Fairy Tales From all Nations Part 16

Shortly after, when the princesses were sitting at the window, the king's son came again in his coa.r.s.e sailor jacket, carrying the chest with the golden crowns.

On entering the hall, he opened the chest, and now when the princesses recognised each her own golden crown, the youngest princess said:--"To me it seems only fair and just, that he who suffers for us, should receive the reward to which he is ent.i.tled; our deliverer is not Commander Rod, but he who has now brought us our golden crowns, is also he who destroyed the wizard."

Then the king's son threw off his jacket, and stood there far more splendidly attired than any of the rest.

The king now caused Commander Rod to be put to death for his perfidy, and gave his daughter in marriage to the young prince.

The rejoicings in the royal residence were very great, and each prince took his princess away to a different realm, so that the tale was told and talked about in no less than twelve distinct kingdoms.

THE STUDY OF MAGIC UNDER DIFFICULTIES.

[Italian.]

In the island of Sicily, and in the fair and famous city of Messina, dwelt a man, Lactantius by name, who was a great proficient in two different arts. By day, and ostensibly to his fellow-citizens, he carried on the trade of a tailor; but by night, and secretly, he studied the art of necromancy. One evening, when he had locked himself in his room, and was occupied with all kinds of magic works, as ill luck would have it, a young man, one of his apprentices, came to the door. Dionysius, such was his name, had returned to fetch from the chamber of Lactantius something which he had forgotten. When he perceived that the door was closed, but at the same time heard a noise within, he crept gently up, peeped through the keyhole, and witnessed his master's magic doings. Such delight did this give the young man, that from that moment he thought of nothing but how he might secretly learn his master's art. Needle, thimble, and shears thenceforth were little troubled by him; he cared alone to learn that which no one cared to teach him, and so from having been an industrious, attentive, useful workman, he became careless, idle, and inattentive. Lactantius perceiving this change in his apprentice, discharged him from his service, and sent him back to his father, who was much grieved in consequence.

The father having repeatedly lectured his son, with tears besought him to attend to his duty, and taking him back to the tailor, earnestly begged him to receive his son once again, desiring him, should he again neglect his business, to punish him severely.

Lactantius, out of kindness to the poor man, was soon persuaded; he again received his pupil, and instructed him carefully every day in cutting out and sewing. As, however, Dionysius would absolutely learn nothing, his master gave him many a sound caning, so that the poor apprentice, who received more blows than bread, was always black and blue, all of which he bore with the greatest patience, so insensible had he become to everything through the engrossing desire to learn that secret art which he night after night watched his master carry on, as he stood peeping through the keyhole.

Lactantius, who took him for the stupid lout he appeared to be, at last gave himself no further trouble to conceal his witchcraft from him, thinking that as he could not even learn the business of tailoring, which is so easy, he would far less comprehend witchcraft, which is really a puzzling art. He therefore no longer made a secret of his practices to Dionysius, who now thought himself the most fortunate of men, and who although others considered him such a blockhead, in a very short time became such a proficient in the magic art, that he understood more of it than his master.

One day, as the father was pa.s.sing by Lactantius' house, not seeing his son in the shop, he entered, and found that, instead of working with the other apprentices, he was cleaning the house, and in short, performing all the offices of a housemaid.

This so disturbed the good man, that he took his son home with him, and thus lectured him: "Thou knowest, Dionysius, how much I have expended on thee, in the hope that thou wouldst learn a useful business, whereby one day to support thyself and me; but, alas! I have sown my seed on the waters, for thou refusest to learn anything. Truly this will be my death, for I am so poor I know not how to support myself, nor have I any means of providing for thee. Therefore, I beseech thee, my son, learn to support thyself in any respectable way thou canst."

Having said this, the old man began to weep, when Dionysius, moved by his distress, replied: "Dear father, I thank you a thousand times, and from my heart, for all the trouble and anxiety you have had on my account: but I beg you will not think, because I did not learn tailoring, as you wished me, that I have therefore pa.s.sed the time in idleness. On the contrary, by night-watching and unwearied efforts, I have learned an art which I hope hereafter to exercise so efficaciously that you and I shall live all our days in peace and joy.

That you may not imagine that I say this merely to satisfy you for the moment, I will at once give you a proof of what I affirm.

