"' "'*
'«
^ I
j^AA.4.^>
X^s-^
-3-
5
NY PUBLIC LIBRARY THE BRANCH LIBRARIES
3 3333 081 19 5519
Zo^go
jim
THE
NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY
* * -ft
PRESENTED BY
THE CHILDREN'S BOOK
A COLLECTION OF THE BEST AND MOST FAMOUS STORIES
AND POEMS IN THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE
CHOSEN BY
HORACE E. SCUDDER
WITH MANY ILLUSTRATIONS
BOSTON
PUBLISHED BY HOUGHTON, MIFFLIN AND COMPANY
> J. a J 90,
: .'.">%'' ,\\ •;
CopyrigM, 1881
Br HOUGHTON. MIFFLIN & COMPANY
AU rights reserved
The Nt</^ YORK
PUBLIC L. BRA RY
G z^o-7^ 0
ASTOfI LENOX AND
TILDEN FOoNOATIONS
O |_
The Riverside Press, Cambridge:
Blectrotyped and Printed by U. 0. lloughton & Co.
** c c .♦«*■ ) o*
TABLE OF CONTENTS.
THE BOOK OF FABLES. p*"^
The Wolf and the Lamb 1
The Fox and the Grapes ....
The Tortoise and the Hare ....
The Cat and the Mice
The Farmer and his Sons 2
The Woman and her Maids ....
The Two Packs • •
The Frogs ask for a King ....
The Fox in the Well
The Wolf and the Crane ....
The Cat, the Weasel, and the Young Rabbit
The Lion and the Mouse ....
The Goose that laid Golden Eggs
The Boys and the Frogs .
The Lion, the Ass, and the Fox
The Astrologer ....
The Shepherd-Boy and the Wolf
The Farmer's Sons ....
The Stag and the Lion
Hercules and the Wagoner .
The Sun and the Wind
Belling the Cat ....
The Farmer and the Stork
The Crab and his Mother
The Cat, the Monkey, and the Chestnuts
The Crow and the Pitcher .
The Lion and the Fox . . . . •
A Country- Fellow and a Rivek .
The Belly- and the Members
The Fox that lost his Tail
The Archer and the Eagle
The Ant and the Grasshopper
The Crow and the Fox
The Jackdaw and the Doves
The Fox and the Lion
The Tortoise and the Eagle
The Boy and the Nettle .
The Dog and the Wolf
The Boy that stole Apples
The Fox and the Stork
The Wolf and the Goat .
The Lion in Love
1
The
1
The
1
The
2
The
2
The
2
The
2
The
3
The
3
The
3
The
4
The
5
The
5
The
6
The
6
The
6
The
6
The
6
PAQE
Kite and the Pigeons . . . . .13
Ass in the Lion's Skin 14
Dog and his Shadow 14
8
. 9
9
. 9
9
10
10
10
10
11
11
11
12
12
12
12
13
13
13
Lakk and her Young Ones .
Traveler and the Viper
Frog and the Ox
Dog in the Manger ....
Flies and the Pot of Honey
Wolf in Sheep's Clothing
Country Maid and her Milk-Pail
Country Mouse and the Town Mouse
Lioness and the Fox ....
Miller, his Son, and their Ass
Wolves and the Sheep
Spendthrift and the Swallow
Arab and his Camel ....
Old Man and Death
The Choice of Hercules
THE BOOK OF WONDERS.
The Story- of Chicken Licken
The Three Bears ....
The Elves and the Shoemaker
The Fkog-Prince ....
The Jew in the Bush
The King of the Golden Mountain
The Fisherman and his Wife
Jorinda and Joeindel
14
15
15
15
15
15
16
16
16
17
17
17
18
18
18
. 21
22
. 23
24
. 25
27
, 30
32
The Six Swans 34
Rumpel-StiltsKin 37
The Fair One with Golden Locks . . .38
Little One Eye, Little Two Eves, and Little
Three Eyes 43
The Traveling Musicians 47
The White Cat ■ig
Prince Cherry 56
The Golden Bird ....... 60
Riquet with the Tuft ...... 6*
The Nose ......... 66
Hop o'-my-Thumb ....... 69
A FEW SONGS.
Little Birdie .....••. 75
IV
CONTENTS.
PAGE
The Lamb 75
The Child's Desire . . ' 75
The Little Doves ....... 75
Pretty Cow 76
Twinkle, Twinkle • . 76
Willie Winkie 76
The Same, with the Scotticisms changed . 77
Good-Night and Good-Morning . . . .77
Gentle Jesus, Meek and Mild .... 78
LnLLABT 78
Cradle Song 78
THE BOOK OF POPULAR TALES.
Cinderella ; or, the Glass Slipper . . .79
Hans in Luck 83
The Sleeping Beauty in the Wood . . .85
Jack the Giant-Killer 89
Tom Thumb 96
Pdss in Boots 9.9
Little Red Riding-Hood 103
Beauty and the Beast 104
The History or Sir Richard Whittington and
his Cat 109
Blue Beard . . 114
The History or Portunatus 117
Jack and the Bean-Stalk 122
The History of Valentine and Orson . • 127
Clever Alice 132
THE BOOK OF STORIES IN VERSE.
The Children in the Wood 134
Mary's Lamb 136
The Spider and his Wife 136
The Notorious Glutton 137
Dirty Jack 138
The Chatterbox 138
Meddlesome Matty 138
The Pin 139
Never play with Fire 139
The Pond -140
The Cow and the Ass ...... 140
Nose and Eyes 141
The Wind in a Frolic 142
The Diverting History of John Gilpin . . 142
The Spider and the Fly 146
A Visit from St. Nicholas 147
The Mountain and the Squirrel .... 148
Holy Thursday 148
An Elegy on the Death op a Mad Dog . . 149
The Pied Piper of Hamelin .... 149
STORIES FROM HANS CHRISTIAN ANDERSEN.
The Constant Tin Soldier 154
The Emperor's New Clothes . . . .157
The Daisy 159
The Ugly Duckling 162
The Fir-Tree 167
The Flax 172
The Swineherd 175
The Lovers 178
Little Claus and Big Claus 179
The Darning-Needle 186
The Red Shoes 188
The Nightingale 191
The Princess on the Pea 197
Holger Danske 198
The Shepherdess and the Chimney-Sweep . ■ 201
" What the Good-Man does is sure to be Right" 203
The Little Match Girl 206
The Bell 208
TALES FROM THE ARABIAN NIGHTS' EN-
TERTAINMENTS.
I. Introduction 211
n. The History of the Fisherman . . . 219
III. The Story op the Enchanted Horse . 222
IV. The Story of Aladdin ; or, the Wonderful
Lamp 230
V. The Adventures of the Caliph Haroun Al-
Raschid 255
VI. The History of Ali Baba, and op the Forty
Robbers killed by one Slave .... 284
VII. The Story- of Sindbad the Sailor . . 296
VIII. The Story of the Little Hunchback . 304
IX. The Story of the Barmecide Feast . . 307
THE BOOK OF BALLADS.
John Barleycorn 310
Robin Hood and Allin a Dale .... 310
Robin Hood and the Bishop of Hereford . . 312
The Hunting of the Cheviot .... 313
King John and the Abbot of Canterbury . .318
Sweet William's Ghost 320
Sir Patrick Spens 320
The Heir of Linne 322
The Dragon of Wantlet 326
THE BOOK OF FAMILIAR STORIES.
The Renowned History op Goody Two-Shoes . 328
The Renowned History of Mrs. Margery Two-
Shoes 335
Eyes, and no Eyes ; or, the Art of Seeing . 339
The Boy without a Genius 342
A Tale of Potted Sprats 344
Waste not. Want not ; or, Two Strings to tour
Bow 346
The Discontented Pendulum .... 360
A VOYAGE TO LILLIPUT 362
CONTENTS.
PAGE
TRAVELS OF BARON MUNCHAUSEN . . 393
THE BOOK OF POETRY.
The Pet Lamb 403
Poor Susan 404
Epitaph on a Hare 404
Llewellyn and his Dog 405
Paul Revere's Ride 406
Lochinvar 409
GooDv Blake and Harrv Gill .... 410
How they brought the Good News from Ghent
TO Aix 412
Lucy Gray 413
PAGE
Old Ironsides 414
horatius 415
The Skeleton in Akmok 420
The Burial of Sir John Moore .... 423
Lord Ullin's Daughter 424
The Wreck of the Hesperus 425
The Beggar Maid 427
THE BOOK OF ANCIENT STORIES.
The Horse of Wood 428
The Cyclops 431
The Story of King Crcesus 436
The Expedition of the Argonauts . . . 441
Digitized by the Internet Archive
in 2007 with funding from
IVIicrosoft Corporation
http://www.archive.org/details/childrensbookcolOOscud
i
THE BOOK OF FABLES.
THE WOLF AND THE LAMB.
As a Wolf was lapping at the head of a running
brook, he spied a stray Lamb paddling at some dis-
tance down the stream. Having made up his mind
to seize her, lie bethought himself how he might
justify his violence. " Villain," said he, running
up to her, " how dare you muddle the water that
I am drinking ? " " Indeed," said the Lamb,
humbly, " I do not see how I can disturb the
water, since it runs from you to me, not from me
to you." " Be that as it may," replied the Wolf,
" it was but a year ago that you called me many
ill names." " O Sir," said the Lamb, trembling,
" a year ago I was not born." " Well," replied
the Wolf, " if it was not j'ou it was your father,
and that is all the same ; but it 's no use trying
to argue me out of my supper ; " and without an-
other word he fell upon the poor, helpless Lamb
and tore her to jDieces.
THE FOX AND THE GRAPES.
A Fox who was hungry discovered some
bunches of grapes hanging from a vine high up a
1
tree, and, as he gazed, longed to get at them, and
could not; so he left them hanging there and went
off muttering, " They 're sour grapes."
THE TORTOISE AND THE HARE.
" What a dull, heavy creature," says the Hare,
"is this Tortoise." "And yet," says the Tortoise,
" I '11 run with you for a wager." " Done," says
the Hare, and then thej' ask the Fox to be the
judge. They started together, and the Tortoise
THE BOOK OF FABLES.
kept jogging on still, till he came to the end of
the course. The Hare laid himself down midway
and took a nap ; " for," says he, " I can catch up
with the Tortoise when I please." But it seems
he overslept himself, for when he came to wake,
though he scudded away as fast as possible, the
Tortoise had got to the post before him and won
the wager.
Slow and steady wins the race.
THE CAT AND THE MICE.
In a certain house there were many Mice. Now
a Cat, hearing of this, went there and began to
^i^\
catch them and eat them up one by one. When
the Mice were having this soi-ry time, they said
among themselves : " Let us take time by the
forelock and make our way to the eaves, that we
may not be every one of us destroyed, for since
the Cat cannot get there we shall be saved."' Now
when the Cat could not get at the Mice, he thought
something must be done, and began to plan to get
them out by some trick. Climbing up to a peg,
and throwing himself off, he hung from it and
pretended to be dead. One of the Mice peeping
out saw him there and said : " Ah, you fellow, if
you were a bag of meal itself we would n't come
out to you."
The fable teaches that prudent men, when they
have found out rascals, are not to be caught by
their make-believe.
THE FARMER AND HIS SONS.
A FARMER who had come to the end of his life
wished his sons to make a trial of farming, and
calling them to him, said : " Children, I am now
finishing my life, but you will find all that be-
longs to me in the vineyard." So they, thinking
it must contain a treasure-pot, took spades and
plows, after the death of their father, and eagerly
dug up all the soil. The treasure-pot, to be sure,
they did not find, but the vineyard, being well
dug over and improved, yielded an abundant store
of grapes and made them rich.
The story teaches that hard work is man's
treasure-pot.
THE WOMAN AND HER MAIDS.
A Widow, who was a notable housekeeper,
was wont to wake her Maids and set them at
work by cock-crow. And they, taking this very
hard, thought it was only necessary to strangle
the house cock, for they thought he was the cause
of their ills, because he waked the mistress before
dawn. When they had done this the lady of the
house waked them earlier still, in the very middle
of the night, for she could not tell when it was
cock-crow.
So it is that their own devices become the very
breeders of evil to many men.
THE TWO PACKS.
Every man carries two packs, one in front, the
THE WOLF AND THE CRANE.
other behind, and each is full of faults. But the
one in front holds other people's faults, the one
behind holds his own. And so it is that men do
not see their own faults at all, but see very clearly
indeed the faults of others.
THE FROGS ASK FOR A KING.
r
The Frogs being concerned at the free and
easy waj' in which they were living, sent their
elders to Jove to beg him to send them a king.
Now he saw what simpletons they were and tossed
a Log into the middle of the lake. The Frogs,
frightened out of their senses, plunged at once
into the very deepest holes. But after some time
had passed, when they saw that the Log was stock
down to see what the matter was. " Ah," says
Reynard, " pray lend me your hand, friend, and
stiil, they forgot their fright, and felt such con-
tempt for it that they jumped up and sat on it.
Thinking such a king not worth having, they went
a second time to Jove, and asked him to change
him. Then he gave them an Eel, but when they
saw how stupid he was, they refused to receive
him. So they went a third time to Jove, and
wanted him to change this one too. And Jove,
who was now angry, at once sent a Stork to them,
who caught the Frogs and ate them up one by
one.
The fable shows that it is well to trust God,
and so to avoid wicked and troublesome rulers.
THE FOX I^^ THE WELL.
An unlucky Fox dropped into a well, and cried
out for help. A Wolf overheard him, and looked
^^^^^^^^ ^<^4
get me out of this." "Poor creature," says the
Wolf, " how did this come about ? how long hast
thou been here? thou must be mighty cold."
" Come, come," says the Fox, " this is no time for
pitying and asking questions ; get me out of the
well first, and I will tell you all about it after-
ward."
THE WOLF AND THE CRANE.
A Wolf once bad a bone stuck in his throat,
and offered the Ci-ane a large reward if she would
thrust her head down and draw the bone out.
She did so, and claimed the reward. At that, the
Wolf set up a laugh, and showed his teeth : " Isn't
it enough for you," he said, " to have this, and
4 THE BOOK OF FABLES.
nothing else, that you liave drawn your bead safely THE CAT, THE WEASEL, AND THE YOUNG
out of the jaws of the Wolf ? " " RABBIT.
The story points at crafty men, who, when they A YOUNG Rabbit was living contentedly at
are rid of dangei-, offer this to their benefactors home, respected bj' his neighbors, and not disposed
for thanks, that they did thein no injury. to get into difficulty with any one, for he was
THE GOOSE THAT LAW GOLDEN EGGS.
peaceful and temperate in his habits. He went
out one morning to the parsley market, to get his
dinner, when a Weasel, that was going slyly by,
slipped into the Rabbit's house, and made herself
at home. It was very comfortable, and quite to
her mind, so she decided to remain, and settle
down there rft housekeeping, and enjoy the society
of the neighborhood. By and by the Rabbit re-
turned, and saw the Weasel sitting at the window,
poking her snout oat. " Do you not know that
this is my house ? " he asked. " Tut, tut," said
the Weasel. " What makes it yours ? you only
scratched the ground a little and came in here
where the earth was gone. Do you pretend to
own the earth ? " " The law gives it to me,"
said the Rabbit, " because I made it fit to live in.
If you do not leave, I shall send for the consta-
ble." " The law, indeed ! " said the Weasel.
" And pray what right has the law to give away
laud? But we will have no more words. We
will lay the matter before Grimalkin, and leave
it to him." The Rabbit consented, and they went
together to Grimalkin, an ancient Cat, who was
old, wise, and learned. " Come nearer, my chil-
dren," said Grimalkin to them, as they both began
talking together ; " I am very deaf, and borne
down by the weight of years. Nearer still, that
I may hear every word." Both approached fear-
lessly, each loudly protesting that the other was
unjust. As soon, however, as the learned Gri-
malkin had them within reach, he darted his
claws out on either side at the same moment, and
had them both in his clutches, when he settled
their dispute by devouring them at his leisure.
The house then belonged to him.
THE LION AND THE MOUSE.
A Mouse happened to run into the mouth of a
sleeping Lion, who roused himself, caught him,
and was just about eating him, when the little
fellow begged him to let him go, saying, " If I am
saved, I shall be everlastingly grateful." So, with
a smile, he let him off. It befell him, not long
after, to be saved by the Mouse's gratitude, for
when he was caught by some hunters and bound
by ropes to a tree, the Mouse, hearing his roaring
groans, came and gnawed the ropes, and set him
free, saying, "You laughed at me once, as if you
could receive no return from me, but now, you see,
it is you who have to be grateful to me."
The story shows that there come sudden changes
of affairs, when the most powerful owe everything
to the weakest.
THE GOOSE THAT LAID GOLDEN EGGS.
There was a Man who once had a very hand-
some Goose, that always laid golden eggs. Now,
he thought there must be gold inside of her, so he
wrung her neck straightway, and found she was
exactly like all other geese. He thought to find
riches, and lost the little lie had.
The fable teaches that one who has anything
6
THE BOOK OF FABLES.
should be content with it, and avoid covetousness,
lest he lose wliat he has.
THE BOYS AND THE FROGS.
A COMPANY of waggish Boys were watching
some Frogs at the side of a pond, and as fast as
any of them put up their heads they 'd pelt them
down again with stones. " Boys," says one of the
Fi-ogs, " you never consider that though this may
be fun for you 't is deatli to us."'
THE LION, THE ASS, AND THE FOX.
The Lion, the Ass, and the Fox, made a bar-
gain to go hunting together. Now when thej' had
caught a good supply of game, they came to eat
it ; and the Lion charged the Ass to divide the
spoil. So he divided it into tliree equal parts, and
called on them to cliouse their portion, at which
the Lion fell into a rage, and made his supper off
the Ass. Afterward, he bade the Fox make the
division ; but the Fox put all the game into one
great heap, saving only a little bit for himself.
Then the Lion said, " My good fellow, who taught
you to divide so well ? " and the Fox said, " That
dead Ass there."
The fable teaches that wise men learn their
wisdom from the misfortunes of their neighbors.
THE ASTROLOGER.
An Astrologer was wont to go out every even-
ing and gaze at the stars. Now it happened once
that his walk took him outside of the town, and
as he was looking up with all his eyes to the sky,
he did not notice where he was going, and fell
into a ditch. He was in a sorry plight and set up
a cry, whereupon some one passing by heard his
groans, and came \i^ to him ; when the stranger
heard what had happened, he said to him : " Sir,
you who are trying to make out things in the sky,
don't you see what is on the earth ? "
One might apply this word to those who pre-
tend to teach men extraordinary things, but are
quite unable to attend to the most common af-
fairs.
THE SHEPHERD-BOY AND THE AVOLF.
A Shepherd- BOY who kept his flock a little
way from a village, for some time amused himself
with this sjDort : he would call loudly on the vil-
lagers to come to his help, crying, " Wolf ! wolf!
the wolves are among my lambs ! " Twice, three
times, the villagers were startled, and hurried out,
and went back laughed at, when finally the wolves
really did come. And as the wolves made way
with the flock, and he ran crying for help, they
supposed him only at his old joke, and jaaid no
attention. And so he lost all his flock.
It only shows that people who tell lies get this
for their pains, that nobody believes them when
they speak the truth.
THE FARMER'S SONS.
A Farmer's sons were very quarrelsome, and
the father, when he took counsel with them, could
HERCULES AND THE WAGONER.
do nothing by his words. Then he thought he
would persuade them by an example. So while
they were sitting there, he bade them bring him
some fagots, and when these were fetched, he
took them and bound them into one bundle, and
ordered his sons in turn to take the bundle and
break it. They tried, but could not. But after-
ward, when he had loosed the fagots, he gave
them to be broken singly. This they did very
quickly. Then their father saith to them : " So
is it with you, my children ; if you are all of the
same mind you will be unconquerable, and un-
manageable by your enemies ; but if you continue
to rebel and be quarrelsome, you will quickly be
mastered by them."
THE STAG AND THE LION.
A THIRSTY Stag came to a spring to drink ; as
he drank he saw his reflection in the water, and
was very proud of his antlers when he saw how
big and branching they were ; but he looked griev-
ously at his feet, and took it hard that they
should be so thin and weak. Now, while he was
pondering, a Lion suddenly appeared, and began
to chase him, and he, turning to run, had the ad-
vantage, for the Stag's virtue is in his feet, the
Lion's in his loins. As lone as the chase was on
the plain the Stag was not to be caught, but out-
stripped the Lion ; but when they came to a
wooded tract the Stag's horns became tangled in
the branches of trees, and not being able to run,
he was caught by the Lion. When he was about
to be doomed, he exclaimed : " What a wretch am
I, who was saved and made hajjpy by the very
things which I despised, but have come to my end
by what I especially gloried in."
The fable teaches this, that in like manner, men
often think they have something fine, and get
caught by it unawares ; or this, often when in
danger those of our friends whom we suspect are
really our saviors, while those we trust, turn out
to be traitors.
HERCULES AND THE WAGONER.
As a countryman was carelessly driving his
eftj
wagon along a miry lane, his wheels stuck so deep
in the clay that the horses came to a standstill.
Upon this, the man, without making the least
8
THE BOOK OF FABLES.
effort of his own, began to call upon Hercules to
come and help him out of his trouble. But Her-
cules bade him lay his shoulder to the wheel, as-
suring him that Heaven only helped those who
helped themselves.
THE SUN AND THE WIND.
There happened a controversy betwixt the
Sun and the Wind, which was the stronger of the
two, and they put the point upon this issue :
There was a traveler upon the way, and which
of the two could make him throw off his cloak
should gain his case. The Wind fell presently a
storming, and threw hail shot over and above in
the very teeth of him. The man wrapped himself
closer, and kept advancing still in spite of the
weather ; but this gust in a short time blew over,
and then the sun broke out, and fell to work upon
him with his beams, but still he pushed forward,
till in the end he was forced to quit his cloak, and
lay himself down upon the ground in a cool shade
for his relief, so that the Sun, in the conclusion,
carried the point.
BELLING THE CAT.
Theke was a sly Cat, it seems, in a certain
house, and the Mice were so plagued with her at
every turn that they called a court to advise upon
some ways to prevent being surprised. " If you '11
be ruled by me," says one of the Mice, "there's
nothing like hanging a bell about the Cat's neck,
to give warning beforehand when Puss is com-
ing." They all looked upon it as a capital con-
trivance. " Well," says another," and now we
are agreed upon the bell, say who shall put it
about the Cat's neck ? " But there was no one
ready to bell the Cat.
THE FARMER AND THE STORK.
A Fabmer set a net in his field in order to
catch Cranes and Geese that were eating the
young growth there. Now a Stork that was
caught with them, and had bruised his foot, too,
begged the Farmer to let him go free ; he urged
him piteously, thus : " Save me, good man, let me
go, have pity upon a poor weak thing that has got
caught here ; for I am not a Crane : come, quick,
see, I 'm a stork, a most useful creature, who take
care of my father and mother, and have no need
at all of any of these things in the field." But
S:mm^gpmM^
:iC
7/#/' :
M I J ^i~e^
the Farmer laughed heartily, and said : " Oh, I
know you, I 'm not ignorant ; I know exactly
what you are. But you have been caught with
the others and must die like them."
The fable teaches that it is wise to run away
and not consort with wicked men, lest we fall into
the same troubles that entrap them.
THE CRAB AND HIS MOTHER.
Said his mother to a Crab: " Why do you walk
so crooked, child ? walk straight." " Mother," said
he, " show me the way and I will try to walk like
A COUNTRY FELLOW AND A RIVER.
9
you.
But as lonsc us she could not walk straight
her son laughed at her advice.
THE CAT, THE MONKEY, AND THE CHEST-
NUTS.
A Cat and a Monkey were sitting one day in
the chimney c6rner watching some chestnuts which
their master had laid down to roast in the ashes.
The chestnuts had begun to burst with the heat
and the Monkey said to the Cat, " It is plain that
your paws were made especially for pulling out
those chestnuts. Do you reach forth and draw
them out. Your paws are, indeed, exactly like
our master's hands." The Cat was greatly flat-
tered by this speech, and reached forward for the
tempting chestnuts, but scarcely had he touched
the hot ashes than he drew back with a cry, for
he had burnt his paw, but he tried again, and
managed to pull one chestnut out ; then he pulled
another, and a third, though each time he singed
the hair on his paws. When he could pull no
more out he turned about and found tliat the
Monkey had taken the time to crack the chest-
nuts and eat them.
THE CROW AND THE PITCHER.
A Crow that was extremely thirsty found a
Pitcher with a little water in it, but it lay so low
thought himself, however, of a device at last that
did the business ; which was, by dropping a great
many little pebbles into the water and raising it,
that way, till he hs^d it within reach.
THE LION AND THE FOX.
A Lion that had grown old, and no longer had
strength to forage for food, saw that he must get
it by cunning. "Well, he went into his den, and,
creeping into a corner, pretended to be very sick,
and so all the animals about came in to take a
look at him, and as they came he snapped them
up. Now, when a good many beasts had been
he could not come at it. He tried first to break
the Pitcher and then to overturn it, but it was
both too strong and too heavy for him. He be-
caught in this way, the Fox, who suspected what
his ti-ick was, came along, and taking his stand
outside the den, and a little way off, asked the
Lion how he did. The Lion answered him, and
asked him why he would n't come down into the
den. " So I would," said the Fox, " but I notice
that all the foot-prints point into the den, and
there ai-e none pointing out."
So prudent men, discovering danger by signs,
keep out of the way.
A COUNTRY FELLOW AND A RIVER.
A BLOCKHEADED boy who was sent to market
with butter and cheese by the good old woman,
his mother, made a stop at a swift river in the
way, and laid himself down on the bank there, till
it should run out. About midnight home he goes
to his mother, with all his market trade back
10
THE BOOK OF FABLES.
again. " Why, how now, my son," says she,
" what have we here ! " " Why, mother, yonder 's
a river that has been running all this day, and I
stayed till just now for the running of it out, and
there 'tis, running still." "My son," says the
good woman, " thy head and mine will be laid
many a fair day before this river has all run by."
THE BELLY AND THE MEMBERS.
All the Member-s of the body conspired against
the Belly, as against the swallowing gulf of all
their labors ; for whereas the eyes beheld, the ears
heard, the hands labored, the feet traveled, the
tongue spake, and all parts performed their func-
tions ; only the Belly lay idle, and consumed all.
Hereupon, they jointly agreed, all to forbear their
labors, and to leave their lazy and public enemy
''■ilk..
to take care of himself. One day passed over, the
second followed very slowly, but the third day was
so grievous to them all that they called a common
council. The eyes waxed dim, the feet could not
support the body, the arms waxed lazy, the tongue
faltered, and could not lay open the matter ; there-
fore they all, with one accord, desired the advice
of the Heart. Then the Heart told them : " It is
true that the Belly receives all the meats, but it
sends them out again for the nourishment of all
parts of the bod}', and all must work together for
the common good. The Belly cannot do without
the Members, nor the Members without the
Belly."
THE FOX THAT LOST HIS TAIL.
A Fox, that had got caught in a trap and lost
his tail when getting away, was so ashamed, that
he thought life not worth living. So he had a
mind to get the rest of the Foxes into the same
scrape, and thus hide his own maiming in the
common fortune. Well, he got tliem all together,
and urged them to cut off their tails, telling them
that the tail was not only a very ugly thing, but
so much dead weight hung on behind. But one
of them caught him up, saying, " My good fellow,
this is all very well, but if it were not for your
benefit you never would be advising us to do it."
The story shows the way to answer those who
give advice to their neighbors, not out of good
will, but because thej' are looking out for them-
selves.
THE ARCHER AND THE EAGLE.
An Archer took aim at an Eagle, and, letting
fly his shaft, brought the bird down. The Eagle
gazed at the arrow and seeing that it was winged
with feathers from his own breast, said : '•'■ How
often the wounds we get come from weapons which
we have supplied ! "
THE ANT AND THE GRASSHOPPER.
On a cold, frosty day, an Ant was dragging out
some of the corn which he had laid up in summer
time, to dry it. A Grasshopper, half perishing
with hunger, besought the Ant to give him a mor-
THE FOX AND THE LION.
11
sel of it to preserve his life. " What were you
doing," asked the Ant, "this last summer?"
" Oh," said the Grasshopper, " I was not idle. I
kept singing all summer long." Said the Ant,
laughing, and shutting up his granary. " Since
you could sing all summer, you may dance all
winter."
THE CROW AND THE FOX.
A Crow had stolen a cheese and carried it away
to a high tree to eat it there in peace. A Fox
saw it and meant to get it by a device. " Good
Crow," said he, " what a lovely and shapely body
you have ! your color is more beautiful than that
of many of the birds, and had j^ou but a charming
voice, sui-ely you would hold the very first place."
Thei-eupon she opened her mouth to sing, to show
him he was wrong, when down fell the cheese.
He picked it up and ran off with it saying : " To
be sure you have a voice, Crow, but you have n't
any sense."
If you believe your enemy you will get punished
for it.
THE JACKDAAV AND THE DOVES.
A Jackdaw seeing how well the Doves were
cared for in their dove-cote, whitened himself, so
that he might have a share in their good fortune.
As long as he kept quiet they let him be amongst
them, thinking he was a Dove, but when he forgot
himself and opened his mouth, they discovered
what he really was and flew upon him and drove
him out. He, poor fellow, losing that chance,
went back to the Jackdaws, but they did not know
him on account of his white coat, and would not
let him join them, and so for wanting to get into
two companies he missed both.
The fable teaches us that we ought to be con-
tent with our own, arguing that covetousness is
not only of no avail but often rids us of what we
already have.
THE FOX AND THE LION.
A Fox who had never seen a Lion met one by
chance, and upon first catching sight of him was
frightened almost to death ; the next time he hap-
pened on him he was frightened, to be sure, but
not so much as before; when he saw him a third
12
THE BOOK OF FABLES.
time, he plucked up courage enough to go up and
speak to him.
The story teaches that famiUarity makes terri-
ble things much less frightful.
THE TORTOISE AND THE EAGLE.
A Tortoise seeing an Eagle in flight wanted
much to fly like him. So she went to him when
he was by and asked him if he would not teach
her to fly, if she would piiy him well for the lesson.
look as if yon led an easy life of it." " That I
do," quoth the Dog : " I have all I can eat and
He told her it was impossible, but as she still
persisted and begged him, he seized her, bore her
aloft, and then let her drop upon a rock, but the
blow knocked the breath out of her body.
The fable teaches that men who are envious
and refuse to take the advice of those who know
more than themselves are apt to get into trouble.
THE BOY AND THE NETTLE.
A Boy playing in the fields was stung by a
Nettle. He ran home to his mother, telling her
he had but touched the weed and it had stung
him. " It was just touching it that stung you,"
said she : " the next time you meddle with a Net-
tle grasp it boldly and it will not hurt you."
THE DOG AND THE AVOLF.
A LEAN, hungry, half-starved Wolf happening
to meet one moonlight night with a plump, well-
fed dog, said ; " Good morrow to you friend ; you
some left over." " That have not I," said the Wolf,
"you can count my ribs, I am so lean." " Well,
come with me," said the Dog, " and you shall
share my supper." As they jogged along the Wolf
spied a crease about the Dog's neck. " Now what
may that be?" he asked, curiously. "That?
that is where my master puts a collar on me when
he chains me to my kennel." " Chains you ! then,
you can't run free when you will ! good-by, my
friend, I 'd rather have my liberty with hunger,
than good living with a chain," and the Wolf
went back to the woods.
THE BOY THAT STOLE APPLES.
An Old Man found a rude Boy upon one of his
trees, stealing apples, and told him to come down ;
but the young rogue told him plainly he would
not. "Won't you!" said the Old Man, "then I
will fetch you down ; " so he pulled up some tufts
of grass and threw at him ; but this only made
the youngster laugh, to think the Old Man should
think to beat him down from the tree with grass
only. " Well, well," said the Old Man, " if nei-
ther words nor grass will do, I will try what vir-
tue there is in stones ; " with that he pelted him
heartily with stones, which soon made the Boy
clamber down from the tree and beg the Old
Man's pardon.
THE KITE AND THE PIGEONS.
13
THE FOX AND THE STORK.
The Fox invited the Stork to sup with hiin,
and placed a shallow dish on the table, out of
which it was impossible for the Stork, with her
long bill, to get anything, while the Fox could
father, in a great fright, finding himself in danger,
bethought him of a way, and said to the Lion : '' I
cannot possibly give you my daughter. Lion, unless
you will first have your teeth and nails drawn, for
these would frighten her." He was so desperately
lap up the food with his tongue, and so the Fox
had tlie laugh on the Stork. The Stork, in her
turn, invited the Fox to dine with her, and she
placed the food in a long-necked jar, from which
she could easily feed with her bill, while the Fox
could get nothing, and that was tit for tat.
Rudeness sometimes gets paid with a just retal-
iation.
THE WOLF AND THE GOAT.
A Wolf seeing a Goat feeding upon the edge
of a high precipice, where he could not get at her,
begged her to come down lower, where she would
be in no danger of falling over the precipice, add-
ing that the meadows and grass were much richer
where he was. But he answered, " Thank you,
good sir ; you are not inviting me to feed myself,
but to be food for you."
THE LION IN LOVE.
A Lion that had fallen in love with a Wood-
man's daughter, wanted to marry her, so he went
to the father and begged him to give him the
maid, but the Woodman said he could not think of
such a thing as marrying his daughter to a Lion.
At that the Lion began to roar furiously, and the
in love, that he readily consented, and when it
was all over, asked again for the girl, but the
Woodman had no longer any fear of him, and
drove him off with jeers.
THE KITE AND THE PIGEONS.
The Pigeons had long lived in fear of the Kite,
but by being always on the alert, and keeping
near the dove-cote, they contrived to escape his
attacks. Then the Kite, finding he could not
take them boldly, tried a trick. He went to the
dove-cote and said : " Why do you live in this con-
stant fear and anxiety ? I am strong, and could
14
THE BOOK OF FABLES.
protect you against your enemies. Make me
king." At that, the Pigeons chose him for their
king, and when he was once securely within the
dove-cote he devoured his subjects at his leisure,
one each day, and one of them, when his turn
came, said truly, " It serves us right."
THE ASS IN THE LION'S SKIN.
The Ass once dressed himself in the Lion's skin
and went about frightening all the little beasts.
Now he happened on the Fox, and tried to
frighten him too ; but the Fox chanced to hear
him speak, and said : " Well, to be sure, I should
have been frightened too, if I had n't heard you
bray, and seen your ears sticking out."
So thei'e are some men who make themselves
appear very fine outwardly, but are betrayed as
soon as tliej' begin to talk.
THE DOG AND HIS SHADOW.
As a Dog was crossing a river with a morsel of
good flesh in his mouth, he saw, as he thought, a
bigger piece in the water ; so he dropped what
he had, to catch at what was a shadow, and lost
both.
THE LARK AND HER YOUNG ONES.
There was a brood of young Larks in a field
of corn, which was just ripe, and the mother,
looking every day for the reapers, left word, when-
ever she went out in search of food, that her
young ones should report to her all the news they
heard. One day, while she was absent, the mas-
ter came to look at the state of the crops. " It
is full time," said he, " to call in all my neighbors
and get my corn reaped." When the old Lark
came home, the young ones told their mother what
they had heard, and begged her to remove them
forthwith. " Time enough," said she ; " if he
trusts to his neighbors, he will have to wait a while
yet for his harvest." Next day, however, the
owner came again, and finding the sun still hotter
and the corn more ripe, and nothing done, " There
is not a moment to be lost," said he : " we cannot
depend upon our neighbors : we must call in our
relations," and turning to his son, " Go, call your
uncles and cousins, and see that they begin to-
morrow." In still greater fear the young ones
repeated to their mother the farmer's words. " If
that be all," says she, " do not be frightened, for
the relations have got harvest work of their own ;
but take particular notice what you hear the next
time, and be sure you let me know." She went
abroad the next day, and the owner coming as be-
fore, and finding the grain falling to the ground
from over-ripeness, and still no one at work, called
to bis son. " We must wait for our neighbors and
friends no longer ; do 3^ou go and hire some reap-
ers to-night, and we will set to work ourselves to-
morrow." When the young ones told their mother
this, — " Then," said she, " it is time to be off in-
deed ; for when a man takes up his business him-
THE WOLF IN SHEEP'S CLOTHING.
15
self, instead of leaving it to others, you may be
sure that he means to set to work in earnest."
THE TRAVELER AND THE VIPER.
A Travelee, going along the road in winter,
saw a Viper stiff with cold, and taking pity on it,
took it up and'^placed it in his bosom to warm it
back into life. Now the Viper, as long as be was
still cold, lay quiet, but as soon as he was well
warmed he drove his fangs into the man's breast.
And as the man was dying, he said : " I suffer
justly, for why should I have taken care of the
dying Viper, wlien I ought to have killed him,
thougli he had been in the best of health ? "
So there are some men who show favors to oth-
ers, and fail to see that they will only get stings
in return.
THE FROG AND THE OX.
An Ox, grazing in a swampy meadow, chanced
to set his foot among a parcel of young Frogs, and
crushed nearly the whole brood to death. One
that escaped ran off to his mother with the dread-
ful news: "O mother," said he, " it was a beast
— such a big four-footed beast, that did it."
