第24章TheTwoKings’Children

第24章thetwokings’children

therewasonceonatimeakingwhohadalittleboyofwhomithadbeenforetoldthatheshouldbekilledbyastagwhenhewassixteenyearsofage,andwhenhehadreachedthatagethehuntsmenoncewenthuntingwithhim.intheforest,theking'ssonwasseparatedfromtheothers,andallatoncehesawagreatstagwhichhewantedtoshoot,butcouldnothit.atlengthhechasedthestagsofarthattheywerequiteoutoftheforest,andthensuddenlyagreattallmanwasstandingthereinsteadofthestag,andsaid:“itiswellthatihaveyou.ihavealreadyruinedsixpairsofglassskateswithrunningafteryou,andhavenotbeenabletoreachyou.”thenhetooktheking'ssonwithhim,andedhimthroughagreatlaketoagreatpalace,andthenhehadtositdowntotablewithhimandeatsomething.whentheyhadeatensomethingtogetherthekingsaid:“ihavethreedaughters,youmustkeepwatchovertheeldestforonenight,fromnineintheeveningtillsixinthemorning,andeverytimetheclockstrikes,iwillcomemyselfandcall,andifyouthengivemenoanswer,tomorrowmorningyoushallbeputtodeath,butifyoualwaysgivemeananswer,youshallhavehertowife.”whentheyoungfolkswenttothebedroomtherestoodastoneimageofst.christopher,andtheking'sdaughtersaidtoit:“myfatherwillcomeatnineo'clock,andeveryhourtillitstrikesthree,whenhecalls,givehimananswerinsteadoftheking'sson.”thenthestoneimageofst.christophernoddeditsheadquitequick,andthenmoreandmoreslowlytillatlastitagainstoodstill.thenextmorningthekingsaidtohim:“youhavedonethebusinesswell,buticannotgivemydaughteraway.youmustnowwatchanightbymyseconddaughter,andtheniwillconsiderwithmyself,whetheryoucanhavemyeldestdaughtertowife,butishallcomeeveryhourmyself,andwhenicallyou,answerme,andificallyouandyoudonotreply,yourbloodshallflow.”thentheybothwentintothesleeping-room,andtherestoodastilllargerstoneimageofst.christopher,andtheking'sdaughtersaidtoit:“ifmyfathercalls,doyouanswerhim.”thenthegreatstoneimageofst.christopheragainnoddeditsheadquitequicklyandthenmoreandmoreslowly,untilatlastitstoodstillagain.andtheking'ssonlaydownonthethreshold,puthishandunderhisheadandslept.thenextmorningthekingsaidtohim:“youhavedonethebusinessreallywell,buticannotgivemydaughteraway;youmustnowwatchanightbytheyoungestprincess,andtheniwillconsiderwithmyselfwhetheryoucanhavemyseconddaughtertowife.butishallcomeeveryhourmyself,andthenicallyouanswerme,andificallyouandyouanswernot,yourbloodshallflowforme.”

thentheyoncemorewenttothesleeping-roomtogether,andtherewasamuchgreaterandmuchtallerimageofst.christopherthanthetwofirsthadbeen.theking'sdaughtersaidtoit:“whenmyfathercalls,doyouanswer.”thenthegreattallstoneimageofst.christophernoddedquitehalfanhourwithitshead,untilatlengththeheadstoodstillagain.andtheking'ssonlaidhimselfdownonthethresholdofthedoorandslept.thenextmorningthekingsaid:“youhaveindeedwatchedwell,buticannotgiveyoumydaughternow;ihaveagreatforest,ifyoucutitdownformebetweensixo'clockthismorningandsixatnight,iwillthinkaboutit.”thenhegavehimaglassaxe,aglasswedge,andaglassmallet.whenhegotintothewood,hebeganatoncetocut,buttheaxebrokeintwo.thenhetookthewedge,andstruckitoncewiththemallet,anditbecameasshortandassmallassand.thenhewasmuchtroubledandbelievedhewouldhavetodie,andsatdownandwept.

nowwhenitwasnoonthekingsaid:“oneofyougirlsmusttakehimsomethingtoeat.”“no,”saidthetwoeldest,“wewillnottakeittohim;theonebywhomhelastwatched,cantakehimsomething.”thentheyoungestwasforcedtogoandtakehimsomethingtoeat.whenshegotintotheforest,sheaskedhimhowhewasgettingon.“oh,”saidhe,“iamgettingonverybadly.”thenshesaidhewastocomeandjusteatalittle.“nay,”saidhe,“icannotdothat,ihavetodieanyway,soiwilleatnomore.”thenshespokesokindlytohimandedhimjusttotry,thathecameandatesomething.whenhehadeatensomethingshesaid:“iwillpickyourliceawhile,andthenyouwillfeelhappier.”