"To-morrow, by means of my secret art, I will transform myself into a fine horse; saddle and bridle me, and lead me to the market, and sell me. When you shall have made your bargain, go quietly home, your pocket full of money, and you shall find me here again in the same form which I now bear. Judge therefore whether or not I have learned something useful, since in so short a time I can earn for you the necessaries of life. Take especial heed, however, when you sell me, not to part with my bridle; this, come what will, you must carefully retain, else I shall not be able to return, and perhaps you may never see me again."

The next morning Dionysius stripped himself in presence of his father, and after anointing himself with a certain ointment, he murmured some words, whereupon, to the inexpressible astonishment of the good old man, in the place of his son, a fine powerful horse suddenly appeared, which he immediately harnessed as his son had instructed him, and led him to the market. As soon as the merchants and horse-dealers saw him, they gathered round him, quite delighted with the beauty of the horse, the action of whose limbs and whole body was so perfect, and who showed such a fleetness and fire, that it was quite surprising. All inquired if the horse were for sale, to which the old man replied in the affirmative.

By accident, Lactantius was in the market, and as soon as he saw the horse, and had narrowly examined him, he at once discovered that it was a magic horse. He therefore withdrew unperceived from the crowd, and hastened home, disguised himself as a merchant, and provided with an ample sum of money, returned to the market, where he found the man still with his horse. He approached the animal, and after attentively observing him, recognised in him his apprentice, Dionysius. He then asked the old man if he would sell him, and they soon concluded a bargain. Lactantius paid him two hundred gold pieces; but as he took him by the bridle to lead him away, the old man objected, saying that he had sold the horse but not the bridle, which he must have back again. Lactantius however contrived to talk him over, so that he obtained the bridle as well as the horse, which he led home, and fastening him to the stall, gave him for breakfast and supper so many hundred blows, that the poor beast became nothing but skin and bones, and excited the compa.s.sion of all who beheld him.

Lactantius had two daughters, who, when they saw their father's barbarity, went daily into the stable to do what they could for the poor horse. They caressed him, patted him, and treated him with all possible kindness, and one day went so far as to lead him by the halter to drink at the stream. The moment, however, the horse found himself by the water, he threw himself into it, and transforming himself into a little fish, he disappeared in the waves.

At this extraordinary occurrence the maidens stood speechless with astonishment, and returning home, gave way to the deepest sorrow. Some time after Lactantius returned, and went into the stable to administer a little further chastis.e.m.e.nt to his horse, when to his great astonishment he found him gone. Very indignant thereat, he went to his daughters, and beheld them in tears. Without inquiring the cause, for he knew full well the cause of their trouble, he said to them: "My children, fear nothing, only tell me what has become of the horse, in order that I may at once take measures concerning him."

The poor maidens composed themselves on hearing these words, and related to him what had happened. When the father had heard the story, he hastened to the river, transformed himself into a large fish, dashed into the water, and as fast as his fins could carry him pursued the little fish, intending to swallow him.

When the latter beheld the voracious fish, with its terrible teeth, he was dreadfully alarmed at the thought of being swallowed by him, and approaching the bank of the river, he left the water, and in the form of a beautiful ruby, set in gold, he threw himself unseen into the little basket which the king's daughter, who happened just then to be amusing herself with picking up little pebbles on the sand, carried on her arm.

As soon as the princess, who was called Violante, returned home, she took her treasures out of the little basket, and perceived the ring shining amongst the pebbles. Quite delighted, she placed it on her finger, and could not desist from contemplating it.

At night, when the princess had retired to her sleeping apartment, the ring suddenly changed into a handsome young man. He laid his hand on the princess's mouth, who was about to scream aloud, then threw himself at her feet and besought her forgiveness. He a.s.sured her he was not there with any disrespectful purpose, but only to implore her a.s.sistance, and then told her his misfortune, and the persecutions he had to endure.

Violante, somewhat re-a.s.sured by the bright light of the lamp which burned in her chamber, as also by the words of the young man, whom she found very handsome and attractive, felt compa.s.sion for him, and said: "Young man, thou art very bold in entering a place where thy presence was not desired. But in consideration of thy misfortune, I will forgive thee. Thy narration has awakened all my compa.s.sion, and I will show thee that I am not made of marble, nor have a heart of adamant. I am even resolved, so far as my honour will permit, to give thee my entire protection."

The young man humbly returned thanks, and, when day dawned, again transformed himself into the ring, which the princess placed amongst her most costly jewels.

It happened just about that time, that the king fell dangerously ill, and all his physicians declared his disease was incurable.