"Big? "quoth the old Frog, " How big ? was it
as big " — and she puft'ed herself out — " as big
as this ? " " Oh, a great deal digger than that."
" Well, was it so big ? " and she swelled herself
out yet more. "• Indeed, mother, but it was ; and
if you were to burst yourself, you would never
reach half its size." The old Frog made one more
trial, determined to be as big as the Ox, and burst
herself, indeed.
THE DOG IN THE MANGER.
A Dog made his bed in a manger, where he
> f'*^
neitlier ate the grain himself, nor let the Cow eat
it, who could.
THE FLIES AND THE POT OF HONEY.
A Pot of Honey having been overturned in the
pantry, the Flies clustei-ed about to eat tlie honey,
but owing to the stickiness of the sweet stuff, they
could not get away ; their feet were so entaugled
that they could not fly up, and, choking to death,
they cried out: "Wretches that we are, to die
just for a moment of pleasure ! "
So it is that greediness is for many people the
cause of their ill-fortune.
THE WOLF IN SHEEP'S CLOTHING.
A Wolf, clothing himself in the skin of a
sheep, and getting in among the flock, had a
chance to make way with a good many of them.
At last the Shepherd discovered him, and, tying a
rope about his neck, hung him to a tree near by,
as a warning to the other wolves. Some shep-
herds going by, thought, at a distance, that it was
a sheep hung thus, and wondered why the Shep-
herd should do this, but when they came near,
they saw that it was a Wolf, and the Shepherd
16
THE BOOK OF FABLES.
said : '
though
I hang a Wolf when I catch him, even
he be dressed in a sheep's skin."
THE COUNTRY MAID AND HER MILK-PAIL.
A Country Maid was walking slowly along
with a pail of milk upon her head, and thinking
thus : " The money for which I shall sell this
milk will enable me to increase my stock of eggs
to three hundred. These eggs, allowing for what
may prove addled, and what may be destroj^ed by
vermin, will produce, at least, two hundred and
fifty chickens. The chickens will be fit to carry
to market about Christmas, when poultry always
brings a good j^rice, so that by May Day I shall
have money enough to buy a new gown. Let me
see — green suits my complexion best; yes, it shall
be green. In this dress I will go to the fair,
where all the young fellows will want me for a
partner, but I shall, perhaps, refuse every one of
them," — and by this time she was so full of her
fancy that she tossed her head proudly, when
over went the pail, which she had entirely forgot-
ten, and all the milk was spilled on the ground.
Don't count your chickens before they are
hatched.
THE COUNTRY
MOUSE AND
MOUSE.
THE TOWN
A Country Mouse had a friend who lived in a
house in town. Now the Town Mouse was invited
by the Country Mouse to take dinner with him,
a,nd out he went and sat down to a meal of barley
and wheat. " Do you know, my friend," said he,
" that you live a mere ant's lif6 out here ? Now
I have abundance at home, come, and enjoy all
the good things." So oii the two set for town,
and there the Town Mouse showed the other his
beans and meal, his dates, too, his cheese, and
fruit, and honey. And as the Country Mouse ate,
drank, and was merry, he praised his friend and
bewailed his own poor lot. But while they were
urging each other to eat heartily, a man suddenly
opened the door, and frightened by the noise they
crept into the cracks. Then when they wanted
to taste again of some dried figs, in came another
person to get something that was in the room, and
when they cauglit sight of him the3' ran and hid
in a hole. At that, the Country Mouse forgot his
hunger, and fetching a sigh, said to the other :
" Please yourself, my good friend, eating all you
want, and having your fill of good things with jol-
lity— and danger and a constant panic; as for
me, poor wretch, who have onl}' barley and wheat,
I will live on, without fear of any one overlooking
me."
The fable teaches that it is better worth while
to live plainly and undisturbed, than to have a
surfeit and be always in terror.
THE LIONESS AND THE FOX.
A Lioness was twitted by a Fox for only
giving birth to one at a time. " One," said she,
'• yes, one, but a Lion."
THE SPENDTHRIFT AND THE SWALLOW.
17
The fable teaches that good resides not in num-
bers but in worth.
THE MILLER, HIS SON, AND THEIR ASS.
A Miller and his Son were driving their Ass
to a neighboring fair to sell him. They had not
gone far when they met with a troop of girls, re-
turning from the town, talking and laughing.
" Look there! " cried one of them, " did you ever
see such fools, to be trudging along on foot when
they might be riding ? " The old man, hearing
this, bade his Son get on the Ass, and walked
along merrily by the side of him. Presently they
came to a group of old men in earnest debate.
" There ! " said one of them, " that proves what I
was saying. What respect is shown to old age in
these days ? do you see that idle young rogue rid-
ing, while his old father has to walk ? get down,
you scape-grace, and let the old man get on ! "
Upon tliis, the Miller made his Son dismount, and
got up himself. They had not gone far, when
they met a company of women and children.
" Why, you lazy old fellow ! " cried several tongues
at once, " how can you ride upon the beast, while
that poor little lad there can hardly keep pace by
the side of you ? " The good-natured Miller there-
upon took up his Son behind him. They had now
almost reached the town. " Pray, honest friend,"
said a townsman, " is that Ass your own ? "
" Yes," said the old man. " Oh ! one would not
have thought so," said the other, " by the way
you load him. Why, you two poor fellows are
better able to carry the poor beast, than he you ! "
" Anything to please you," said the old man.
" We can but try." So, alighting with his Son,
they tied the Ass's legs together, and by the help
of a pole endeavored to carry him on their shoul-
ders over a bridge that led to the town. This
was so entertaining a sight, that the people ran
out in crowds to laugh at it ; till the Ass, not lik-
ing the noise or his situation, kicked the cords
away, and tumbled off the pole into the river.
Upon this, the old man, vexed and ashamed, made
the best of his way home again, having learned
that by trying to please everybody he had pleased
nobody, and lost his Ass into the bargain.
THE WOLVES AND THE SHEEP.
Said the Wolves to the Sheep: " Why should
there always be war between us ? and how is it
no truce or flags go from us to you ? it is all along
of these wretched dogs who bark at us the moment
we come near you, and stir us up when we had no
thought of harming you. Only get rid of them,
and we can have peace." The Sheep believed the
Wolves, and sent the dogs off, but as soon as they
were left unprotected the Wolves ate them up.
If you listen to your enemy you will get your-
self into danger.
THE SPENDTHRIFT AND THE SWALLOW.
A DISSOLUTE young man who had spent all his
fortune, and had only his cloak left, when he spied
18
THE BOOK OF FABLES.
a Swallow coming forth out of season, thought
that spring was at hand, and so went and sold his
cloak, as having no immediate use for it. But
afterward, when a storm arose, and the air was
very keen, he saw the Swallow lying desolate and
dead, and said to her : " Ah, my friend, you have
ruined me, and are lost yourself."
The fable teaches that one swallow does not
make a summer.
THE ARAB AND HIS CAMEL.
One cold night, as an Arab sat in his tent, a
Camel gently thrust the flap of the tent aside and
looked in.
" I pray thee, master," he said, "suffer me but
to put my head within the tent, for it is cold with-
out."
" By all means, and welcome," said the Arab,
cheerfulljr, aud the Camel, moving forward,
stretched his head into the tent.
" If I might but warm my neck also," he said,
beseechingly.
" Put also your neck inside," said the Arab.
Presently the Camel, who had been turning his
head from side to side, said again.
" I will take but little more room if I place my
fore-legs within the tent. It is difiicult standing
■without."
" You may also plant your fore-legs within,"
said the Arab, moving a little to make room, for
the tent was very small.
" May I not stand wholly within ? " asked the
Camel, finally. " I keep the tent open by standing
as I do."
" Yes, yes," said the Arab, " I will have com-
passion on you as well as on myself. Come
wholly inside." So the Camel came forward, and
crowded into the tent. But the tent was too
small for both.
'• I think," said the Camel, " that there is not
room for both of us here. It will be best for you
to stand outside, as you are the smaller. There
will then be room enough for me," and with that
he pushed the Arab a little, who made haste to
get outside of the tent.
THE OLD MAN AND DEATH.
An Old Man, after cutting his wood and lifting
it upon his shoulders, set out on a long road.
And growing very weary, he laid down his burden
and began calling on Death. But when Death
appeared and asked why he had called for him,
the Old Man said : " So that you may help me on
with my load again."
The fable teaches that every man is a lover of
life, even though it go hard with him and he meet
a thousand dangers.
THE CHOICE OF HERCULES.
When Hercules was growing out of boyhood
into youth, and had come to the time when young
men become tlieir own masters, and .show plainly
whether they will take the path which leads by
virtue's way to the end of life, or will take that
which lies through sin, he sat down by the way-
side and considered whether of the two he would
choose. And as he sat there, two queenly women
appeared and drew near ; the one was fair to look
upon and noble in form, of fine presence, with
downcast eyes and grave bearing, clad in white
garments ; and the other was tender and soft, and
so adorned as to seem fairer and ruddier than the
former, with a bearing that seemed more stately,
with eyes that were opened full and fair, and in
garments that shone as the day ; and oft she ad-
mired herself, and looked to see if any other were
THE CHOICE OF HERCULES.
19
gazing upon her, and cast her eyes ever upon her
own shadow.
As they came near to Hercules, the one first
spoken of was keeping on her way, but the other
made haste to get before her, and running to Her-
cules, said : —
" O Hercules^ I perceive that thou art consid-
ering by which of the two paths thou wilt travel
to thy life's end. If, now, thou wilt make me thy
friend I will lead thee by the pleasantest and
easiest path, and thou shalt not fail to taste of all
pleasures, and shalt go thy way unvexed by any
hardships. For, first of all, thou shalt have no
care for wars or the life of busy men, but shalt
only cast about, to see what pleasant thing thou
mayst have to eat or drink, or what delight there
may be for thine eye or thine ear, or what pleas-
antness to smell or touch, and how thou mayst
take thy joyance in the sports of the young, and
how thou mayst sleep softly, and enjoy all these
things with the least trouble. And should there
come any doubt into thy mind lest there should
be a lack of these things, have no fear that I will
call thee to toil, and weariness, and hardness of
life, that thou mayst obtain them, but know that
whatever others labor for that shalt thou have
without labor, wanting nothing which it may be
possible ever to gain ; for always do I give power
to those that follow me to have their heart's de-
sire."
When Hercules heard these words, he said :
" What is thy name, lady ? " and she answered :
" My friends call me Pleasure, but those who hate
me call me names, and say I am Vice."
Thereupon the other, coming near, said, " As
for me, I have come to thee, Hercules, because I
know those who gave thee birth, and taught thee
in thy childhood, and from this have hope that if
thou wilt take the path which I take thou wilt
become a good laborer in all that is pure and holy,
and I shall be held in even higher honor and be
yet more comely in the sight of good men. I will
not make thee deceitful promises of pleasure, but
I will show thee truthfully what the gods have ap-
pointed. For the gods give no good or fair thing
to men without labor and care ; wouldst thou have
the gods merciful to thee, thou must serve them :
dost thou wish to be beloved by thy friends, thou
must do thy friends good deeds ; art thou eager to
be honored by any city, thou must be of use to
that city ; dost thou long to be admired for thy
nobleness by all Greece, thou must make it thy
endeavor to do well to Greece ; desirest thou the
land to yield thee ripe fruit, thou must till the
land ; thinkest thou to be rich in herds, thou must
give thy care to the cattle ; art thou impatient to
grow mighty by war, and wouldst thou have
power to set thy friends free and worst thine ene-
mies, thou must study well the art of war with
those who understand it, and learn to practice it;
and then if thou wishest to have a strong body,
thou must make it obedient to thy mind, and thou
must exercise it with labor and the sweat of
toil."
Here Vice interrupted her, and said : " Dost
thou know, Hercules, by what a hard and long
path this woman would lead thee to pleasure ?
But I will take thee by an easier and shorter
way to happiness." Then Goodness said : —
" Thou bold woman, what good thing hast thou ?
or what real pleasure dost thou know, vpho art not
willing to do aught for the sake of these delights ?
for thou canst not even wait for the desire of these
pleasures, but before the desire comes thou hast
emptied them all, eating before thou art hungry,
drinking before thou thirstest, and that thou mayst
eat delicately, choosing skillful cooks ; that thou
mayst drink agreeably, getting costly wines, and
coolinar them in summer with snow water , that
thou mayst sleep softly, thou gettest not only
downy beds, but couches, and carpets beneath the
couches, for thou longest for sleep, not because
thou hast toiled, but because thou hast nothing to
do. Thou art immortal, but thou hast been cast
out by the gods, and art dishonored by good men ;
to the sweetest of all sounds, praise of thyself,
thou art deaf, and to the fairest of all sights thou
art blind, for thou never hast seen one good work
of thine. And who would trust thee, when thou
saidst aught ? and who would satisfy thee, asking
20
THE BOOK OF FABLES.
auglit ? or who in his right mind would dare to
be of thy company ? tliy young men are weak, thy
old men are senseless ; when they pass their youth
without toil the)' drag through age with toil and
burden, ashamed of what they have done, weighed
down with what they now do, having run through
all pleasures in their youth, and waiting nothing
but hardness in their age. But I am companion
of the gods, and of all good men ; no beautiful
deed of gods or men is done without me. Gods
and men pay me honor, each in his own kind ; I
am a beloved fellow to the craftsman, a faithful
guard to the master of the house, a gracious aid
to the townsman, a good partner in the labors of
peace, a strong fellow soldier in war, and the best
comrade in the world. My friends have a sweet
enjoyment at their ease, of meat and drink, for
they ask for nothing till they want it, and sleep to
them is nioi-e refreshing than to those who toil
not ; when they miss it the loss is no burden, and
when they have it they lose not thei'eby the doing
of any needful thing. The young rejoice in the
praises of the old, and the old men are glad at
honor from the young ; the memory of their for-
mer deeds is pleasant, and they are blessed in
their present work, for, by me, they have the gods
for their friends, men to love them, and their coun-
try to honor them. And whensoever the end of
their jom-ney comes, they lie not down in unhon-
ored forgetfulness, but with joy at the hymns of
praise, which are sung over them forever.
" Such things are possible to thee, O Hercules,
child of good parents ; to thee it is given by toil
to win the most blessed hapj^iness."
THE BOOK OF WONDERS.
THE STORY OF CHICKEN-LICKEN.
As Chicken-licken went one day to the woods, an
acorn fell upon her poor bald pate, and she thought
the skj^ had fallen. Then she said she would go •
and tell the king that the sky had fallen.
So Chicken-licken turned back, and met Henny-
penny. " Well, Henny-penny, where are you go-
ing ? " and Henny-penny said, " I 'm going to the
wood for some meat," and Chicken-licken said,
" Oh, Henny-penny, don't go, for I was going, and
the sky fell upon my poor bald pate, and I 'm go-
ing to tell the king."
So Henny-penny turned back with Chicken-
licken, and met Cocky-locky. " Oh, Cocky-locky,
where are you going? " and Cocky-locky said,
" I 'm going to the wood for some meat." Then
Hennj'-penny said, " Oh, Cocky-locky, don't go,
for I was going and met Chicken-licken, and
Chicken-licken had been at the wood, and the
sky had fallen on her poor bald pate, and we are
going to tell the king."
So Cocky-locky turned back, and met Ducky-
lucky. " Well, Ducky-lucky, where are you
going ? " And Ducky-lucky said, " I 'm going to
the wood for some meat." Then Cocky-locky
said, " Oh, Ducky-lucky, don't go, for I was going,
and met Henny-penny, and Hennj'-penny met
Chicken-licken, and Chicken-licken had been at
the wood, and the sky had fallen on her poor bald
pate, and we are going to tell the king."
So Ducky-lucky turned back, and met Draky-
laky. " Well, Draky-laky, where are you go-
ing ? " and Draky-lakj' said, " I 'm going to the
wood for some meat." Then Ducky-lucky said,
"Oh, Draky-laky, don't go, for I was going, and
met Cocky-locky, and Cocky-locky met Henny-
penny, and Henny-penny met Chicken-licken, and
Chicken-licken had been at the wood, and the sky
had fallen on her poor bald pate, and we are go-
ing to tell the king."
So Draky-laky turned back, and met Goosey-
loosey. " Well, Goosey-loosey, where are you
going ? " and Goosey-loosey said, " I 'm going to
the wood for some meat." Then Draky-laky said,
" Oh, Goosey-loosey, don't go, for I was going, and
met Ducky-lucky, and Ducky-lucky met Cocky-
locky, and Cocky-locky met Henny-penn}^ and
Henny-penny met Chicken-licken, and Chicken-
licken had been at the wood, and the sky had
fallen on her poor bald pate, and we ai'e going to
tell the king."
So Goosey-loosey turned back, and met Gander-
lander. " Well, Gander-lander, where are you
going?" and Gander-lander said, "I'm going to
the wood for some meat." Then Goosey-loosey
said, " Oh, Gander-lander, don't go, for I was
going, and met Draky-laky, and Draky-laky met
Ducky-lucky, and Ducky-lucky met Cocky-locky,
and Cocky-locky met Henny-penny, and Henny-
penny met Chicken-licken, and Chicken-licken had
been at the wood, and the sky had fallen on her
poor bald pate, and we are going to tell the king."
So Gander-lander turned back, and met Turkey-
lurkey. " Well, Turkey-lurkey, where are you
going? " and Turkey-lurkey said, " I 'm going to
the wood for some meat." Then Gander-lander
said, " Oh, Turkey-lurkey, don't go, for I wa9
going, and I met Goosey-loosey, and Goosey-loosey
met Draky-laky, and Draky-laky met Ducky-
lucky, and Ducky-lucky met Cocky-locky, and
Cocky-locky met Henny-penny, and Henny-penny
22
THE BOOK OF WONDERS.
met Cbicken-licken, and Chicken-licken bad been
at tbe wood, and tbe sky bad fallen on ber poor
bald pate, and we are going to tell tbe king."
So Turkey- lurkey turned back, and walked witb
Gander-lander, Goosey-loosey, Draky-laky, Ducky-
lucky, Cocky-locky, Henny-penny, and Cbicken.
licken. And as they were going along tbey
met Fox-lox. And Fox-lox said, "Wbere are
you going, my pretty maids ? " and tbey said,
." Chicken-licken went to tbe wood, and the sky
fell upon ber poor bald pate, and we are going to
tell tbe king."
And Fox-lox said, " Come along witb me, and
I will show you the way." But Fox-lox took
tbem into tbe fox's bole, and be and bis young
ones soon ate up poor Cbicken-licken, Henny-
penny, Cocky-locky, Ducky-lucky, Draky-laky,
Goosey-loosey, Gander-lander, and Turkey-lurkey,
and tbey never saw tbe king to tell bim that the
sky bad fallen !
THE THREE BEARS.
In a far-off country there was once a little girl
who was called Silver-bair, because ber curly hair
shone brightlj'. She was a sad romp, and so rest-
less tbat she could not be kept quiet at home, but
must needs run out and away, without leave.
One day she started off into a wood to gather
wild flowers, and into tbe fields to cbase butter-
flies. She ran here and she ran tbere, and went
so far, at last, that she found herself in a lonely
place, where sbe saw a snug little bouse, in which
three bears lived ; but tbey were not then at borne.
Tbe door was ajar, and Silver-hair pushed it
open and found the place to be quite empty, so
she made up her mind to go in boldly, and look
all about the place, little thinking what sort of
people lived tbere.
Now tbe three beai's had gone out to walk a
little before this. Tbey were the Big Bear, and
tbe Middle-sized Bear, and tbe Little Bear ; but
they had left their porridge on the table to cool.
So wben Silver-hair came into tbe kitcben, sbe saw
the three bowls of porridge. Sbe tasted tbe largest
bowl, wbich belonged to tbe Big Bear, and found
it too cold ; then sbe tasted tbe middle-sized bowl,
wbich belonged to tbe Middle-sized Bear, and
found it too hot ; then sbe tasted the smallest
bowl, which belonged to the Little Bear, and it
was just right, and she ate it all.
She went into tbe parlor, and there were three
chairs. Sbe tried tbe biggest chair, wbich be-
longed to the Big Bear, and found it too high.
then sbe tried the middle-sized chair, which be-
longed to tbe Middle-sized Bear, and she found it
too broad ; then sbe tried tbe little chair, wbich
belonged to tbe Little Bear, and found it just
right, but she sat in it so hard that she broke it.
Now Silver-hair was by this time very tired,
and she went up-stairs to the chamber, and there
sbe found three beds. She tried tbe largest bed,
which belonged to the Big Beai', and found it too
soft ; then sbe tried the middle-sized bed, which
belonored to tbe Middle-sized Beai', and sbe found
it too bard ; then sbe tried tbe smallest bed, wbich
belonged to the Little Bear, and found it just
right, so she lay down upon it, and fell fast asleep.
While Silver-bair was lying fast asleep, tbe
three bears came home from their walk. Tbey
came into tbe kitchen, to get their porridge, but
wben tbe Big Bear went to bis, he growled out, —
" SOMEB^ODY HAS BEEN TASTING MY
PORRIDGE!"
and tbe Middle-sized Bear looked into his bowl,
and said, —
" SOSIEBODY HAS BEEN TASTING MY POR-
RIDGE ! "
and tbe Little Bear piped, —
" Somebody has tasted my j}orridge and ate it
all up ! "
Then they went into the parlor, and the Big
Bear growled, —
"SOMEBODY HAS BEEN SITTING IN
MY CHAIR ! "
THE ELVES AND THE SHOEMAKER.
23
and the Middle-sized Bear said, —
" Somebody has been sitting in wy chair! "
and the Little Bear piped, —
" Somebody has been sitting in my chair, and
has broken it all to pieces ! "
So they went up-stairs into the chamber, and
the Big Bear gfowled,
" SOMEBODY
MY BED!"
HAS BEEN TUMBLING
and the Middle-sized Bear said, —
" Somebody has been tumbling my bed ! "
and the Little Bear piped, —
" Somebody has been tumblinff my bed, and here
she is!"
At that, Silver-hair woke in a fright, and jumped
out of the window and ran away as fast as her legs
could carry her, and never went near the Three
Bears' snug little house again.
THE ELVES AND THE SHOEMAKER.
There was once a shoemaker who worked very
hard and was vei'y honest ; but still he could not
■earn enough to live upon, and at last all he had
in the world was gone, except just leather enough
to make one pair of shoes. Then he cut them all
ready to make up the next day, meaning to get
up early in the morning to work. His conscience
was clear and his heart light, amidst all his troub-
les ; so he went peaceably to bed, left all his cares
to heaven, and fell asleep. In the morning, after
he had said his prayers, he sat himself down at
his work, when, to his great wonder, there stood
the shoes, all ready made, upon the table. The
good man knew not what to say or think of this
strange event. He looked at the workmanship ;
there was not one false stitch in the whole job;
and all was so neat and true that it was a com-
plete masterpiece.
That same day a customer came in, and the
shoes pleased him so well that he willingly paid
a price higher than usual for them ; and the poor
shoemaker with the money bought leather enough
to make two pairs more. In the evening he cut
out the work, and went to bed early, that he
might get up and begin betimes next day : but he
was saved all the trouble, for when he got up in
the morning the work was finished ready to his
hand. Presently in came buyers, who jjaid him
handsomely for his goods, so that he bought
leather enough for four pairs more. He cut out
the work again over night, and found it finished
in the morning as before ; and so it went on for
some time : what was got ready in the evening
was always done by daybreak, and the good man
soon became thriving and prosperous again.
One evening, about Christmas time, as he and
his wife were sitting over the fire chatting to-
gether, he said to her, " I should like to sit up
and watch to-night, that we may see who it is
that comes and does my work for me." The wife
liked the thought ; so they left a light burning,
and hid tliemselves in the corner of the room be-
hind a curtain that was hung up there, and
watched what should happen.
As soon as it was midnight there came two
little naked dwarfs ; and they sat themselves upon
the shoemaker's bench, took up all the work that
24
THE BOOK OF WONDERS.
was cut out, and began to ply with their little
fingers, stitching and rapping and tapping away
at such a rate that the shoemaker was all amaze-
ment, and could not take his eyes off them for
a moment. And on they went busily till the job
was quite finished, and the shoes stood, ready for
use, upon the table. This was long before day-
break ; and then they bustled away as quick as
lightning.
The next day, the wife said to the shoemaker,
" These little wights have made us rich, and we
ought to be thankful to them, and do them a good
office in return. I am quite vexed to see them
run about as they do ; they have nothing upon
their backs to keep off the cold. I'll tell you
what, I will make each of them a shirt, and a coat
and waistcoat, and a pair of pantaloons into the
bargain ; do you make each of them a little pair
of shoes."
The thought pleased the good shoemaker very
much ; and one evening, when all the things were
ready, they laid them on the table, instead of the
work that they used to cut out, and then went
and hid themselves, to watch what the little elves
would do. About midnight they came in, and
were going to sit down to their work as usual ;
but when they saw the clothes lying for them,
they laughed and were greatlj^ delighted. Then
they dressed themselves in the twinkling of an
eye, and danced and capered and sprang about as
merry as could be, till at last they danced out of
the door, over the green ; and the shoemaker saw
them no more : but everything went well with
him from that time forward, as long as he lived.
THE FROG-PRINCE.
One fine evening a young princess went into a
wood, and sat down by the side of a cool spring of
water. She had a golden ball in her hand, which
was her favorite plaything, and she amused her-
self with tossing it into the air and catching it
again as it fell. After a time she threw it up
so high that when she stretched out her hand
to catch it, the ball bounded away and rolled
along upon the ground, till at last it fell into
the spring.
The princess looked into the spring after the
ball ; but it was very deep, so deep that she
could not see the bottom of it. Then she began
to lament her loss, and said, " Alas ! if I could
only get my ball again, I would give all my fine
clothes and jewels, and everything that I have in
the world." Whilst she was speaking a frog put
its head out of the water and said, " Princess, why
do you weep so bitterly?" "Alas!" said she,
"what can you do for me, you nasty frog? My
golden ball has fallen into the spring." The frog
said, " I want not your pearls and jewels and fine
clothes ; but if you will love me and let me live
with you, and eat from your little golden plate,
and sleep upon your little bed, I will bring you
your ball again." " What nonsense," thought
the pi'incess, " this silly frog is talking ! He can
never get out of the well : however, he may be
able to get my ball for me ; and therefore I will
promise him what he asks." So she said to the
frog, " Well, if j'ou will bring me my ball, I
promise to do all you require." Then the frog
put his head down, and dived deep under the
water ; and after a little while he came up
again with the ball in his mouth, and threw it
on the ground. As soon as the young princess
saw her ball, she ran to pick it up, and was so
overjoyed to have it in her hand again that
she never thought of the frog, but ran home
with it as fast as she could. The frog called
after her, " Stay, princess, and take me with you
as you promised ; " but she did not stop to hear
a word.
The next day, just as the princess sat down
to dinner, she heard a strange noise, tap-tap, as if
somebody were coming up the marble staircase;
and soon afterwards something knocked gently at
the door, and said, —
THE JEW IN THE BUSH.
25
" Open the door, ray princess dear,
Open the doov to thy true love here !
And mind the words that thou and I said
Bv the fountain cool in the greenwood shade."
Then the princess ran to the door and opened it,
and there she saw the frog, whom she had quite
forgotten ; she r^vas terribly frightened, and shut-
ting the door as fast as she could, came back to
her seat. The king, her father, asked her wliat
had frightened her. " There is a nasty frog,"
said slie, " at the door, who lifted my ball out of
the spring this morning: I promised him that he
should live with me here, thinkiug that he could
never get out of the spring ; but there he is at the
door and wants to come in ! " While she was
speaking the frog knocked at the door, and said, —
" Open the door, my princess dear,
Open the door to thy true love here !
And mind the words that thou and I said
By the fountain cool in the greenwood sliade."
The king said to the young princess, " As you
have made a promise, you must keep it ; so go and
let him in." She did so, and the frog hopped into
the room, and came up close to the table. " Pray
lift me upon a chair," said he to the princess,
" and let me sit next to you." As soon as she
had done this, the frog said, " Put your plate
closer to me that I may eat out of it." This she
did, and when he had eaten as much as he could
he said, " Now I am tired ; carry me up-stairs and
put me into your little bed." And the princess
took him up in her hand and put him xvpon the
pillow of her own little bed, where he slept all
night long. As soon as it was light he jumped
up, hopped down-stairs, and went out of the house.
" Now," thought tlie princess, " he is gone and I
shall be troubled with him no more."
But she was mistaken ; for when night came
again, she heard the same tapping at the door,
and when she opened it, the frog came in and
slept upon her pillow as before till the morning
broke : and the third night he did the same ; but
when the princess awoke on the following morn-
ing, she was astonished to see, instead of the frog,
a handsome prince standing at the head of her
bed, and gazing on her with the most beautiful
eyes that ever were seen.
He told her that he had been enchanted by a
malicious fairy, who had changed him into the
form of a frog, in which he was fated to remain
till some princess should take him out of the
spring and let him sleep upon her bed for three
nights. " You," said the prince, " have broken
this cruel charm, and now I have nothing to wish
for but that you should go with me into my
father's kingdom, where I will marry you, and
love you as long as you live."
The young princess, you may be sure, was not
long in giving her consent ; and as they spoke a
splendid carriage drove up with eight beautiful
horses decked with plumes of feathers and golden
harness, and behind rode the prince's servant,
the faithful Henry, who had bewailed the mis-
fortune of his dear master so long and bitterly
that his heart had well nigh burst. Then all set
out full of jo}' for the prince's kingdom ; where
they arrived safely, and lived happily a great
many j'ears.
THE JEW IN THE BUSH.
A FARMER had a faithful and diligent servant,
who had worked hard for him three years, without
having been paid any wages. At last it came into
the man's head that he would not go on thus with-
out pay any longer ; so he went to his master, and
said, " I have worked hard for you a long time, I
will trust to you to give me what I deserve to have
4
for my trouble." The farmer was a sad miser,
and knew that his man was very simple-hearted;
so he took out threepence, and gave him for every
year's service a penny. The poor fellow thought
it was a great deal of money to have, and said to
himself, " Why should I work hard, and live here
on bad fare any longer ? I can now travel into
26
THE BOOK OF WONDERS.
the wide world, and make myself merry." With
that he put his money into his purse, and set out
roaming over hill and valley.
As he jogged along over the fields, singing and
dancing, a little dwarf met him, and asked him
what made him so merry. " Why, what should
make me down-hearted?" said he; "I am sound
in health and rich in purse, what should I care
for ? I have saved up my three years' earnings, and
have it all safe in my pocket." " How much may
it come to ? " said the little man. " Full three-
pence," replied the countryman. " I wish you
would give them to me," said the other ; " I am
very poor." Then the man pitied him, and gave
him all he had ; and the little dwarf said in return,
" As you have such a kind honest heart, I will
grant you three wishes — one for each penny ; so
choose whatever you like." Then the countryman
rejoiced at his good luck, and said, " I like many
things better than money : first I will have a bow
that will bring down everything I shoot at ; sec-
ondly, a fiddle that will set every one dancing
that hears me play upon it ; and thirdly, I should
like that every one shquld grant what I ask."
The dwarf said he should have his three wishes ,
so he gave him the bow and fiddle, and went his
way.
Our honest friend journej^ed on his way too ;
and if he was merry before he was now ten times
more so. He had not gone far before he met an
old Jew : close by them stood a tree, and on the
topmost twig sat a thrush singing away most joy-
fully. " Oh, what a pretty bird ! " said the iev7 ;
" I would give a great deal of money to have such
a one." " If that's all," said the countryman, " I
will soon bring it down." Then he took up his
bow, and down fell the thrush into the bushes at
the foot of the tree. The Jew crept into the bush
to find it ; but directly he had got into the middle,
his companion took up his fiddle and played away,
and the Jew began to dance and spring about, ca-
pering higher and higher in the air. The thorns
soon began to tear his clothes till they all hung in
rags about him, and he himself was all scratched
and wounded, so that the blood ran down. " Oh,
for heaven's sake! " cried the Jew, " master ! mas-
ter ! pray let the fiddle alone. What have I done
to deserve this ? " " Thou hast siiaved many a
poor soul close enough," said the other; "thou art
only meeting thy reward : " so he played another
tune. Then the Jew began to beg and promise,
and offered money for his liberty ; but he did not
come up to the musician's price for some time,
and he danced him along brisker and brisker, and
the Jew bid higher and higher, till at last he
offered a round hundred of florins that he had in
his purse, and had just gained by cheating some
poor fellow. When the countryman saw so much
money, he said, " I will agree to your proposal."
So he took the purse, put up his fiddle, and trav-
eled on very well pleased with his bargain.
Meanwhile the Jew crept out of the bush half
naked and in a piteous plight, and began to pon-
der how he should take his revenge, and serve his
late companion some trick. At last he went to
the judge, and complained that a rascal had
robbed him of his money, and beaten him into the
bargain ; and that the fellow who did it carried a
bow at his back and a fiddle hung round his neck.
Then the judge sent out his ofhcers to bring up
the accused wherever they should find him ; and
he was soon caught and brought up to be tried.
The Jew began to tell his tale, and said he had
been robbed of his money. " No, you gave it to
me for playing a tune to you," said the country-
man ; but the judge told him that was not likely,
and cut the matter short by ordering him off to
the gallows.
So away he was taken ; but as he stood on the
steps he said, " My Lord Judge, grant me one last
request." " Anything but thy life." " No," said
he, " I do not ask my life ; only let me play upon
my fiddle for the last time." The Jew cried out,
" Oh, no ! no ! for heaven's sake don't listen to
him ! don't listen to him ! " But the judge said,
" It is only for this once, he will soon have done."
The fact was, he could not refuse the request, on
account of the dwarf's third gift.
Then the Jew said, " Bind me fast, bind me
fast, for pity's sake." But the countryman seized
THE KING OF THE GOLDEN MOUNTAIN.
27
his fiddle, and struck up a tune, and at the first
note, judge, clerks, and jailer, were in motion ; all
began capering, and no one could hold the Jew.
At the second note the hangman let his prisoner
go, and danced also, and by the time he had
played the first bar of the tune, all were dancing
together — judge, court, and Jew, and all the
people who had followed to look on. At first the
thing was merry and pleasant enough ; but when
it had gone on a while, and there seemed to be no
end of playing or dancing, they began to cry out,
and beg him to leave off; but he stopped not a
whit the more for their entreaties, till the judge
not onlj' gave him his life, but promised to return
to him the hundred florins.
Then he called to the Jew and said, " Tell us
now, you vagabond, where you got that gold, or I
shall play on for your amusement only." " I stole
it," said the Jew in the presence of all the people :
" I acknowledge that I stole it, and that you earned
it fairly." Then the countrjnnan stopped his fid-
dle, and left the Jew to take his place at the gal-
lows.
THE KING OF THE GOLDEN MOUNTAIN.
A CERTAIN merchant had two children, a son
and daughter, both very young, and scarcely able
to run alone. He had two richly laden ships then
making a voyage upon the seas, in which he had
embarked all his property, in the hope of making
great gains, when the news came that they were
lost. Thus from being a rich man he became very
poor, so that nothing was left him but one small
plot of land ; and, to relieve his mind a little of
his trouble, he often went out to walk there.
One day, as he was roving along, a little rough-
looking dwarf stood before him, and asked him
why he was so sorrowful, and what it was that he
took so deeplj' to heart. But the merchant re-
plied, " If you could do me any good, I would tell
you." "Who knows but I may ?" said the lit-
tle man ; "tell me what is the matter, and per-
haps I can be of some service." Then the mer-
chant told him how all his wealth was gone to the
bottom of the sea, and how he had nothing left ex-
cept that little plot of land. " Oh ! trouble not
yourself about that," said the dwarf ; " only prom-
ise to bring me here, twelve years hence, what-
ever meets you first on your return home, and I
will give you as much gold as you please." The
merchant thought this was no great request ; that
it would most likely be his dog, or something of
that sort, but forgot his little child : so he agreed
to the bargain, and signed and sealed the engag-
ment to do what was required.
But as he drew near home, his little boy was so
pleased to see him, that he crept behind him and
laid fast hold of his legs. Then the father started
with fear, and saw what it was that he had bound
himself to do : but as no gold was come, he con-
soled himself by thinking that it was only a joke
that the dwarf was playing him.
About a month afterwards he went up-staira
28
THE BOOK OF WONDERS.
into an old lumber room to look for some old iron,
that he miglit sell it and raise a little money ; and
there he saw a lai'ge pile of gold lying on the floor.
At the sight of this he was greatly delighted,
went into trade again, and became a greater mer-
chant tlian before.
Meantime his son grew up, and as the end of
the twelve years drew near, the merchant became
very anxious and thoughtful ; so that care and
sorrow were written upon his face. The son one
day asked what was the matter : but his father
refused to tell for some time ; at last however he
said that he had, without knowing it, sold him to
a little ugly-looking dwarf for a great quantity of
gold ; and that the twelve years were coming
round when he must perform his agreement. Then
the son said, " Father, give yourself very little
trouble about that ; depend upon it I shall be too
much for the little man."
