East of the Sun and West of the Moon Part 5

Now, down in a little cottage near a wood, there lived the _King's_ shepherd, an old man with his only daughter. And the _King_ came one day and said to him, "Will you give me your daughter to marry my son the _Lindworm_? And I will make you rich for the rest of your life."--"No, sire," said the shepherd, "that I cannot do. She is my only child, and I want her to take care of me when I am old. Besides, if the _Lindworm_ would not spare two beautiful Princesses, he won't spare her either. He will just gobble her up: and she is much too good for such a fate."

But the _King_ wouldn't take "No" for an answer: and at last the old man had to give in.

Well, when the old shepherd told his daughter that she was to be _Prince Lindworm's_ bride, she was utterly in despair. She went out into the woods, crying and wringing her hands and bewailing her hard fate. And while she wandered to and fro, an old witch-woman suddenly appeared out of a big hollow oak-tree, and asked her, "Why do you look so doleful, pretty la.s.s?" The shepherd-girl said, "It's no use my telling you, for n.o.body in the world can help me."--"Oh, you never know," said the old woman. "Just you let me hear what your trouble is, and maybe I can put things right."--"Ah, how can you?" said the girl, "For I am to be married to the _King's_ eldest son, who is a _Lindworm_. He has already married two beautiful Princesses, and devoured them: and he will eat me too! No wonder I am distressed."

"Well, you needn't be," said the witch-woman. "All that can be set right in a twinkling: if only you will do exactly as I tell you." So the girl said she would.

"Listen, then," said the old woman. "After the marriage ceremony is over, and when it is time for you to retire to rest, you must ask to be dressed in ten snow-white s.h.i.+fts. And you must then ask for a tub full of lye," (that is, was.h.i.+ng water prepared with wood-ashes) "and a tub full of fresh milk, and as many whips as a boy can carry in his arms,--and have all these brought into your bed-chamber. Then, when the _Lindworm_ tells you to shed a s.h.i.+ft, do you bid him slough a skin. And when all his skins are off, you must dip the whips in the lye and whip him; next, you must wash him in the fresh milk; and, lastly, you must take him and hold him in your arms, if it's only for one moment."

"The last is the worst notion--ugh!" said the shepherd's daughter, and she shuddered at the thought of holding the cold, slimy, scaly _Lindworm_.

"Do just as I have said, and all will go well," said the old woman.

Then she disappeared again in the oak-tree.

When the wedding-day arrived, the girl was fetched in the Royal chariot with the six white horses, and taken to the castle to be decked as a bride. And she asked for ten snow-white s.h.i.+fts to be brought her, and the tub of lye, and the tub of milk, and as many whips as a boy could carry in his arms. The ladies and courtiers in the castle thought, of course, that this was some bit of peasant superst.i.tion, all rubbish and nonsense. But the _King_ said, "Let her have whatever she asks for." She was then arrayed in the most wonderful robes, and looked the loveliest of brides. She was led to the hall where the wedding ceremony was to take place, and she saw the _Lindworm_ for the first time as he came in and stood by her side. So they were married, and a great wedding-feast was held, a banquet fit for the son of a king.

[Ill.u.s.tration: She saw the Lindworm for the first time as he came in and stood by her side.]

When the feast was over, the bridegroom and bride were conducted to their apartment, with music, and torches, and a great procession. As soon as the door was shut, the _Lindworm_ turned to her and said, "Fair maiden, shed a s.h.i.+ft!" The shepherd's daughter answered him, "_Prince Lindworm_, slough a skin!"--"No one has ever dared tell me to do that before!" said he.--"But I command you to do it now!" said she.

Then he began to moan and wriggle: and in a few minutes a long snake-skin lay upon the floor beside him. The girl drew off her first s.h.i.+ft, and spread it on top of the skin.

The _Lindworm_ said again to her, "Fair maiden, shed a s.h.i.+ft."

The shepherd's daughter answered him, "_Prince Lindworm_, slough a skin."

"No one has ever dared tell me to do that before," said he.--"But I command you to do it now," said she. Then with groans and moans he cast off the second skin: and she covered it with her second s.h.i.+ft.

The _Lindworm_ said for the third time, "Fair maiden, shed a s.h.i.+ft."