This came to the ears of Lactantius, who thereupon disguised himself as a physician, went to the royal palace, and being introduced to the king, inquired carefully respecting his symptoms, felt his pulse, examined his countenance, and said: "Your majesty's disease is no doubt an obstinate one, and very dangerous; but take courage: in a short time I will restore you to health, for I possess a remedy by which I can in a few days cure the severest and most dangerous illness that exists."

"Master physician," replied the king, "if you restore me to health, I promise to reward you so richly that you shall be content for the rest of your life."

"My sovereign," rejoined the physician, "I desire neither rank, honours, nor riches, but only request your majesty will grant me one favour."

The king readily promised this, on condition that he should require nothing that was impossible.

"I ask nothing more of your majesty than a ruby set in gold, which is now in the possession of the princess your daughter."

When the king heard this modest request, he sent for his daughter, and in presence of the physician, desired her to fetch her whole stock of jewels. The princess obeyed, leaving out, however, the precious ring.

But when the physician had thoroughly examined them, he said the ruby he wished for was not amongst them.

Violante, who valued her ruby above all the rest, affirmed that she had no other jewels than those now before them; whereupon the king said to the physician: "Retire now, and return to-morrow; I will undertake that my daughter shall give me the ring."

When the physician was gone, the king called Violante, and inquired in the gentlest manner, where was the beautiful ruby which the physician wished for; saying that if she would give it to him, she should have in its place a still more beautiful and precious one. But she positively denied having it in her possession.

She no sooner returned to her apartment, than she locked herself in, and began to weep bitterly at the thought of losing her poor ruby, which she bathed with her tears, and kissed with the utmost tenderness.

When the ruby felt the hot tears that fell from the princess's eyes, and heard her deep sighs, it a.s.sumed the human form, and said to her: "Princess, on whom my life hangs, I beseech you, do not thus immoderately grieve at my misfortune. Let us rather devise some means of rescue; for that physician who so zealously covets the possession of me, is no other than my greatest foe Lactantius, who desires to kill me. Therefore I implore you, do not give me into his hand, but feign to be indignant, and dash me against the wall: leave the rest to my care."

The following morning the physician again visited the king, who informed him that his daughter still persisted that she did not possess the ring. Lactantius much displeased, on hearing this, however, positively a.s.serted that the ruby was in the princess's collection.

Thereupon the king again sent for the princess, and in the physician's presence said to her: "Violante, thou knowest that I owe the restoration of my health to this man's skill and care. He requires no other recompense of me than that ring which he declares to be in thy possession, and which thou dost a.s.sert thou hast not. I should have thought thy love for me would have led thee not to give thy ruby alone, but thy very life. I beseech thee, by the obedience thou owest to me, by the affection I have borne thee, to withhold it from me no longer."

The princess, on hearing her father's will so decidedly expressed, returned to her room, collected all her jewels, amongst which she laid the ruby, and taking them one by one in her hand, in the presence of her father, showed them each in succession to the physician, who, the moment he saw the ruby, would have laid his hand on it, saying: "Princess, this is the ring I wish for, and which the king has promised me."

But the princess, repelling him, said: "Stay, master, you shall have it!" and holding the ring in her hand, exclaimed: "Then it is this precious jewel, so infinitely dear to me, that you covet: I must renounce this, for the loss of which I shall be inconsolable for life.

But I do not yield it willingly, but only because the king, my father, requires it of me."

With these words she flung the ruby against the wall. As it fell to the ground it instantly changed into a beautiful pomegranate, which burst as it fell, and its seeds were scattered all over the room.

The physician as quickly became a c.o.c.k, in order to swallow all the seeds, and thus to destroy the unlucky Dionysius; but he had miscalculated: one of the seeds had so concealed itself that the c.o.c.k could not discover it. The seed watched its opportunity, transformed itself into a fox, who throwing himself on master c.o.c.k, seized him by the throat, and strangled and devoured him in the presence of the astonished monarch and his daughter Violante. Dionysius then resumed his human form, and related all to the king, who thought he could not do better than immediately give him his daughter in marriage. They lived long together in peace and happiness, and the good old father of Dionysius became, instead of an indigent man, a rich and powerful one; whilst, on the other hand, the cruelty of Lactantius had cost him his life.

FORTUNE'S FAVOURITE;

OR, THE VERY WONDERFUL ADVENTURES OF PISTA, THE SWINEHERD.

[Hungarian.]