When the time came, they went out together
to the appointed place ; and the son di'ew a circle
on the ground, and set himself and his father in
the middle. The little dwarf soon came, and
said to the merchant, " Have you brought me
what you promised ? " The old man was sileiit,
but his son answered, " What do you want here ? "
The dwarf said, " I come to talk with your father,
not with you." " You have deceived and betrayed
my father," said the son ; " give him up his bond."
" No," replied the other, " I will not yield up my
rights." Upon this a long dispute arose; and at
last it was agi-eed that the son should be put into
an open boat, that lay on the side of a piece of
water hard by, and that the father should push
him off with his own hand ; so that he should be
turned adrift. Then he took leave of his father,
and set himself in the boat ; and as it was pushed
off it heaved, and fell on one side into the water :
so the merchant thought that his son was lost,
and went home vei-y sorrowful.
But the boat went safely on, and did not sink ;
and the young man sat securely within, till at
length it ran ashore upon an unknown land. As
he jumped upon the shore, he saw before him a
beautiful castle, but empty and desolate within.
for it was enchanted. At last, however, he found
a white snake in one of the chambers.
Now the white snake was an enchanted prin-
cess ; and she rejoiced greatly to see him, and
said, " Art thou at last come to be my deliverer ?
Twelve long years have I waited for thee, for
thou alone canst save me. This night twelve men
will come ° their faces will be black, and they will
be hung round with chains. They will ask what
thou dost here ; but be silent, give no answer,
and let them do what they will — beat and tor-
ment thee. Suffer all, only speak not a word ;
and at twelve o'clock they must depart. The
second night twelve others will come ; and the
third night twenty-four, who will even cut off thy
liead ; but at the twelfth hour of that night their
power is gone, and I shall be free, and will come
and bring thee the water of life, and will wash
thee with it, and restore thee to life and health."
And all came to pass as she had said ; the mer-
chant's son spoke not a word, and the third night
the princess appeared, and fell on his neck and
kissed him ; joy and gladness burst forth through-
out the castle ; the wedding was celebrated, and
he was king of the Golden Mountain.
They lived together very happily, and the queen
liad a son. Eight years had passed over their
heads when the king thought of his father : and
his heart was moved, and he longed to see him
once again. But the queen opposed his going,
and said, " I know well that misfortunes will
come." However, he gave her no rest till she
consented. At his departure she presented him
with a wishing-ring, and said, " Take this ring,
and put it on your finger ; whatever you wish it
will bring j'-ou : only promise that you will not
make use of it to bring me hence to your father's."
Then he promised what she asked, and put the
ring on his finger, and wished himself near the
town where his father lived. He found himself
at the gates in a moment ; but the guards would
not let him enter because he was so strangely clad.
So he went up to a neighboring mountain where
a shepherd dwelt, and borrowed his old frock, and
thus passed unobserved into the town. When he
THE KING OF THE GOLDEN MOUNTAIN.
29
came to his father's house, he said he was his son ;
but the merchant would not believe him, and said
he had had but one son, who he knew was long
since dead : and as he was only dressed like a poor
shepherd, he would not even offer him anything
to eat. The king however persisted that he was
his son, and stiid, " Is there no mark by which
you would know if I am really your son ? " " Yes,"
observed his mother, " our son has a mark like a
raspberry under the riglit arm." Then he showed
them the mark, and they were satisfied that what
he had said was true. He next told them how
he was king of the Golden Mountain, and was
married to a princess, and had a son seven years
old. But the merchant said, " That can never be
true ; he must be a fine king truly who travels
about in a shepherd's frock." At this the son was
very angry ; and, forgetting his promise, turned
his ring, and wished for his queen and son. In
an instant they stood before him ; but the queen
wept, and said he had broken his word, and mis-
fortune would follow. He did all he could to
soothe her, and she at last appeared to be ap-
peased ; but she was not so in reality, and only
meditated how she should take her revenge.
One day he took her to walk with him out of
the town, and showed her the spot where the boat
was turned adrift upon the wide waters. Then
he sat himself down, and said, " I am very tired;
sit by me, I will rest my head in your lap, and
sleep a while." As soon as he had fallen asleep,
however, she drew the ring from his finger, and
crept softly away, and wished herself and her
son at home in their kingdom. And when the
king awoke, he found himself alone, and saw that
the ring was gone from his finger. " I can never
return to my father's house," said he ; " they
would say I am a sorcerer : I will journey forth
into the world till I come again to my king-
dom."
So saying, he set out and traveled till he came
to a mountain, where three giants were sharing
their inheritance ; and as they saw him pass, they
cried out and said, " Little men have sharp wits ;
he shall divide the inheritance between us." Now
it consisted of a sword that cut off an enemy's
head whenever the wearer gave the words, " Heads
off I" — a cloak that made the owner invisible, or
gave him any form he pleased ; and a pair of boots
that transported the person who put them on
wherever he wished. The king said they must
first let him try these wonderful things, that he
might know how to set a value upon them. Then
they gave him the cloak, and he wished himself a
fly, and in a moment he was a fly. " The cloak
is very well," said he ; " now give me the sword."
" No," said they, " not unless you promise not to
say ' Heads off ! ' for if you do, we are all dead
men." So they gave it him on condition that he
tried its virtue only on a tree. He next asked for
the boots also ; and the moment he had all three
in his possession he wished himself at the Golden
Mountain ; and there he was in an instant. So
the giants were left behind with no inheritance to
divide or quarrel about.
As he came near to the castle he heard the
sound of merry music ; and the people around told
him that his queen was about to celebrate her
marriage with another prince. Then he threw
his cloak around him, and passed through the cas-
tle, and placed himself by the side of his queen,
where no one saw him. But when anything to
eat was put upon her j)late, he took it away and
ate it himself; and when a glass of wine was
handed to her, he took and drank it ; and thus,
though they kept on serving her with meat and
drink, her plate continued always empty.
Uj^on this, fear and remorse came over her, and
she went into lier chamber and wept , and he fol-
lowed her there. " Alas ! " said she to herself,
" did not my deliverer come ? why then doth en-
chantment still surround me ? "
" Thou traitress I " said he, " thy deliverer in
deed came, and now is near thee : has he deserved
this of thee?" And he went out and dismissed
the company, and said the wedding was at an end,
for that he was returned to his kingdom ^ but the
princes and nobles and counselors mocked at him.
However, he would enter into no parley with them,
but only demanded whether they would depart in
30
THE BOOK OF WONDERS.
peace, or not. Then they turned and tried to
seize him; but he drew his sword, and, with a
word, the traitors' heads fell before him ; and he
was once more king of the Golden Mountain.
THE FISHERMAN AND HIS WIFE.
There was once a fisherman who lived with his
wife in a ditch, close by the sea-side. The fisher-
man used to go out all day long a-fishing ; and one
day, as he sat on the shore with his rod, looking at
the shining water and watching his line, all on a
sudden his float was dragged away deep under the
sea ; and in drawing it up he pulled a great fish
out of the water. The fish said to him, "Pray let
me live ; I am not a real fish ; I am an enchanted
prince, put me in the water again, and let me go."
" Oh ! " said the man, " you need not make so
many words about tlie matter ; I wish to have
nothing to do with a fish that can talk ; so swim
away as soon as you please." Then he put him
back into the water, and the fish darted straight
down to the bottom, and left a long streak of blood
behind him.
When the fisherman went home to his wife in
the ditch, he told her how he had caught a great
fish, and how it had told him it was an enchanted
prince, and that on hearing it speak he had let it
go again. " Did you not ask it for anything ? "
said the wife. " No," said the man, " what should
I ask for ? " " Ah ! " said the wife, " we live very
wretchedly here in this nasty stinking ditch ; do
go back, and tell the fish we want a little cot-
tage."
The fisherman did not much like the business ;
however, he went to the sea, and when he came
there the water looked all yellow and green. And
he stood at the water's edge, and said, —
" O man of the sea !
Come listen to me,
For Alice my wife.
The plague of my life,
Hath sent me to beg a boon of thee ! "
Then the fish came swimming to him, and said,
" Well, what does she want ? " " Ah ! " answered
the fisherman, "my wife says that when I had
caught you, I ought to have asked you for some-
thing before I let you go again ; she does not like
living any longer in the ditch, and wants a little
cottage." "Go home, then," said the fish, "she
is in the cottage already." So the man went
home, and saw his wife standing at the door of a
cottage. " Come in, come in," said she ; " is not
this much better than the ditch ? " And there
was a parlor, and a bed-chamber, and a kitchen ;
and behind the cottage there was a little garden
with all sorts of flowers and fruits, and a courtyard
full of ducks and chickens. " Ah ! " said the fish-
erman, " how happily we shall live I " " We will
try to do so at least," said his wife.
Everything went right for a week or two, and
then Dame Alice said, " Husband, there is not
room enough in this cottage, the courtyard and
garden are a great deal too small ; I should like to
have a large stone castle to live in ; so go to the
fish again, and tell him to give us a castle."
" Wife," said the fisherman, " I don't like to go
to him again, for perhaps he will be angry , we
ought to be content with the cottage." "Non-
sense ! " said the wife ; " he will do it very will-
ingly ; go along and try."
The fisherman went ; but his heart was very
heavy , and when he came to the sea it looked blue
and gloomy, though it was quite calm, and he went
close to it, and said, —
" O man of the sea !
Come listen to me,
For Alice my wife.
The plague of my life.
Hath sent me to beg a boon of thee ! "
" Well, what does she want now ? " said the
fish. " Ah ! " said the man very sorrowfully,
" my wife wants to live in a stone castle." " Go
home then," said the fish, " she is standing at the
door of it already." So away went the fisherman,
THE FISHERMAN AND HIS WIFE.
31
and found his wife standing before a great castle.
" See," said slie, " is not this grand ? " With that
they went into the castle together, and found a
great many servants there, and the rooms all richly
furnished and full of golden chairs and tables ;
and behind the castle was a garden, and a wood
half a mile loijig, full of sheep, and goats, and
hares, and deer ; and in the courtyard were stables
and cow-houses. " Well ! " said the man, " now
will we live contented and happy in this beautiful
castle for the rest of our lives." " Perhaps we
may," said the wife ; " but let us consider and
sleep upon it before we make up our minds : " so
they went to bed.
The next morning, when Dame Alice awoke, it
was broad dajdight, and she jogged the fisherman
with her elbow, and said, " Get up, husband, be-
stir yourself, for we must be king of all the land."
" Wife, wife," said the man, " why should we
wish to be king ? I will not be king." " Then
I will," 'said Alice. "But, wife," answered tbe
fisherman, "how can you be king ? the fish cannot
make you a king." " Husband," said she, " say
no more about it, but go and try ; I will be king ! "
So the man went away, quite sorrowful to think
that his wife should want to be king. The sea
looked a dark-gray color, and was covered with
foam, as he cried out, —
" O man o£ the sea !
Come listen to me.
For Alice my wife.
The plague of my life.
Hath sent me to beg a boon of thee ! "
" Well, what would she have now ? " said the
fish. " Alas ! " said the man, " my wife wants to
be king." " Go home," said the fish ; " she is
king alread}'."
Then the fisherman went home ; and as he came
close to the palace, he saw a troop of soldiers, and
heard the sound of drums and trumpets ; and
when he entered, he saw his wife sitting on a
high throne of gold and diamonds, with a golden
crown upon her head ; and on each side of her,
stood six beautiful maidens, each a head taller
than the other. " Well, wife," said the fisherman.
" are you king ? " " Yes," said she, "I am king."
And when he had looked at her for a long time,
he said, " Ah, wife ! what a fine thing it is to be
king ! now we shall never have anything moi'e to
wish for." " I don't know how that may be,"
said she ; " never is a long time. I am king, 't is
true, but I begin to be tired of it, and I think I
should like to be emperor." "Alas, wife! why
should you wish to be emperor? " said the fisher-
man. " Husband," said she, "go to the fish; I
say I will be emperor." " Ah, wife ! " replied the
fisherman, " the fish cannot make an emperor, and
I should not like to ask for such a thing." " I am
king," said Alice, " and you are my slave, so go
directly ! " So the fisherman was obliged to go ;
and he muttered as he went along, " This will
come to no good, it is too much to ask, the fish
will be tired at last, and then we shall repent of
what we have done." He soon arrived at the sea,
and the water was quite black and muddy, and a
mighty whirlwind blew over it; but he went to
the shore, and said, —
" O man of the sea !
Come listen to me,
For Alice my wife,
The plague of my life.
Hath sent me to beg a boon of thee ! "
" What would she have now ? " said the fish.
" Ah ! " said he, " she wants to be emperor." " Go
home." said the fish ; " she is emperor already."
So he went home again ; and as he came near,
he saw his wife sitting on a very loftj^ throne,
made of solid gold, with a great crown on her
head, full two yards high, and on each side of her
stood her guards and attendants in a row, each
one smaller than the other, from the tallest giant
down to a little dwai'f, no bigger than my finger.
And before her stood princes and dukes, and earls ;
and the fisherman went up to her and said, " Wife,
are you emperor ? " " Yes," said she, " I am em-
peror." " Ah ! " said the man as he gazed upon
her, " what a fine thing it is to be emperor ! "
" Husband," said she, " why should we stay at
being emperor ? I will be pope next." " O wife,
wife ! " said he, " how can you be pope ? there is
32
THE BOOK OF WONDERS.
but one pope at a time in Christendom." " Hus-
band," said she, " I will be pope this very day."
" But," replied the husband, " the fish cannot
make you pope." " What nonsense ! " said she,
" if he can make an emjDeror, he can make a pope,
go and try him." So the fisherman went. But
when he came to the shore, the wind was raging,
and the sea was tossed up and down like boiling
water, and the ships were in the greatest distress
and danced upon the waves most fearfully ; in the
middle of the sky there was a little blue, but to-
ward the south it was all red as if a dreadful storm
was rising. At this, the fisherman was terribly
frightened, and trembled, so that his knees knocked
together : but he went to the shore and said, —
" O man of the sea !
Come listen to me,
For Alice my wife,
The plague of my life.
Hath sent me to beg a boon of thee ! "
" What does she want now ? " said the fish.
" All ! " said the fisherman, " my wife wants to
be pope." " Go home," said the fish, " she is
pope already."
Then the fisherman went home, and found his
wife sitting on a throne that was two miles high ;
and she had three great crowns on her head, and
around stood all the pomp and power of the
Church ; and on each side were two rows of burn-
ing lights, of all sizes, the greatest as large as the
highest and biggest tower in the world, and the
least no larger than a small rushlight. " Wife,"
said the fisherman, as he looked at all this grand-
eur, " are you jjope ? " " Yes," said she, " I am
pope." " Well, wife," replied he, " it is a grand
thing to be pope ; and now you must be content,
for you can be nothing greater." " I will consider
of that," said the wife. Then they went to bed :
but Dame Alice could not sleep all night for
thinking what she should be next. At last morn-
ing came, and the sun rose. " Ha ! " thought she
as she looked at it through the window, " cannot
I prevent the sun rising ? " At this, she was very
angry, and she wakened her husband, and said,
" Husband, go to the fish and tell him I want to
be lord of the sun and moon." The fisherman
Vas half asleep, but the thought frightened him
so much that he started and fell out of bed.
" Alas, wife ! " said he, " cannot you be content
to be
pope ;
No," said she, " I am verv un-
easy, and cannot bear to see the sun and moon
rise without my leave. Go to the fish directly."
Then the man went trembling for fear ; and as
he was going down to the shore, a dreadful storm
arose, so that the trees and th6 rocks shook ; and
the heavens became black, and the lightning
played, and the thunder rolled ; and you might
have seen in the sea great black waves, like mount-
ains, with a white crown of foam upon them ; and
the fisherman said, —
" 0 man of the sea !
Come listen to me.
For Alice my wife.
The plague of my life.
Hath sent me to beg a boon of thee ! "
" What does she want now ? " said the fish.
" Ah ! " said he, " she wants to be lord of tlie sun
and moon." " Go home," said the fish, " to your
ditch again ! " And there they live to this very
day.
JORINDA AND JORINDEL.
There was once an old castle that stood in the
middle of a large thick wood, and in the castle
lived an old fairy. All the day long she flew
about in the form of an owl, or crept about the
country like a cat ; but at night she always became
an old woman again. When any youth came
within a hundred paces of her castle, he became
quite fixed, and could not move a step till she
came and set him free : but when any pretty
maiden came within that distance, she was
changed into a bird ; and the fairy put her into a
cage and hung her up in a chamber in the castle.
JORINDA AND JORINDEL.
33
There ^vere seven hundred of these cages hang-
ing in tlie castle, and all with beautiful birds in
them.
Now there was once a maiden whose name was
Jorinda : she was prettier than all the pretty girls
that ever were seen ; and a shepherd whose name
was Jorindel was very fond of her, and they were
soon to be married. One day they went to walk
in the wood, that they might be alone : and Jo-
rindel said, " We must take care that we don't go
too near to the castle." It was a beautiful even-
ing ; tlie last rays of the setting sun shone bright
through the long stems of the trees upon the green
underwood beneath, and the turtle-doves sang
plaintively from the tall birches.
Jorinda sat down to gaze upon the sun ; Jorin-
del sat by her side ; and both felt sad, they knew
not why ; but it seemed as if they were to be
parted from one another forever. They had wan-
dered a long way ; and when they looked to see
which way they should go home, they found them-
selves at a loss to know what path to take.
The sun was setting fast, and already half of his
circle had disappeared behind the hill : Jorindel
on a sudden looked behind him, and as he saw
through the bushes that they had, without know-
ing it, sat down close under the old walls of the
castle, he shrank for fear, turned pale, and trem-
bled. Jorinda was singing, —
" Tlie ring-dove sang from the willow spray,
Well-a-day ! well-a-day !
He mourn'd for the fate
Of his lovely mate,
Well-a-day ! "
The song ceased suddenly. Jorindel turned to
see the reason, and beheld iiis Jorinda changed
into a nightingale ; so that her song ended with a
mournful jug, jug. An owl with fiery eyes flew
three times round them, and three times screamed,
Tu whu ! Tu whu ! Tu whu ! Jorindel could not
move : he stood fixed as a stone, and could nei-
ther weep, nor speak, nor stir hand or foot. And
now the sun went quite down ; the gloomy night
came ; the owl flev/ into a bush ; and a moment
after the old fairy came forth pale and meagre,
5
with staring eyes, and a nose and chin that almost
met.
She mumbled something to herself, seized the
nightingale, and went away with it in her hand.
Poor Jorindel saw the nightinale was gone, — but
what could he do ? he could not speak, he could
not move from the spot where he stood. At last
the fairy came back, and sang with a hoarse voice,
" Till the prisoner 's fast,
And her doom is cast,
There stay ! Oh, stay
When the charm is around her.
And the spell has bound her,
Hie away ! away ! '*
On a sudden Jorindel found himself free. Then
he fell on his knees before the fairy, and prayed
her to give him back his dear Jorinda : but she
said he should never see her again, and went her
way.
He prayed, he wept, he sorrowed, but all in
vain. "Alas!" he said, "what will become of
me ? "
He could not return to his own home, so he
went to a strange village, and employed himself in
keeping sheep. Many a time did he walk round
and round as near to the hated castle as he dared
go. At last he dreamt one night that he found a
beautiful purple flower, and in the middle of it lay
a costly pearl ; and he dreamt that he plucked the
flower, and went with it in his hand into the cas-
tle, and that everything he touched with it was
disenchanted, and that there he found his dear
Jorinda again.
In the morning when he awoke, he began to
search over hill and dale for this pretty flower ;
and eight long days he sought for it in vain : but
on the ninth day, early in the morning, he found
the beautiful purple flower ; and in the middle of
it was a large dew-drop as big as a costly pearl.
Then he plucked the flower, and set out and
traveled day and night till he came again to the
castle. He walked nearer than a hundred paces
to it, and yet he did not become fixed as be-
fore, but found that he could go close up to the
door.
34
THE BOOK OF WONDERS.
Jorindel was very glad to see this : be touched
the door with the flower, and it sprang open, so
that he went in through the court, and listened
when he heard so many birds singing. At last he
came to the chamber where the fairy sat, with the
seven hundred birds singing in the seven hundred
cages. And when she saw Jorindel she was very
angry, and screamed with rage ; but she could not
come within two yards of him ; for the flower he
held in his hand protected him. He looked around
at the birds, but alas! there were man}-, many
nightingales, and how then should he find his Jo-
rinda? While he was thinking what to do he ob-
served that the fairy had taken down one of the
cages, and was making her escape through the
door. He ran or flew to her, touched the cage
with the flower, — and his Jorinda stood before
him. She threw her arms round his neck and
looked as beautiful as ever, as beautiful as when
they walked together in the wood.
Then he touched all the other birds with the
flower, so that they resumed their old forms ; and
took his dear Jorinda home, where they lived hap-
pily together many years.
THE SIX SWANS.
Once upon a time, a king, hunting in a great
forest, chased a wild boar so eagerly, that none
of his people could follow him. When evening
came, he stopped to look about him, and saw that
he had lost himself. He sought everywhere for a
way out of the wood, but could find none. Then
he perceived coming towards him an old woman,
whose head kept constantly shaking. She was a
witch.
"My good woman," said he to her, "cannot
you show me the way through the wood? "
" Oh yes, your majesty," answered she, " that I
can, but only on one condition, and if you do not
agree to it, you will never get out, and must die
here of hunger."
asked the king.
" What is the condition ? '
eagerly.
"I have an only daughter," said the old woman,
" she is as beautiful as any one you could find
in. the wide world, and well deserves to be your
wife ; if you will make her your queen, I will
show you the way out of the wood."
The king, in the fear of his heart, consented,
and the old woman led him to her house, where
her daughter sat by the fire. She received the
king as if she had expected him, and he saw that
she was very beautiful ; but still she did not
please him, and he could not look at her without
a secret shudder. After he had lifted the maiden
beside him on his horse, the old woman showed
him the way, and the king arrived again at his
royal castle, where the wedding was celebrated.
He had been married once before, and had by
his first wife seven children, six boys and a girl,
whom he loved more than anything in the world.
But, because he was afraid that the stepmother
might not treat them well, or might even do them
some harm, he took them to a lonely castle which
stood in the middle of a wood. It was so hidden,
and the road was so difficult to find, that he him-
THE SIX SWANS.
36
self would not have found it, if a wise woman had
not siven him a wonderful skein of thread, which,
when he threw it down before him, unrolled of
itself and showed him the way. The king went
out so often to his dear children that the queen
noticed his absence, and was full of curiosity to
know what business took him thus alone to the
wood. So she gave his servants a sum of money,
and they told her the secret, and also told her of
the skein, which was the only thing that could
show the wdj. After that she never rested till
she had found out where the king kept the skein.
Then she made some little white silk shirts, and,
as she had learned witchcraft from her mother,
she sewed a spell into every one of them. And
one day, when the king was gone out to hunt, she
took the little shirts and went into the wood, and
the skein showed her the way.
The six brothers, who saw some one in the dis-
tance, thought their dear father was coming, and
ran to meet him, full of joy. As they approached,
the queen threw one of the shirts over each of
them, and when the shirts touched their bodies
they were changed into swans, and flew away
over the wood. The witch's daughter went home
quite happy, and thought she had got rid of all
her step-children ; but the one little girl had not
run out with her brothers, and the queen knew
nothing about her.
Next day the king came joyfully to visit his
children, but he found nobody except the little
sister.
" Where are your brothers ? " asked he.
" Oh, dear father," she answered, " they are
gone and have left me alone," and then she told
him all that she had seen out of her window ;
how her brothers were turned into swans, and
had flown away over the wood ; she also showed
him the feathers which they had dropped into the
courtyard, and which she had picked up.
The king was grieved, but he never thought
that the queen had done this wicked deed ; how-
ever, because he dreaded lest the little girl would
be stolen from him likewise, he wished to take
her away with him. But she was afraid of the
step-mother, and begged the king to let her stay
one night more in the castle in the wood.
The poor girl thought, " I cannot rest here any
longer ; I will go and look for my brothers."
And when the night came she ran away, and
went straight into the Avood. She went on all
through the night, and the next day too, till she
was so tired that she could go no farther. Then
she saw a little house, and went in, and found a
room with six little beds ; she did not dare to lie
down in any, but crept under one of them, laid
herself on the hard floor, and meant to pass the
night there. But when the sun was just going to
set, she heard a rustling, and saw six swans come
flying in at the window. They sat down on the
floor, and blew at one another, and blew all their
feathers off, and took off their swan's-skins like
shirts. Then the little girl saw them and recog-
nized her brothers, and was very glad, and crept
out from under the bed.
The brothers were not less rejoiced when they
saw their little sister, but their joy did not last
long.
" You cannot stop here," said they to her, " this
is a house belonging to robbers ; if they come
home and find you they will kill you."
" Cannot you protect me ? " said the little sis-
ter.
" No," answered they, " we can only take off
our swan's-skins for a quarter of an hour every
evening, and have our natural shape for that time,
but afterwards we are turned into swans again."
The little sister cried, and said, " Cannot you be
released ? "
" Oh, no ! " " answered they, " the conditions
are too hard. You must not speak or laugh for
six years, and must make for us six shirts out of
stitchweed during that time. If while you are
making them a single word comes from your
mouth all your work will be of no use." When
her brothers had said this the quarter of an hour
was over, and they turned into swans again and
flew out of the window.
But the little girl made a firm resolution to re-
lease her brothers, even if it cost her her life.
36
THE BOOK OF WONDERS.
She left the house, and went into the middle of
the wood, and climbed up in a tree and spent the
night there. Next morning she got down, col-
lected a quantity of stitchweed, and began to sew.
She could not speak to any one, and she did not
■want to laugh ; so she sat and only looked at her
work.
When she had been there a long time it hap-
pened that the king of the country was hunting in
the wood, and his hunters came to the tree on
which the little girl sat. They called to her, and
said, " Who are you ? "
But she gave them no answer.
" Come down and see us," said thej', " we will
not do you any harm."
But she only shook her head. As they kept
teasing her with' their questions she threw them
down her gold necklace, and thought they would
be satisfied with that. But they did not leave off,
so she threw her sash down to them, and as that
was no good she threw down her garters, and at
last everything that she had on, and could spare ;
so that she had nothing left but her shift. But
the hunters would not be sent away, and climbed
up the tree and brought down the little girl and
took her to the king.
The king asked, " Who are you ? what were
you doing up in the tree ? "
But she did not answer. He asked it in all the
languages that he knew, but she remained as
dumb as a fish. But, because she was so beauti-
ful, the king's heart was moved, and he fell deeply
in love with her. He wrapped his cloak round
her, took her before him on his horse, and brought
her to his castle. Then he had her dressed in rich
clothes, and she shone in her beauty like bright
sunshine ; but they could not get a word out of
her. He set her by him at the table, and her
modest look and proper behavior pleased him so
much that he said, " I will marrj' her, and no one
else in the world," and after a few days he was
married to her.
But the king had a wicked mother, who was not
pleased with his marriage, and spoke ill of the
young queen. " Who knows where the girl comes
from?" said she, "she cannot speak; she is not
good enough for a king."
A year after, when the queen brought her first
child into the world, the old mother took it away,
and smeared her mouth with blood while she was
asleep. Then she went to the king, and accused
her of eating her child. The king would not be-
lieve it, and would not let any one do her any
harm. And she always sat and sewed the shirts,
and took no notice of anything else. Next time,
when she had another beautiful baby, the wicked
mother did the same as before ; but the king could
not resolve to believe what she said.
He said, " My wife is too pious and good to do
such a thing ; if she were not dumb, and if she
could defend herself, her innocence would be made
clear."
But when for the third time the old woman took
away the new-born child, and accused the queen,
who could not saj' a word in her own defense, the
king could not help himself ; he was forced to give
her ujJ to the court of justice, and she was con-
demned to suffer death by fire.
When the day came upon which the sentence
was to be executed, it was exactly the last day of
the six years in which she might not speak or
laugh ; and she had freed her dear brothers from
the power of the spell. The six little shirts were
finished, except that on the last one a sleeve was
wanting. When she came to the place of execu-
tion, she laid the shirts on her arm, and when she
stood at the stake, and the fire was just going to
be lit, she looked round, and there came six swans
flying through the air. Then her heart leaped
with joy, for she saw that her deliverance was
near.
The swans flew to her, and crouched down, so
that she could throw the shirts over them ; as soon
as the shirts were touched bj"^ them, their swan's-
skins fell off, and her brothers stood before her.
They were all grown up, strong and handsome ;
only the youngest had no left arm, but instead of
it a swan's wing.
They hugged and kissed their sister many times,
and then the queen went to the king, and began
R UMPEL-STIL TS-KIN.
37
to speak, and said, " Dearest luisband, now I may
speak, and declare to you that I am innocent and
falsely accused ; " and she told liim about the de-
ceit of the old mother, who had taken away her
three children, and hidden them.
However, they were soon fetched safely back, to
the great joy of the king ; and the wicked mother-
in-law was tied to the stake, and burnt to ashes.
But the king and queen, with their six brothers,
lived many years in peace and happiness.
RUMPEL-STILTS-KIN.
In a certain kingdom once lived a poor miller
who had a very beautiful daughter. She wasi
moreover, exceedingly shrewd and clever ; and the
miller was so vain and proud of her that he one
day told the king of the land that his daughter
could spin gold out of straw. Now this king was
very fond of money ; and when he heard the mil-
ler's boast his avarice was excited, and he ordered
the girl to be brought before him. Then he led
her to a chamber where there was a great quantity
of straw, gave her a spinning-wheel, and said, " All
this must be spun into gold before morning, as you
value your life." It was in vain that the poor
maiden declared that she could do no such thing ;
the chamber was locked and she remained alone.
She sat down in one corner of the room and be-
gan to lament over her hard fate, when on a sud-
den the door opened, and a droll-looking little man
hobbled in, and said, " Good-mon-ow to you, my
good lass, what are you weeping for ? " "Alas ! "
answered she, " I must spin this straw into gold,
and I know not how." "What will you give me,"
said the little man, " to do it for you ? " " My
necklace," replied the maiden. He took her at
her word, and set himself down at the wheel ;
round about it went merrily, and presently the
work was done and the gold all spun.
When the king came and saw this he was
greatly astonished and pleased ; but his heart grew
still more greedy of gain, and he shut up the poor
miller's daughter again with a fresh task. Then
she knew not what to do, and sat down once more
to weep ; but the little man presently opened the
door, and said, " What will you give me to do your
task?" "The ring on my finger," replied she.
So her little friend took the ring, and began to
work at the wheel, till by the morning all was fin-
ished again.
The king was vastly delighted to see all this
glittering treasure ; but still he was not satisfied,
and took the miller's daughter into a yet larger
room, and said, "All this must be spun to-night;
and if you succeed you shall be my queen." As
soon as she was alone the dwarf came in, and said,
" What will you give me to spin gold for you this
third time?" "I have nothing left," said she.
"Then promise me," said the little man, "your
first little child when you ai-e queen." " That
may never be," thought the miller's daughter; and
as she knew no other way to get her task done, she
promised him what he asked, and he spun once
more the whole heap of gold. The king came in
the morning, and, finding all he wanted, married
her, and so the miller's daughter really became
queen.
At the birth of her first little child the queen
rejoiced very much, and forgot the little man and
her promise ; but one day he came into her cham-
ber and reminded her of it. Then she grieved
sorely at her misfortune, and offered him all the
treasures of the kingdom in exchange ; but in vain,
till at last her tears softened him, and he said, " I
will give you three days' grace, and if during that
time you tell me my name you shall keep your
child."
Now the queen lay awake all night, thinking of
all the odd names that she had ever heard, and
dispatched messengers all over the land to inquire
after new ones. The next day the little man came,
and she began with Timothy, Benjamin, Jere-
miah, and all the names she could remember; but
to all of them he said, " That's not my name."
38
THE BOOK OF WONDERS.
The second day slie began with all the comical
names she could hear of, Bandy-legs, Hunch-back,
Crook-shanks, and so on, but the little gentleman
still said to every one of them, ''That's not my
name."
The third day came back one of the messen-
gers, and said, " I can hear of no one other name ;
but yesterday, as I was climbing a high hill among
the trees of the forest where the fox and the hare
bid each other good-night, I saw a little hut, and
before the hut burnt a fire, and round about the
fire danced a funny little man upon one leg, and
sung, —
" Merrily the feast I 'II make.
To-day I '11 brew, to-morrow bake ;
Merrily I 'II dance and sing,
For next day will a stranger bring :
Little does my lady dream
Eumpel-Stilts-Kin is my name ! "
When the queen heard this, she jumped for joy,
and as soon as her little visitor came, and said,
" Now, lady, what is my name ? " " Is it John ? "
asked she. "No!"' "Is it Tom?" "No!"
" Can your name be Rumpel-Stilts-Kin ? " "Some
witch told you that ! Some witch told you that ! "
cried the little man, and dashed his right foot in
a rage so deep into the floor that he was forced to
lay hold of it with both hands to pull it out. Then
he made the best of his way off, while everybody
laughed at him for having had all his trouble for
nothing.
THE FAIR ONE WITH GOLDEN LOCKS.
There was once a king's daughter so beautiful
that they named her the Fair One with Golden
Locks. These golden locks were the most remark-
able in the world, soft and fine, and falling in long
waves down to her very feet. She woi-e them al-
ways thus, loose and flowing, surmounted with a
wreath of flowers ; and though such long hair was
sometimes rather inconvenient, it was so exceed-
ingly beautiful, shining in the sun like ripples of
molten gold, that everybody agreed she fully de-
served her name.
Now there was a young king of a neighboring
country, very handsome, very rich, and wanting
nothing but a wife to make him happy. He heard
so much of the various perfections of the Fair One
with Golden Locks, that at last, without even see-
ing her, he fell in love with her so desperately tliat
lie could neither eat nor drink, and resolved to send
an ambassador at once to demand her in marriage.
So he ordered a magnificent equipage — more
than a hundred horses and a hundred footmen —
with instructions to bring back to him the Fair
One with Golden Locks, who, he never doubted,
would be only too happy to become his queen.
Indeed, he felt so sure of her that he refurnished
the whole palace, and had made, \>y all the dress-
makers of the city, dresses enough to last a lady
for a lifetime. But, alas ! when the ambassador
arrived and delivered his message, either the prin-
cess was in a bad humor, or the offer did not ap-
pear to be to her taste ; for she returned her best
thanks to his majesty, but said she had not the
THE FAIR ONE WITH GOLDEN LOCKS.
39
slightest wish or intention to be married. She
also, being a prudent damsel, declined receiving
any of the presents which the king had sent her;
except that, not quite to offend his majesty, she
retained a box of English pins, which were in that
country of considerable value.
When the an'ibassador returned, alone and un-
successful, all the court was very much affected,
and the king himself began to weep with all his
might. Now there was in the palace household a
young gentleman named Avenant, beautiful as the
sun, besides being at once so amiable and so wise
that the king confided to him all his affaii's; and
every one loved him, except those people — to be
found in all courts — who were envious of his
good fortune. These malicious folk hearing him
say gayly, " If the king had sent me to fetch the
Fair One with Golden Locks, I know she would
have come back with me," repeated the saying in
such a manner, that it appeared as if Avenant
thought too much of himself and his beauty, and
felt sure the princess would have followed him all
over the world ; which when it came to the ears of
the king, as it was meant to do, irritated him so
greatly that he commanded Avenant to be impris-
oned in a high tower, and left to die there of hun-
ger. The guards accordingly carried oft" the young
man, who had quite forgotten his idle speech, and
had not the least idea what fault he had com-
mitted. They ill-treated him, and then left him,
with nothing to eat and only water to drink.
This, however, kept him alive for a few days,
during which he did not cease to complain aloud,
and to call upon the king, saying, " O king, what
harm have I done ? You have no subject more
faithful than I. Never have I had a thought which
could offend you."
And it so befell that the king, coming by chance,
or else with a sort of remorse, past the tower, was
touched by the voice of the young Avenant, whom
he had once so much regarded. In spite of all
the courtiers could do to prevent him he stopped
to listen, and overheard these words. The tears
rushed into his eyes ; he opened the door of the
tower, and called, " Avenant ! " Avenant came.
creeping feebly along, fell at the king's knees, and
kissed his feet : —
" O sire, what have I done that you should treat
me so cruelly ? "
" You have mocked me and my ambassador ;
for you said, if I had sent you to fetch the Fair
One with Golden Locks, you would have been suc-
cessful and brought her back."
" I did say it, and it was true," replied Avenant,
fearlessly ; " for I should have told her so much
about your majesty aud your various high qualities,
which no one knows so well as myself, that I am
persuaded she would have returned with me."
" I believe it," said the king, witli an angry
look at those who had spoken ill of his favorite ;
he then gave Avenant a free pardon, and took him
back with him to the court.
After having supplied the famished youth with
as much supper as he could eat, the king admitted
him to a private audience, and said, " I am as
much in love as ever with the Fair One with
Golden Locks, so I will take you at your word, and
send you to try and win her for me."
" Very well, please your majesty," replied
Avenant, cheerfully ; " I will depart to-morrow."
The king, overjoyed with his willingness and
hopefulness, would have furnished him with a still
more magnificent equipage and suite than the first
ambassador ; but Avenant refused to take any-
thing except a good horse to ride, and letters of in-
troduction to the princess's father. The king em-
braced him, and eagerly saw him depart.
