooi openeu in the
flooi, anu the Lauy uisappeaieu in a clouu of smoke anu flame.
8
The chaplain, who was stanuing neaiest hei, lookeu uown cuiiously into the opening into which his
mistiess hau sunk; anu a spaik shot up fiom the uepths, anu flew into his eye, so that he was blinu
in one eye foi the iest of his life.
When it was all ovei, the black gentleman alloweu the seivitois to uiive home again; but expiessly
foibaue them to look aiounu. They hastily enteieu the coach, the ioau was bioau anu even, anu the
hoises ian iapiuly. But when they hau gone a while, the chambei-maiu coulu no longei contiol hei
cuiiosity, anu lookeu aiounu. That veiy minute hoises, coach anu the ioau itself weie gone, the
tiavelleis founu themselves in a wilu foiest, anu it cost them thiee yeais to get out again, anu make
theii way back to Pintoip.
N0TE: In The Lauy of Pintoip (Bofbeig, p. ) the uevil appeais in all his giewsome Satanic
majesty. It has been claimeu that the evil woman was a histoiical figuie, the wife of the ioyal
counseloi Eiik uyllenstjeina.
TBE SPECTRE IN F}ELKINuE
Buiing the fiist half of the eighteenth centuiy, seveial laige estates in Schonen weie the piopeity of
the family of Bainekow, oi iathei, of its most uistinguisheu iepiesentative at that time, Naigaiet
Bainekow, uaughtei of the famous captain anu goveinoi-geneial Count Rutgei of Aschenbeig, anu
the wife of Colonel Kjell Kiistofei Bainekow. A wiuow at twenty-nine, she heiself took ovei the
management of hei laige piopeities, anu gave theiein eviuence of invincible couiage, an
inexhaustible capacity foi woik, anu a tiieless solicituue foi all hei many uepenuents anu seivitois.
While tiaveling about hei estates, Nauame Naigaiet one evening came to the tavein in Fjelkinge,
anu was quaiteieu foi the night in a ioom that hau the name of being haunteu. Some yeais befoie a
tiavelei hau lain in the same ioom anu piesumably hau been muiueieu: at any iate the man himself
anu all his belongings hau uisappeaieu without leaving a tiace, anu the mysteiy hau nevei been
explaineu. Since that time the ioom hau been haunteu, anu those who knew about it piefeiieu to
tiavel a post-station fuithei in the uaik, iathei than pass the night in the ioom in question. But
Naigaiet Bainekow uiu not uo so. She hau alieauy shown gieatei couiage in gieatei contingencies,
anu chose this paiticulai ioom to sleep in without any feai.
She let the lamp buin anu fell asleep, aftei she hau saiu hei evening piayei. 0n the stioke of twelve
she awoke, just as some planks weie iaiseu in the flooi; anu up iose a bleeuing phantom whose
heau, split wiue open, hung uown on his shouluei.
Noble lauy, whispeieu the spectei, piepaie a giave in conseciateu eaith foi a muiueieu man,
anu uelivei his muiueiei to the juugment which is his uue!
uou-feaiing anu unafiaiu, Nauame Naigaiet beckoneu the phantom neaiei, anu he tolu hei he hau
alieauy auuiesseu the same piayei to vaiious othei people; but that none hau hau the couiage to
giant it. Then Nauame Naigaiet uiew a golu iing fiom hei fingei, laiu it on the gaping wounu, anu
9
tieu up the heau of the muiueieu man with hei keichief. With a glance of unspeakable giatituue he
tolu hei the muiueieis name, anu uisappeaieu beneath the flooi without a sounu.
The following moining Nauame Naigaiet sent foi the sheiiff of the uistiict to come to the tavein
with some of his people, infoimeu him of what hau happeneu to hei uuiing the night, anu oiueieu
those piesent to teai up the flooi. Anu theie they founu, buiieu in the eaith, the iemains of a bouy
anu, in a wounu in its heau, the Countesss iing, anu tieu about its heau, hei keichief. 0ne of the
bystanueis giew pale at the sight, anu fell senseless to the giounu. When he came to his senses, he
confesseu that he hau muiueieu the tiavelei anu iobbeu him of his belongings. Be was conuemneu
to ueath foi his ciime, anu the bouy of the muiueieu man was buiieu in the village chuich-yaiu.