The shepherd's daughter answered him again, "_Prince Lindworm_, slough a skin."--"No one has ever dared tell me to do that before," said he, and his little eyes rolled furiously. But the girl was not afraid, and once more she commanded him to do as she bade.

And so this went on until nine _Lindworm_ skins were lying on the floor, each of them covered with a snow-white s.h.i.+ft. And there was nothing left of the _Lindworm_ but a huge thick ma.s.s, most horrible to see. Then the girl seized the whips, dipped them in the lye, and whipped him as hard as ever she could. Next, she bathed him all over in the fresh milk. Lastly, she dragged him on to the bed and put her arms round him. And she fell fast asleep that very moment.

Next morning very early, the _King_ and the courtiers came and peeped in through the keyhole. They wanted to know what had become of the girl, but none of them dared enter the room. However, in the end, growing bolder, they opened the door a tiny bit. And there they saw the girl, all fresh and rosy, and beside her lay--no _Lindworm_, but the handsomest prince that any one could wish to see.

The _King_ ran out and fetched the _Queen_: and after that, there were such rejoicings in the castle as never were known before or since. The wedding took place all over again, much finer than the first, with festivals and banquets and merrymakings for days and weeks. No bride was ever so beloved by a King and Queen as this peasant maid from the shepherd's cottage. There was no end to their love and their kindness towards her: because, by her sense and her calmness and her courage, she had saved their son, _Prince Lindworm_.

THE La.s.sIE AND HER G.o.dMOTHER

Once on a time a poor couple lived far, far away in a great wood. The wife was brought to bed, and had a pretty girl, but they were so poor they did not know how to get the babe christened, for they had no money to pay the parson's fees. So one day the father went out to see if he could find any one who was willing to stand for the child and pay the fees; but though he walked about the whole day from one house to another, and though all said they were willing enough to stand, no one thought himself bound to pay the fees. Now, when he was going home again, a lovely lady met him, dressed so fine, and she looked so thoroughly good and kind; she offered to get the babe christened, but after that, she said, she must keep it for her own. The husband answered, he must first ask his wife what she wished to do; but when he got home and told his story, the wife said, right out, "No!"

Next day the man went out again, but no one would stand if they had to pay the fees; and though he begged and prayed, he could get no help.

And again as he went home, towards evening the same lovely lady met him, who looked so sweet and good, and she made him the same offer. So he told his wife again how he had fared, and this time she said, if he couldn't get any one to stand for his babe next day, they must just let the lady have her way, since she seemed so kind and good.

The third day, the man went about, but he couldn't get any one to stand; and so when, towards evening, he met the kind lady again, he gave his word she should have the babe if she would only get it christened at the font. So next morning she came to the place where the man lived, followed by two men to stand G.o.dfathers, took the babe and carried it to church, and there it was christened. After that she took it to her own house, and there the little girl lived with her several years, and her _Foster-mother_ was always kind and friendly to her.

Now, when the _La.s.sie_ had grown to be big enough to know right and wrong, her _Foster-mother_ got ready to go on a journey.

"You have my leave," she said, "to go all over the house, except those rooms which I shew you;" and when she had said that, away she went.

But the _La.s.sie_ could not forbear just to open one of the doors a little bit, when--POP! out flew a Star.

When her _Foster-mother_ came back, she was very vexed to find that the star had flown out, and she got very angry with her _Foster-daughter_, and threatened to send her away; but the child cried and begged so hard that she got leave to stay.

Now, after a while, the _Foster-mother_ had to go on another journey; and, before she went, she forbade the _La.s.sie_ to go into those two rooms into which she had never been. She promised to beware; but when she was left alone, she began to think and to wonder what there could be in the second room, and at last she could not help setting the door a little ajar, just to peep in, when--POP! out flew the Moon.

[Ill.u.s.tration: She could not help setting the door a little ajar, just to peep in, when--Pop! out flew the Moon.]

When her _Foster-mother_ came home and found the moon let out, she was very downcast, and said to the _La.s.sie_ she must go away, she could not stay with her any longer. But the _La.s.sie_ wept so bitterly, and prayed so heartily for forgiveness, that this time, too, she got leave to stay.