It was on a Mondaj' morning when, without any
pomp or show, Avenant thus started on his mis-
sion. He rode slowly and meditatively, pondering
over every possible means of persuading the Fair
One with Golden Locks to marry the king ; but,
even after several days' journey towards her coun-
try, no clear project had entered into his mind.
One morning, when he had started at break of
day, he came to a great meadow with a stream
running through it, along which were planted wil-
lows and poplai's. It was such a pleasant, rippling
stream that he dismounted and sat down on its
banks. There he perceived, gasping on the grass,
40
THE BOOK OF WONDERS.
a large golden carp, which, in leaping too far after
gnats, had thrown itself quite out of the water,
and now lay dying on the greensward. Avenant
took pity on it, and though he was very hungry,
and the fish was very fat, and he would well
enough have liked it for his breakfast, still he
lifted it gently and put it back into the stream.
No sooner had the carji touched the fresh cool
water than it revived and swam away ; but shortly
returning, it spoke to him from the water in this
wise : —
" Avenant, I thank you for your good deed. I
was dying, and you have saved nie : I will recom-
pense you for this one day."
After this pretty little speech, the fish popped
down to the bottom of the stream, according to
the habit of carp, leaving Avenant very much as-
tonished, as Avas natural.
Another day he met with a raven that was in
great distress, being pursued bj' an eagle, which
would have swallowed him up in a trice. " See,"
thought Avenant, " how the stronger oppress the
weaker ! What riglit has an eagle to eat up a
raven ? " So taking his bow and arrow, which he
always carried, he shot the eagle dead, and the
raven, delighted, perched in safety on an opposite
tree.
"Avenant," screeched lie, not in the sweetest
voice in the world ; " you have generously succored
me, a poor miserable raven. I am not ungrate-
ful, and I will recompense you one daj'."
" Thank you," said Avenant, and continued his
road.
Entering a thick wood, so dark with the shad-
ows of early morning that he could scarcely find
his wajr, he heard an owl hooting, as if in great
tribulation. She bad been caught by the nets
spread by bird-catchers to entrap finches, larks,
and other small birds. " What a pity," thought
Avenant, " that men must always torment poor
birds and beasts who have done them no harm ! "
So he took out his knife, cut the net, and set
the owl fi-ee. She went sailing up into the air,
but immediately returned, hovering over his head
on her brown wings.
" Avenant," said she, " at daylight the bird-
catchers would have been here, and I should have
been caught and killed. I have a grateful heart ;
I will recompense you one day."
These were the three principal adventures that
befell Avenant on his way to the kingdom of the
Fair One with Golden Locks. Aiu-ived there, he
dressed himself with the greatest care, in a habit
of silver brocade, and a hat adorned with plumes
of scarlet and white. He threw over all a rich
mantle, and carried a basket, in which was a
lovely little dog, an offering of respect to the prin-
cess. With this he presented himself at the pal-
ace-gates, where, even though he came alone, his
mien was so dignified and graceful, so altogether
charming, that every one did him reverence, and
was eager to run and tell the Fair One with
Golden Locks that Avenant, another ambassador
from the king her suitor, awaited an audience.
" Avenant ! " repeated the princess, " that is a
pretty name ; perhaps the youth is pretty, too."
"So beautiful," said the ladies of honor, " that
while he stood under tlie palace-window, we could
do nothing but look at him."
" How silly of you ! " sharply said the princess.
But she desired them to bring her robe of blue
satin, to comb out her long hair, and adorn it with
the freshest garland of flowers ; to give her her
high-heeled shoes, and her fan. " Also," added
she, " take care that my audience-chamber is well
swept and my throne well dusted. I wish, in
everything, to appear as becomes the Fair One
with Golden Locks."
This done, she seated herself on her throne of
ivory and ebony, and gave orders for her musi-
cians to play, but softly, so as not to disturb con-
versation. Thus, shining in all her beauty, she
admitted Avenant to her presence.
He was so dazzled that at first he could not
speak : then he began and delivered his harangue
to perfection.
" Gentle Avenant," returned the princess, after
listening to all his reasons for her returning with
him, " your arguments are very strong, and I am
inclined to listen to them ; but you must first find
THE FAIR ONE WITH GOLDEN LOCKS.
41
for me a ring, which I dropped into the river
about a month ago. Until I recover it, I can listen
to no propositions of marriage."
Avenant, surprised and disturbed, made her a
profound reverence and retired, taking with him
the basket and the little dog Cabriole, which she
refused to accept. All night long he sat sighing
to himself, " How can I ever find a ring which she
dropped into the river a month ago ? She has set
me an impossible task."
" My dear master," said Cabriole, " nothing is
an impossibility to one so young and charming as
you are : let us go at daybreak to the river-side."
Avenant patted him, but replied nothing : until,
worn out with grief, he slept. Before dawn Ca-
briole Avakened him, saying, " Master, dress your-
self and let us go to the river."
There Avenant walked up and down, with his
arms folded and his head bent, but saw nothing.
At last he heard a voice calling from a distance,
"Avenant, Avenant ! "
The little dog ran to the water-side — " Never
believe me again, master, if it be not a golden carp
with a ring in its mouth ! "
" Yes, Avenant," said the carp, " this is the
ring which the princess had lost. You saved my
life in the willow meadow, and I have recompensed
you. Fai'ewell ! "
Avenant took the ring gratefully, and returned
to the palace with Cabriole, who scampered about
in great glee. Craving an audience, he presented
the princess with her ring, and begged her to ac-
company him to his master's kingdom. She took
the ring, looked at it, and thought she was surely
dreaming.
" Some fairy must have assisted you, foi-tunate
Avenant," said she.
" Madam, I am only fortunate in my desire to
obey your wishes."
" Obey me still," she said, graciously. " There
is a prince named Galifron, whose suit I have re-
fused. He is a giant, as tall as a tower, who eats
a man as a monkey eats a nut : he puts cannons
into his pockets instead of pistols ; and when he
speaks his voice is so loud that every one near him
6
becomes deaf. Go and fight him, and bring me
his head."
Avenant was thunderstruck ; but after a time
he recovered himself — " Very well, madam. I
shall certainly perish, but I will perish like a
brave man. I will depart at once to fight the
Giant Galifron."
The princess, now in her turn surprised and
alarmed, ti'ied every persuasion to induce him not
to go, but in vain. Avenant armed himself and
started, carrying his little dog in its basket. Ca-
briole was the only creature that gave him conso-
lation : " Courage, master ! While you attack
the giant, I will bite his legs : he will stoop down
to strike me, and then you can knock him on the
head." Avenant smiled at the little dog's spirit,
but he knew it was useless.
Arrived at the castle of Galifron, he found the
road all strewn with bones and carcasses of men.
Soon he saw the giant walking. His head was
level with the highest trees, and he sang in a ter-
rific voice, —
" Bring me babies to devour ;
More — more — more — more —
Men aud women, tender and tough ;
AH the world holds not enough."
To which Avenant replied, imitating the tune, —
"Avenant you here may see,
He is come to punish thee :
Be he tender, be he tough,
To kill thee, giant, he is enough. "
Hearing these words, the giant took up his mas-
sive club, looked around for the singer, and, per-
ceiving him, would have slain him on the spot,
had not a raven, sitting on a tree close by, sud-
denly flown out upon him, and picked out both
his eyes. Then Avenant easily killed him, and
cut off his head, while the raven, watching him,
said, —
" You shot the eagle who was pursuing me : I
promised to recompense you, and to-day I have
done it. We are quits."
" No, it is I who am your debtor, Sir Raven,"
replied Avenant, as, hanging the frightful head to
his saddle-bow, he mounted his horse and rode
42
THE BOOK OF WONDERS.
back to the city of the Fair One with Golden
Locks.
There everybody followed him, shouting, " Here
is brave Avenant, who has killed the giant," until
the princess, hearing the noise, and fearing it was
Avenant himself who was killed, appeared, all
trembling; and even when he appeared with Gali-
fron's head, she trembled still, although she had
nothing to fear.
" Madam," said Avenant, " your enemy is dead :
so I trust you will accept the hand of the king my
master."
" I cannot," replied she, tlioughtfuUy, " unless
you first bring me a phial of the water in the
Grotto of Darkness. It is six leagues in length,
and guarded at the entrance by two fiery dragons.
Within it is a pit full of scorpions, lizards, and
serpents, and at the bottom of this place flows
the Fountain of Beauty and Health. All who
wash in it become, if ugly, beautiful, and if beau-
tiful, beautiful forever ; if old, young ; and if
young, young forever. Judge then, Avenant, if
I can quit my kingdom without carrying with me
some of this remarkable water."
" Madam," replied Avenant, " you are already
so beautiful that you require it not ; but I am an
unfortunate ambassador whose death you desire :
I will obey you, though I know I shall never re-
turn."
So he departed with his only friends — his horse
and his faithful dog Cabriole ; while all who met
him looked at him compassionately, pitjang so
pretty a youth bound on such a hopeless errand.
But, however kindly they addressed him, Avenant
rode on and answered nothing, for he was too sad
at heart.
He reached a mountain-side, where he sat down
to rest, leaving his horse to graze, and Cabriole to
run after the flies. He knew that the Grotto of
Darkness was not far off, yet he looked about him
like one who sees nothing. At last he perceived
a rock, as black as ink, whence came a thick
smoke ; and in a moment appeared one of the two
dragons, breathing out flames. It had a yellow
and green body, claws, and a long tail. When
Cabriole saw the monster, the poor little dog hid
himself in terrible fright. But Avenant resolved
to die bravely ; so, taking a phial which the prin-
cess had given him, he prepared to descend into
the cave.
" Cabriole," said he, " I shall soon be dead : then
fill this phial with my blood, and carry it to the
Fair One with Golden Locks, and afterwards to
the king my master, to show him I have been
faithful to the last."
While he was thus speaking, a voice called,
" Avenant, Avenant ! " — and he saw an owl sit-
ting on a hollow tree near by. Said the owl :
" You cut the net in which I was caught, and I
vowed to recompense you. Now is the time.
Give me the phial : I know ever}'^ corner of the
Grotto of Darkness — I will fetch you the water
of beauty."
Delighted beyond words, Avenant delivered up
his phial ; the owl flew with it into the grotto, and
in less than half-an-hour reappeared, bringing it
quite full and well corked. Avenant thanked her
with all his heart, and joyfullj' took once more the
road to the city.
The Fair One with Golden Locks had no more to
say. She consented to accompany him back, with
all her suite, to his master's court. On the waj^
thither she saw so much of him, and found him so
charming', that Avenant raio-ht have married her
himself had he chosen ; but he would not have
been false to his master for all the beauties under
the sun. At length they arrived at the king's city,
and the Fair One with Golden Locks became his
spouse and queen. But she still loved Avenant in
her heart, and often said to the king her lord, —
"• But for Avenant I should not be here ; he has
done all sorts of impossible deeds for my sake ; he
has fetched me the water of beauty, and I shall
never grow old — in short, I owe him every-
thing."
And she praised him in this sort so much, that
at length the king became jealous ; and though
Avenant gave him not the slightest cause of of-
fense, he shut him up in the same high tower once
more — but with irons on his hands and feet, and
LITTLE ONE EYE, LITTLE TWO EYES, AND LITTLE THREE EYES.
43
a cruel jailer besides, who fed liim with bread and
water only. His sole companion was his little dog
Cabriole.
When the Fair One with Golden Locks heard of
this, she reproached her husband for his ingrati-
tude, and then, throwing herself at his knees, im-
plored that Avenant might be set free. But the
king only said, " She loves him ! " and refused her
prayer. The queen entreated no more, but fell
into a deep melancholy.
When the king saw it, he thought she did not
care for him because he was not handsome enough ;
and that if he could wash his face with her water
of beauty, it would make her love him more. He
knew she kept it in a cabinet in her chamber,
where she could find it alwaj's.
Now it happened that a waiting-maid, in clean-
ing out this cabinet, had, the very day before,
knocked down the phial, which Avas broken in a
thousand pieces, and all the contents were lost.
Very much alarmed she then remembered seeing
in a cabinet belonging to the king a similar phial.
This she fetched, and put in the place of the other
one, in which was the water of beauty. But the
king's phial contained the water of death. It was
a poison, used to destroy great criminals — that is,
noblemen, gentlemen, and such like. Instead of
hanging them or cutting their heads off, like com-
mon people, they were compelled to wash their
faces with water ; upon which they fell asleep,
and woke no more. So it happened that the king,
taking up this phial, believing it to be the water
of beauty, washed his face with it, fell asleep, and
— died.
Cabriole heard the news, and, gliding in and
out among the crowd which clustered round the
young and lovely widow, whispered softly to her,
— " Madam, do not forget poor Avenant." If she
had been disposed to do so, the sight of his little
dog would have been enough to remind her of
him — his many sufferings, and his great fidelity.
She rose without speaking to anybody, and went
straight to the tower where Avenant was con-
fined. There, with her own hands, she stru.ck
off his chains, and putting a crown of gold on his
head, and a purple mantle on his shoulders, said
to him, " Be king — and my husband."
Avenant could not refuse ; for in his heart he
had loved her all the time. He threw himself at
her feet, and then took the crown and sceptre, and
ruled her kingdom like a king. All the peoj)le
were delighted to have him as their sovereign.
The marriage was celebrated with all imaginable
pomp, and Avenant and the Fair One with Golden
Locks lived and reigned happily. together all their
days.
LITTLE OXE EYE, LITTLE TWO EYES, AND LITTLE THREE EYES.
Theee was a woman who had three daughters,
the eldest of whom was called Little One Eye,
because she had only one eye in the middle of her
forehead ; the second. Little Two Eyes, because
she had two eyes like other people ; and the
youngest, Little Three Eyes, because she had
three eyes, one of them being also in the middle
of the forehead. But because Little Two Eyes
looked no different from other people her sis-
ters and mother could not bear her. They said,
" You with your two eyes are no better than
anybody else ; you do not belong to us." They
knocked her about, and gave her shabby clothes,
and food which was left over from their own
meals ; in short, they vexed her wlienever they
could.
It happened that Little Two Eyes had to go
out into the fields to look after the goat ; but she
was still quite hungry, because her sisters had
given her so little to eat. She sat down on a
hillock and began to cry, and cried so much that
a little stream ran down out of each eye. And
as she looked up once in her sorrow, a woman
stood near her, who asked, " Little Two Eyes,
why do you cvj ? "
Little Two Eyes answered, " Have I not need
44
THE BOOK OF WONDERS.
to cry ? Because I have two eyes, like other
people, my sisters and my mother cannot bear
me ; they push me out of one corner into tlie
otlier, give me shabby clothes, and nothing to eat
but what they leave. To-day they have given
me so little that I am still quite hungry."
The wise woman said, '" Little Two Eyes, dry
your eyes, and I will tell you something which
will keep you from ever being hungry more. Only
say to your goat, ' Little goat, bleat ; little table,
rise,' and a neatly-laid table will stand before you
with the most delicious food on it, so that you
can eat as much as you like. And when you are
satisfied and do not want the table any more, only
say, ' Little goat, bleat ; little table, away,' and
it will all disappear before your eyes." Then the
wise woman went out of sight. '
Little Two Eyes thought, " I must try directly
if it be true what she has said, for I am much too
hungry to wait." So she said, " Little goat, bleat ;
little table, rise ; " and scarcely had she uttered
the words, when there stood before her a little
table, covered with a white cloth, on which were
laid a plate, knife and fork, and silver spoon.
The most delicious food was there also, and smok-
ing hot, as if just come from the kitchen. Then
Little Two Eyes said the shortest grace that she
kneAV, "Lord God, be our Guest at all times.—
Amen," began to eat, and found it very good.
And when she had had enough, she said as the
wise woman had taught her, — " Little goat, bleat ;
little table, away." In an instant the little table,
and all that stood on it, had disappeared again.
" That is a beautiful, easy way of housekeeping,"
thought Little Two Eyes, and was quite happy
and merry.
In the evening, when she came home with her
goat, she found a little earthen dish with food,
which her sisters had put aside for her, but she
did not touch anything — she had no need. On
the next day she went out again with her goat,
and let the few crusts that were given her remain
uneaten. The first time and the second time the
sisters took no notice ; but when the same thing
happened every day, they remarked it, and said,
" All is not right with Little Two Eyes ; she al-
ways leaves her food, and she used formerly to
eat everything that was given her ; she must have
found other ways of dining."
In order to discover the truth, they resolved
that Little One Eye should go with Little Two
Eyes when she drove the goat into the meadow,
and see what she did there, and if anybody brought
her anything to eat and drink. So when Little
Two Eyes set out again. Little One Eye came
to her and said, " I will go with you into the
field, and see that the goat is taken proper care
of, and driven to good pasture."
But Little Two Eyes saw what Little One Eye
had in her mind, and drove the goat into long
grass, saying, " Come, Little One Eye, we will
sit down ; I M'ill sing you something." Little One
Eye sat down, being tired from the unusual walk
and from the heat of the sun, and Little Two Ej-es
kept on singing, "Are you awake. Little One
Eye ? Are you asleep, Little One Eye ? " Then
Little One Eye shut her one eye, and fell asleep.
And when Little Two Eyes saw that Little One
Eye was fast asleep, and could not betray any-
thing, she said, " Little goat, bleat ; little table,
rise," and sat herself at her table, and ate and
drank till she was satisfied ; then she called out
again, "Little goat, bleat ; little table, away," and
instantly everything disappeared.
Little Two Eyes now woke Little One Eye, and
said, " Little One Eye, you pretend to watch, and
fall asleep over it, and in the mean time the goat
could have run all over the world ; come, we will
go home." Then they went home, and Little
Two Eyes let her little dish again stand un-
touched ; and Little One Eye, who could not tell
the mother why her sister would not eat, said,
as an excuse, " Oh, I fell asleep out there."
The next day the mother said to Little Three
Eyes, "This time you shall go and see if Little
Two Eyes eats out of doors, and if any one brings
her food and drink, for she must eat and drink
secretly."
Then Little Three Eyes went to Little Two
Eyes, and said, " I will go with you and see
LITTLE ONE EYE, LITTLE TWO EYES, AND LITTLE THREE EYES.
45
if tlie goat be taken proper care of, and driven
to good pasture."' But Little Two Ej^es saw
■what Little Three Eyes had in her mind, and
drove the goat into long grass, and said as before,
" We will sit down here, Little Three Eyes ; I will
sing you something." Little Three Eyes seated
herself, being tSred from the walk and the heat
of the sun, and Little Two Eyes began the same
song again, and sang, " Are you awake. Little
Three Eyes ? " But instead of singing then as
she should, " Are you asleep. Little Three Eyes ?"
she sang, through carelessness, " Are you asleep.
Little Two Eyes?" and went on singing, "Are
you awake. Little Three Eyes ? Are you asleep.
Little Two Eyes ? " So the two eyes of Little
Three Eyes fell asleep, but the third did not go
to sleep, because it was not spoken to by the verse.
Little Three Eyes, to be sure, shut it, and made
believe to go to sleep, but only through slyness ;
for she winked with it, and could see everything
quite well. And when Little Two Eyes thought
that Little Three Eyes was fast asleep, she said
her little sentence, " Little goat, bleat ; little ta-
ble, rise," ate and drank heartily^ and then told the
little table to go away again, " Little goat, bleat ;
little table, away." But Little Three Eyes bad
seen everything.
Then Little Two Eyes came to her, woke her,
and said, " Ah ! Little Three Eyes, have you been
asleep ? you keep watch well ! come, we will go
home." And when they got home. Little Two
Eyes again did not eat, and Little Tln-ee Eyes
said to the mother, " I know why the proud
thing does not eat : when she says to the goat
out there, ' Little goat, bleat ; little table, rise,'
there stands a table before her, which is covered
with the very best food, much better than we
have here ; and when she is satisfied, she says,
' Little goat, bleat ; little tablff, away,' and every-
thing is gone again ; I have seen it all exactly.
She put two of my eyes to sleep with her little
verse, but the one in my forehead luckily re-
mained awake."
Then the envious mother cried out, " Shall
she be better off than we are?" fetched a butcher's
knife, and stuck it into the goat's heart, so that it
fell down dead.
When Little Two Eyes saw that, she went out
full of grief, seated herself on a hillock, and wept
bitter tears. All at once the wise woman stood
near her again, and said, " Little Two Eyes, why
do you cry ? "
" Shall I not cry ? " answered she. " The goat
who every day, when I said your little verse, laid
the table so beautifully, has been killed by my
mother; now I must suffer hunger and thirst
again."
The wise woman said, " Little Two Eyes, I will
give you some good advice ; beg your sisters to
give you the heart of the murdered goat, and bury
it in the ground before the house door, and it will
turn out lucky for you." Then she disappeared,
and Little Two Eyes went home and said to her
sisters, " Dear sisters, give me some part of my
goat ; I don't ask for anything good, onl}' give me
the heart."
Then they laughed, and said, " You can have
that, if you do not want anything else." Little
Two Eyes took the heart, and buried it quietly in
the evening, before the house door, after the ad-
vice of the wise woman.
Next morning, when the sisters woke, and went
to the house door together, there stood a most
wonderfully splendid tree, with leaves of silver and
fruit of gold hanging between them. Nothing
more beautiful or charming could be seen in the
wide world. But they did not know how the tree
had come there in the night. Little Two Eyes
alone noticed that it had grown out of the heart
of the goat, for it stood just where she had buried
it in the ground.
Then the mother said to Little One Eye,
" Climb up, my child, and gather us some fruit
from the tree."
Little One Eye climbed iip, but when she
wanted to seize a golden apple, the branch sprang
out of her hand : this happened every time, so
that she could not gather a single apple, though
she tried as hard as she could.
Then the mother said, " Little Three Eyes, do
46
THE BOOK OF WONDERS.
you climb up ; you can see better about you with
your three eyes than Little One Eye can."
Little One Eye scrambled down, and Little
Three Eyes climbed up. But Little Three Eyes
■was no cleverer, and might look about her as
much as she liked — the golden apples always
sjjrang back from her grasp. At last the mother
became impatient, and climbed up herself, but
could toucli the fruit just as little as Little One
Eye or Little Three Eyes ; she always grasped
the empty air.
Then Little Two Eyes said, *' I will go up my-
self ; perhaps I shall prosper better."
" You ! " cried the sisters. " With your two
eyes, what can you do? "
But Little Two Eyes climbed up, and the
golden apples did not spring awaj^ from her, but
dropped of themselves into her hand, so that she
could gather one after the other, and brought
down a whole apron full. Her mother took them
from her, and instead of her sisters. Little One
Eye and Little Three Eyes, behaving better to
poor Little Two Eyes for it, they were only envi-
ous because slie alone could get the fruit, and be-
haved still more cruelly to her.
It happened, as they stood together by the tree,
one day, that a young knight came riding by on a
fine horse.
" Quick, Little Two Eyes," cried tlie two sis-
ters, " creep under, so that we ma}' not be ashamed
of you ; " and threw over poor Little Two Eyes,
in a great hurry, an empty cask that stood just by
the tree, and pushed also beside her the golden
apples which slie had broken off.
Now, as the knight came nearer, he proved to
be a handsome prince, who stood still, admired
the beautiful tree of gold and silver, and said to
the two sisters, —
" To whom does this beautiful tree belong ?
She who gives me a branch of it shall have what-
ever she wishes."
Then Little One Eye and Little Three Eyes
answered that the tree was theirs, and they would
break off a branch for him. Both gave themselves
a great deal of trouble, but it was of no use, for
the branches and fruit sprang back from them
every time. Then the knight said, —
" It is very wonderful that the tree belongs to
you, and yet you have not the power of gathering
anything from it."
They insisted, however, that the tree was their
own property. But as they spoke, Little Two
Eyes rolled a few golden apples from under the
cask, so that they ran to the feet of the knight ;
for Little Two Eyes was angry that Little One
Eye and Little Three Eyes did not tell the truth.
When the knight saw the ajjples, he was aston-
ished, and asked where they came from. Little
One Eye and Little Three Eyes answered that
they had another sister, who might not, however,
show herself, because she had only two e3'es, like
other common people. But the knight desired to
see her, and called out, " Little Two Eyes, come
out." Then Little Two Eyes came out of the
cask quite comforted, and the knight was aston-
ished at her great beauty, and said, —
" You, Little Two Eyes, can certainly gather
me a branch from the tree ? "
" Yes," answered Little Two Eyes, " I can dp
that, for the tree belongs to me." And she climbed
up and easily broke off a branch, with its silver
leaves and golden fruit, and handed it to the
knight.
Then the knight said, " Little Two Eyes, what
shall I give you for it ? "
" Oh," answered Little Two Eyes, " I suffer
hunger and thirst, sorrow and want, from early
morning till late evening ; if you would take me
with you and free me, I should be hajipj'."
Then the knight lifted Little Two Eyes upon
his horse, and took her home to his father's cas-
tle ; there he gave her beautiful clothes, food, and
drink, as much as she wanted, and because he
loved her so much lie married her, and the mar-
riage was celebrated with great joy.
Now, when Little Two Eyes was taken away
by the handsome knight, the two sisters envied
her very much her happiness. "The wonderful
tree remains for us, though," thought they ; " and
even though we cannot gather any fruit off it,
THE TRAVELING MUSICIAN'S.
47
every one will stand still before it, come to us,
and praise it." But the next morning, the tree
had disappeared, and all their hopes with it.
Little Two Eyes lived happily a long time. Once
two poor women came to her at the castle, and
beo-o-ed alms. Then Little Two Eyes looked in
their faces, and fecognized her sisters. Little One
Eye and Little Three Eyes, who had fallen into
such poverty that they had to wander about, and
seek their bread from door to door. Little Two
Eyes, however, bade them welcome, and was very
good to them, and took care of them ; for they
both repented from their hearts the evil they had
done to their sister in their youth.
THE TRAVELING MUSICIANS.
An honest farmer had once an ass that had been
a faithful servant to him a great many years, but
was now growing old and every day more and
more unfit for work. His master, therefore, was
tired of keeping him and began to think of put-
ting an end to him ; but the ass, who saw that
some mischief was in the wind, took himself slyly
off, and began his journey towards the great city,
"for there," thought he, "I may turn musician."
After he had traveled a little way he spied a
dog lying by the roadside and panting as if he
were very tired. " What makes you pant so, my
friend?" said the ass. "Alas!" said the dog,
" my master was going to knock me on the head,
because I am old and weak, and can no longer
make myself useful to him in hunting ; so I ran
away : but what can I do to earn my livelihood?"
" Hark ye ! " said the ass, " I am going to the
great city to turn musician ; suppose you go with
me, and try what you can do in the same way ? "
The dog said he was willing, and they jogged on
together.
They had not gone far before they saw a cat sit-
ting in the middle of the road and making a most
rueful face. " Pray, my good lady," said the ass,
"what's the matter with you? you look quite out
of spirits I " "Ah me ! " said the cat, " how can
one be in good spirits when one's life is in danger ?
Because I am beginning to grow old, and had
rather lie at my ease by the fire than run about
the house after the mice, my mistress laid hold of
me, and was going to drown me ; and though I
have been lucky enough to get away from her, I
do not know what I am to live upon." " Oh ! "
said the ass, "by all means go with us to the great
city ; you are a good night singer, and may make
your fortune as a musician." The cat was pleased
with the thought, and joined the party.
Soon afterwards, as they were passing by a
farmyard, they saw a cock perched uj)on a gate,
and screaming out with all his might and main.
" Bravo ! " said the ass ; " upon my word you make
a famous noise ; pray, what is all this about ? "
" Why," said the cock, " I was jvist now saying
that we should have fine weather for our washing-
day, and yet my mistress and the cook don't tliank
me for my pains, but threaten to cut off my head
to-morrow, and make broth of me for the guests
that are coming on Sunday ! " " Heaven forbid ! "
said the ass ; " come with us. Master Chanticleer ;
it will be better, at any rate, than staying here to
have your head cut off ! Besides, who knows ?
If we take care to sing in tune, we may get up
some kind of a concert: so come along with us."
" With all my heart," said the cock ; so they all
four went on joUily togetlier.
They could not, however, reach the great city
the first day : so when night came on they went
into the wood to sleep. The ass and the dog laid
themselves down under a great tree, and the cat
climbed up into the branches ; while the cock,
thinking that the higher he sat the safer he should
be, flew up to the very top of the tree, and then,
according to his custom, before he went to sleejD,
looked out on all sides of him to see that every-
thins was well. In doing this he saw afar off
something bright and shining ; and calling to his
companions said, " There must be a house no great
48
THE BOOK OF WONDERS.
way off, for I see a light." " If that be the case,"
said the ass, " we had better change our quarters,
for our lodging is not the best in the world ! "
" Besides," added the dog, " I should not be the
worse for a bone or two, or a bit of meat." So
they walked off together towards the spot where
Chanticleer had seen the light ; and as they drew
near it became larger and brighter, till at last
they came close to a house in which a gang of
robbers lived.
The ass, being the tallest of the company,
marched up to the window and peeped in. " Well,
Donkey," said Chanticleer, " What do you see ? "
"What do I see?" replied the ass, "why I see a
table spread with all kinds of good things, and
robbers sitting round it making merry." " That
would be a noble lodging for us," said the cock.
"Yes," said the ass, "if we could only get in:"
so they consulted together how they should con-
trive to get the robbers out ; and at last they hit
upon a plan. The ass placed himself upright on
his hind-legs, with his fore-feet resting against the
window ; the dog got upon his back ; the cat
scrambled up to the dog's shoulders, and the cock
flew up and sat upon the cat's head. When all
was ready, a signal was given, and they began
their music. The ass brayed, the dog barked, the
cat mewed, and the cock screamed ; and then they
all broke through the window at once, and came
tumbling into the room, amongst the broken glass,
with a most hideous clatter! The robbers, who
had been not a little frightened by the opening
concert, had now no doubt that some frightful hob-
goblin had broken in upon them, and scampered
away as fast as the}' could.
Tlie coast once clear, our travelers soon sat down,
and dispatched what the robbers had left, with as
much eagerness as if thej' had not expected to eat
again for a month. As soon as they had satisfied
themselves, they put out the lights, and each once
more sought out a i-esting-place to his own liking.
The donkey laid himself down upon a heap of
straw in the yard ; the dog stretched himself upon
a mat behind the door ; the cat rolled herself up
on the hearth before the warm ashes ; and the
cock perched upon abeam at the top of the house ;
and, as they were all rather tired with their jour-
ney, they soon fell asleep.
But about midnight the robbers, when they saw
from afar that the lights were out and that all
seemed quiet, began to think that they had been
in too great a hurry to run away ; and one of
them, Avho was bolder than the rest, went to see
what was going on. Finding everything still, he
marched into the kitchen, and groped about till
he found a match in order to light a candle ; and
then, espying the glittering fiery eyes of the cat,
he mistook them for live coals, and held the match
to them to light it. But the cat, not understand-
ing this joke, sprang at his face, and spit, and
scratched at him. This frightened him dread-
fully, and awa}' he ran to the door : but there the
dog jumped up and bit him in the leg; and as he
was crossing over the yard the ass kicked him :
and the cock, who had been awakened by the
noise, crowed with all his might. At this the
robber ran back as fast as he could to his com-
rades, and told the captain "how a horrid witch
had got into the house, and had spit at him and
scratched his face with her long bony fingers ; how
THE WHITE GAT.
49
a man with a knife in his hand had hidden him-
self behind the door, and stabbed him in the leg ;
how a black monster stood in the yard and struck
him with a club, and how the judge sat upon the
top of the house and cried out, ' Throw the rascal
up here ! ' " After this the robbers never dared
to go back to the house ; but the musicians were
so pleased with their quarters, that they took \\t^
their abode there ; and there they are, I dare say,
at this very day.
THE WHITE CAT.
There was once a king who had three sons, all
handsome, brave, and noble of heart. Neverthe-
less, some wicked courtiers made their father be-
lieve they were eager to wear his crown, which,
though he was old, he had no mind to resign. He
therefore invented a plan to get them out of the
kingdom, and prevent their carrying out any un-
dutiful projects. Sending for them to a private
audience, he conversed with them kindly, and
said : " You must be sensible, my dear children,
that my great age prevents me from attending so
closely as I have hitherto done to state affairs. I
fear this may be injurious to my subjects ; I
therefore desire to place my crown on the head of
one of you ; but it is no more than just that, in
return for such a present, you should procure me
some amusement in my retirement, before I leave
the capital forever. I cannot help thinking that
a little dog, handsome, faithful, and engaging,
would be the very thing to make me happy ; so
that, without bestowing a preference on either of
you, I declare that he who brings me the most
perfect little dog shall be my successor in the
kingdom."'
The princes were much surprised at the fancy
of their father to have a little dog, yet they ac-
cepted the proposition with pleasure ; and accord-
ingly, after taking leave of the king, who pre-
sented them with an abundance of money and
jewels, and appointed that day twelvemonth for
their return, they set off on their travels.
Before separating, however, they took some re-
freshment together, in an old palace about three
miles out of town, where they mutually agreed to
meet on their return that day twelvemonth, and
go all together with their presents to court. They
also agreed to change their names, and to travel
incognito.
Each took a different road ; but it is intended
to relate the adventures of the youngest only, who
was the most beautiful, amiable, and accomplished
prince in the world. As he traveled from town to
town, he bought all the handsome dogs that fell
in his way ; and as soon as he saw one that was
handsomer than those he had, he made a present
of the rest ; for twenty servants would scarcely
have been sufficient to take care of all the dogs he
was continually purchasing. At length, wander-
ing he knew not whither, he found himself in a
forest ; night suddenly came on, and with it a vio-
lent storm of thunder, lightning, and rain : to add
to his perplexity, he lost his way. After he had
groped about for a long time, he perceived a light,
which made him suppose that he was not far from
some house: he accordingly pursued his way to-
wards it, and in a short time found himself at the
gates of tlie most magnificent palace he had ever
beheld. The entrance door was of gold, covered
witli sapphires, which shone so that the strongest
eyesight scarcely could bear to look at it : this was
the light the prince had seen from the forest.
The walls were of transparent porcelain, variously
colored, and represented the history of all the
fairies that had existed from the beginning of the
world. The prince, coming back to the golden
door, observed a deer's foot fastened to a chain of
diamonds ; he could not help wondering at the
magnificence he beheld, and the security in which
the inhabitants seemed to live ; " For," said he to
himself, " nothing could be easier than for thieves
to steal this chain, and as many of the sapphire-
stones as would make their fortunes." He pulled
50
THE BOOK OF WONDERS.
the chain, and heard a bell, the sound of which
was exquisite. In a few moments the door was
opened; yet he perceived nothing but twelve
hands in the air, each holding a torch. The
prince was so astonished that he durst not move a
step — when he felt himself gently pushed on by
some other hands from behind him. He walked
on, in great perplexitj', till he entered a vestibule
inlaid with porphyry and lapis-stone, where the
most melodious voice he had ever heard chanted
the following words : —
" Welcome, prince, uo danger fear,
Mirtli and love attend you here :
You shall break the magic spell,
That on a beauteous lady fell.
" Welcome, prince, no danger fear.
Mirth and love attend you here."
The prince now advanced with confidence, won-
dering what these words could mean ; the hands
moved him forward towards a large door of coral,
which opened of itself to give him admittance into
a splendid apartment built of mother - of - pearl,
through which he passed into others so richl}'
adorned with paintings and jewels, and so resplen-
dently lighted with thousands of lamps, girandoles,
and lustres, that he imagined he must be in an
enchanted palace. When he had passed through
sixty apartments, all equally splendid, he was
stopped by the hands, and a large easy chair ad-
vanced of itself towards the fire-place ; then the
hands, which he observed were extremely white
and delicate, took off his wet clothes, and supplied
their place with the finest linen imaginable, add-
ing a comfortable wrapping-gown, embroidered
with gold and pearls.
The hands next brought him an elegant dress-
ing-table, and combed his hair so very gently that
he scarcely felt their touch. They held before
him a beautiful basin, filled with perfumes, for
him to wash his face and hands, and afterwards
took off the wrapping-gown, and dressed him in
a suit of clothes of still greater splendor. When
his toilet was complete they conducted him to an
apartment he had not yet seen, and which also
was magnificently furnished. There was a table
spread for supper, and everything upon it was of
the purest gold, adorned with jewels. The prince
observed there were two covers set, and was won-
dering who was to be his companion, when his
attention was suddenly caught by a small figure
not a foot high, which just then entered the
room, and advanced towards him. It had on a
long black veil, and was supported by two cats
dressed in mourning, and with swoi-ds by their
sides: they were followed by a numerous retinue
of cats, some carrying cages full of rats, and
others mouse-traps full of mice.
The prince was at a loss to know what to think.
The little figure now approached, and throwing
aside her veil, he beheld a most beautiful white
cat : she seemed j'oung and melancholy ; and, ad-
dressing herself to him, said, " My prince, you are
welcome ; your presence affords me the greatest
pleasure."
"INIadam," replied he, "I would fain thank you
for your generosity, nor can I heljD observing that
you must be an extraordinary creature to possess,
with your present form, the gift of speech, and
the most magnificent palace I have ever seen."