soshelousedhim,andhebecamewearyandfellasleep,andthenshetookherhandkerchiefandmadeaknotinit,andstruckitthreetimesontheearth,andsaid:“earth-workers,comeforth.”inamoment,numbersoflittleearth-mencameforth,andaskedwhattheking'sdaughtercommanded.thensaidshe:“inthreehours'timethegreatforestmustbecutdown,andallthewoodlaidinheaps.”sothelittleearth-menwentaboutandgottogetherthewholeoftheirkindredtohelpthemwiththework.theybeganatonce,andwhenthethreehourswereover,allwasdone,andtheycamebacktotheking'sdaughterandtoldherso.thenshetookherwhitehandkerchiefagainandsaid:“earth-workers,gohome.”atthistheyalldisappeared.

whentheking'ssonawoke,hewasdelighted,andshesaid:“comehomewhenithasstrucksixo'clock.”hedidasshetoldhim,andthenthekingasked,“haveyoumadeawaywiththeforest?”“yes,”saidtheking'sson.whentheyweresittingattable,thekingsaid:“icannotyetgiveyoumydaughtertowife,youmuststilldosomethingmoreforhersake.”soheaskedwhatitwastobe.“ihaveagreatfish-pond,”saidtheking.“youmustgotoittomorrowmorningandclearitofallmuduntilitisasbrightasamirror,andfillitwitheverykindoffish.”thenextmorningthekinggavehimaglassshovelandsaid:“thefish-pondmustbedonebysixo'clock.”sohewentaway,andwhenhecametothefish-pondhestuckhisshovelinthemudanditbrokeintwo.thenhestuckhishoeinthemud,anditbrokealso.thenhewasmuchtroubled.atnoontheyoungestdaughterbroughthimsomethingtoeat,andaskedhimhowhewasgettingon.sotheking'ssonsaideverythingwasgoingveryillwithhim,andhewouldcertainlyhavetolosehishead.“mytoolshavebrokentopiecesagain.”“oh,”saidshe,“youmustjustcomeandeatsomething,andthenyouwillbeinanotherframeofmind.”“no,”saidhe,“icannoteat,iamfartoounhappyforthat!”thenshegavehimmanygoodwordsuntilatlasthecameandatesomething.thenshelousedhimagain,andhefellasleep,sooncemoreshetookherhandkerchief,tiedaknotinit,andstruckthegroundthricewiththeknot,andsaid:“earth-workers,comeforth.”inamomentagreatmanylittleearth-mencameandaskedwhatshedesired,andshetoldthemthatinthreehours’time,theymusthavethefish-pondentirelycleanedout,anditmustbesoclearthatpeoplecouldseethemselvesreflectedinit,andeverykindoffishmustbeinit.thelittleearth-menwentawayandsummonedalltheirkindredtohelpthem,andintwohoursitwasdone.thentheyreturnedtoherandsaid:“wehavedoneasyouhavecommanded.”theking’sdaughtertookthehandkerchiefandoncemorestruckthriceonthegroundwithit,andsaid:“earth-workers,gohomeagain.”thentheyallwentaway.

whentheking'ssonawokethefish-pondwasdone.thentheking'sdaughterwentawayalso,andtoldhimthatwhenitwassixhewastocometothehouse.whenhearrivedatthehousethekingasked:“haveyougotthefish-ponddone?”“yes,”saidtheking'sson.thatwasverygood.