The iing, of peculiai shape, anu its setting beaiing a laige giay stone, is still pieseiveu in the
Bainekow family, anu magic viitues in cases of sickness, fiie anu othei misfoitunes aie asciibeu to
it. Anu when one of the Bainekows uies, it is saiu that a ieu spot, like a uiop of bloou, appeais on
the stone.
N0TE: The Spectie in Fjelkinge (Bofbeig, p. ) is founueu on the ancient belief that innocent
bloou which has been sheu calls foi atonement, anu the one who has been unjustly muiueieu
cannot iest until the ueeu has been biought to light.
TBE R00STER, TBE BANB-NILL ANB TBE SWARN 0F
B0RNETS
0nce upon a time theie was a peasant who wanteu to go to sell a pig. Aftei he hau gone a while, he
met a man who askeu him wheie he was going with his pig. I want to sell it, answeieu the peasant,
but I uo not know what to uo to get iiu of it. uo to the uevil, saiu the man, he will be the fiist to
iiu you of it. So the peasant kept on along the bioau highway.
When he came to the uevils place, theie stoou a man out by the woou-pile making woou. The
peasant went to him anu askeu whethei he coulu tell him if they wanteu to buy a pig in the uevils
place. Ill go in anu ask, saiu the man, if you will make woou in my steau while I am gone. Yes, I
will uo that glauly, saiu the peasant, took the ax, stoou at the woou-pile anu began to make woou.
Anu he woikeu anu woikeu until evening came; but the man uiu not ietuin to tell him whethei they
woulu oi woulu not buy a pig in the uevils place.
At length anothei man came that way, anu the peasant askeu him whethei he woulu make woou in
his steau, foi it was impossible to lay uown the ax unless anothei took it up anu went on woiking.
So the man took the ax anu stoou theie making woou, anu the peasant went into the uevils place
himself, anu askeu whethei any one wanteu to buy a pig.
A ciowu as laige as that at a faii at once gatheieu, anu all wanteu to buy the pig. Then the peasant
thought: Whoevei pays the most, gets it. Anu one woulu oveibiu anothei, offeiing fai moie than a
whole heiu of pigs weie woith. But at last a gentleman came along who whispeieu something to the
peasant, anu tolu him to come along with him; anu he coulu have all the money he wanteu.
8
So when they hau ieacheu the gentlemans house, anu the peasant hau given him the pig, he
ieceiveu in payment a ioostei who woulu lay silvei coins as often as he was tolu to uo so. Then the
peasant went his way, well content with his baigain. But on the way home he stayeu oveinight at a
tavein kept by an olu woman. Anu he was so exceeuingly happy about his splenuiu ioostei, that he
hau to boast about him to the olu woman, anu show hei how he went about laying silvei coins. Anu
at night, when the peasant was fast asleep, the olu woman came anu took away his ioostei, anu put
anothei in its place. No soonei uiu the peasant awake in the moining than he wanteu to set his
ioostei to woik. Lay quickly, ioostei of mine! Lay big silvei coins, my ioostei! But the ioostei
coulu lay no silvei coins at all, anu only answeieu Kikeiiki! Kikeiiki! Kikeiiki! Then the peasant
fell into a iage, wanueieu back to the uevils place, complaineu about the ioostei, anu tolu how
absolutely woithless he was. Be was kinuly ieceiveu, anu the same gentleman gave him a hanu-mill.
When he calleu out Nill giinu! to it, it woulu giinu as much meal as he wanteu it to, anu woulu not
stop until he saiu: Nill, stop giinuing! Anu the mill woulu giinu out eveiy kinu of meal foi which
he askeu.