" All this is very true," answered the beautiful
cat ; " but, prince, I am not fond of talking, and
least of all do I like compliments ; let us therefore
sit down to supper."
The trunkless hands then placed the dishes on
the table, and the prince and white cat seated
themselves at it. The first dish was a pie made
of young pigeons, and the next was a fricassee of
the fattest mice. The view of the one made the
pi-ince almost afraid to taste the other, till the
white cat, who guessed his thoughts, assured him
that there were certain dishes at table which had
been dressed on purpose for him, in which there
was not a morsel of either rat or mouse : accord-
inglj' he ate heartily of such as she recommended.
When supper was over he perceived that the
white cat had a portrait set in gold hanging to one
of her feet. He begged her permission to look at
it ; when, to his astonishment, he saw the portrait
of a handsome young man, who exactly resembled
himself ! He thouscht there was something most
THE WHITE CAT.
51
extraordinaiy in all this: yet, as the wkite cat
sighed and looked very sorrowful, he did not vent-
ure to ask any questions. He conversed with her
on different subjects, and found her extremely
well versed in everything that was passing in
the world. When night was far advanced, his
hostess wished hifii a good-night, and he was con-
ducted by the hands to his chamber, which was
different still from anything he had seen in
the palace, being hung with the wings of butter-
flies mixed with the most curious feathers. His
bed was of gauze, festooned with bunches of the
gayest ribbons, and the looking-glasses reaching
from the floor to the ceiling. The prince was un-
dressed and put into bed by the hands, without
speaking a word. He, however, slept little, and
in the morning was awakened by a confused noise.
The hands took him out of bed, and put on him a
handsome hunting-jacket. He looked into the
courtyard, and perceived more than five hundred
cats, busily employed in preparing for the field
— for this was a day of festival. Presently the
white cat came to his apartment; and having
politely inquired after his health, she invited him
to partake of their amusement. The prince will-
ingly acceded, and mounted a wooden horse,
richly caparisoned, which had been prepared for
him, and which he was assured would gallojD to
admiration. The beautiful white cat mounted a
monkey ; she wore a dragoon's cap, which made
her look so fierce that all the rats and mice ran
away in the utmost terror.
Everything being ready, the horns sounded,
and away they went : no hunting was ever more
agreeable. The cats ran faster than the hares
and rabbits ; and when they caught any, they
turned them out to be hunted in the presence of
the white cat, and a thousand cunning tricks were
played. Nor were the birds in safety ; for the
monkey made nothing of climbing up the trees,
with the white cat on his back, to the nests of the
young eagles. When the chase was over, the
whole i-etinue returned to the palace ; the white
cat immediateh* exchanged her dragoon's cap for
the veil, and sat down to supper with the prince.
who, being very hungry, ate heartily, and after-
wards partook with her of the most delicious
wines. He then was conducted to his chamber as
before, and wakened in the morning to renew the
same sort of life, which day after day became so
pleasant to him that he no longer thought of any-
thing but of pleasing the sweet little creature who
received him so courteously : accordingly, every
day was spent in new amusements. The prince
had almost forgotten his country and relations,
and sometimes even regretted that he was not a
cat, so great was his affection for his mewing com-
panions.
" Alas ! " said he to the white cat, " how will it
afflict me to leave you, whom I love so much !
Either make yourself a lady, or make me a cat."
She smiled at the prince's wish, but offered no
reply.
At length the twelvemonth was nearly expired :
the white cat, who knew the very day when the
prince was to reach his father's palace, reminded
him that he had but three days longer to look for
a perfect little dog. The prince, astonished at
his own forgetfulness, began to afflict himself ;
when the cat told him not to be so sorrowful, since
she would not only provide him with a little dog,
but also with a wooden horse, which should con-
vey him safely home in less than twelve hours.
" Look here," said she, showing him an acorn ;
" this contains what you desire."
The prince put the acorn to his ear, and heard
the barking of a little dog. Transported with
joy, he thanked the cat a thousand times ; and
the next daj^ bidding her tenderly adieu, he set
out on his return.
The prince arrived first at the place of rendez-
vous, and was soon joined by his brothers : they
mutually embi'aced, and began to give an account
of their success ; when the youngest showed them
only a little mongrel cur, telling them that he
thought it could not fail to please the king, from
its extraordinary beauty. The brothers trod on
each other's toes under the table, as much as to
say, " We have little to fear from this sorry-look-
ing animal." The next day they went together
52
THE BOOK OF WONDERS.
to the palace. The dogs of the two elder brothers
were lying on cushions, and so cuiioiisly wrapped
around with embi'oidered quilts that one would
scarcely venture to touch them. The youngest
produced his cur, and all wondered how the
prince could hope to receive a crown for such a
shabby present. The king examined the two
little dogs of the elder princes, and declared he
thought them so equally beautiful that he knew
not to which, with justice, he could give the j)ref-
erence. They accordingly began to dispute ; when
the youngest prince, taking his acorn from his
pocket, soon ended their contention ; for a little
dog appeared, which could with ease go through
the smallest ring, and was, besides, a miracle of
beauty.
The king could not possibly hesitate in declar-
ing his satisfaction ; yet, as he was not more in-
clined than the year before to part with his crown,
he told his sons that he was extremely obliged to
them for the pains they had taken : and since they
had succeeded so well, he wished they would make
a second attempt; he therefore begged they would
take another year in order to procure a piece of
cambric, fine enough to be drawn through the ej'e
of a small needle.
The three princes thought this very hard ; yet
they set out, in obedience to the king's command.
The two eldest took different roads, and the
youngest remounted his wooden horse, and in a
short time arrived at the palace of his beloved
white cat, who received him with the greatest
joy, while the trunkless hands helped him to dis-
mount, and provided him with immediate refresh-
ment. Afterwards the prince gave the white cat
an account of the admiration which had been be-
stowed on the beautiful little dog, and informed
her of the further injunction of his father.
" Make yourself perfectly easy, dear prince,"
said she ; " I have in my palace some cats who are
perfect adepts in making such cambric as the king
requires ; so you have nothing to do but to give
me the pleasure of your company while it is mak-
ing, and I will procure you all the amusement pos-
sible."
She accordingly ordered the most curious fire-
works to be played off in sight of the window of
the apartment in which they were sitting ; and
nothing but festivity and rejoicing was heard
throughout the palace for the prince's return. As
the white cat frequently gave proofs of an excellent
understanding, the prince was by no means tired
of her company ; she talked with him of state
affairs, of theatres, of fashions : in short, she was
at a loss on no subject whatever ; so that when
the prince was alone, he had plenty of amuse-
ment in thinking how it could possibly be, that
a small white eat could be endowed with all the
attractions of the very best and most charming of
Avomen.
The twelvemonth in this manner again passed
insensibly away ; but the cat took care to remind
the prince of his duty in proper time. " For once,
my prince," said she, " I will have the pleasure of
equipping you as suits your high rank." And,
looking into the courtyard, he saw a superb car,
ornamented all over with gold, silver, pearls, and
diamonds, drawn by twelve horses as white as
snow, and harnessed in the most sumj^tuous trap-
pings ; and behind the car a thousand guards,
richly appareled, were -waiting to attend on the
prince's person. She then presented him with a
nut : " You will find in it," said she, " the piece
of cambric I promised you : do not break the shell
till you are in the presence of the king your fa-
ther." Then, to prevent the acknowledgments
which the prince was about to offer, she hastily
bade him adieu.
Nothing could exceed the speed with which the
snow-white horses conveyed this fortunate prince
to his father's palace, where his brothers had just
arrived before him. They embraced each other,
and demanded an immediate audience of the king,
who received them with the greatest kindness.
The princes hastened to place at the feet of his
majesty the curious present he had required them
to procure. The eldest produced a piece of cam-
bric so extremely fine, that his friends had no
doubt of its passing through the eye of the needle,
which was now delivered to the king, having been
THE WHITE CAT.
53
kept locked up in the custody of his majesty's
tveasuiei- all the time. But when the king tried
to draw the cambric through the eye of the needle
it would not pass, though it failed but very little.
Then came the second prince, who made as sure
of obtaining the crown as his brother had done,
but, alas! with fio better success; for though his
piece of cambric Avas exquisitely fine, yet it could
not be drawn through the eye of the needle. It
was now the turn of the youngest prince, who ac-
cordingly advanced, and opening an elegant little
box inlaid with jewels, took out a walnut and
cracked the shell, imagining he should immedi-
ately perceive his piece of cambric ; but what was
his astonishment to see nothing but a iilbert ! He
did not, however, lose his hopes ; he cracked the
filbert, and it presented him with a cherry-stone.
The lords of the court, who had assembled to wit-
ness this extraordinary trial, could not, any more
than the princes liis brothers, refrain from laugh-
ing, to think he should be so silly as to claim the
crown on no better pretensions. The prince, how-
ever, cracked the cherry-stone, which was filled
with a kernel; he divided it and found in the mid-
dle a grain of wheat, and in that a grain of millet-
seed. He was now absolutely confounded, and
could not helj) muttering between his teeth, " O
white cat, white cat, thou hast deceived me ! " At
this instant he felt his hand scratched by the claw
of a cat ; upon which he again took courage, and
opening the grain of millet-seed, to the astonish-
ment of all present, he drew forth a piece of cam-
bric four hundred yards long, and fine enough to
be threaded with perfect ease through the eye of
the needle.
When the king found he had no pretext left
for refusing the crown to his youngest son, he
sighed deeply, and it was easy to be seen that he
was sorry for the prince's success.
" My sons," said he, " it is so gratifying to the
heart of a father to receive proofs of his children's
love and obedience, that I cannot refuse myself
the satisfaction of requiring of you one thing more.
You must undertake another expedition. That
one of you who, by the end of a year, brings me
the most beautiful lady, shall marry her and ob-
tain my crown."
So they again took leave of the king and of
each other, and set out without delay ; and in less
than twelve hours our young prince arrived, in
his splendid car, at the palace of his dear white
cat. Everything went on as before till the end of
another year. At length only one day remained
of the year, when the white cat thus addressed
him : " To-morrow, my prince, you must present
yourself at the palace of your father, and give
him a proof of your obedience. It depends only
on yourself to conduct thither the most beautiful
princess ever yet beheld, for the time is come
when the enchantment by which I am bound may
be ended. You must cut off my head and tail,"
continued she, " and throw them into the fire."
" I ! " said the ftrince hastily, — "I cut ofl^ your
head and tail I You surely mean to tiy my af-
fection, which, believe me, beautiful cat, is truly
yours."
" You mistake me, generous prince," said she ;
" I do not doubt your regard ; but if you wish to
see me in anj' other form than that of a cat, you
must consent to do as I desire, then you will have
done me a service I shall never be able sufficiently
to repay."
The prince's eyes filled with tears as she spoke,
yet he considered himself obliged to undertake
the dreadful task ; and, the cat continuing to press
him with the greatest eagerness, with a trembling
hand he drew his sword, cut off her head and tail,
and threw them into the fire. No sooner was this
done than the most beautiful lady his eyes had
ever seen stood before him : and ere he had suffi-
ciently recovered from his surprise to speak to
her, a long train of attendants, who, at the same
moment as their mistress, were changed to their
natural shapes, came to offer their congratulations
to the queen, and inquire her commands. She
received them with the greatest kindness, and or-
dering them to withdraw, thus addressed the as-
tonished prince: —
" Do not imagine, dear jirince, that I have al-
ways been a cat, or that I am of obscure birth.
64
THE BOOK OF WONDERS.
My father was tlie monarch of six kingdoms ; he
tenderly loved my mother, and left her always at
liberty to follow her own inclinations. Her pre-
vailing passion was to travel ; and a short time
before my birth, having heard of some fairies who
were in possession of the largest gardens filled
with the most delicious fruits, she had so strong
a desire to eat some of them, that she set out for
the country where they lived. She arrived at
their abode, which she found to be a magnificent
palace, on all sides glittering with gold and pre-
cious stones. She knocked a long time at the
gates ; but no one came, nor could she perceive the
least sign that it had any inhabitant. The difii-
culty, however, did but increase the violence of
my mother's longhig ; for she saw the tops of the
trees above the garden walls, loaded with the most
luscious fruits. The queen, in despair, ordered her
attendants to place tents close to the door of the
palace ; but, having waited six weeks without
seeing any one pass the gates, she fell sick of vex-
ation, and her life was despaired of.
" One night, as she lay half asleep, she turned
herself about, and, opening her ej'es, perceived a
little old woman, very ugly and deformed, seated
in the easy-chair by her bedside. ' I and my sister
fairies,' said she, 'take it very ill that your maj-
esty should so obstinately persist in getting some
of our fruit ; but since so precious a life is at
stake, we consent to give you as much as you can
carry away, provided you will give us in retui-n
what we shall ask.' 'Ah! kind fairy,' cried the
queen, ' I will give you anything that I possess,
even my very kingdoms, on condition that I eat of
your fruit." The old fairy then informed the
queen that what they required was, that she should
give them the child she was going to have, as soon
as it should be born ; adding that every possible
care should be taken of it, and that it should be-
come the most accomplished princess. The queen
replied that, however cruel the conditions, she
must accept them, since nothing but the fruit
could save her life. In short, dear prince," con-
tinued the lady, "mj' mother instantlj' got out of
bed, was dressed by her attendants, entered the
palace, and satisfied her longing. Having eaten
her fill, she ordered four thousand mules to be
procured and loaded with the fruit, which had the
virtue of continuing all the year round in a state
of perfection. Thus provided, she returned to the
king my father, who, with the whole court, re-
ceived her with rejoicings, as it was before imag-
ined she would die of disappointment. All this
time the queen said nothing to my father of the
promise she had made to give her daughter to the
fairies ; so that when the time was come that she
expected my birth, she grew very melancholy ;
till at length, being pressed by the king, she de-
clared to him the truth. Nothing could exceed his
affliction when he heard that his only child, when
born, was to be given to the fairies. He bore it,
however, as well as he could, for fear of adding to
my mother's grief ; and also believing he should
find some means of keeping me in a place of safety,
which the fairies would not be able to approach.
As soon, therefore, as I was born, he had me con-
veyed to a tower in the palace, to which there were
twenty flights of stairs, and a door to each, of which
my father kept the key, so that none came near
me without his consent. When the fairies hetird
of what had been done, they sent first to demand
me ; and on my father's refusal, they let loose a
monstrous dragon, which devoured men, women,
and children, and which, by the breath of its nos-
trils, destroyed everything it came near, so that
even the trees and plants began to die. The grief
of the king was excessive ; and, finding that his
whole kingdom would in a short time be reduced
to famine, he consented to give me into their
hands. I was accordingly laid in a cradle of moth-
er-of-pearl, ornamented with gold and jewels, and
carried to their palace, when the dragon immedi-
ately disappeared. The fairies placed me in a
tower, elegantly furnished, but to which there was
no door, so that whoever approached was obliged
to come by the windows, which were of great
height from the ground : from these I liad the
liberty of getting out into a delightful garden, in
which were baths, and every sort of cooling fruit.
In this place was I educated by the fairies, who
THE WHITE CAT.
65
behaved to me with the greatest kindness; my
clothes were splendid, and I was instructed in
every kind of accomplishment ; in short, prince,
if I had never seen any one but them I should have
remained very happy. One day, however, as I
was talking at the window with my parrot, I per-
ceived a youn^ gentleman who was listening to
our conversation. As I had never seen a man
save in pictures, I was not sorry for the opportu-
nity of gratifying my curiosity. I thought him a
very pleasing object, and he at length bowed in
the most respectful manner, without daring to
speak, for he knew that I was in the palace of the
fairies. When it began to grow dark he went
away, and I vainly endeaTored to see which road
he took. The next morning, as soon as it was
light, 1 again placed myself at the window, and
had the pleasure of seeing that the gentleman had
returned to the same place. He now spoke to me
through a speaking-trumpet, and declared that he
thought me a most charming lady, and that he
should be very unhappy if he did not pass his life
in my company.
"I resolved to find some waj' of escaping from
my tower, and was not long in devising the means
for the execution of my project : I begged the
fairies to bring me a netting-needle, a mesh, and
some cord, saying I wished to make some nets to
amuse myself with catching birds at my window.
This they readily complied with, and in a short
time I completed a ladder long enough to reach
to the ground. I now sent my parrot to the
prince, to beg he would come to the usual place,
as I wished to speak with him. He did not fail ;
and finding the ladder, mounted it, and quickly
entered my tower. This at first alarmed me, but
the charms of his conversation had restored me to
tranquillit}', when all at once the window opened,
and the Fairy Violent, mounted on the dragon's
back, rushed into the tower. My beloved prince
thought of nothing but how to defend me from
her fury ; for I had had time to relate to him my
story, previous to this cruel interruption ; but her
attendants overpowered him, and the Faii-y Vio-
lent had the barbarity to command the dragon to
devour my lover before my eyes. In my despair
I would have thrown myself also into the mouth
of the horrible monster ; but this they took care
to prevent, saying my life should be preserved
for greater punishment. Tlie fairy then touched
me with her wand, and I instantly became a white
cat. She next conducted me to this palace, which
belonged to my father, and gave me a train of cats
for my attendants, together with the twelve hands
that waited on your highness. She then informed
me of ray birth and the death of my parents, and
pronounced upon me what she imagined the great-
est of maledictions : that I should not be restored
to my natural figure until a young prince, the per-
fect resemblance of him I had lost, should cut of?
my head and tail. You are that perfect resem-
blance ; and accordingly you ended the enchant-
ment. I need not add that I already love you
more than my life ; let us therefore hasten to the
palace of the king your father, and obtain his ap-
probation to our marriage."
The prince and princess accordingly set out side
by side, in a car of still greater splendor than be-
fore, and reached the palace just as the two
brothers had arrived with two beautiful prin-
cesses. The king, hearing that each of his sons
had succeeded in finding what he had required,
again began to think of some new expedient to
delay the time of resigning the crown ; but when
the whole court were with the king assembled
to pass judgment, the princess who accompanied
the youngest, perceiving his thoughts by his coun-
tenance, stepped majestically forward and thus ad-
dressed him : —
" It is a pity that your majestj', who is so ca-
pable of governing, should think of resigning the
crown ! I am fortunate enough to have six king-
doms in my possession ; permit me to bestow one
on each of the eldest princes, and to enjoy the re-
maining four in the society of the youngest. And
may it please your majesty to keep your own
kingdom, and make no decision concerning the
beauty of three princesses, who, without such a
proof of your majesty's preference, will no doubt
live happily together ! "
56
THE BOOK OF WONDERS.
The air resounded with the applauses of the as-
sembly : the young prince and princess embraced
the king, and next their brothers and sisters :
the three weddings immediately took place, and
the kingdoms were divided as the pi-incess had pro-
posed.
PRINCE CHERRY.
Long ago there lived a monarch, who was such
a very honest man that his subjects entitled him
the Good King. One daj', when he was out hunt-
ing, a little white rabbit, which had been half
killed by his hounds, leaped right into his maj-
esty's arms. Said he, caressing it : " This poor
creature has put itself under my protection, and I
will allow no one to injure it." So he carried it
to his palace, had prepared for it a neat little rab-
bit-hutch, with abundance of the daintiest food,
such as rabbits love, and there he left it.
The same night, when he was alone in his
chamber, there appeared to him a beautiful lady.
She was dressed neither in gold, nor silvei', nor
brocade ; but her flowing robes were white as
snow, and she wore a garland of white roses on
her head. The Good King was greatly astonished
at the sight ; for his door was locked, and he won-
dered how so dazzling a lady could possibly enter ;
but she soon removed his doubts.
" I am the Fairy Candide," said sl)e, with a
smiling and gracious air. " Passing through the
wood, where you were hunting, I took a desire to
know if you were as good as men say you are. I
therefore changed myself into a white rabbit, and
took refuge in your arms. You saved me ; and
now I know that those who are merciful to dumb
beasts will be ten times more so to human beings.
You merit the name your subjects give you : you
are the Good King. I thank you for your protec-
tion, and shall be always one of your best friends.
You htive but to say what you most desire, and
I promise you your wish shall be granted."
" Madam," replied the king, " if you are a
fairy, you must know, without my telling you,
the wish of my heart. I have one well-beloved
son, Prince Cherry : whatever kindly feeling you
have towards me, extend it to him."
" Willingly," said Candide. " I will make him
the handsomest, richest, or most powerful prince in
the world : choose whichever you desire for him."
" None of the three," returned the father. " I
only wish him to be good — the best prince in the
whole world. Of what use would riches, power,
or beauty be to him if he were a bad man ? "
" You are right," said the fairy ; "but I cannot
make him good : he must do that himself. I can
only change his external fortunes ; for his per-
sonal character, the utmost I can promise is to
give him good counsel, rejjrove him for his faults,
and even punish him if he will not punish him-
self. You mortals can but do the same with your
children."
" Ah, yes ! " said the king, sighing. Still, he
felt that the kindness of a fairy was something
gained for his son, and died, not long after, con-
tent and at peace.
Prince Cherry mourned deeply, for he dearly
loved his father, and would have gladly given all'
his kingdoms and treasures to keep him in life a
little longer. Two days after the Good King was
no more. Prince Cherry was sleeping in his cham-
ber, when he saw the same dazzling vision of the
Fairy Candide.
" I promised your father," said she, " to be
your best friend, and in pledge of this take what
I now give you ; " and she placed a small gold
ring upon his finger. " Poor as it looks, it is
more precious than diamonds ; for whenever you
do ill it will prick your finger. If, after that
wai-ning, you still continue in evil, you will lose
ray friendship, and I shall become your direst
enemy."
So saj'ing, she disappeared, leaving Cherry in
such amazement, that he would have believed it
all a dream, save for the ring on his finger.
PRINCE CHERRY.
57
He '.vas for a long time so good that the ring
never pricked him at all ; and this made him so
cheerful and pleasant in his humor that everybody
called him '• Hapj^y Prince Cherry."
But one unlucky day he was out hunting and
found no sport, which vexed him so much that he
showed his ill tetoper by his looks and ways. He
fancied his ring felt very tight and uncomfortable,
but as it did not prick him he took no heed of
tliis : until, reentering his palace, his little pet
dog, Bibi, jumped up upon him, and was sharply
told to get away. The creature, accustomed to
nothing but caresses, tried to attract his attention
by pulling at his garments, when Prince Cherry
turned and gave it a severe kick. At this mo-
ment he felt in his finger a prick like a pin.
" What nonsense ! " said he to himself. " The
fairy must be making game of me. Why, what
great evil have I done ! I, the master of a great
empire, cannot I kick my own dog?"
A voice replied, or else Prince Cherry imagined
it, " No, sire ; the master of a great empire has a
right to do good, but not evil. I — a fairy — am
as much above you as you are above your dog. I
might punish you, kill you, if I chose ; but I pre-
fer leaving you to amend your ways. You have
been guilty of three faults to-day — bad temper,
passion, cruelty : do better to-morrow."
The prince promised and kept his word a while ;
but he had been brought up by a foolish nui'se,
who indulged him in every way, and was always
telling him that he would be a king one day,
when he might do as he liked in all things. He
found out now that even a king cannot always do
that ; it vexed him, and made him angry. His
ring began to prick him so often that his little
finger was continually bleeding. He disliked
this, as was natural, and soon began to consider
whether it would not be easier to throw the ring
away altogether than to be constantly annoyed by
it. It was such a queer thing for a king to have
always a spot of blood on his finger ! At last, un-
able to put up with it any more, he took his ring
oiS and hid it where he would never see it ; and
believed himself the happiest of men, for he could
now do exactly what he liked. He did it and be-
came every day more and more miserable.
One day he saw a young girl, so beautiful that,
being always accustomed to have his own way, he
immediately determined to espouse her. He never
doubted that she would be only too glad to be
made a queen, for she was very poor. But Zelia
— that was her name — answered, to his great
astonishment, that she would ratlier not marry
him.
" Do I displease you ? " asked the prince, into
whose mind it had never entered that he could
displease anybody.
" Not at all, my pi'ince," said the honest peas-
ant maiden. " You are very handsome, very
charming ; but you are not like your father, the
Good King. I will not be your queen, for you
would make me miserable."
At these words the prince's love seemed to
turn to hatred : he gave orders to his guards to
convej' Zelia to a prison near the palace ; and
then took counsel with his foster-brother, the one
of all his ill companions who most incited him to
do wrong.
'* Sire," said this man, "if I were in your majes-
ty's place, I would never vex myself about a poor
silly girl. Feed her on bread and water till she
comes to her senses ; and if she still refuses you,
let her die in torment, as a warning to your other
subjects should they venture to dispute your will.
You will be disgraced should you suffer yourself
to be conquered by a simple girl."
" But," said Prince Cherry, " shall 1 not be
disgraced if I harm a ci-eature so perfectly inno-
cent ? "
" No one is innocent who disputes your majes-
ty's authority," said the courtier, bowing ; " and
it is better to commit an injustice than allow it to
be supposed you can ever be contradicted with
impunity."
This touched Cherry on his weak point — his
good impulses faded : he resolved once more to
ask Zelia if she would marry him, and, if she
again i-efused, to sell her as a slave. Arrived at
the cell in which she was confined, what was his
58
THE BOOK OF WONDERS.
astonishment to find lier gone I He Itnew not
whom to accuse, for he had kept the Icey in his
pocket the whole time. At last, the foster-brother
suggested that the escape of Zelia might have
been contrived by an old man, Suliman by name,
the prince's former tutor, who was the only one
who now ventured to blame him for anything that
he did. Cherry sent immediately, and ordered
his old friend to be brought to him, loaded heav-
ily with irons. Then, full of fury, he went and
shut himself up in bis own chamber, whei-e he
went raging to and fro, till startled by a noise
like a clap of thunder. The Fairy Candide stood
before liim.
" Prince," said she, in a severe voice, " I prom-
ised your father to give you good counsels, and to
punish you if you refused to follow them. My
counsels were forgotten, my punishments despised.
Under the figure of a man you have been no bet-
ter than the beasts you chase : like a lion in fuiy,
a wolf in gluttony, a serpent in revenge, and a
bull in brutality. Take, therefore, in your new
form the likeness of all these animals."
Scarcely had Prince Cherry heard these words
than to his horror he found himself transformed
into what the fairy had named. He was a creat-
ure with the head of a lion, the horns of a bull,
the feet of a wolf, the tail of a serpent. At the
same time he felt himself transported to a distant
forest, where, standing on the bank of a stream,
he saw reflected in the water his own frightful
shape, and heard a voice saying : —
" Look at thyself, and know thy soul has be-
come a thousand times uglier even than thy body."
Cherry recognized the voice of Candide, and in
his rage would have sprang upon her and de-
voured her; but he saw nothing, and the same
voice said behind him : —
" Cease thy feeble fury, and learn to conquer
thy pride by being in submission to thine own
subjects."
Hearing no more he soon quitted the stream,
hoping, at least, to get I'id of the sight of himself ;
but he had scarcely gone twenty paces when he
tumbled into a pitfall that was laid to catch
bears ; the bear-hunters, descending from some
trees hard by, caught him, chained him, and, only
too delighted to get hold of such a curious-looking
animal, led him along with them to the capital of
his own kingdom.
There great rejoicings were taking place, and
the bear-hunters, asking what it was all about,
were told that it was because Prince Cherry, the
torment of his subjects, had been struck dead by a
thunderbolt — just punishment of all his crimes.
Four courtiers, his wicked companions, had wished
to divide his throne between them ; but the peo-
ple had risen up against them, and offered the
crown to Suliman, the old tutor whom Cherry had
ordered to be arrested.
All this the poor monster heard. He even saw
Suliman sitting upon his own throne, and trying
to cahn the populace by representing to thera
that it was not certain Prince Cherry was dead ;
that he might return one day to reassume with
honor the crown which Suliman only consented
to wear as a sort of viceroy.
" I know his heart," said the honest and faith-
ful old man ; " it is tainted but not corrupt. If
alive, he may reform yet, and be his father over
again to you, his people, whom he has caused to
suffer so much."
These words touched the poor beast so deeply
tliat he ceased to beat himself against the iron
bars of the cage in which the huntei's carried him
about, became gentle as a lamb, and suffered him-
self to be taken quietly to a menagerie, where
were kept all sorts of strange and ferocious ani-
mals— a place which he had himself often visited
as a boy, but never thought he should be shut up
in.
However, he owned he had deserved it all, and
began to make amends by showing himself very
obedient to his keeper. This man was almost as
great a brute as the animals he had charge of, and
when he was in ill liumor he used to beat them
without rhyme or reason. One day, while he was
sleeping, a tiger broke loose, and leaped upon
him, eager to devour him. Cherry at first felt a
thrill of pleasure at the thought of being re-
PRINCE CHERRY.
59
venged ; then, seeing how helpless the man was,
he wished himself free, that he might defend him.
Immediately tlie doors of his cage opened. The
keeper, waking up, saw the strange beast leap
out, and imagined, of course, that he was going to
be slain at once. Instead, he saw the tiger lying
dead and the Strange beast creeping up, and lay-
ing itself at his feet to be caressed. But as he
lifted up his hand to stroke it, a voice was heard
saying, " Good actions never go unrewarded ; "
and, instead of the frightful monster, there
crouched on the ground nothing but a pretty little
dog.
Cherry, delighted to find himself thus metamor-
phosed, caressed the keeper in every possible way,
till at last the man took him up into his arms and
carried him to the king, to whom he related tliis
wonderful story, from beginning to end. The
queen wished to have the charming little dog : and
Cherry would have been exceedingly happy, could
he have forgotten that he was originally a man
and a king. He was lodged most elegantly, had
the richest of collars to adorn his neck, and heard
himself praised continually. But his beauty rather
brought him into trouble, for the queen, afraid
lest he might grow too large for a pet, took advice
of dog-doctors, who ordered that he should be
fed entirely upon bread, and that very sparingly ;
so poor Clierry was sometimes nearly starved.
One day, when they gave him his crust for
breakfast, a fancy seized him to go and eat it in
the palace-garden ; so he took the bread in his
mouth, and trotted away towards a stream which
he knew, and where he sometimes stopped to
drink. But instead of the stream he saw a splen-
did palace, glittering with gold and precious stones.
Entering the doors was a crowd of men and
women, magnificently dressed; and within there
wei-e singing and dancing, and good cheer of all
sorts. Yet, however grandly and gayly the people
went in. Cherry noticed that those who came out
were pale, thin, ragged, half-naked, covered with
wounds and sores. Some of them dropped dead
at once ; others dragged themselves on a little
way and then lay down, dying of hunger, and
vainly begged a morsel of bread from others who
were entering in — who never took the least no-
tice of them.
Cherry perceived one woman, who was trying
feebly to gather and eat some green herbs.
" Poor thing ! " said he to himself, " I know
what it is to be hungry, and I want my breakfast
badly enough ; but still it will not kill me to wait
till dinner-time, and my crust may save the life of
this poor woman."
So the little dog ran up to her, and dropped his
bread at her feet ; she picked it up, and ate it
with avidity. Soon she looked quite recovered,
and Cherry, delighted, was trotting back again to
his kennel, when he lieard loud cries, and saw a
young girl dragged by four men to the door of the
palace, which they were trying to compel her to
enter. Oh, how he wished himself a monster
again, as when he slew tlie tiger ! — for the
j'oung girl was no other than his beloved Zelia.
Alas ! what could a poor little dog do to defend
her ? But he ran forward and barked at the men,
and bit their heels, until at last they chased hira
away with heavy blows. And then he lay down
outside the palace-door, determined to watch and
see what had become of Zelia.
Conscience pricked him now. " What ! "
thought he, "I am furious against these wicked
men who are carrying her away ; and did I not do
the same myself ? Did I not cast her into prison,
and intend to sell her as a slave ? Who knows
how much more wickedness I might not have
done to her and others if heaven's justice had not
stopped me in time ? "
While he lay thinking and repenting, he heard
a window open, and saw Zelia thi'ow out a bit of
dainty meat. Cherrj', who felt hungry enough
by this time, was just about to eat it, when the
woman to whom he had given his crust snatched
him up in her arms.
" Poor little beast ! " cried she, patting him,
" every bit of food in that palace is poisoned : you
shall not touch a morsel."
And at the same time the voice in the air re-
peated again, " Good actions never go unre-
60
THE BOOK OF WONDERS.
warded ; " and Cherry found himself changed into
a beautiful little white pigeon. He remembered
with joy that white was the color of the Fairy
Ciindide, and began to hope that she was taking
hlin into favor again.
So he stretched his wings, delighted that he
might now have a chance of aj)proaching his fair
Zelia. He flew up to the palace-windows, and,
finding one of them open, entered and sought
everywhere, but he could not find Zelia. Then,
in despair, he flew out again, resolved to go over
the world until he beheld her once more.
He took flight at once, and traversed many
countries, swiftly as a bird can, but found no trace
of his beloved. At length in a desert, sitting be-
side an old hermit in his cave, and partaking with
him his frugal repast. Cherry saw a poor peasant-
girl, and recognized Zelia. Transported with joy,
he flew in, perched on her shoulder, and expressed
his delight and affection by a thousand caresses.
She, charmed with the pretty little pigeon,
caressed it in her turn, and jDromised it that, if it
would stay with her, she would love it always.
" What have you done, Zelia ? " said the hermit,
smiling ; and while he spoke the white pigeon
vanished, and there stood Prince Cherry in his
own natural form. " Your enchantment ended.
prince, when Zelia promised to love you. Indeed,
she has loved you always, but your many faults
constrained her to hide her love. These are now
amended, and you may both live happy if you
will, because your union is founded ujjon mutual
esteem."
Cherry and Zelia threw themselves at the feet
of the hermit, whose form also began to change.
His soiled garments became of dazzling whiteness,
and his long beard and withered face grew into
the flowing hair and lovely countenance of the
Fairy Candide.
" Rise up, my children," said she; " I must now
transport you to your palace and restore to Prince
Cherry his father's crown, of which he is at length
worthy."
She had scarcely ceased speaking when they
found themselves in the chamber of Suliman,
who, delighted to find again his beloved pupil and
master, willingly resigned the throne, and became
the most faithful of his subjects.
King Cherry and Queen Zelia reigned together
for many years, and it is said that the former was
so blameless and strict in all his duties, that
though he constantly wore the ring which Candide
had restored to him, it never once pricked his
finger enough to make it bleed.
THE GOLDEN BIRD.
A CEKTAIN king had a beautiful garden, and in
the garden stood a tree which bore golden apples.
These apples were always counted, and about the
time when they began to grow ripe it was found
that every night one of them was gone. The
king became very angry at this, and ordered the
gardener to keep watch all night under the tree.
The gardener set his eldest son to watch ; but
about twelve o'clock he fell asleep, and in the
morning another of the apples was missing. Then
the second son was ordered to watch the tree ;
and at midnight he too fell asleep, and in the
morning another apple was gone. Then the third
son offered to keep watch ; but the gardener at
first would not let him, for fear some harm should
come to him : however, at last he consented, and
the young man laid himself under the tree to
watch. As the clock struck twelve he heard a
rustling noise in the air, and a bird came flying
that was of pure gold ; and as it was snapping at
one of the apples with its beak the gardener's son
jumped up and shot an arrow at it. But the
ari-ow did the bird no harm ; only it dropped a
golden feather from its tail, and then flew away.
The golden feather was brought to the king in the
morning, and all the council was called together.^
Every one agreed that it was worth more than all
the wealth of the kingdom : but the king said,
THE GOLDEN BIRD.
61
" One feather is of no use to me, I must have the
whole bird."
Then the gardener's eldest son set out and
thought to find the golden bird very easily ; and
when he had gone but a little way, he came to a
wood, and by the side of the wood he saw a fox
sitting; so hertook his bow. and made ready to
shoot at it. Then the fox said, " Do not shoot me,
for I will give you good counsel ; I know what
your business is, and that you want to find the
golden bird. You will reach a village in the even-
ing; and when you get thei-e you will see two
inns opposite to each other, one of which is very
pleasant and beautiful to look at : go not in there,
but rest for the night in the other, though it may
appear to you to be vei'y poor and mean." But
the son thought to himself, " What can such a
beast as this know about the matter?" So he
shot his arrow at the fox ; but he missed it, and
it set up its tail above its back and ran into the
wood. Then he went his way, and in the even-
ing came to the village where the two inns were ;
and in one of these were people singing and danc-
ing and feasting ; but the other looked very dirty
and poor. " I should be very silly," said he, " if
I went to that shabby house, and left this charm-
ing place ; " so he went into the smart house, and
ate and drank at his ease, and forgot the bird and
his cftuntry too.
Time passed on ; and as the eldest son did not
come back, and no tidings were heard of him, the
second son set out, and the same thing hapiaened
to him. He met the fox, who gave him the same
good advice : but when he came to the two inns,
his eldest brother was standing at the window
where the merrymaking was, and called to him
to come in ; and he could not withstand the temp-
tation, but went in, and forgot the golden bird and
his country in the same manner.
Time j)assed on again, and the youngest son,
too, wished to set out into the wide world to seek
for the golden bird ; but his father would not
hear of it for a long while, for he was very fond
of his son, and was afraid that some ill luck
might happen to him also, and prevent his com-
ing back
However, at last it was agreed he
should go, for he would not rest at home ; and
as he came to the wood, he met the fox, and heard
the same good counsel. But he was thankful to
the fox, and did not attempt his life as his broth-
ers had done ; so the fox said, " Sit upon my tail,
and you will travel faster." So he sat down, and
the fox began to run, and away they went over
stock and stone so quick that their hair whistled
in the wind.