whentheywereagainsittingattablethekingsaid:“youhavecertainlydonethefish-pond,buticannotgiveyoumydaughteryet,youmustjustdoonethingmore.”“whatisthat,then?”askedtheking'sson.thekingsaidhehadagreatmountainonwhichtherewasnothingbutbriarswhichmustallbecutdown,andatthetopofittheyouthmustbuildagreatcastle,whichmustbeasstrongascouldbeconceived,andallthefurnitureandfittingsbelongingtoacastlemustbeinsideit.andwhenhearosenextmorningthekinggavehimaglassaxeandaglassgimlet,andhewastohavealldonebysixo'clock.ashewascuttingdownthefirstbriarwiththeaxe,itbrokeoffshort,andsosmallthatthepiecesflewallroundabout,andhecouldnotusethegimleteither.thenhewasquitemiserable,andwaitedforhisdearesttoseeifshewouldnotcomeandhelphiminhisneed.whenitwasmiddayshecameandbroughthimsomethingtoeat.hewenttomeetherandtoldherall,andatesomething,andletherlousehimandfellasleep.thensheoncemoretooktheknotandstrucktheearthwithit,andsaid:“earth-workers,comeforth!”thencameonceagainnumbersofearth-men,andaskedwhatherdesirewas.thensaidshe:“inthespaceofthreehoursyoumustcutdownthewholeofthebriars,andacastlemustbebuiltonthetopofthemountainthatmustbeasstrongasanyonecouldconceive,andallthefurniturethatpertainstoacastlemustbeinsideit.”theywentaway,andsummonedtheirkindredtohelpthemandwhenthetimewascome,allwasready.thentheycametotheking'sdaughterandtoldherso,andtheking'sdaughtertookherhandkerchiefandstruckthriceontheearthwithit,andsaid:“earth-workers,gohome,”onwhichtheyalldisappeared.whenthereforetheking'ssonawokeandsaweverythingdone,hewasashappyasabirdinair.

whenithadstrucksix,theywenthometogether.thensaidtheking:“isthecastleready?”“yes,”saidtheking'sson.whentheysatdowntotable,thekingsaid:“icannotgiveawaymyyoungestdaughteruntilthetwoeldestaremarried.”thentheking'ssonandtheking'sdaughterwerequitetroubled,andtheking'ssonhadnoideawhattodo.buthewentbynighttotheking'sdaughterandranawaywithher.whentheyhadgotalittledistanceaway,theking’sdaughterpeepedroundandsawherfatherbehindher.“oh,”saidshe,“whatarewetodo?myfatherisbehindus,andwilltakeusbackwithhim.iwillatoncechangeyouintoabriar,andmyselfintoarose,andiwillsheltermyselfinthemidstofthebush.”whenthefatherreachedtheplace,therestoodabriarwithoneroseonit,andhewasabouttogathertherose,whenthethornprickedhisfingersothathewasforcedtogohomeagain.hiswifeaskedwhyhehadnotbroughttheirdaughterbackwithhim.sohesaidhehadnearlygotuptoher,butthatallatoncehehadlostsightofher,andabriarwithonerosewasgrowingonthespot.

thensaidthequeen:“ifyouhadbutgatheredtherose,thebriarwouldhavebeenforcedtocometoo.”sohewentbackagaintofetchtherose,butinthemeantimethetwowerealreadyfarovertheplain,andthekingranafterthem.thenthedaughteroncemorelookedroundandsawherfathercoming,andsaid:“oh,whatshallwedonow?iwillinstantlychangeyouintoachurchandmyselfintoapriest,andiwillstandupinthepulpit,andpreach.”whenthekinggottotheplace,therestoodachurch,andinthepulpitwasapriestpreaching.sohelistenedtothesermon,andthenwenthomeagain.

thenthequeenaskedwhyhehadnotbroughttheirdaughterwithhim,andhesaid:“nay,iranalongtimeafterher,andjustasithoughtishouldsoonovertakeher,achurchwasstandingthereandapriestwasinthepulpitpreaching.”“youshouldjusthavebroughtthepriest,”saidhiswife,“andthenthechurchwouldsoonhavecome.itisnousetosendyou.imustgotheremyself.”whenshehadwalkedforsometime,andcouldseethetwointhedistance,theking'sdaughterpeepedroundandsawhermothercoming,andsaid:“nowweareundone,formymotheriscomingherself,iwillimmediatelychangeyouintoafish-pondandmyselfintoafish.”

whenthemothercametotheplace,therewasalargefish-pond,andinthemidstofitafishwasleapingaboutandpeepingoutofthewater,anditwasquitemerry.shewantedtocatchthefish,butshecouldnot.thenshewasveryangry,anddrankupthewholepondinordertocatchthefish,butitmadehersoillthatshewasforcedtovomit,andvomitedthewholepondoutagain.thenshecried:“iseeverywellthatnothingcanbedonenow,”andaskedthemtocomebacktoher.thentheking'sdaughterwentbackagain,andthequeengaveherdaughterthreewalnuts,andsaid:“withtheseyoucanhelpyourselfwhenyouareinyourgreatestneed.”sotheyoungfolksoncemorewentawaytogether.andwhentheyhadwalkedquitetenmiles,theyarrivedatthecastlefromwhencetheking'ssoncame,andnearitwasavillage.whentheyreachedit,theking'ssonsaid:“stayhere,mydearest,iwilljustgotothecastle,andthenwillicomewithacarriageandwithattendantstofetchyou.”