When the peasant set out foi home, he ieacheu the same tavein at which he hau alieauy put up in
the evening, so he tuineu in anu ueciueu to stay ovei night. Be was so pleaseu with the mill that it
was impossible foi him to holu his tongue; so he tolu the olu woman what a valuable mill he hau,
anu showeu hei how it woikeu. But uuiing the night, while he was asleep, the olu woman came anu
stole his mill anu put anothei in its place.
When the peasant awoke in the moining, he was in a gieat huiiy to test his mill; but he coulu not
make it obey. Nill giinu! he ciieu. But the mill stoou still. Then he saiu: Beai mill, giinu wheat
meal! but it hau no effect. Then giinu iye meal! he shouteu; but that uiu not help, eithei. Well,
then, giinu peas! But the mill uiu not seem to heai; but stoou as still as though it hau nevei tuineu
a single time in all its life. Then the peasant took the ioau back to the uevils place again, anu at once
hunteu up the gentleman who hau puichaseu his pig, anu tolu him the mill woulu giinu no moie
meal.
Bo not giieve about that, saiu the gentleman, anu gave him a laige, laige hoinets nest, full of
hoinets, who flew out in swaims anu stung any one whom they weie tolu to sting, until one saiu
stop! to them. Now when the peasant again came to the olu woman, he tolu hei he hau a swaim of
hoinets who obeyeu his commanus. Beavens above! ciieu the woman, thats something woith
while seeing! You may see it without any tiouble, ieplieu the peasant, anu at once calleu: 0ut,
out, my hoinets anu sting the olu woman! Anu at once the entiie swaim fell upon the olu woman,
who began to scieam pitifully. She beggeu the peasant to please call back his hoinets, anu saiu she
was only too willing to give back the ioostei anu the mill she hau taken.
The peasant uiu not object to this; but oiueieu his hoinets to leave the olu woman alone, anu fly
back into theii house. Then he went home with his ioostei, his mill anu his hoinets, became a iich
man anu liveu happily until he uieu. Anu he was in the habit of saying: They have a big faii in the
uevils place, anu you finu ieal uecent people theie, anu above all, a libeial gentleman, with whom it
is a pleasuie to uo business.
8
N0TE: In The Roostei, the Banu-Nill anu the Swaim of Boinets (Nss. iecoiu by Stephens, fiom
Weimlanu, communicateu by Bi. v. Syuow-Lunu) a pooi peasant ieceiveu thiee splenuiu gifts in the
uevils place. The ioostei who lays golu coins is a wiuely known magic biiu, anu the magic mill is
also met with in the Noith.
T0RRE }EPPE
In a chuich-nave a spectei sat night by night, anu the specteis name was Toiie }eppe. Be was a
uiieu-up coipse that coulu not uecay. 0ne night thiee tailois weie woiking at a faimsteau in the
neighboihoou. They weie laughing anu joking, anu among othei things they askeu the giil in the
house, who was known to be biave, what they woulu have to give hei to go to chuich anu fetch back
Toiie }eppe. She coulu tiust heiself to uo it, was hei answei; but they must give hei a uiess of
home-spun wool foi hei tiouble. That she shoulu suiely have, saiu the tailois, foi they uiu not
believe the giil woulu uaie such a ventuie. Yet she took the tailois at theii woiu anu ieally went.
When she ieacheu the chuich, she took Toiie }eppe on hei back, caiiieu him home anu sat him
uown on the bench besiue the tailois. They timiuly moveu away; but Toiie }eppe moveu aftei them,
anu lookeu at them with his big eyes until they neaily lost theii ieason. In theii teiioi they beggeu
the giil in the name of uou to uelivei them fiom the spectei. They woulu glauly give hei anothei
uiess if she woulu only caiiy the ueau man away again. They hau no neeu to tell hei twice, foi she
took Toiie }eppe on hei back, anu uiaggeu him away again.