When they came to the village, the son fol-
lowed the fox's counsel, and without looking
about him went to the shabby inn and rested
there all night at his ease. In the morning came
the fox again and met him as he was beginning
his journey, and said, "Go straight forward, till
you come to a castle, before which lie a whole
troop of soldiers fast asleep and snoring : take
no notice of them, but go into the castle and pass
on and on till you. come to a room, where the
golden bird sits in a wooden cage; close by it
stands a beautiful golden cage ; but do not try to
take the bird out of the shabby cage and put it
into the handsome one, otherwise you will repent
it." Then the fox stretched out his tail again,
and the young man sat himself down, and away
62
THE BOOK OF WONDERS.
they went over stock and stone till their hair
whistled in the wind.
Before the castle gate all was as the fox had
said : so the son went in and found the chamber
where the golden bird hung in a wooden cage, and
below stood a golden cage, and the three golden
apples that had been lost were lying close by it.
Then thought he to himself, " It will be a very
droll thing to bring away such a fine bird in this
shabby cage ; " so he opened the door and took
hold of it and put it into the golden cage. But
the bird set up such a loud scream that all the
soldiers awoke, and they took him prisoner and
carried him before the king. The next morning
the court sat to judge him ; and when all was
heard, it sentenced him to die, unless he should
bring the king the golden horse which could run
as swiftly as the wind ; and if he did this, he
was to have the golden bird given him for his
own.
So he set out once more on his journey, sigh-
ing, and in great despair, when on a sudden his
good friend the fox met him, and said, " You see
now what has happened on account of your not
listening to my counsel. I will still, however, tell
you how to find the golden horse, if you will do as
I bid you. You must go straight on till you come
to the castle where the horse stands in his stall :
by his side will lie the groom fast asleep and snor-
ing : take away the horse quietly, but be sure to
put the old leathern saddle upon him, and not
the golden one that is close by." Then the son
sat down on the fox's tail, and away they went
over stock and stone till their hair whistled in
the wind.
All went right, and the groom lay snoring with
his hand upon the golden saddle. But when the
son looked at the horse, he thought it a great
pity to put tlie leathern saddle upon him. " I will
give him the good one," said he ; " I am sure he
deserves it." As he took up the golden saddle,
however, the groom awoke and cried out ao loud
that all the guards ran in and took him prisoner,
and in the morning he was again brought be-
fore the court to be judged, and was sentenced
to die. But it was agreed, that, if he could bring
hither the beautiful princess, he should live, and
have the bird and the horse given him for his
own.
Then he went his way again very sorrowful ;
but the old fox came and said, " Why did not
you listen to me ? _ If you had, you would have
carried away both the bird and the horse ; yet will
I once more give you counsel. Go straight on, and
in the evening you will arrive at a castle. At
twelve o'clock at night the princess goes to the
bathing-house : go up to her and give her a kiss,
and she will let you lead her away ; but take care
you do not suffer her to go and take leave of her
father and mother." Then the fox stretched out
his tail, and so away they went over stock and
stone till their hair whistled again.
As they came to the castle all was as the fox
had said, and at twelve o'clock the young man met
the princess going to the bath and gave her a kiss,
and she agreed to run away with him, but begged
with many tears that he would let her take leave
of her father. . At first he refused, but she wept
still more and more, and fell at his feet, till at
last he consented ; but the moment she came to
her father's house the guards awoke and he was
taken prisoner again.
Then he was brought before the king, and the
king said, " You shall never have my daughter
unless in eight days you dig away the hill that
stops tlie view from my window." Now this hill
was so big that the whole world could not take it
away : and when he had worked for seven days,
and had done very little, the fox came and said,
" Lie down and go to sleep ; I will work for you."
And in the morning he awoke and the hill was
gone ; so he went merrily to the king, and told
him that now it was removed he must give him
the princess.
Then the king was obliged to keep his word,
and away went the young man and the princess ;
and the fox came and said to him, " We will have
all three, the princess, the horse, and the bird."
" Ah ! " said the young man, " that would be a
great thing, but how can you contrive it ? "
THE GOLDEN BIRD.
63
" If you will only listen," said the fox, " it can
soon be done. When you come to the king, and
he asks for the beautiful princess, you must say,
'Here she is!' Then he will be very joyful;
and you will mount the golden liovse th:it they
are to give you, and put out your hand to take
leave of them ; but shake hands with the princess
last. Then lift l>€r quickly on to the horse behind
you ; clap your spurs to his side, and gallop away
as fast as you can."
All went right : then the fox said, " When you
come to the castle where the bird is, I will stay
with the princess at the door, and you will ride in
and speak to the king ; and when he sees that
it is the right horse, he will bring out the bird ;
but you must sit still, and say that you want to
look at it, to see whether it is the true golden
bird ; and when you get it into your hand, ride
away."
This, too, happened as the fox said ; they car-
ried oif the bird, the princess mounted again, and
they rode on to a great wood. Then the fox
came, and said, " Pray kill me, and cut off my
head and my feet." But the young man refused
to do it : so the fox said, " I will at any rate
give you good counsel : beware of two things ;
ransom no one from the gallows, and sit down
by the side of no river." Then away he went.
" Well," thought the young man, " it is no hard
matter to keep that advice."
He rode on with the priucess, till at last he
came to the village where he had left his two
brothers. And there he heard a great noise and
uproar ; and when he asked what was the mat-
ter, the people said, " Two men are going to be
hanged." As he came nearer, he saw that the
two men were his brothers, who had turned rob-
bers ; so he said, " Cannot they in any way be
saved?" But the people said "No," unless he
would bestow all his money upon the rascals and
buy their liberty. Then he did not stay to think
about the matter, but paid what was asked, and
his brothers were given up, and went on with him
towards their home.
As they came to the wood where the fox first
met them, it was so cool and pleasant that the
two brothers said, " Let us sit down by the side of
the river, and rest a while, to eat and drink." So
he said, "Yes," and forgot the fox's counsel, and
sat down by the side of the river; and while he
suspected nothing they came behind, and threw
him down the bank, and took the princess, the
horse, and the bird, and went home to the king
their master, and said, " All this have we won by
our labor." Then there was great rejoicing made ;
but the horse would not eat, the bird would not
sing, and the princess wept.
The youngest son fell to the bottom of the riv-
er's bed ; luckily it was nearly dry, but his bones
were almost broken, and the bank was so steep
that he could find no way to get out. Then the
old fox came once more, and scolded him for not
following his advice ; otherwise no evil would have
befallen him: "Yet," said he, "I cannot leave
you here, so lay hold of my tail and hold fast."
Then he pulled him oat of the river, and said to
him, as he got upon the bank, " Your brothers
have set watch to kill you, if they find you in the
kingdom." So he dressed himself as a poor man,
and came secretly to the king's court, and was
scarcely within the doors when the horse began to
eat, and the bird to sing, and the princess left off
weeping. Then he went to the king, and told him
all his brothers' roguery ; and they were seized
and punished, and he had the princess given to
him again ; and after the king's death he was heir
to his kingdom.
A long while after he went to walk one day in
the wood, and the old fox met him, and besought
him with tears in his eyes to kill him, and cut off
his head and feet. At last he did so, and in a
moment the fox was changed into a man, and
turned out to be the brother of the princess, who
had been lost a great many years.
64
THE BOOK OF WONDERS.
RIQUET WITH THE TUFT.
Once upon a time there lived a queen who had
the misfortune to have a child extremely ill-formed
and ill-looking, though a fairy assured her that the
child would have great good sense, and would be
very amiable ; besides, this good fairy then and
there gave the little thing a great gift : he should
have the power to give equally good sense to
whomever he loved best. But all this hardl}'
comforted the queen, who was distressed at having
such a very homely child, and was scarcely pleased
when he began, as soon as he could speak, to say
the most charming things and to act with the most
admirable cleverness. I had forgotten to say that
he was born with a little tuft of hair on his head,
which got him the name of Riquet with the Tuft,
for Riquet was the family name.
About seven or eight years after Riquet with the
Tuft was born, the queen of a neighboring king-
dom had twin daughters. When the first of the
twins came into the world she was so exceedingly
fair that the mother was in the greatest excite-
ment of joy, and the good fairy who stood by, and
who was the one present when Riquet with the
Tuft was born, was forced to tell her that the
child, for all she was so fair, would be very, very
dull, yes, as stupid as she was beautiful. Then
came the second of the twins, and she was just as
ugly as the first was lovel)', and the fairy again
tried to help the queen by the assurance that this
child would be so sensible that no one would no-
tice her lack of beauty.
" Heaven send it may be so ! "' said the poor
queen, " but is there no way of giving sense to the
other, who is so beautiful ? "
" I can do nothing of that sort with her," re-
plied the fairy, " but she shall have the gift of
making beautiful the person who shall please her.
That is all I can do."
As the two princesses grew up, their perfections
grew with them, and nothing was talked of but
the beauty of the elder and the good sense of the
younger. To be sure their defects grew too. The
younger grew uglier, and the elder more stupid.
She either made no answer when she was spoken
to, or she said something foolish. Then she was
so awkward that she could not place four dishes
on the shelf without breaking one, nor drink a
glass of water without spilling some on her dress,
and in spite of her beauty she saw that people be-
gan to desert her for her sister. At first they
flocked about her because she was so lovely to look
upon, but little by little they left her and gathered
about her sister, because she was so witty and en-
tertaining. The elder would have given all she
possessed for half her sister's good sense. Even
the queen could not help reproaching the poor girl
for her stupidity, and this made her exceedingly
melancholy.
One day the beautiful and stupid princess was
walking alone in a wood, bewailing her fate, when
she met a little man, dressed very finely, but with
a most disagreeable face. It was Riquet with the
Tuft, who had seen the princess's portrait, and was
so fascinated by it that he had left his father's
kingdom to see if he could find this marveloiisly
beautiful girl. He knew her at once and addressed
her with the greatest respect and courtesy. He
noticed how melancholy she was, and presently
said : —
" I cannot imagine how one so beautiful as you
are can be sad. In all my life, and I have trav-
eled far and wide, I never have seen so beautiful
a woman."
" You are very good to say so," said the prin-
cess, and then stopped.
" Beauty," continued Riquet, seriously, " is so
great a gift that nothing can be compared with it,
and one who has it can surely be distressed by
nothing."
'■'• Very fine," said the princess, " but I would
rather be as ugly — as ugly as you are, and have
good sense, than be as beautiful as I am and be
stupid."
" There is no greater proof of good sense," said
RIQUET WITH THE TUFT.
65
Riquet with the Tuft, bowing low, " than the be-
lief that we are without it. It is the nature of
that gift that the more we have the more sensible
we are of what we lack."
" I do not know how that may be," cried the
princess, " I only know that I am very stupid, and
that is what is killing me."
" If that is aH that troubles you," said Riquet,
" I can easily put an end to your sorrow."
" And how ? "
" I have the power to give as much wit as any
one can possess to the person I love the most.
You are the one I love, princess, and if you will
only promise to marry me you shall have the
greatest good sense and wit."
The princess stood stock still with astonish-
ment.
" I see," said Riquet, " that my offer pains you.
I am not surprised, but do not hurry. I will give
you a year to think of it." The princess had so
little sense and wanted so much, and a year seemed
so very long to wait, that she said in a moment
that she would accept him. No sooner had she
promised to marry Riquet in a twelvemonth than
she felt herself to be quite another pei'son. She
heard herself talking with the utmost sprightli-
ness, and saying the most sensible things with the
greatest ease. Indeed, she talked with so much
brilliancy and good nature, that Riquet began to
think he had given her more wit t!ian he had kept
for himself.
She returned alone to the palace, and the whole
court speedily discovered that she had been singu-
larly changed. Evei'ybody was puzzled to account
for her. She said as many bright and sensible
things now as before she had said stupid and ri-
diculous ones. But whatever had caused the
change, every one was charmed, — every one,
that is, except her younger sister, who had now
lost the only advantage she had. People all
flocked about the princess who was both witty and
handsome. Even the king consulted her judg-
ment, and used to hold his councils of state in her
chamber. Her fame spread abroad and the
princes in the neighborhood all wished to marry
her, but now not one of them seemed to her half
wise enough.
At length there came a prince who was rich,
witty, and handsome, and she looked upon him
with more favor than on any of the others. Her
father, seeing this, called her to himself and told
her that he had perfect confidence in her judgment,
and he should leave her to choose entirely for her-
self. As the more sense we have the more diffi-
cult we find it to make up our minds definitely in
such cases, she requested, after thanking her
father, that he would give her some time to think
it over, and then, wishing to be by herself, she
went to walk in the wood. It was the same wood
where she had met Riquet with the Tuft, and as
she walked, thinking hard, she heard a dull sound
beneath her feet as of many people running about
busily under ground. She stopped to listen, and
heard some one say, " Bring me that saucepan,"
and again, " Give me that kettle," and " Put some
wood on the fire." At that the ground opened,
and she saw beneath her what appeared to be a
large kitchen, full of cooks, scullions, and all kinds
of servants, making ready a great banquet. A
band of twenty or thirty cooks came forward and
placed themselves at a table, where they set to
work preparing dainties, and singing over their
work. The princess, very much astonished, in-
quired of them for whom they were working so
merrily.
"Madam," replied one, " for Prince Riquet with
the Tuft, who is to be married to-morrow." All at
once the princess remembered that to-morrow was
the very end of the year when she had promised
to marry Riquet. The reason why she had for-
gotten this before was that when she made the
promise she was a fool, and as soon as she became
wise she forgot all her follies. She was lost in
amazement and was moving forward when Riquet
with the Tuft suddenly appeared, gayly dressed,
and with all the air of a man about to be mar-
ried.
" I have kept my word, princess, as you see,"
he said, " and I doubt not that you have kept
yours and will marry me to-morrow."
66
THE BOOK OF WONDERS.
" Prince," said the princess frankly," I must
confess that I had not intended to marry you, and
fear I cannot."
" You surprise me very much."
" No doubt, and I should be distui'bed about it
if I were dealing with a dull person instead of
one with your excellent good sense. You must
yourself see that I cannot do what I promised to
do when I was a fool. You should not have given
me so much sense."
" If I were a fool I might be persuaded by j^ou,
princess, but being a man of sense I see that you
are taking away all the happiness of my life. Tell
me frankly, is there anything in me that you
complain of besides iny ugliness ? I know I am
ugly, but do you object to my birth, my temper,
my manners or any — my good sense ? "
" No, truly," replied the princess, " I like every-
thing about you, except — except your looks."
" Then I need not lose vay happiness ; for if I
have the gift of making clever whomever I love
best, you are able to make the pei'son yon pre-
fer as handsome as ever you please. Could you
not love me enough to do that ? "
" Oil, I did not know that before ! " cried the
princess. " With all my heart ! " and she wished
eagerly that he might become the handsomest
man in the world. No sooner had she uttered this
wish than Riquet stood before her eyes the finest,
most charming man she had ever seen. And so
they were married, and Riquet thought the prin-
cess the most sensible and agreeable companion
in the world, while the princess looked ujDon
Riquet as the noblest and most commanding man.
THE NOSE.
Did you ever hear the story of the three poor
soldiers, who, after having fought hard in the
wars, set out on their road home, begging their
way as they went ?
They had journeyed on a long way, sick at
heart with their bad luck at thus being turned
loose on the world in their old days, when one
evening they reached a deep gloomy wood through
which they must pass ; night came fast upon them,
and they found that they must, however unwill-
ingly, sleep in the wood ; so to make all as safe
as they could, it was agreed that two should lie
down and sleep, while a third sat up and watched
lest wild beasts should break in and tear them to
pieces ; when he was tired he was to wake one of
the others and sleep in his turn, and so on with
the tliird, that they might shai'e the work fairly
among them.
The two who were to rest first soon lay down
and fell fast asleep, and the other made himself a
good fire under the trees and sat down by the
side to keep watch. He had not sat long before
all on a sudden up came a little man in a red
jacket. " Who 's there ? " said he. " A friend,"
said the soldier. " What sort of a friend ? " " An
old broken soldier," said the other, " with his two
comrades who have nothing left to live on ; come,
sit down and warm yourself." " Well, my worthy
fellow," said the little man, " I will do what I can
for you ; take this and show it to your comrades
in the morning." So he took out an old cloak
and gave it to the soldier, telling him that when-
ever he put it over his shoulders anything that he
wished for would be fulfilled; then the little man
made him a bow and walked awaj'.
The second soldier's turn to watch soon came,
and the first laid himself down to sleep ; but the
second man had not sat by himself long before up
came the little man in the red jacket again. The
soldier treated him in a friendly way as his com-
rade had done, and the little man gave him for
his part a purse, which he told him was always
full of gold, let him draw as much as he would
from it.
Then the third soldier's turn to watch came,
and he also had the little man for his guest, who
gave him a wonderful horn that drew crowds
around it whenever it was plaj'ed ; and made
THE NOSE.
67
every one forget his business to come and dance
to its beautiful music.
In the morning each told his story and showed
his treasure ; and as they all liked each other very
much and were old friends, they agreed to travel
together to see the world, and for a while only to
make use of the wonderful purse. And thus they
spent their time very joyously, till at last they
began to be tired of this roving life, and thought
they shoukl like to have a home of their own. So
the first soldier put his old cloak on, and wished
for a fine castle. In a moment it stood before
their eyes ; fine gardens and green lawns spread
round it, and flocks of sheejD and goats and herds
of oxen were grazing about, and out of the gate
came a fine coach with three dapple gray horses
to meet them and bring them home.
All this was very well for a time ; but it would
not do to stay at home always, so they got to-
gether all their rich clothes and trappings and serv-
ants, and ordered their coach with three horses,
and set out on a journey to see a neighboi'ing
king. Now this king liad an only daughter, and
as he took the three soldiers for kings' sons, he
gave them a kind welcome. One day, as the
second soldier was walking with the princess, she
saw him with the wonderful purse in his hand ;
and having asked him what it was, he was foolish
enough to tell her; — though, indeed, it did not
not much signify, for she was a witch and knew
all the wonderful things that the three soldiers
brought. Now this princess was very cunning
and artful ; so she set to work and made a purse
so like the soldier's that no one would know one
from the other, and then asked him to come and
see her, and made him drink some wine that she
had got ready for him, till he fell fast asleep.
Then she felt in his pocket, and took away the
wonderful purse and left the one she had made in
its place.
The next morning the soldiers set out for home,
and soon after they reached their castle, happen-
ing to want some money, they went to their purse
for it, and found something indeed in it, but to
their great sorrow when they had emptied it
none came in the place of what they took. Then
the cheat was soon found out : for the second
soldier knew where he had been, and how he
had told the story to the princess, and he guessed
that she had betrayed him. " Alas ! " cried he,
" poor wretches that we are, what shall we do ? "
" Oh I " said the first soldier, " let no gray hairs
grow for this mishap ; I will soon get the jjurse
back." So he threw his cloak across his shoulders
and wished himself in the princess's chamber.
There he found her sitting alone, telling her gold
that fell around her in a shower from the purse.
But the soldier stood looking at her too long, for
the moment she saw him she started up and cried
out with all her force, " Thieves ! Thieves ! " so
that the whole court came running in and tried to
seize him. The poor soldier now began to be
dreadfully frightened in his turn, and thought it
was high time to make the best of his way off ;
so, without thinking of tlie ready way of traveling
that his cloak gave him, he ran to the window,
opened it, and jumped out ; and unluckily in his
haste his cloak caught and was left hanging, to
the great joy of the princess, who knew its worth.
The poor soldier made the best of his way home
to his comrades, on foot and in a very downcast
mood ; but the third soldier told him to keep up
his heart, and took his horn and blew a merry
tune. At the first blast a countless troop of foot
and horse came rushing to their aid, and they set
out to make war against their enemy. Then the
king's palace was besieged, and he was told that
he must give up the purse and cloak, or that
not one stone should be left upon another. And
the king went into his daughter's chamber and
talked with her ; but she said, " Let me try first
if I cannot beat them some other way." So she
thousrht of a cunning scheme to overreach them,
and dressing herself as a poor girl with a basket
on her arm set out by night with her maid, and
went into the enemy's camp as if she wanted to
sell trinkets.
In the morning she began to ramble about,
singing ballads so beautifully that all the tents
were left empty, and the soldiers ran round in
68
THE BOOK OF WONDERS.
crowds and thought of nothing but hearing her
sing. Amongst the rest came the soldier to whom
the horn belonged, and as soon as she saw him she
winked to her maid, who slipped slily through
the crowd and went into his tent where the horn
hung, and stole it away. This done, they both got
safely back to the palace ; the besieging army
went away, the three wonderful gifts were all
left in the hands of the princess, and the three
soldiers were as penniless and forlorn as when the
little man with the red jacket found them in the
wood.
Poor fellows ! they began to think what was now
to be done. " Comrades," at last said the second
soldier, who had had the purse, "we had better
part, we cannot live together, let each seek his
bread as well as he can." So he turned to the
right, and the other two to the left ; for they said
they would rather travel together. Then on he
strayed till he came to a wood (now this was the
same wood where they had met with so much
good luck before) ; and he walked on a long time
till evening began to fall, when he sat down tired
beneath a tree, and soon fell asleep.
Morning dawned, and he was greatly delighted,
at opening his eyes, to see that the tree was
laden with the most beautiful apples. He was
hungry enough, so he soon plucked and ate first
one, then a second, then a third apple. A strange
feeling came over his nose : when he put the ap-
ple to his mouth something was in the way ; he
felt it ; it was his nose, that grew and grew till
it hung down to his breast. It did not stop there,
still it grew and grew ; " Heavens ! " thought he,
" when will it have done growing ? " And well
might he ask, for by this time it reached the
ground as he sat on the grass, and thus it kept
creeping on till he could not bear its weight, or
raise himself up ; and it seemed as if it would
never end, for already it stretched its enormous
length all throuoh the wood.
Meantime his comrades were journeying on, till
on a sudden one of them stumbled against some-
thing. "What can that be?" said the other.
They looked, and could think of nothing that it
was like but a nose. " We will follow it and find
its owner, however," said they; so they traced it
till at last they found their poor comrade lying
stretched along under the apple-tree. What was
to be done ? They tried to carry him, but in vain.
They caught an ass that was passing by, and
raised him upon its back ; but it was soon tired of
carrying such a load. So they sat down in de-
spair, when up came the little man in the red
jacket. " Why, how now, friend? " said he, laugh-
ing ; " well, I must find a cure for you, I see."
So he told them to gather a pear from a tree that
grew close by, and the nose would come right
again. No time was lost, and the nose was soon
brought to its proper size, to the poor soldier's joy.
"I will do something more for you yet," said
the little man ; " take some of those pears and
apples with you ; whoever eats one of the ap-
ples will have his nose grow like yours just now;
but if you give him a pear, all will come right
again. Go to the princess and get her to eat some
of your apples ; her nose will grow twenty times
as long as yours did ; then look sharp, and you
will get what you want of her."
HOP-O'-MY-THUMB.
69
Then they thanked their old friend very heartily
for all his kindness, and it was agi-eed that the
poor soldier who had already tried the power of
of the apple should undertake the task. So he
dressed himself up as a gardener's boy, and went
to the king's palace, and said he had apples to sell,
such as were never seen there before. Every one
that saw them was delighted and wanted to taste,
but he said they were only for the princess ; and
she soon sent her maid to buy his stock. They
were so ripe and rosy that she soon began eating,
and had already eaten three, when she, too, began
to wonder what was the matter with her nose,
for it grew and grew, down to the ground, out at
the window, and over the garden, nobody knows
where.
Then the king made known to all his kingdom,
that whoever would heal her of this dreadful dis-
ease should be richly rewarded. jNLiny tried, but
the princess got no relief. And now the old sol-
dier dressed himself very sprucely as a doctor,
who said he could cui'e her; so he chopped up
some of the apple, and to punish her a little more
gave her a dose, saying he would call to-morrow
and see her again. The morrow came, and of
course, instead of being better, the nose had been
growing fast all night, and the poor princess was
in a dreadful fright. So the doctor chopped up
a very little of the pear and gave her, and said
he was sure that would do good, and he would
call again the next day. Next day came, and the
nose was, to be sure, a little smaller, but yet it
was bigger than it was when the doctor first be-
gan to meddle with it.
Then he thought to himself, " I must frighten
this cunning princess a little more before I shall
get what I want of her ; "' so he gave her another
dose of the apple, and said he would call on the
morrow. The morrow came, and the nose was ten
times as bad as before. "My good lady," said the
doctor, " something works against my medicine,
and is too strong for it ; but I know by the force
of my art what it is ; you have stolen goods about
you, I am sure, and if you do not give them back,
I can do nothing for you." But the princess de-
nied very stoutly that she had anything of the
kind. "Very well," said the doctor, "you may
do as you please, but I am sure I am right, and
you will die if you do not own it." Then he went
to the king, and told him how the matter stood.
"Daughter," said he, "send back the cloak, the
purse, and the horn, that you stole from the right
owners."
Then she ordered her maid to fetch all three,
and gave them to the doctor, and begged him to
give them back to the soldiers ; and the moment
he had them safe he gave her a whole pear to eat,
and the nose came right. And as for the doctor,
he put on the cloak, wished the king and all his
court a good day, and was in a short time with
his two friends, who lived from that time hajjpily
at home in their palace, except when they took
airings in their coach with the three dapple gray
horses.
HOP-O'-MY-THUMB.
There was once a wood-cutter and his wife who
had seven children, all boj's. The eldest was only
ten 3'ears old, the youngest but seven, and they
were thus a burden to their poor parents, for they
could as yet do nothing to earn their living. Tiie
youngest of all was very delicate, and spoke so
seldom that his parents thought him dull, when
really he had very good sense. He was so very
little when he was born, scarcely bigger than one's
tluimb, that he got the name, " Hop-o'-my-
Thumb."' The little fellow had to take the blame
of everything that went wrong. Yet he was the
most sensible of all the children, for he was listen-
ing when the rest were speaking. There came a
very bad harvest, and there was great scarcity of
food, so that these poor people determined that
they must get rid of their childi-en. One evening,
when they were all in bed, the wood-cutter was
70
THE BOOK OF WONDERS.
sitting close to the fire with his wife, and said to
her with an aching heart : —
" Thon seest plainly that we can no longer find
food for our chil-
dren. I cannot
see them die of
hunger, and I
am resolved to
lose them to-
morrow in the
wood, which can
easily be done,
for while they
are busy tying
up the fagots we
can slip away
and leave them."
" Ah ! " ex-
claimed his wife,
"hast thou the
heart to lose thy
own children ? "
Her husband
begged her to
remember how
very poor they
were ; she would
not consent ; she
was poor, but slie
was their moth-
er. Then he
bade her think
how she must
see them die of
hunger, and so
at length she as-
sented and went
weeping to bed.
Now Hop-o'-my-
T h u m b ha d
heard everj--
thing that was said; for being in bed and hearing
them talk, he had stolen quietly to his father's
stool and sat under it where he could listen with-
out being seen. He went to bed again, but he
could not sleep a wink all night, so busy was he
thinking what he should do. He rose early and
went to the banks of a brook near by, where
he filled his
pockets with
small white peb-
bles, and then
returned home.
The family all
set out together
as usual, but
Hop-o'-my-
T h u m b said
nothing to his
brothers of what
he had heard.
Tiiey entered a
very thick for-
est, so dense that
one need go but
a few steps to
be lost. The
wood-cutter be-
gan to cut wood
and the chil-
dren to gather
the sticks into
bundles of fag-
ots. The father
and m o t h e r,
when they saw
them busily en-
gaged, stole
away gradually
and then fled
suddenly by a
small, winding
path. Presently
the children
found them-
selves alone and
began to cry with fear. Hop-o'-my-Thumb alone
had no tears, for he knew the way home. As they
came, he had dropped all along the road the little
white pebbles which he had brought in his pocket.
HOP- O'-MY- THUMB.
71
"Fear not, brothers," he said, "our father and
mother have left us here, but I will lead you safely
home. Only follow me." Thereupon he led them
back to the house by the same road that they had
taken into the forest. They feared to enter im-
mediately, but placed themselves close by the door
to hear what their father and mother might be
saying. '"
Now, just as the wood-cutter and his wife
reached home, the lord of the manor sent them
ten crowns, which he had been owing them a long
time, and they had given up all hopes of ever get-
ting. They were ready to starve but for this, and
the wood-cutter sent his wife quickly to the butch-
er's to buy some meat. As it was many a day
since they had tasted meat, she bought three times
as much as two persons could need. When they
had eaten and were satisfied, the thought of her
poor children rushed back upon her, and the wood-
cutter's wife cried, —
" Alas ! where now are our poor children ?
There is enough here and to spare. It was thou,
husband, that wouldst lose them. Did I not say
we should repent it ? What are they now doing
in the forest? Alas! perhaps the wolves have
already devoured them ! Thou hast destroyed my
children ! "
She said this twenty times over, until the wood-
cutter became exceedingly impatient, and threat-
ened to beat her if she did not hold her tongue.
But the more angry he was the more she re-
proached him. She wept bitterly and cried out
loudly, —
" Alas ! where are now my children, my poor
children ? " The children who were close by the
door heard this, and began to call out eagerly, —
" Here we are ! here we ai'e ! "
She ran quickly to open the door, and threw her
arms about them, exclaiming, —
" O my dear children, how hapjiy I am to see
you again. How tired and hungry you must be !
and Peter, how dirty you are. Come and let me
wash you." Peter was the eldest of the children,
and the one she loved most. They sat down to
supper, and ate eagerly with an appetite that de-
lighted their father and mother. They began all
to speak at once, and to tell how frightened they
were in the forest, and how glad to find their way
home again. The good people were overjoyed at
getting their dear children back, and so long as the
ten crowns lasted they were all happy together;
but at length the money was spent and they were
once more in despair ; and now the wood-cutter
and his wife determined to lead their children far-
ther still from home, so as to lose them alto-
gether'.
They could not talk of this so privately but that
Hop-o'-my-Thumb overheard them, and trusted to
do as he had done before. Hut though he got up
very early to collect the little pebbles, he could
not get out of the house, for the door was double-
locked. He knew not what to do when the wood-
cutter's wife gave thera each their last piece of
bread for breakfast, when he suddenly thought of
using crumbs of his bread instead of pebbles, and
so he put his piece in his pocket. His father and
mother led them into the thickest and darkest part
of the wood, and then finding a b3'-path, slipped
away from them unnoticed, as before. Hop-o'-
my-Thumb was not much troubled by this, for he
thought he should easily lead his brothers back by
means of the crumbs which he had dropped along
the way. But when he came to look not a crumb
was to be seen. The birds had eaten it all !
Then were the children in distress. The more
they wandered the deeper thoy plunged into the
forest. Night came on and the wind began to
howl, so that they fancied wolves were all about
them. They huddled close together, scarcely dar-
ing to speak. Then it began to rain heavily and
they were drenched to the skin. Tliey slipped
about in the mud and scrambled out of pits, tired
and dirty. Hop-o'-my-Thumb climbed a tree to
see if he could make out anything from the top of
it, and looking all about he saw a little light like
that of a candle, but it was far away on the other
side of the forest. He came down again and then
could not see the light from the ground ; but he
knew the direction in which it was, and they all
walked toward where they supposed it to be, and
72
THE BOOK OF WONDERS.
at length, coming out of the woods, they saw the
light and presently came to the house where it was.
They knocked at the door, and a good woman
came to open it. She asked them what they
wanted. Hop-o'-my-Tliumb told her thej' were
poor children who had lost their way in the forest,
and begged a night's lodging for charity. The
woman, seeing they were all so pretty, began to
weep and said, —
" Alas ! my poor children, do you know to what
you have come ? This is the house of an ogre
who eats little boj's ! "
"Alas! Madam," answered Hop-o'-my-Thumb,
trembling from head to foot as his brothers did,
" what shall we do ? If we stay in the forest the
wolves will devour us before the morning. We
had rather be eaten by the gentleman ; perhaps
he may have pity upon us if you but ask him."
The ogre's wife, for so she was, was a kind-
hearted woman, and fancied she could hide them
from her husband till the next morning, so she
brought them into the house, and led them to a
fine fii-e where a whole sheep was on the spit, roast-
ing for the ogre's supper. Just as thej"^ were be-
ginning to get warm, they heard two or three loud
knocks at the door. It was the ogre, who had
come home. His wife immediately made the chil-
dren hide under the bed, and went to open the
door. The ogre asked at once if his supper was
ready, and if she had drawn the wine, and with
that he sat down to his meal. The mutton was
all but raw, but he liked it the better for that.
He began to sniff right and left and said that he
smelt fresh meat.
"It must be the calf I have just skinned that
you smell," said his wife.
" I smell fresh meat, I tell you again," replied
the ogre looking sharply at his wife. " There is
something here that I don't understand." Saying
this he rose from the table and went straight to
the bed. " Ah ! " he exclaimed," " thou art de-
ceiving me, wretched woman ! I know not what
hindei's me from eating thee also, except that
thou art old and tough. Here is some game which
comes in good time for me to entertain three ogres
of my acquaintance, who are coming to see me
in a day or two." He dragged the children from
under the bed one after the other. They fell
on their knees begging for mercy, but he was
the most cruel of ogres, who felt no pity for them
but devoured them already with his ej'es, and
said to his wife that they would be dainty bits
when she had made a good sauce for them. He
went to fetcli a great knife, and as he returned to
the poor children, he whetted it on a long stone
which he held in his left hand. He had already
seized one, when his wife said to him, —
" Wh}- do you do it at this hour of the night ?
Will it not be time enough to-morrow ? "
" Hold thy peace," replied the ogre, " they will
be all the more tender."
"But you have alreadj' so much on hand," she
persisted. " Here is a calf, two sheep, and half a
?)
pig-
" Thou art right," said the Ogre. " Give them
a good supper, that they may not fall away, and
put them to bed." The good woman was greatly
rejoiced and brought the children plenty for sup-
])Q\\ but they could eat nothing, so terrified were
they. As for the ogre, he seated himself to drink
again, much pleased to think that he had such a
feast in store for his friends, and drained a dozen
goblets more than usual, so that his head began to
ache, and he went to bed.
The ogre had seven daughters, who were still
very young. They had the most beautiful com-
plexions, in consequence of their eating raw flesh
like their father, but they had very small round
gray ej^es, hooked noses, and very large mouths
with long teeth, exceedingly sharp and wide apart.
They were not very vicious, as yet, but they
showed that they would be, for they had already
begun to bite little boys. They had been sent to
bed early, and were all seven in a large bed, each
wearing a crown of gold on her head. In the
same I'oom was another bed just as large. Into
this the ogre's wife put the seven little boys to
sleep, while she went off to her husband.
Hop-o-my-Thumb had noticed that the ogre's
daughters all wore golden crowns on their heads,
HOP- a -MY- THUMB.
78
and in the middle of the night, fearing tliat the
ogre might come up in the dark and dispatch
them, he got up, took off the night-caps from his
and his brotliers" heads and went very softly to
the bed where the little ogresses were sleeping ;
then lie removed
their golden
crowns and jfut
on their heads the
night-caps, after
which he put the
crowns on his
brothers' heads
and his own, and
crept into bed
again. Matters
turned out just as
he had expected.
The ogre grew
impatient and
could not wait for
morning to come.
He jumped out of
bed, and seizing
his great knife,
said, —
"Let us go and
see how our young-
rogues are now ;
we won't make
two bites at a
cherry." So he
stole on tiptoe up
to the chamber,
and came to the
bed where the
little boys 1 a }',
who were all
asleep except Hop-o'-my-Thumb. He was dread-
fully frightened when the ogre placed his hand
upon his head to feel it, as he had in turn felt
those of all his brothers. The ogre, who felt the
golden crowns, was puzzled.
" Truly," said he," I was about to do a pretty
job. I must have drank too much last night.
10
He then went to the bed where his daughters
slept, and passing his hand over their heads, felt
the little night-caps. " Aha ! " he cried, " Here
are our young wags. Let us to work at once."
So saying, he immediately cut the throats of his
seven daughters,
and then wiping
his knife with
satisfaction, went
back to bed again.
As soon as Hop-
o'-m y - T h u m b
heard the ogre
snoring, he woke
Tke Gid-itt O^re la lus Severt LeAbueBoots.
piuriu.Lu6. H©p o'myTku.m.b (fc-.liis BrotkerSiWhQhideljvjtCttve^.,
his brothers, and
bade them dress
themselves quick-
ly and follow
him. They went
down softly into
the garden and
jumped over the
wall. They ran
all the rest of
the night in fear
and trembling,
not knowing
whither they
should flee.
The ogre, on
awaking in the
morning, said to
his wife, " Get
up-stairs and
dress the little
rogues you took
in last night."
She was much
astonished at the kindness of her husband, not
suspecting the sort of dressing be meant, and
supposing he had ordered her to go and put their
clothes on them. She went up-stairs quickly,
and there she saw their seven daughters all dead
in their beds. She fainted away at the sight, and
the ogre, waiting and wondering why his vsdfe
74
THE BOOK OF WONDERS.
did not come, went up-stairs to see what was the
matter.