Some time after, the _Foster-mother_ had to go away again, and she charged the La.s.sie, who by this time was half grown up, most earnestly that she mustn't try to go into, or to peep into, the third room. But when her _Foster-mother_ had been gone some time, and the _La.s.sie_ was weary of walking about alone, all at once she thought, "Dear me, what fun it would be just to peep a little into that third room." Then she thought she mustn't do it for her _Foster-mother's_ sake; but when the bad thought came the second time she could hold out no longer; come what might, she must and would look into the room; so she just opened the door a tiny bit, when--POP! out flew the Sun.

But when her _Foster-mother_ came back and saw that the sun had flown away, she was cut to the heart, and said, "Now, there was no help for it, the _La.s.sie_ must and should go away; she couldn't hear of her staying any longer." Now the _La.s.sie_ cried her eyes out, and begged and prayed so prettily; but it was all no good.

"Nay! but I must punish you!" said her _Foster-mother_; "but you may have your choice, either to be the loveliest woman in the world, and not to be able to speak, or to keep your speech, and to be the ugliest of all women; but away from me you must go."

And the _La.s.sie_ said, "I would sooner be lovely." So she became all at once wondrous fair; but from that day forth she was dumb.

So, when she went away from her _Foster-mother_, she walked and wandered through a great, great wood; but the farther she went, the farther off the end seemed to be. So, when the evening came on, she clomb up into a tall tree, which grew over a spring, and there she made herself up to sleep that night. Close by lay a castle, and from that castle came early every morning a maid to draw water to make the Prince's tea, from the spring over which the _La.s.sie_ was sitting. So the maid looked down into the spring, saw the lovely face in the water, and thought it was her own; then she flung away the pitcher, and ran home; and, when she got there, she tossed up her head and said, "If I'm so pretty, I'm far too good to go and fetch water."

So another maid had to go for the water, but the same thing happened to her; she went back and said she was far too pretty and too good to fetch water from the spring for the Prince. Then the Prince went himself, for he had a mind to see what all this could mean. So, when he reached the spring, he too saw the image in the water; but he looked up at once, and became aware of the lovely _La.s.sie_ who sate there up in the tree. Then he coaxed her down and took her home; and at last made up his mind to have her for his queen, because she was so lovely; but his mother, who was still alive, was against it.

[Ill.u.s.tration: Then he coaxed her down and took her home.]

"She can't speak," she said, "and maybe she's a wicked witch."

But the Prince could not be content till he got her. So after they had lived together a while, the _La.s.sie_ was to have a child, and when the child came to be born, the Prince set a strong watch about her; but at the birth one and all fell into a deep sleep, and her _Foster-mother_ came, cut the babe on its little finger, and smeared the queen's mouth with the blood; and said:

"Now you shall be as grieved as I was when you let out the star;" and with these words she carried off the babe.

But when those who were on the watch woke, they thought the queen had eaten her own child, and the old queen was all for burning her alive, but the Prince was so fond of her that at last he begged her off, but he had hard work to set her free.

So the next time the young queen was to have a child, twice as strong a watch was set as the first time, but the same thing happened over again, only this time her _Foster-mother_ said:

"Now you shall be as grieved as I was when you let the moon out."

And the queen begged and prayed, and wept; for when her _Foster-mother_ was there, she could speak--but it was all no good.

And now the old queen said she must be burnt, but the Prince found means to beg her off. But when the third child was to be born, a watch was set three times as strong as the first, but just the same thing happened. Her _Foster-mother_ came while the watch slept, took the babe, and cut its little finger, and smeared the queen's mouth with the blood, telling her now she should be as grieved as she had been when the _La.s.sie_ let out the sun.

And now the Prince could not save her any longer. She must and should be burnt. But just as they were leading her to the stake, all at once they saw her _Foster-mother_, who came with all three children--two she led by the hand, and the third she had on her arm; and so she went up to the young queen and said:

[Ill.u.s.tration: "Here are your children; now you shall have them again. I am the Virgin Mary."]

"Here are your children; now you shall have them again. I am the Virgin Mary, and so grieved as you have been, so grieved was I when you let out sun, and moon, and star. Now you have been punished for what you did, and henceforth you shall have your speech."