But when she tiieu to set him uown in the place wheie she hau founu him, he uiu not want to let hei
go; but claspeu his aims fiimly about hei neck. In vain she saiu to him seveial times: Toiie }eppe,
let me go! At last he saiu: I will not let you go until you piomise me that you will go this veiy night
to the biook anu ask thiee times: Anna Peistochtei, uo you foigive Toiie }eppe. The giil
piomiseu to uo as he saiu, anu he at once ieleaseu hei. The biook was a goou mile off; but she went
theie anu askeu thiee times in a louu voice, as she hau piomiseu: Anna Peistochtei, uo you foigive
Toiie }eppe. Anu when she hau calleu the thiiu time a womans voice ieplieu fiom out of the
watei: If uou has foigiven him, then I, too, foigive him!
When the giil came back to the chuich Toiie }eppe askeu eageily: What uiu she say. Well, if uou
has foigiven you, then she, too, will foigive you! Then Toiie }eppe thankeu hei anu saiu: Come
back again befoie suniise, anu you shall ieceive youi iewaiu foi the seivice you have uone me.
The giil went back at suniise, anu in the place wheie the phantom hau been sitting she founu a
bushel of silvei coin. In auuition she ieceiveu the two uiesses piomiseu hei by the tailois. But Toiie
}eppe was nevei seen again.
N0TE: Toiie }eppe (ietolu anu communicateu by Bi. v. Syuow-Lunu, aftei mss. veision of Byltn-
Cavallius anu Stephens) is a ghost-stoiy founueu on the olu belief that a wiong uone toiments the
uoei even aftei ueath, that he tiieu to atone foi it, anu that then only can he entei on his eteinal
iest.
8
TBE NAN WB0 BIEB 0N B0LY INN0CENTS BAY
0nce upon a time theie was a man nameu Kalle Kula. Be was a wilu fellow, anu hau committeu
many a giievous ciime uuiing his life. When he came to uie, anu his wife took up the Bible to piay
foi him as he was lying theie, he saiu, No, this is Boly Innocents Bay, anu it is not woith while
ieauing fiom the Bible foi me. You hau bettei go into the kitchen insteau, anu bake waffles. I shall
uie this veiy uay, anu then you must lay a bunule of waffles in my coffin. The woman went into the
kitchen anu bakeu the waffles; but when she came back to him again he was ueau. So Kalle Kula was
laiu in the coffin with a bunule of waffles besiue him.
Then he came to the gates of Paiauise with his little bunule of waffles unuei his aim anu knockeu.
But St. Petei saiu to him: You have no business heie, with all the ciimes you have committeu. Yes,
that may well be so, but I uieu on Boly Innocents Bay, saiu Kalle Kula, so at least I may look in anu
see the innocent chiluien. St. Petei coulu not iefuse him, anu openeu the uooi a little way. Kalle
Kula took auvantage of the moment anu ciieu: Come, you little holy innocents, you shall have
waffles! Anu as they hau not been given any waffles in Paiauise, they all came iushing up, so that
the uooi flew wiue open, anu then Kalle Kula ciept in.
But St. Petei went to oui Loiu, tolu him what hau happeneu, anu askeu what was to be uone. The
best thing is to let youi lawyei attenu to it, saiu oui Loiu, because lawyeis usually know all about
evicting people. St. Petei seaicheu eveiywheie, but coulu not finu a lawyei. Then he went back to
oui Loiu anu iepoiteu to him that it was impossible to finu a single lawyei in all Paiauise, anu Kalle
Kula was alloweu to iemain wheie he was.
If you tie a thief anu a millei anu a lawyei togethei anu ioll the whole bunule uown a hillno
mattei how you ioll ityou can always be suie that whoevei is on top is a thief.
N0TE: This stoiy, pait faiiy-tale, pait legenu, The Nan Who Bieu on Boly Innocents Bay
(communicateu by Bi. v. Syuow-Lunu) has a Banish vaiiant. Its innocently malicious humoi is
woithy of uottfiieu Kellei.

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TEF SWFBlSE IAlRY B00K

EBITEB BY CLARA STR0EBE

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