" Ha ! what have I done ! " he exclaimed.
" But these wretches shall pay for it speedily."
He threw a basin of water in his wife's face to
revive her and said, " Quick ! get me my seven-
league boots that I may go and catch them ! "
He set out, and after running in every direction
came at last upon the track of the poor children,
who were not above a hundred yards from their
father's house. They saw the ogre striding from
hill to hill, and stepping over rivers as easily as
if they were brooks. Hop-o'-my-Thumb discover-
ing a hollow rock clos'^. by where they were, bade
his brothers hide in it, while he crept in after-
ward and kept watch at the entrance. The ogre
by this time was very tired, for seven-league boots
are fatiguing to the wearei', and sat down to rest
upon the very rock in which the little boys had
hidden themselves. There he fell sound asleep,
and began to snore so dreadfully that the children
were quite as frightened as when they were in his
house.
Hop-o'-my-Thumb whispered to his brothers to
run quickly into their house and not be uneasy
about him. They did as he told them, and were
soon in the wood-cutter's home. Then Hop-o'-my-
Thumb, when he saw them safely housed, stole up
to the ogre, pulled off his boots, and got into them
himself. The boots, to fit the Ogre, were very
large and very long, but being fairy boots they
had the knack of exactly fitting every leg they
were put on, so they were just the right size for
Hop-o'-my-Thumb. He went straight to the
ogre's house, where he found the ogre's wife
weeping bitterly over her daughters.
" Your husband," said he, " is in great danger,
for he has been seized by a band of robbers who
threaten to kill him if he does not give them all
his gold and silver. At the moment they had
their daggers at his throat, he discovered me, and
begged me to come and tell you the plight he was
in, and to give me all the money he had, else they
would kill him without mercy. He bade me wear
his seven-league boots, which you see I have on,
that I might make haste, and that you might
know I was not imposing on j'ou.''
The good woman, very much alarmed, imme-
diately gave him all the money there was in the
house, for the ogre was a good husband to her in
spite of his temper and his fondness for little boys.
So Hop-o'-m3'-Thumb, laden with treasures, hast-
ened back to his father's house, where they lived
ever after happily together. As for the ogre, he
had grown so heavy that he could not get about
without his seven-league boots, so there he lay in
the sun and the crows came after he died and
picked all the skin off his bones.
A PEW SONGS.
LITTLE BIRDIE.
What does little birdie say
In her nest at peep of day ?
" Let me fly," says little birdie,
" Mother, let me fly away." —
" Birdie, rest a little longer.
Till the little wings are stronger."
So she rests a little longer,
Then she flies away.
What does little baby say
In her bed at peep of day ?
Baby says, like little birdie,
" Let me rise, and fly away." —
" Baby, sleep a little longer.
Till the little limbs are stronger.
If she sleeps a little longer,
Baby too shall fly away."
Alfred Tennyson.
THE LAMB.
Little lamb, who made thee ?
Dost thou know who made thee.
Gave thee life, and made thee feed
By the stream and o'er the mead ?
Gave thee clothing of delight, —
Softest clotliing, woolly, bright ?
Gave thee such a tender voice.
Making all the vales rejoice ?
Little lamb, who made thee ?
Dost thou know who made thee ?
Little lamb, I '11 tell thee ;
Little lamb, I '11 tell thee :
He is called by thy name.
For He calls Himself a lamb.
He is meek, and He is mild ;
He became a little child :
I a child, and thou a lamb.
We are called by His name.
Little lamb, God bless thee !
Little lamb, God bless thee !
William Blake.
THE CHILD'S DESIRE.
I THINK, as I read that sweet story of old.
When Jesus was here among men.
How He called little children as lambs to Ilis fold,
I should like to have been with them then.
I wish that His hands had been placed on my head,
That His arms had been thrown around me.
And that I might have seen His kind look when He
said,
" Let the little ones come unto me."
But still to His footstool in prayer I may go,
And ask for a share in His love ;
And if I thus earnestly seek Him below,
I shall see Him and hear Him above.
In that beautiful place He has gone to prepare
For all that are washed and forgiven ;
And many dear children are gathering there,
" For of such is the kiiigdom of heaven."
Jemima Luke.
THE LITTLE DOVES.
High on the top of an old pine-tree
Broods a mother-dove with her young ones three.
Warm over them is her soft, downy breast,
And they sing so sweetly in their nest.
' Coo," say the little ones, " Coo," says she,
All in their nest on the old pine-tree.
76
A FEW SONGS.
Soundly they sleep through the moonshiny night,
Each young one covered and tucked in tight ;
Morn wakes them up with the first blush of light,
And they sing to each other with all their might.
" Coo," say the little ones, " Coo," says she,
All in their nest on the old pine-tree.
Where the purple violet grows,
Where the bubbling water flows,
Where the grass is fresh and fine,
Pretty cow, go there and dine.
Jane Tatloe.
Wiien in. the nest they are all left alone.
While their mother far for their dinner has flown.
Quiet and gentle they all remain.
Till their mother they see come home again.
Then " Coo," say the little ones, " Coo," says she,
All in their nest on the old pine-tree,
When they are fed by their tender mother.
One never will push nor crowd another :
Each opens widely his own little bill,
And he patiently waits, and gets his fill.
Then, " Coo," say the little ones, " Coo," says she.
All in their nest on the old pine-tree.
Wisely the mother begins by and by
To make her young ones learn to fly ;
Just for a little way over the brink.
Then back to the nest as quick as a wink.
And •' Coo," say the little ones, " Coo," says she,
All in their nest on the old pine-tree.
Fast grow the young ones, day and night.
Till their wings are plumed for a longer flight ;
Till unto them at the last draws nigh
The time when they all must say " Good-by."
Then " Coo," say the little ones, " Coo," says she.
And away they fly from the old pine-tree.
Carols, Hymns, and Songs.
PRETTY COW.
Thank you, pretty cow, that made
Pleasant milk to soak my bread.
Every day and every night.
Warm, and fresh, and sweet, and white.
TWINKLE, TWINKLE.
Twinkle, twinkle, little star
How I wonder what you are !
Up above the world so high.
Like a diamond in the sky.
Wlicu the glorious sun is set,
When the grass with dew is wet.
Then you show your little light,
Twinkle, twinkle, all the night.
In the dark-blue sky you keep,
And often through my curtains peep ;
For you never shut j-our eye
Till the sun is in the sky.
As your bright and tiny spark
Lights the traveler in tlie dark.
Though I know not what you are.
Twinkle, twinkle, little star !
WILLIE WINKIE.
Do not chew the hemlock rank.
Growing on the weedy bank ;
But the yellow cowslips eat.
That will make it very sweet.
Wee Willie Winkle rins through the town,
Up stairs and doou stairs, in his nicht gown,
Tirlin' at the window, cryin' at the lock.
Are the weans in their bed ? — for it 's now ten o'clock.
GOOD-NIGHT AND GOOD-MORNING.
77
Hey, Willie Winkie ! are ye comin' ben ?
The cat 's singin' gay thrums to the sleepin' hen,
The doug's speldered on the floor, and disna gie a
cheep ;
But here 's a waukrife laddie that winna fa' asleep.
Onything but sleep, ye rogue ! — glowerin' like the
moon, ^
Rattlin' in an aim jug wi' an aim spoon,
Eumblin', tumblin' ronn' about, crawin' like a cock,
Skirlin' like a kenna what — waukerin' sleepin' folk.
Hey, Willie Winkie ! the wean's in a creel !
Waumblin' afi a bodie's knee, like a vera eel,
Ruggin' at the cat's lug, and ravellin' a' her thrums :
Hey, Willie Winkie ! — See, there he comes !
AVeary is the mither that has a storie wean,
A wee stumpie stonesie, that canna rin his lane.
That has a battle aye wi' sleep before he '11 close an ee ;
But a kiss frae all his rosy lips gies strength anew to
me.
William Miller.
Rattling in an iron jug
With an iron spoon,
Rumbling, tumbling all about,
Crowing like a cock.
Screaming like I don't know what,
Waking sleeping folk.
'Hey! Willie Winkie,
Can't you keep him still ?
Wriggling off a body's knee
Like a very eel.
Pulling at the cat's ear,
As she drowsy hums, —
Heigh, Willie Winkie,
See ! there he comes ' "
Wearied is the mother
That has a restless wean,
A wee, stumpie bairnie
Heard whene'er he 's seen —
That has a battle aye with sleep
Before he 'II close an e'e ;
But a kiss from off his rosy lips
Gives strength anew to me.
THE SAME, WITH THE SCOTTICISMS
CHANGED.
Wee Willie Winkie
Runs through the town,
Up stairs and down stairs
In his night gown.
Tapping at the window,
Crying at the lock,
■' Are the weans in their bed,
For it's now ten o'clock?"
*' Hey ! Willie Winkie,
Are you coming then ?
The cat's singing Purrie
To the sleeping hen,
The dog is lying on the floor,
And does not even peep ;
But here's a wakeful laddie
That will not fall asleep."
Anything but sleep, you rogue !
Glowring like the moon !
GOOD-NIGHT AND GOOD-MORNING.
A FAIR little girl sat under a tree,
Sewing as long as her eyes could see ;
Then smoothed her work, and folded it right.
And said, " Dear work, good-night ! good-night i "
Such a number of rooks came over her head,
Crying, " Caw ! caw ! " on their way to bed ;
She said, as she watched their curious flight,
" Little black things, good-night ! good-night ! "
The horses neighed, and the oxen lowed.
The sheep's " Bleat ! bleat ! " came over the road.
All seeming to say, with a quiet delight,
" Good little girl, good-night ! good-night ! "
She did not say to the sun " Good-night ! "
Though she saw him there, like a ball of light ;
For she knew he had God's time to keep
All over the world, and never could sleep.
78
A FEW SOIf^GS.
The tall pink foxglove bowed his head,
The violets curtsied, and went to bed ;
And good little Lucy tied up her hair,
And said, on her knees, her favorite prayer.
And, while on her pillow she softly lay,
She knew nothing more till again it was day.
And all things said to the beautiful sun,
" Good-morning ! good-morning ! our work is begun ! '
Richard Monkton Milnes.
GENTLE JESUS, MEEK AND MILD.
Gentle Jesus, meek and mild.
Look upon a little child ;
Pity my simplicity.
Suffer me to come to Thee.
Fain I would to Thee be brought ;
Gracious God, forbid it not:
In the kingdom of Thy grace
Give a little child a place.
Oh, supply my every want.
Feed the young and teniler plant ;
Day and night my keeper be,
Every moment watch o'er me.
LULLABY.
Golden slumbers kiss your eyes,
Smiles awake when you do rise ;
Sleep, pretty wantons ; do not cry.
And I will sing a lullaby,
Rock them, rock them, lullaby.
Care is heavy, therefore sleep you :
You are care, and care must keep you ;
Sleep, pretty wantons ; do not cry.
And I will sing a lullaby.
Rock them, rock them, lullaby.
Thomas Dekkee.
CRADLE SONG.
Hush, my babe, lie still and slumber :
Holy angels guard thy bed ;
Heavenly blessings without number.
Gently falling on thy head.
Sleep, my babe, thy food and raiment.
House and- home, thy friends provide:
All without thy care or payment.
All thy wants are well supplied.
See the lovely babe a-dressing ;
Lovely infant, how He smiled !
When He wept, the mother's blessing
Soothed and hushed the Holy Child.
Lo, He slumbers in the manger.
Where the horned oxen fed !
Peace, my darling ; here 's no danger ;
There 's no oxen near thy bed.
'T was to save thee, child, from dying,
Save my dear from sin and shame,
'T was to lead thee home to heaven.
That thy blest Redeemer came.
Mayst thou live to know and fear Him,
Trust and love Him all thy days ;
Then go dwell forever near Him,
See His face, and sing His praise.
I could give thee thousand kisses.
Hoping what I most desire ;
Not a mother's fondest wishes
Can to greater joys aspire.
Isaac Watts.
THE BOOK OF POPULAR TALES.
CINDERELLA; OR, THE GLASS SLIPPER.
Theke was OHce an honest gentleman who was
left a widower with one little daughter, the image
of her mother, beautiful in face and lovely in
temper. He thought it well to marry again, for
he was lonely and he wished for some one who
should take care of his child. But though his
second wife was a handsome woman she was very
haughty, and she had two daughters by a former
marriage, who were as proud and disagreeable as
herself. The lady appeared very well before the
wedding, but no sooner was that over than she
began to show her evil temper. She could not
bear her step-daughter, who was so amiable that
her own ill-natured children seemed more dis-
agreeable than before, and she compelled the poor
girl to do all the drudgery of the household. It
was she who washed the dishes, and scrubbed
down the stairs, and polished the floors in my
lady's chamber, and in those of the two pert
misses, her daughters ; and while the latter slept
on good feather-beds in elegant rooms furnished
with full-length looking-glasses in which they
could admire themselves all day long, their sister
lay in a wretched garret on an old straw mattress.
Yet the poor thing bore this ill treatment very
meekly, and did not dare complain to her father,
for he was so blind to his wife's faults that he
would only have scolded the child.
When her work was done, she used to sit in the
chimney-corner among.st the cinders, so that the
two sisters gave her the nickname of Cinderella,
or, the cinder-wench ; yet, for all her shabby
clothes, Cinderella was a hundred times prettier
than they, let them be dressed ever so magnifi-
cently.
It happened that the king's son gave a ball to
which he invited all the rich and the grand ; and
as our two young ladies made a great figure in
the world, they were to be at the ball, and per-
haps would dance with tlie prince. So they were
at once very busy choosing what head-dress and
which gown would be the most becoming. Here
was fresh work for poor Cinderella ; for it was
she, forsooth, who was to starch and get up their
ruffles, and iron all their fine linen ; and they
talked of nothing but their fine clothes all day
long. " I," said the elder, " shall put on my
red velvet dress, with my point-lace trimmings."
" And I," said the younger sister, " shall wear
my ordinary petticoat, but shall set it off with my
gold brocaded train and my circlet of diamonds,
and what can be finer than that '? " They sent
for a clever tire-woman, for they were to have
double rows of quilling on their caps, and they
bought a quantity of elegant ribbons and bows.
They called in Cinderella, to take her advice, as
she had such good taste ; and Cinderella not only
advised them well, but offered to dress their hair,
which they were pleased to accept. While she
was thus busied, the sisters said to her, "And
pray, Cinderella, would you like to go to the
ball ? " " Nay, you are mocking me," replied
the poor girl ; " it is not for such as I to go to
balls." "True enough," rejoined they; "folks
would laugh to see a cinder-wench at a court
ball."
Any other but Cinderella would have dressed
their hair awry to spite them for their rudeness ;
but she was so good-natured that she went on and
dressed them more becomingly than ever they had
80
THE BOOK OF POPULAR TALES.
been in their lives before. The two sisters were
so delighted that they scarcely ate a morsel for a
couple of days. And besides, it was not easy to
eat much, for they were laced tight, to make their
waists as slender as possible ; indeed, more than
a dozen stay-laces were broken in the attempt.
But they were perfectly contented to spend
their whole time before a looking-g
where they nodded their plumes, and
turned and turned to see how they |
looked behind.
The long - wished - for evening
came at List, and oft tliey set
Cinderella & ojet. followed
them as long as she could,
and then she sat down and
began to weep. Hei god-
mother now appealed,
and seeing her \n tears
inquired
wliat was
the mat- ~~ -
ter. " I
u
_ . , wish — •
s^"^"- _ I wish,"
^ began
the poor girl, but her voice
was choked with tears. "You
wish that you could go to
the ball," interrupted her
godmother, who was a fairy.
"Indeed I do!" said Cin-
derella, with a sigh. " Well,
"^^■^ then, if you will be a good
girl, you shall go," said her godmother. " Run
quick and fetch me a pumpkin from the garden."
Cinderella flew to gather the finest pumpkin she
could find, though she could not understand how it
could possibly help her to go to the ball. But her
godmother, scooping it quite hollow, touched it
with her wand, when it was immediately changed
into a gilt coach. She then went to the mouse-trap,
where she found six live mice, and bidding Cinder-
ella let them out one by one, she changed each
mouse into a fine dapple gray horse by a stroke
of her wand. But what was she to do for a coach-
man ? Cinderella proposed to look for a rat in the
rat-trap. " That 's a good thought,"
quoth her godmother ; " so go and
see." Back came Cinderella with the
rat-trap, in which were three large
rats. The fairy chose one that had
a tremendous pair of whiskers, and
forthwith changed him into a coach-
man with the finest mustachios ever
seen.
" Now," said she, " go into the
garden, and bring me six lizards,
w^hich you will find behind the water-
ing-pot." These were no sooner
brought, than, lo ! with a touch of
the wand they were turned into six
footmen, with laced liveries, who got
up behind the coach just as natur-
ally as if they had done nothing else
all their lives. The Fairj^ then said
to Cinderella : " Now here is j'Our
coach and six, your coachman and
your footmen, all to take you to the ball ; are
3'ou not pleased ? " " But must I go in these
dirty clothes ? " said Cinderella, timidly. Her
godmother smiled and just touched her with her
wand, when her shabby clothes were changed to a
dress of gold and silver tissue, all decked with
precious stones. Then she put upon her feet the
prettiest pair of glass slippers ever seen. Cin-
derella now got into the carriage, after having
been warned by her godmother upon no account
to prolong her stay beyond midnight, for if she
should remain a moment longer at the ball her
coach would again become a pumpkin, her horses
mice, her footmen lizards, while her beautiful
clothes would become the shabby gown of the
poor girl that sat among the cinders. Cinderella
promised she would not fail to leave the ball be-
fore midnight, and set oil in an ecstasy of delight.
CINDERELLA; OR, THE GLASS SLIPPER.
81
When she arrived it was in such state that the
king's son, hearing that some great princess, un-
known at court, had just appeared, went to hand
her out of her carriage, and brought her into the
hall where the company was assembled. The mo-
ment she appeared all voices were hushed, the
violins ceased playing, and the dancing stopped
short, so great yvas the sensation produced by the
stranger's beauty. A confused murmur of ad-
miration fluttered through the crowd, and each
was fain to exclaim, " How surpassingly lovely
she is ! " Even the king, old as he was, could not
forbear admiring her like the rest, and whispered
to the queen that she was certainly the fairest
and comeliest woman he had seen for many a
long day. As for the ladies, they were all busy
examining her head-dress and her clothes, in order
to get similar ones the very next day, if, indeed,
they could meet with stuffs of such rich patterns,
and find work-women clever enough to make them
up.
After leading her to the place to which her
rank seemed to entitle her, the king's son re-
quested her hand for the next dance, when she
displayed so much grace that her beauty was
heightened, and people said they had not praised
her half enough before. An elegant supper was
brought in, but the young prince was so taken up
with gazing at the fair stranger', that he did not
touch a morsel. Cinderella went and sat by her
sisters, sharing with them the oranges and citrons
the prince had offered her, much to their sui-prise
and delight, for they felt highly flattered, never
dreaming who it really was.
When Cinderella heard the clock strike three
quarters past eleven, she made a low courtesy to
the whole assembly, and retired in haste. On
reaching home, she found her godmother, and
after thanking her for the delight she had enjoyed
she ventm-ed to express a wish to return to the
ball on the following evening, as the prince had
requested her to do. She was still eagei'ly telling
her godmother all that had happened at court,
when her two sisters knocked at the door. Cin-
derella went and let them in, pretending to yawn
11
and stretch herself, and rub her eyes and saying,
" How late you are ! " just as if she had been
waked up out of a nap, though, one may readily
believe, she had never felt less disposed to sleep
in her life. " If you had been to the ball," said
one of the sisters, " you would not have thought
it late. There came the most beautiful princess
that ever was seen, who loaded us with polite at-
tentions, and gave us oi'anges and citrons."
Cinderella inquired the name of the princess.
But they replied that nobody knew her name, and
that the king's son was in great trouble about her,,
and would give the world to know who she could
be. " Is she, then, so very beautiful ? " said Cin-
derella, smiling. " Ah ! how I should like to see
her ! Oh, do, my Lady Javotte, lend me the yel-
low dress you wear every day, that I may go to
the ball and have a peep at this wonderful prin-
cess." " A likely stoiy, indeed ! " cried Javotte,
tossing her head disdainfully, " that I should lend
my clothes to a dirty cinder-wench like you ! "
Cinderella expected to be refused, and was not
sorry for it, as she would have been very much
puzzled what to do had her sister really lent her
the dress she begged to have.
On the following evening the sisters again went
to the court ball, and so did Cinderella, dressed
even more magnificently than before. The king's
son never once left her side, and spent his whole
time in waiting upon her. He talked so charm-
ingly, and Avhispered so many delicate speeches,
that the young lady was nothing loath to listen to
him ; she forgot all else, she forgot her godmoth-
er's warning. Eleven o'clock came, but she did
not notice the striking ; the half-hour struck, but
the prince grew more delightful, and Cinderella
could hear nothing else ; the last quarter — but
still Cinderella sat by the prince. Then the great
clock sounded the midnight stroke ; up sprang
Cinderella and like a startled fawn fled from the
palace. The prince started to follow her, but she
was too swift for him ; only, as she flew she
dropped one of her glass slippers, which he picked
up very eagerly. The last stroke died away as
Cinderella reached the great staircase that ledi
82
THE BOOK OF POPULAR TALES.
from the palace. In a twinkling the
gay lady was gone, and only a shab-
by cinder-wench went running down
the steps. The splendid coach and
six, driver and footmen, had van-
ished ; only a pumpkin lay on tlie
ground, and a rat, six mice, and six
lizards scampered off. Cinderella
reached home, quite out of bi-eath :
but of all her magnificence nothing
remained save a little glass slipper,
the fellow to the one she had lost.
The sentinels at the palace-gate were |,
closely questioned as to whether they
had not seen a princess coming out;
but they answered they had seen ii" '
one except a shabbily-dressed girl,
■who appeared to be a peasant rather than a young
lady.
When the two sisters returned from the ball,
Cinderella asked them whether they had been
■well entertained, and whether the beautiful lady
was there ? They replied that she was ; but that
she had run away as soon as midnight had struck,
and so quickly as to drop one of her dainty glass
slippers, which the king's son had picked up, and
was looking at most fondly during the remainder
of the ball ; indeed, it seemed beyond a doubt that
he was deeply in love with the beautiful creature
to whom it belonged.
They spoke truly enough ; for, a few days aft-
erwards, the king's son caused a proclamation to
be made, by sound of trumpet, all over the king-
dom, that he would marry her whose foot should
be found to fit the slipper exactly. So the slipper
was first tried on by all the princesses ; then by
all the duchesses ; and next by all the persons be-
longing to the court ; but in vain. Then it was
carried to all the fine houses, and it came at last
to the two sisters, who tried with all their might
to force their feet into the fairj'-like slippei', but
with no better success. Cinderella, who was
present, now laughed, and said, " Supjjose I were
to try ? " Her sisters ridiculed such an idea ;
but the gentleman who was appointed to try the
slipper looked atten-
tively at Cinderella,
a n d perceiving how
beautiful she was, said
that it was but fair
she should do so, as he
had orders to try it on
every young maiden in
the kingdom. So Cin-
derella sat down, and
put her foot on a stool
to have the slipper
tried on, while her
sisters looked on con-
temptuously ; but no
sooner did she put her little foot to the slipper,
than she drew it on, and it fitted like wax. The
sisters stood amazed ; but their astonishment in-
creased tenfold when Cinderella drew the fellow-
slipper out of her pocket, and put that on. Her
godmother then made her appearance, and touch-
ing Cinderella's clothes with her wand, made them
once more the robes of a princess, but even more
splendid than those which she had worn at the
ball.
Her two sisters now recognized her for the beau-
tiful stranger they had seen, and, falling at her
feet, implored her forgiveness for their unworthy
HANS IN LUCK.
83
treatment, and all the insults thej' had heaped
upon her head. Cin-
derella raised them,
saying, as she em-
braced them, that
she not only forgave
them with all her
heart, but \vi sjjed
that they might al-
waj's love her. The
gentleman in wait-
ing led her to the
palace of the young
p r i n c e, who was
overjoyed at diseov-
the beautiful maiden, and thought her more
lovely than ever.
So they were mar-
ried, and Cinderella,
who was as good as
she was beautiful,
and wished every
one about her to be
happy, allowed her
sisters to lodge in
the palace, and gave
them in marriage,
that same day, to
two lords belonging
to the court.
HANS IN LUCK.
Hans had served his master seven years, and
at last said to him, " Master, my time is up, I
should like to go home and see my mother; so
give me my wages." And the master said, "You
have been a faithful and good servant, so your pay
shall be handsome." Then he gave him a piece of
silver that was as big as his head.
Hans took out his pocket-handkerchief, put the
piece of silver into it, threw it over his shoulder,
and jogged off homewards. As he went lazily on,
dragging one foot after another, a man came in
sight, trotting along gayly on a capital hoi-se.
" Ah ! " said Hans aloud, " what a fine thing it is
to ride on horseback ! there he sits as if he was at
home in his chair ; he trips against no stones,
spares his shoes, and yet gets on he hardly knows
how." The horseman heard this, and said, " Well,
Hans, why do you go on foot then ? " " Ah ! "
said he, " I have this load to carry ; to be sure it
is silver, but it is so heavy that I can't hold up my
head, and it hurts my shoulder sadly." " What
do you say to changing? " said the horseman ; " I
will give you my horse, and you shall give me the
silver." " With all my heart," said Hans : " but
I tell you one thing, — you'll have a weary task
to drag it along." The horseman got off, took the
silver, helped Hans up, put the bridle into his
hand, and said, " When you want to go very fast,
you must smack your lips loud, and cry ' Jip.' "
Hans Avas dehghted as he sat on the horse, and
rode merrily on. After a time he thought he
should like to go a little faster, so he smacked his
lips and cried " Jip." Away went the horse full
gallop ; and before Hans knew what he was about
he was thrown off, and lay in a ditch by the road-
side; and his horse would have run away, if a
shepherd who was coming by, driving a cow, had
not stopped it. Hans soon came to himself, and
got upon his legs again. He was sadly vexed, and
said to the shepherd, " This riding is no joke when
a man gets on a beast like this, that stumbles and
flinsfs him off as if he would break his neck. How-
es
ever, I am off now once for all : I like your cow a
great deal better ; one can walk along at one's
leisure behind her, and have milk, butter, and
cheese every day into the bargain. What would
I give to have such a cow!" "Well," said the
shepherd, " if you are so fond of her, I will change
my cow for your horse." " Done ! " said Hans,
merrily. The shepherd jumped upon the horse
and away he rode.
Hans drove off his cow quietly, and thought his
bargain a very lucky one. " If I have only a piece
of bread (and I certamly shall be able to get that),
84
THE BOOK OF POPULAR TALES.
I can, whenever I like, eat my butter and cheese
with it ; and when I am thirsty I can milk my
cow and drink the milk: what can I wish for
more?" When he came to an inn, he halted, ate
all his bread, and gave away bis last penny for a
glass of beer; then he drove his cow towards his
mother's village ; and the heat grew greater as
noon came on, till at last he found himself on a
wide heath that would take him more than an
hour to cross, and he began to be so hot and
parched that his tongue clave to the roof of his
mouth. " I can find a cure for this," thought he,
" now will I milk my cow and quench my thirst ; "
so he tied her to the stumj) of a tree, and held his
leathern cap to milk into ; but not a drop was to
be had.
While he was trying his luck and managing the
matter very clumsily, the uneasj' beast gave him
a kick on the head that knocked him down, and
there he lay a long while senseless. Luckily a
butcher soon came by driving a pig in a wheel-
barrow. " What is the matter with you ? " said
the butcher, as he helped him up. Hans told him
what had happened, and the butcher gave him a
flask, saying, " There, drink and refresh yourself ;
your cow will give you no milk : she is an old beast,
good for nothing but the slaughter-house." " Alas,
alas!" said Hans, "who would have thought it?
If I kill her, what would she be good for ? I hate
cow-beef, it is not tender enough for me. If it
were a pig now, one could do something with it : it
would at any rate make some sausages." " Well,"
said the butcher, "to please you I'll change, and
give you the pig for the cow." " Heaven reward
you for your kindness ! " said Hans, as he gave the
butcher the cow, and took the pig off the wheel-
barrow, and drove it along, holding it by the
string that was tied to its leg.
So on he jogged, and all seemed now to go right
with him : he had met with some misfortunes, to
be sure, but he was now well repaid for all. The
next person he met was a countryman carrying a
fine white goose under his arm. The countryman
stopped to ask what o'clock it was ; and Hans told
him all his luck, and how he had made so many
good bargains. The countryman said he was go-
ing to take the goose to a christening. " Feel,"
said he, " how heavy it is, and j-et it is only eight
weeks old. Whoever roasts and eats it may cut
plenty of fat off it, it has lived so well ! "
" You 're right," said Hans as he weighed it in his
hand ; " but my pig is no trifle." Meantime the
countrj-man began to look grave, and shook his
head. " Hark ye," said he, " my good friend ;
your pig may get you into a scrape ; in the village
I just came from the squire has had a pig stolen
out of his stye. I was di-eadfully afraid, when I
saw you, that you had got the squire's pig ; it will
be a bad job if they catch you: the least they'll
do will be to throw you into the horse pond."
Poor Hans was sadly frightened. " Good man,"
cried he, " pray get me out of this scrape ; you
know this country better than I, take my pig and
give me the goose." "I ought to have something
into the bargain," said the countryman ; " how-
ever, I will not bear hard upon you, as you are in
trouble." Then he took the string in his hand,
and drove off the pig by a side path ; while Hans
went on the way homewards free from care.
"After all," thought he, "I have the best of the
bargain : first thei-e will be a capital roast ; then
the fat will find me in goose-grease for sis months ;
and there are all the beautiful white feathers ; I
will put them into my pillow, and then I am
sure I shall sleep soundly without rocking. How
happy my mother will be I "
As he came to the last village, he saw a scissors-
grinder, with his wheel, working away, and sing-
ing : —
" O'er hill and o'er dale so happy I roam,
Work light and live well, all the world is my home ;
Wlio so blvthe, so merry as I ? "
Hans stood looking for a while, and at last said,
" You must be well off, master grinder, you seem
so happy at your work." " Yes," said the other,
" mine is a golden trade ; a good grinder never
puts his hand in his pocket without finding money
in it: — but where did you get that beautiful
goose ? " " I did not buy it, but changed a pig for
it." "And where did you get the pig?" "I
THE SLEEPING BEAUTY IN THE WOOD.
85
gave a cow for it." '• And the cow ? " "I gave a
horse for it." "And the horse?" "I gave a
piece of silver as big as my head for that." " And
the silver ? " " Oh ! I worked hard for that seven
long years." " You have thriven well in the world
hitherto," said the grinder ; "now if you could find
money in your pocket whenever you put your hand
into it, your fortune would be made." " Very
true: but how is that to be managed?" "You
must turn grinder like me," said the other, "you
only want a grindstone ; the rest will come of it-
self. Here is one that is a little the worse for
wear ; I would not ask more than the value of your
goose for it; — will you buy?" " How can you
ask such a question ? " replied Hans ; " I should
be the happiest man in the world if I could have
money whenever I put my hand in my pocket;
what could I want more ; there 's the goose ! "
"Now," said the grinder, as he gave him a com-
mon rough stone that lay by his side, " this is a
most capital stone ; do but manage it cleverly,
and you can make an old nail cut with it."
Hans took the stone and went off with a light
heart : his eyes sparkled for joy, and he said to
himself, "I must have been born in a lucky hour;
everything that I want or wish for comes to me
of itself."
^Meantime he began to be tired, for he had been
traveling ever since daybreak ; he was hungry,
too, for he had given away his last penny in his
joy at getting the cow. At last he could go no
farther, and the stone tired him terribly ; he
dragged himself to the side of a pond, that he
might drink some water and rest a while ; so he
laid the stone carefully by his side on the bank :
but as he stooped down to drink, he forgot it,
pusiied it a little, and down it went plump into
the pond. For a while he watched it sinking in
the deep clear water, then sprang up for joy, and
again fell upon his knees, and thanked heaven
with tears in his eyes for its kindness in taking
away his only plague, the ugly heavy stone.
" How happy am I ! " cried he : " no mortal was
ever so lucky as I am." Then up he got with a
light and merry heart, and walked on free from
all his troubles, till he reached his mother's house.
THE SLEEPING BEAUTY IN THE WOOD.
Once upon a time there was a king and a queen
who grieved sorely that they had no children.
When at last the queen gave birth to a daughter
the king was so overjoyed that he gave a great
christening feast, the like of whicli had never be-
fore been known. He asked all the fairies in the
land — there were seven all told — to stand god-
mothers to the little princess, hoping that each
might give her a gift, and so she should have all
imaginable perfections.
After the christening, all the company returned
to the palace where a great feast had been spread
for the fairy godmothers. Before each was set a
magnificent plate, with a gold knife and a gold
fork studded with diamonds and rubies. Just as
they were seating themselves, however, there en-
tered an old fairy who had not been invited be-
cause more than fifty years ago she had shut her-
self up in a tower and it was supposed that she
was either dead or enchanted.
The king ordered a cover to be laid for her, but
it could not be a massive gold one like the others,
for only seven had been ordered made. The old
fairy thought herself ill-used and muttered be-
tween her teeth. One of the young fairies, over-
hearing her, and fancying she might work some
mischief to the little baby, went and hid herself
behind the hangings in the hall, so as to be able
to have the last word and undo any harm the old
fairy might wish to work. The fairies now be-
gan to endow the princess. The youngest, for her
gift, decreed that she should be the most beauti-
ful person in the world ; the next that she should
have the mind of an angel ; the third that she
should be perfectly graceful ; the fourth that she
should dance admirably well ; the fifth, that she
86
THE BOOK OF POPULAR TALES.
should sing like a nightingale ; the sixth, that she
should play charmingly upon every musical instru-
ment. The turn of the old fairy had now come,
and she declared, wliile her head shook with mal-
ice, that the princess should pierce her hand with
a spindle and die of the wound. This dreadful
fate threw all the company into tears of dismay,
when the young fairy who had hidden herself
came forward and said : —
" Be of good cheer, king and queen ; your daugh-
ter shall not so die. It is true I cannot entirely
undo what my elder has done. The princess will
pierce her hand witli a spindle, but, instead of
dying, she will only fall into a deep sleep. The
sleep will last a hundred years, and at the end of
that time a king's son will come to wake her."
The king, in hopes of preventing what the old
fairy had foretold, immediately issued an edict by
which he forbade all persons in his dominion from
spinning or even having spindles in their houses
under pain of instant death.
Now fifteen years after the princess was born
she was with the king and queen at one of their
castles, and as she was running about by herself
she came to a little chamber at the top of a tower,
and there sat an honest old woman spinning, for
she had never heard of the king's edict.
" What are you doing ? " asked the princess.
" I am spinning, my fair child," said the old
woman, who did not know her.
" How pretty it is ! " exclaimed the princess.
" How do you do it ? Give it to me that I may
see if I can do it." She had no sooner taken up
the spindle, than, being hasty and careless, she
pierced her hand with the point of it, and fainted
away. The old woman, in great alarm, called for
help. People came running in from all sides ; they
threw water in the princess's face and did all they
could to restore her, but nothing would bring her
to. The king, who had heard the noise and con-
fusion, came up also, and remembering what the
fairy had said, he had the princess carried to the
finest apartment and laid upon a richly embroid-
ered bed. She lay there in all her loveliness, for
the swoon had not made her pale ; her lips were
cherry-ripe and her cheeks ruddy and fair; her
eyes were closed, but they could hear her breath-
ing quietly ; she could not be dead. The king
looked sorrowfully upon her. He knew that she
would not awake for a hundred years.
The good fairy who had saved her life and
turned her death into sleep was in the kingdom
of Mataquin, twelve thousand leagues away, when
this happened, but she learned of it from a dwarf
who had a pair of seven-league boots, and instantly
set out for the castle, where she arrived in an hour,
drawn by dragons in a fiery chariot. The king
came forward to receive her and showed his grief.
The good fairy was very wise and saw that the
princess when she woke would find herself all
alone in that great castle and everything about
her would be strange. So this is what she did.
She touched with her wand everybody that was
THE SLEEPING BEAUTY IN THE WUG
^D.
87
in the castle, except the king and
queen. She touched the govern-
esses, maids of honor, women of
the bed-chamber, gentlemen, offi-
cers, stewards, cooks, scullions,
boys, guards, porters, pages, foot-
men ; she touched the horses in the
stable with their grooms, the great
mastiffs in the court-yard, and even
little Pouste, the tiny lap-dog of
the princess that was on the bed
beside her. As soon as she had
touched them they all fell asleep,
not to wake again until the time
arrived for their mistress to do
so, when they would be ready to wait upon her.
Even the spits before the fire, laden with par-
ti'idges and pheasants, went to sleep, and the fire
itself went to sleep also.
It was the work of a moment. The king: and
queen kissed their daughter farewell and left the
castle, issuing a proclamation that no person what-
soever was to approach it. That was needless,
for in a quarter of an hour there had grown up
about it a wood so thick and filled with thorns
that nothing could get at the castle, and the castle
top itself could only be seen from a great dis-
tance.