whenhegottothecastletheyallrejoicedgreatlyathavingtheking'ssonbackagain,andhetoldthemhehadabridewhowasnowinthevillage,andtheymustgowiththecarriagetofetchher.thentheyharnessedthehorsesatonce,andmanyattendantsseatedthemselvesoutsidethecarriage.whentheking'ssonwasabouttogetin,hismothergavehimakiss,andheforgoteverythingwhichhadhappened,andalsowhathewasabouttodo.atthishismotherorderedthehorsestobetakenoutofthecarriageagain,andeveryonewentbackintothehouse.butthemaidensatinthevillageandwatchedandwatched,andthoughthewouldcomeandfetchher,butnoonecame.thentheking'sdaughtertookserviceinthemillwhichbelongedtothecastle,andwasobligedtositbythepondeveryafternoonandcleanthetubs.andthequeencameonedayonfootfromthecastle,andwentwalkingbythepond,andsawthewell-grownmaidensittingthree,andsaid:“whatafinestronggirlthatis!shepleasesmewell!”thensheandallwithherlookedatthemaid,butnooneknewher.soalongtimepassedbyduringwhichthemaidenservedthemillerhonorablyandfaithfully.inthemeantime,thequeenhadsoughtawifeforherson,whocamefromquiteadistantpartoftheworld.whenthebridecame,theywereatoncetobemarried.andmanypeoplehurriedtogether,allofwhomwantedtoseeeverything.thenthegirlsaidtothemillerthathemightbesogoodastogiveherleavetogoalso.sothemillersaid:“yes,dogothere.”whenshewasabouttogo,sheopenedoneofthethreewalnuts,andabeautifuldresslayinsideit.sheputiton,andwentintothechurchandstoodbythealtar.suddenlycamethebrideandbridegroom,andseatedthemselvesbeforethealtar,andwhenthepriestwasjustgoingtoblessthem,thebridepeepedhalfroundandsawthemaidenstandingthere.thenshestoodupagain,andsaidshewouldnotbegivenawayuntilshealsohadasbeautifuladressasthatladythere.sotheywentbacktothehouseagain,andsenttoasktheladyifshewouldsellthatdress.no,shewouldnotsellit,butthebridemightperhapsearnit.thenthebrideaskedherhowshewastodothis.thenthemaidensaidifshemightsleeponenightoutsidethekingsson'sdoor,thebridemighthavewhatshewanted.sothebridesaid,yes,shewaswillingtodothat.buttheservantswereorderedtogivetheking'ssonasleepingdraught,andthenthemaidenlaidherselfdownonthethresholdandlamentedallnightlong.shehadhadtheforestcutdownforhim,shehadhadthefish-pondcleanedoutforhim,shehadhadthecastlebuiltforhim,shehadchangedhimintoabriar,andthenintoachurch,andatlastintoafish-pond,andyethehadforgottenhersoquickly.theking’ssondidnothearonewordofit,buttheservantshadbeenawakened,andhadlistenedtoit,andhadnotknownwhatitcouldmean.thenextmorningwhentheywereallup,thebrideputonthedress,andwentawaytothechurchwiththebridegroom.inthemeantimethemaidenopenedthesecondwalnut,andastillmorebeautifuldresswasinsideit.sheputiton,andwentandstoodbythealtarinthechurch,andeverythinghappenedasithadhappenedthetimebefore.andthemaidenagainlayallnightonthethresholdwhichledtothechamberoftheking’sson,andtheservantwasoncemoretogivehimasleepingdraught.theservant,however,wenttohimandgavehimsomethingtokeephimawake,andthentheking’ssonwenttobed,andthemiller’smaidenbemoanedherselfasbeforeonthethresholdofthedoor,andtoldofallthatshehaddone.allthistheking’ssonheard,andwassoretrouble,andwhatwaspastcamebacktohim.thenhewantedtogotoher,buthismotherhadlockedthedoor.thenextmorning,however,hewentatoncetohisbeloved,andtoldhereverythingwhichhadhappenedtohim,andprayedhernottobeangrywithhimforhavingforgottenher.thentheking’sdaughteropenedthethirdwalnut,andwithinitwasastillmoremagnificentdress,whichsheputon,andwentwithherbridegroomtochurch,andnumbersofchildrencamewhogavethemflowers,andofferedthemgayribbonstobindabouttheirfeet,andtheywereblessedbythepriest,andhadamerrywedding.butthefalsemotherandthebridehadtodepart.andthemouthofthepersonwholasttoldallthisisstillwarm.