A hundred years went by, and the kingdom
was in the hands of another royal family. The
son of the king was hunting one day when he
discovered the towers of the castle above the tops
of the trees, and asked what castle that was. All
manner of answers were given to him. One said
it was an enchanted castle, another that witches
lived there, but most believed that it was occupied
by a great ogre which carried thither all the chil-
dren he could catch and ate them up one at a
time, for nobody could get at him through the
wood. The prince did not know what to believe,
when finally an old peasant said, —
" Prince, it is more than fifty years since I
heard my father say that there was in that castle
the most beautiful princess that ever was seen ;
that she was to sleep for a hundred years, and to
be awakened at la
king's son, who was
e at these
The young pnnc, ^^.^ jj^
words felt himself or, i ^ ^u j.
:loubt that
had not a moment's 1,1 ■ ^ .
he was destined to ^ , ,
)t ardor he
adventure, and full (^^ set out
determined at once i , i
for the castle. Scf J^^jf^^ '^^
he conae to the woo' i • i i i
which had
the trees and thorns , , ,
. penetrable
made such an im ■ i ,
le side and
thicket opened on or ,,
^ im a path,
the other to offer hi, i ,,
the castle.
He walked toward , , , -,
at the end
which appeared now, , ,
of a long avenue, bu^ foiJowers
turned to look for hi g^g,^. ^j^^
not one was to be • , .-,
instantly
woods had closed -, i
lad passed
P ' ■ itirely alone, and utter silence
through. He was et „. V„ j i i j.
o . le entered a large fore-court
was about him. K l. ^ r\
1 amazement and awe. On
and stood still witl, r, i ii u r f j
;tcaed the bodies of men and
every side were stre^f^j^^^^ g^^ ^,^^ ^^^^^ ^j ^^^
animals apparently ^^^ ^^^^^^^ ^^ ^^^^^^ y^^^ ^ f^^
men were rosy, and ^he men had plainly fallen
drops of wine left, ^ggo^nded as he passed over
asleep. His steps i
88
THE BOOK OF POPULAR TALES.
the marble pavement and up the marble staircase.
He entered the guard-i-oom ; there the guards
stood drawn up in line with cai'bines at their
shoulders, but they were sound asleep. He passed
through one apartment after another, where were
ladies and gentlemen asleep in their chairs or
standing. He entered a chamber covered with
gold, and saw on a bed, the curtains of which were
drawn, the most lovely sight he had ever looked
upon, — a princess, who appeared to be about fif-
teen or sixteen, and so fair that she seemed to
belong to another world. He drew near, trem-
bling and wondering, and knelt beside her. Her
hand lay upon her breast, and he touched his lips
to it. At that moment, the enchantment being
ended, the princess awoke, and, looking drowsily
and tenderly at the young man, said : —
" Have you come, my prince ? I have waited
long for you." The prince was overjoyed at the
words, and at the tender voice and look, and
scarcely knew how to speak. But he managed to
assure her of his love, and they soon forgot all
else as they talked and talked.
They talked for four hours, and
had not then said half that was
in their heads to say.
Meanwhile all the rest of the W'^'f>M'l-''i-'^'<'-^
people in the castle had been
wakened at the same moment as
the princess, and they were now ex-
tremely hungry. The lady-in-wait-
ing became very impatient, and at
length announced to the princess
that they all waited for her. Then
\ the prince took the princess by
\ the hand ; she was dressed in
great splendor, but he did not hint
/ that she looked as he had seen
/ pictures of his great-grandmother
look ; he thought her all the more
charming for that. They- passed
into a hall of mirrors, where they
supped, attended by the officers of
the princess. The violins and haut-
boys played old but excellent pieces of music, and
after supper, to lose no time, the grand almoner
married the roj'al lovers in the chapel of the cas-
tle.
When they left the castle the next day to re-
turn to the prince's home,
they were followed by all the
retinue of the princess. They
marched down the long ave-
nue, and the wood opened
again to let them pass. Out-
side they met the prince's fol-
lowers, who were overjoyed to
see their master. He turned
to show them the castle, but
behold ! there was no castle to
be seen, and no wood : castle
and wood had vanished, but
the prince and princess went
gayly away, and when the old
king and queen died they
reisned in their stead.
IK
t
mJ-i m%
i'?,'fc>
•■tajrr:
>'— 'W^ -v^
JACK THE GIANT-KILLER.
89
JACK THE GIANT-KILLER.
N the reign of King Ar-
tliur, and in the county
of Cornwall, near to the
Land's End of England,
there lived a wealthy
farmer, who had an only
son, named Jack. He
was brisk, and of a ready
wit, so that whatever he
could not perform by force and strength he ac-
complished by ingenious wit and policy. Never
was any person heard of that could worst him, and
he very often baffled even the learned by his sharp
and ready inventions.
In those daj's the Mount of Cornwall was kept
by a huge and monstrous giant, eighteen feet in
height, about three yards in compass, and of a
fierce and grim countenance, the terror of all the
neighboring towns and villages. He inhabited a
cave in the middle of the Mount, and he was such
a selfish monster that he would not suffer any one
to live near him. He fed on other men's cattle,
which often became his prey, for whensoever he
wanted food he would wade over to the main-land,
where he would furnish himself with whatever
came in his way. The people, at his coming, for-
sook their homes. Then would he seize on their
cattle, making nothing of carrying half-a-dozen
oxen on his back at a time ; and as for their sheep
and hogs, he would tie them round his waist like
a bunch of bandoleers. This course he had fol-
lowed for many years, so that a great part of the
country was made poor by his robberies.
This was the state of affairs when Jack, happen-
ing one day to be present at the town-hall, where
the governors were consulting about the giant,
had the curiosity to ask what reward would be
given to the person who should desti-oy him. The
giant's treasure was declared as the recompense,
and .Jack at once undertook the task.
In order to effect his purpose, he furnished him-
' An old jocular term for a prison, or any place of confinement,
12
self with a horn, shovel, and pickaxe, and went
over to the Mount in the beginning of a dark win-
ter's evening, when he fell to work, and before
morning had dug a pit twenty-two feet deep, and
nearly as broad, covering it over with long sticks
and straw. Then strewing a little mould upon it,
it appeared like plain ground. This done. Jack
placed himself on the side of the pit which was
farthest from the giant's lodging, and, just at
break of day, he put the horn to his mouth and
blew with all his might. Although Jack was a
little fellow, he managed to make noise enough to
awake the giant, who rushed roaring from his cave,
crying out, " You incorrigible villain ! are you
come here to disturb my rest ? you shall pay
dearly for this. I will take you whole and broil
you for my breakfast." He had no sooner uttered
this cruel threat than he tumbled into the pit, and
his heavy fall made the foundation of the Mount
shake.
" O Giant ! " said Jack, " where are you now ?
Oh, faith, you are gotten now into Lob's Pound,i
where I will surely plague you for your threaten-
ing words. What do you think now of broiling
me for your breakfast? Will no other diet serve
you but poor Jack ? "
Thus did little Jack tantalize the big giant, as
a cat does a mouse, when she knows it cannot es-
cape, and when he had tired of that amusement he
gave him a heavy blow with his pickaxe on tiie
very crown of his head, which tumbled him down
and killed him on the spot. When Jack saw he
was dead, he filled up the pit with earth, and went
to search the cave, where he found much treas-
ure.
Now when the magistrates who employed Jack
heard that the work was done, they sent for him,
declaring that he should henceforth be termed
Jack the G-iant-killer, and gave him a sword and
embroidered belt, on the latter of which these
words were inscribed in letters of gold : —
90
THE BOOK OF POPULAR TALES.
" Here's the right valiant Cornish man
Who slew the giant Cormorau."
The news of Jack's victory soon spread over
all the West of England, so that another giant,
named Blunderbore, hearing of it, vowed to be re-
venged on the little hero, if ever it was his fortune
to light on him. This giant was lord of an en-
chanted castle, situated in the midst of a lonesome
wood. Now Jack, about four months after his
last exploit, walking near this castle, in his jour-
ney towards Wales, being weary, seated himself
near a pleasant fountain in the wood, and pres-
ently fell asleep. The giant, coining there for
water, found him, and by the lines upon his belt
knew him to be Jack ; so, without any words, he
took him upon his shoulder and carried him to-
wards his enchanted castle.
Now, as they passed through a thicket, the rust-
liner of the bouffhs awakened Jack, who was uncom-
fortably surprised to find himself in the clutches
of the giant. His terror was not lessened when,
on entering the castle, he saw the courtyard
strewed with human bones, the giant telling him
bis own bones would erelong be added to the pile.
This said, the giant locked poor Jack in an upper
chamber, leaving him there while he went to fetch
another giant, living in the same wood, to keep
him company in the destruction of their enemy.
While he was gone, dreadful shrieks and lamen-
tations affrighted Jack, especially a voice which
continually cried : —
" Do what you can to get away,
Or you '11 become the giant's prey ;
He 's gone to fetch his brother, who
Will likewise kill and torture you."
This dreadful warning almost distracted poor
Jack, who, going to the window and opening a
casement, saw afar off the two giants coming to-
wards the castle.
" Now," quoth Jack to himself, " my death or
my deliverance is at hand."
Now the giants of those days, although very pow-
erful, were really very stupid fellows, and readily
conquered by stratagem, even of the humblest kind.
There happened to be in the room where Jack was
confined two strong cords, at the- ends of which he
made strong nooses, and as the giants were un-
locking the iron gate of the castle he threw the
ropes over each of their heads, and then, before the
giants knew what he was about, drew the other
ends across a beam, and, pulling with all his might,
thi-ottled them. Then sliding down the i-ope, he
came to the heads of the giants, and, as they could
not defend themselves, he easily dispatched them
with his sword. Jack next took a great bunch of
keys from the pocket of Blunderbore, and went
into the castle again. He made a strict search
through all the rooms and in them he found three
ladies tied up by the hair of their heads and al-
most starved to death. It was they who had
warned him. He set them free, gave them the
keys of the castle, and proceeded on his journey to
Wales.
Jack would take no money, and having but lit-
tle of his own left, was obliged to make the best
of his way by traveling as hard as he could. At
length, losing his road, he was belated, and could
not get to any place of entertainment until, com-
ing to a lonesome valley, he found a large house,
and by reason of his present necessity took cour-
age to knock at the gate. But what was his as-
tonishment when there came forth a monstrous
giant, with two heads ! yet he did not appear so
fiery as the others were, for he was a Welsh giant,
and what he did was by private and secret malice
under the false show of friendship.
Jack, having unfolded his condition to the giant,
was shown into a bedroom, where in the dead of
night he heard the giant in another room saying
to himself these words : —
" Though here you lodge with me this night,
Yon shall not see the morning light ;
My club shall dash your brains out quite."
" Say'st thou so ? " quoth Jack ; " that is like
one of your Welsh tricks, yet I hope to be cun-
ning enough for you." He immediately got out
of bed, and, feeling about in the dark, found a
thick billet of wood, which he laid in the bed in
his stead, and hid himself in a dark corner of the
room. Shortly after in came the Welsh giant,
JACK THE GIANT-KILLER.
91
who thoroughly pummeled the billet with his
club, thinking, naturally enough, he had broken
every bone in Jack's skin. The next morning,
however, to the inexpressible surprise of the giant,
Jack came down-stairs as if nothing had happened,
and gave him thanks for his night's lodging.
"How have you rested?" quoth the giant;
"■ did you not fpel anything in the night ?"
" No," said Jack ; " nothing but a rat that gave
me two or three flaps with her tail."
Concealing his amazement as well as he could,
the giant took Jack in to breakfast, and placed
upon the table for himself and his guest two
bowls, each containing four gallons of hastj^-pud-
ding.
Jack was unwilling that the giant should sup-
pose him unable to eat it all, and accordingly
placed a large leather bag under his loose coat,
in such a position that, without being perceived,
he could put in it all the pudding which he could
not eat.
Breakfast over, Jack excited the giant's curi-
osity by offering to show him an extraordinary
sleight of hand ; so, taking a knife, he ripped the
leather bag and out came all the hasty-pudding
upon the ground.
The giant, unwilling to be beaten, cried out in
true Welsh, " Odds splutters ! hur can do that
trick hurself I " He took the knife, and ripping
himself open, immediately fell down dead.
Thus Jack outwitted the Welsh giant and pro-
ceeded on his journey.
A few days after, he met with King Arthur's
only son, who had got his father's leave to travel
into Wales to deliver a beautiful lady from the
power of a wicked magician, by whom she was
held in enchantment. When Jack found that the
young prince had no servants with him he begged
leave to attend him ; and the prince at once agreed
to this, and gave Jack many thanks for his kind-
ness.
King Arthur's son was a handsome, polite, and
brave knight, and so good-natured that he gave
money to everybody he met. At length he gave
his last penny to an old woman, and then, turn-
ing to Jack, said, " How shall we be able to get
food for ourselves the rest of our journey ? "
" Leave that to me," said Jack. " I warrant
you we shall never want."
Night now came on, and the prince began to
grow uneasy at thinking where they should lodge.
" Master," said Jack, " we shall do well enough,
for I have an uncle who lives within two miles of
this place ; he is a huge and monstrous giant, with
three heads ; he will fight five hundred men in
armor, and make them flee before him."
" Alas ! " quoth the prince, " what shall we do
then ? He '11 certainly chop us up at one mouth-
ful ; nay, we are scarce enough to fill his hollow
tooth."
" It is no matter for that," quoth Jack ; " I
myself will go before and prepare the way for
you. Tarry here and wait till I return."
Jack now rode off at full speed, and coming to
the gate of the castle he knocked so loud that the
hills resounded like thunder. The giant, ten-ibly
vexed, roared out, " Who 's there ? "
He was answered, " No one but your poor
Cousin Jack."
Quoth he, " What news, Cousin Jack ? "
"Dear uncle," said Jack, "I have heavy
news."
" Pooh I " said the giant, " what heavy news
can come to me ? I am a giant with three heads,
and besides thou knowest I can fight five hundred
men in armor, and make them fly like chaff be-
fore the wind."
" Oh, but," quoth Jack, " here 's the prince
coming with a thousand men in armor to kill you,
and to destroy all that you have."
" O Cousin Jack," said the giant, " this is heavy
news indeed I But I have a large cellar under-
ground, whei'e I will immediately run and hide
mj^self, and you shall lock, bolt, and bar me in,
and keep the keys till the prince is gone."
Now Jack barred the giant fast, and fetching his
master to the castle, thej' feasted and made them-
selves merry whilst the poor giant lay trembling
in the vault. Early in the morning Jack gave the
king's son gold and silver out of the giant's treas-
92
THE BOOK OF POPULAR TALES.
ure, and sent him three miles forward on his jour-
ney. Then Jack returned to let his uncle out of
the hole, who asked what he should give him for
saving his castle.
" Why," quoth Jack, " I desire nothing but the
old coat and cap, together with the old rusty
sword and shoes which you keep at your bed's
head."
Quoth the giant, " Thou shalt have them, and
pray keep them for my sake, for they are things
of excellent use. The coat will keep you invisible,
the cap will give you knowledge, the sword will
cut through anything, and the shoes are of ex-
traordinary swiftness ; so take them with all my
heart."
Jack was delighted with these useful pi'esents,
and coming up with the king's son they soon ar-
rived at the
dwelling of the
of
beautiful lady
who was under
the power of a
wicked magician.
She, finding the
prince to be a
suitor, made a
noble feast for him. When it was ended she rose,
and, wiping her mouth with a fine handkerchief,
said, " My lord, you must sliow me this handker-
chief to-morrow morning, or lose your head." She
then put the handkerchief in her bosom and left
the room.
The prince went to bed in great sorrow, but
Jack put on his cap of knowledge, which told him
that the lady was forced to meet the wicked ma-
gician every night in the middle of the forest.
Jack immediately put on his coat of darkness
and his shoes of swiftness, and was there before
her.
When the ladj^ came she gave the handkerchief
to the magician, who laid it upon a shelf, whence
Jack took it, and brought it to his master, who
showed it to the lady the next day, and so saved
his life. The next evening at supper she saluted
the prince, telling him he must show her the lips
to-morrow morning that she kissed last this night,
or lose his head. He replied, —
" If you kiss none but mine, I will."
"That is neither here nor there," said she, "if
you do not, death is your portion ! " At midnight
she went as before, and was angrj^ with the ma-
gician for letting the handkerchief go.
" But now," quoth she, " I will be too hard for
the prince, for I will kiss thee, and he is to show
me thy lips." She did so, and Jack, who was
standing by, cut off the magician's head and
brought it under his invisible coat to his master,
who showed it to the lady, which broke the en-
chantment, and restored her to her former good-
ness. She was married to the prince on the next
day, and they soon after went back with joy to
the court of King Arthur, whei-e Jack, for his
good services,
was created one
of the Knights
"f the Round
Fable.
As Jack had
iieen so lucky in
:ill his advent-
— ~ "^ ~ ' ures he resolved
not to be idle for the future, but still to do what
services he could for the honor of the king and
the nation. He therefore humbly besought the
king to furnish him with a horse and money, that
he might travel in search of new adventures.
" For," said he to the king, " thei-e are many
giants yet living in the remote part of Wales, to
the unspeakable damage of your majesty's sub-
jects ; wherefore, may it please you to favor me,
I do not doubt but speedily to rid your realm of
these giants and monsters in human shape."
Now, when the king heard this offer, and began
to think of the cruel deeds of these bloodthirsty
giants and savage monsters, he gave Jack every-
thing proper for such a journey. After this. Jack
took leave of the king, the prince, and all the
knights, and set off, taking with him his magical
cap, sword, shoes, and coat, the better to perform
the dangerous enterprises which lay before him.
'\^
JACK THE GIANT-KILLER.
93
He went along over hills and mountains ; and on
the third day he came to a wide forest, when, on a
sudden, he heard dreadful shrieks and cries ; and,
forcing his way througli the trees, saw a monstrous
giant dragging along, by the hair of their heads, a
vortliy knight and his beautiful lady, with as
much ease as if they had been a pair of gloves.
Their tears and- cries melted the heart of honest
Jack ; he alighted from his horse, and, tying him
to an oak-tree, put on his invisible coat, under
Avliich he carried his sword of sharpness.
When he came uji to the giant he made several
strokes at him, and succeeded, after considerable
trouble, in dispatching the monster, whose dying
groans were so terrible that they made the whole
wood ring again. The courteous knight and his fair
lady were overpowered with gratitude, and, after
returning Jack their best thanks, invited him to
their house, there to recruit his strength and to
receive a furtlier reward. Jack, however, declared
that he would not rest until he had found out the
giant's abode.
The knight, on hearing this, grew very sorrow-
ful, and replied : " Noble stranger, it is too much
to run a second hazard ; this monster lived in a
den under yonder mountain with a brother of his,
more fierce and cruel than himself ; therefore, if
you should go thither and perish in the attempt, it
would be a heart-breaking thing to me and my
lady ; so let me persuade you to go back with us,
and desist from any farther pui-suit."
" Nay," answered Jack; "if there be another,
even if there were twenty, I would shed the last
drop of blood in my body before one of them
should escape. When I have finished this task, I
will come and pay my i-espects to you."
So when they had told him where to find them
again, he got on his horse and went after the dead
giant's brother.
Jack had not ridden a mile and a half before he
came in sight of the mouth of the cave ; and, near
the entrance of it, he saw the other giant, sitting
on a huge block of timber, with a knotted iron
club by his side, waiting for his brother's return
with his prey. His eyes looked like flames of fire,
his face was grim and ugly, and his cheeks were
like two flitches of bacon ; the bristles of his beard
seemed to be thick rods of iron wire ; and his long
locks of hair hung down upon his broad shoulders
like curling snakes or hissing adders. Jack alighted
from his horse, and putting on the invisible coat
drew near the giant and said, softly, " Oh ! are you
there? It will not be long ere I shall take you
fast by the beard."
The giant all this while could not see him, by
reason of his invisible coat ; so Jack came quite
close to him, and struck a blow at his head with
his sword ; but missing his aim, he cut off the nose
of the giant instead. The giant rolled his glaring
eyes round on eveiy side, but could not see who
had given him the blow ; so he took up his iron
club and began to lay about him so desperately,
that even Jack was frightened, but soon dispatched
him. After this Jack cut off the giant's head, and
sent it, with the head of his brother, to King Ar-
thur, by a wagoner wliom he had hired for that
purpose, who gave an account of all Jack's won-
derful proceedings.
The redouVitable Jack next proceeded to search
the giants' cave for their treasure. He passed
through many turnings and windings, which led
him to a great room paved with freestone ; at the
other end of this was a boiling caldron, and on
the right hand stood a large table, at which the
giants usuallj' dined. He then came to a window
secured with iron bars, through which he saw
many wretched captives, who cried out, when they
saw Jack : " Alas ! alas ! young man, are you
come to be one among us poor wretches in this
horrid den ? "
" I hope," said Jack, " you will not tarry here
long ; but pray tell me what is the meaning of
your being here at all ? "
"Alas I ''said one poor old man, "I will tell
you, sir. We are persons that have been taken
by the giants who hold this cave, and are kept till
they choose to have a feast ; then the fattest of us
is to be killed, and cooked to jDlease their taste. It
is not long since they took three for the same pur-
pose."
94
THE BOOK OF POPULAR TALES.
"Well," said Jack, "I have given tlieui such a
dinner that it will be long enough before they
have any more."
The captives were amazed at his words.
"■ You may believe me," said Jack, " for I have
killed them both with the edge of this sword, and
have sent their heads in a wagon to the court of
King Arthur, as marks of my glorious victory."
To show that what he said was true, he un-
locked the gate and set the captives all free. Then
lie led them to the great room, placed them round
the table, and put before them two quarters of
beef, with bread and wine, upon which they
feasted their fill. When supper was over, they
searched the giants' coffers, and Jack divided
among them all the treasures. The next morning
they set oil to their homes, and Jack to the house
of the knight, whom he had left with his lady not
long before.
It was about sunrise when Jack mounted his
horse to go on his way, and he came about noon
to the knight's house, where he was received Avith
the greatest joy by the thankful knight and his
lady, who, in honor of Jack, gave a grand feast,
which lasted many days, all the nobles and gentry
in the neighborhood being invited to it. When the
comj)any were assembled the knight related Jack's
adventures, and gave him a fine ring, on which
was engraved the picture of the giant dragging
the distressed knight and his lady, with this motto
round it : —
" We were in sad distress you see,
Under the giant's fierce command;
But gained our lives and liberty
By valiant Jack's victorious baud."
In the midst of the festivities ari'ived a messen-
ger with the dismal news that Thunderdell, a sav-
age giant with two heads, having heard of the
death of his two kinsmen, was come from the
north to take his revenge on Jack ; and was al-
ready within a mile of the house, the country peo-
ple flying before him in all directions. At this
news the very boldest of the guests trembled ; but
Jack drew his sword, and said, " Let him come ;
I have a tooth-pick for him. Pray, ladies and gen-
tlemen, walk into the garden, and you shall soon
behold the giant's defeat and death."
To this the}' all agreed, and heartily wished
him success in his dangerous attempt.
The knight's house or castle stood on an island
surrounded bj' a moat, thirty feet deep and twenty
feet wide, passable by a drawbridge. Jack set
men to work to cut the bridge on both sides, al-
most to the middle, and then dressed himself in
his invisible coat, and went against the giant with
his well-tried sword. As he came close to him,
though the giant could not see him for his invisi-
ble coat, yet he found some danger was near,
which made him cry out : —
" Fi, fee, fo, fum,
I smell the blood of an Englishman ;
Be be alive, or be be dead,
I '11 grind bis bones to make me bread."
" Say you so ? " said Jack ; " then you are a
monstrous miller, indeed ! "
"Art thou," cried the giant, "the villain who
killed my kinsmen ? Then I will tear thee with
my teeth, and grind thy bones to powder."
" You must catch me first," said Jack ; so
putting aside his invisible coat that the giant
might see him, and putting on his wonderful shoes
he began to run, the giant following him like a
walking castle, till the earth shook at every step.
Jack led him round and round the walls of the
house, tliat the company might see the monster;
but at last, to end the matter, he ran over the
drawbridge, the giant going after him with his
club ; but when he came to the middle, where the
bridge had been cut on both sides, the giant's
great weight made it break, and he tumbled into
the water, where he rolled about like a vast whale.
Jack now stood by the side of the moat and
laughed at him, saying, " I think you told me you
would grind my bones to powder ; when will you
begin ? "
After he had teased him sufficiently, Jack got
a cart-rope, cast it over the giant, and by the help
of a team of horses dragged him out of the moat,
cut off his heads ; and sent them both to King
Arthur.
JACK THE GIANT-KILLER.
95
After staying with the kiiiglit for some time
Jack grew weary of such an idle life, and set out
again in search of another giant, the lust whose
head he was to chop off. He went over hills and
dales without meeting any, till he came to the foot
of a very high mountain. Here he knocked at the
door of a small and lonely house, and an old man,
with a head as white as snow, let him in.
" Good father," said Jack, " can you lodge a
traveler who has lost his way ? "
" Yes," said the hermit, " I can, if you will ac-
cept such fare as my poor house affords."
Jack entered, and the old man set before him
some bread and fruit for his supper. When Jack
had eaten as much as he chose the old man, who
knew more than Jack suspected, said: "My son, I
know you are a famous conqueror of giants; now,
at the top of this mountain is an enchanted castle,
kept by a giant named Galligantus, who, by the
help of a conjuror, gets many knights into his
castle, where he changes them into sundry shapes
and forms. Above all, I lament a duke's daughter
whom they took from her father's garden, and
brought hither through the air in a chariot drawn
by fiery dragons, and turned her into the shape
of a deer. Many knights have tried to break
the enchantment and deliver her, yet none have
been able to do it, by reason of two fiery griffins
who guard the gate of the castle, and destroy all
who come nigh ; but, as j'ou, my son, have an in-
visible coat, you may pass by them without being
seen ; and on the gates of the castle you will find
engraven in large characters by what means the
enchantment may be broken."
In the morning as soon as it was daylight he
put on his invisible coat, and got ready for the en-
terprise. When he had reached the top of the
mountain he saw the fiery griffins ; but being in-
visible he passed them without the slightest dan-
ger. When he had reached the castle-gate he
found a golden trumpet, under which were writ-
ten in large characters these lines : —
" Whoever doth this trumpet blow
Shall soon the giant overthrow ;
And break tlie black enchantment straight,
So all shall be in happy state."
As soon as Jack had read this he seized the
trumpet, and blew a shrill blast, which made the
gates fly open, and the very castle itself tremble.
The giant and the conjuror now knew that their
wicked course was at an end, and they stood biting
their thumbs and shaking with fear. Jack, stand-
ing at the giant's elbow, with his wonderful sword
cut off his head, and the conjuror, seeing this,
mounted into the air and was carried away in a
whirlwind and never heard of more. All the knights
and beautiful ladies, who had been changed into
birds and beasts, returned to their proper shapes.
The castle vanished away like smoke, and the head
of the giant Galligantus was sent to King Arthur.
The knights and ladies rested that night at the old
man's hermitage, and next day they set out for
the court. Jack then went up to the king, and
gave his majesty an account of all his fierce bat-
tles. Jack's fame had spread through the whole
countrjr ; and at the king's desire the duke gave
him his daughter in marriage, to the joy of all
the kingdom. After this, the king gave him a
large estate, on which he and his lady lived the
rest of their days in joy and content.
96
THE BOOK OF POPULAR TALES.
TOM THUMB.
There was once a poor woodman sitting by
the fire in his cottage, and his wife sat by his side
spinning. " How lonely it is," said he, " for you
and me to sit here by ourselves without any chil-
dren to play about and amuse us, while other peo-
ple seem so happy and merry with their chil-
dren ! " " What you say is very true," said the
wife, sighing and turning round her wheel ; " how
happy should I be if I had but one child ! and
if it were ever so small, nay, if it were no bigger
than my thumb, I should be very happy, and love
it dearly." Now it came to pass that this good
woman's wish was fulfilled just as she desired ;
for, some time afterwards, she had a little boy
who was quite healthy and strong, but not much
bigger than her thumb. So they said, " Well, we
cannot say we have not got what we wished for,
and, little as he is, we will love him dearly ; "
and they called him Tom Thumb.
They gave him plenty of food, yet he never
grew bigger, but remained just the same size as
when he was born; still. his eyes were sharp and
sparkling, and he soon showed himself to be a
clever little fellow, who always knew well what
he was about. One day, as the woodman was
getting ready to go into the wood to cut fuel, he
said, " I wish I had some one to bring the cart
after me, for I want to make haste." " O fa-
ther ! " cried Tom, " I will take care of that ; the
cart shall be in the wood by the time you want
it." Then the woodman laughed, and said, " How
can that be? you cannot reach up to the horse's
bridle." " Never mind that, father," said Tom :
" if my mother will only harness the horse, I will
get into his ear, and tell him which way to go."
" Well," said the father, "we will try for once."
When the time came, the mother harnessed the
horse to the cart, and put Tom into his ear ; and
as he sat there, the little man told the beast how
to go, crying out, " Go on," and " Stop," as he
wanted ; so the horse went on just as if the wood-
man had driven it himself into the wood. It hap-
pened that, as the horse was going a little too tast,
and Tom was calling out " Gently I gently ! " two
strangers came up. '• What an odd thing that
is ! " said one, " there is a cart going along, and
I hear a carter talking to the horse, but can see
no one. " That is strange," said the other ; " let
us follow the cart and see where it goes." So
they went on into the wood, till at last they came
to the place where the woodman was. Then Tom
Thumb, seeing his father, cried out, " See, father,
here I am, with the cart, all right and safe ; now
take me down." So his father took hold of the
horse with one hand, and with the other took his
son out of the ear ; then he put him down upon
a straw, where he sat as merry as you please.
The two strangers were all this time looking on,
and did not know what to say for wonder. At
last one took the other aside and said, " That lit-
tle urchin will make our fortune if we can get
him, and carry him about from town to town as a
show: we must buy him." So they went to the
woodman and asked him what he would take for
the little man : " He will be better off," said they,
" with us than with you." " I won't sell him at
all," said the father, " my own flesh and blood is
dearer to me than all the silver and gold in the
world." But Tom, hearing of the bargain they
wanted to make, crept up his father's coat to his
shoulder, and whispered in his ear, " Take the
money, father, and let them have me ; I '11 soon
come back to you."
So the woodman at last agreed to sell Tom to
the strangers for a large piece of gold. " Where
do you like to sit?" said one of them. "Oh,
put me on the rim of your hat, that will be a nice
gallery for me ; I can walk about there, and see
the country as we go along." So they did as he
wished ; and when Tom had taken leave of his
father, they took him away with them. They
journeyed on till it began to be dusky, and tlien
the little man said, " Let me get down, I 'm
tired." So the man took off his hat and set him
TOM THUMB.
9T
down on a clod of earth in a plowed field by the
side of the road. But Tom ran about amongst
the furrows, and at last slipped into an old mouse-
liole. " Good night, masters," said he, "I'm off!
mind and look sharp after me the next time."
They ran directly to the place, and poked the ends
of their sticks into the mouse-hole, but all in
vain ; Tom only crawled farther and farther in,
and at last it became quite dark, so that they were
obliged to go their way without their prize, as
sulky as you please.
When Tom found they were gone, he came out
of his hiding-place. " What dangerous walking
it is," said he, " in this ploughed field ! If I were
to fall from one of these great clods I should
certainly break my neck." At last, by good luck,
he found a large empty snail-shell. " This is
lucky," said he, " I can sleep here very well," and
in he crept. Just as he was falling asleep he
heard two men passing, and one said to the other,
" How shall we manage to steal that rich parson's
silver and gold?" "I'll tell you," cried Tom.
" What noise was that ? " said the thief, fright-
ened, " I am sure I heard some one speak."
They stood still listening, and Tom said, " Take
me with you, and I '11 soon show you how to get
the parson's money." " But where are you ? "
said they. "Look about on the ground," an-
swered he, " and listen where the sound comes
from." At last the thieves found him out, and
lifted him up in their hands. " You little ur-
chin I " said they, " what can you do for us ? "
" Why I can get between the iron window-bars of
the parson's house, and throw you out whatever
you want." " That 's a good thought," said the
thieves ; " come along, we shall see what you can
do."
When they came to the parson's house, Tom
slipped through the window-bars into the room,
and then called out as loud as he could bawl,
" Will you have all that is here ? " At this the
thieves were frightened, and said, " Softly, softly !
Speak low, that you may not awaken anybody."
But Tom pretended not to understand them, and
bawled out again, " How much will you have ?
Shall I throw it all out ? " Now the cook lay in
the next room, and hearing a noise she raised
herself in her bed and listened. Meantime the
thieves were frightened, and ran off to a little dis-
tance ; but at last they plucked up courage, and
said, " The little urchin is only trying to make
fools of us." So they came back and whispered
softly to him, saying, " Now let us have no more
of your jokes, but throw out some of the money."
Then Tom called out as loud as he could, " Very
well: hold your hands, here it comes." The cook
heard this quite plain, so she sprang out of bed
and ran to open the door. The thieves ran off as
if a wolf was at their tails ; and the maid, having
groped about and found nothing, went away for
a light. By the time she returned Tom had
slipped off into the barn ; and when the cook had
looked about and searched every hole and corner,
and found nobody, she went to bed, thinking she
must have been dreaming with her eyes open.
The little man crawled about in the hay-loft, and
at last found a glorious place to finish his night's
rest in ; so he laid himself down, meaning to sleep
till daylight, and then find his way home to his
father and mother. But, alas! how cruelly was
he disappointed ! what crosses and sorrows happen
in this world ! The cook got up early before day-
break to feed the cows : she went straight to the
hay-loft, and carried away a large bundle of hay
with the little man in the middle of it fast asleep.
He still, however, slept on, and did not awake till
he found himself in the mouth of the cow, who
had taken him up with a mouthful of hay : " Good
lack-a-day ! " said he, " how did I manage to tum-
ble into the mill?" But he soon found out where
he really was, and was obliged to have all his wits
about him in order that he might not get between
the cow's teeth, and so be crushed to death. At
last down he went into her stomach. " It is rather
dark here," said he ; " they forgot to build win-
dows in this room to let the sun in ; a candle would
be no bad thing."
Though he made the best of his bad luck, he did
not like his quarters at all ; and the worst of it
was, that more and more hay was always coming
13
98
THE BOOK OF POPULAR TALES.
down, and the space in which he was became
smaller and smaller. At last he cried out as loud
as he could, " Don't bring me any more hay !
Don't bring me any more hay ! " Tlie maid hap-
pened to be just then milking the cow, and hear-
ing some one speak and seeing nobody, and yet
being quite sure it was the same voice that she
had heard in the night, she was so frightened that
she fell off her stool and overset the milk-pail.
She ran off as fast as she could to her master the
parson, and said, "■ Sir, sir, the cow is talking ! "
But the parson said, " Woman, thou art surely
mad!" However, he went with her into the
cow-house to see what was the matter. Scarcely
had they set their foot on the threshold when
Tom called out. " Don't bring me any more
hay ! " Then the parson himself was frightened ;
and thinking the cow Avas surely bewitched, or-
dered that she should be killed directly. So the
cow was killed, and the stomach, in which Tom
lay, was thrown out upon a dunghill.
Tom soon set himself to work to get out, which
was not a very easy task; but at last, just as he
had made room to get his head out, a new mis-
fortune befell him : a hungry wolf sprang out,
and swallowed the whole stomach, with Tom in it,
at a single gulp, and ran away. Tom, however,
was not disheartened ; and thinking the wolf would
not dislike having some chat with him as he was
going along, he called out, " My good friend, I
can show you a famous treat." " Where 's that ? "
said the wolf. " In such and such a house," said
Tom, describing his father's house, " you can crawl
through the drain into the kitchen, and there you
will find cakes, ham, beef, and everything your
heart can desire." The wolf did not want to be
asked twice; so that very night he went to the
house and crawled through the drain into the
kitchen, and ate and drank there to his heart's
content. As soon as he was satisfied he wanted
to get away ; but he had eaten so much that he
could not get out the same way that he came in.
This was just what Tom had reckoned upon ; and
he now began to set up a great shout, making all
the noise he could. " Will you be quiet? " said the
wolf : " you '11 awaken everybody in the house."
" What 's that to me ? " said the little man : " you
have had your frolic, now I 've a mind to be merry
myself ; " and he began again singing and shout-
ing as loud as he could.
The woodman and his wife, being awakened
by the noise, peeped through a crack in the door ;
but when they saw that the wolf was there, you
may well suppose that they were terribly fright-
ened ; and the woodman ran for his axe, and gave
his wife a scythe. "Now do you stay behind,"
s;ud the woodman ; " and when I have knocked
him on the head, do you rip up his belly for him
with the scythe." Tom heard all this, and said,
" Father, father I I am here, the wolf has swal-
lowed me : " and his father said, " Heaven be
praised ! we have found our dear child again ; "
and he told his wife not to use the scythe, for fear
she should hurt him. Then he aimed a great
blow, and struck the wolf on the head, and killed
him on the spot ; and when he was dead they cut
open his body and set Tommy free. " Ah ! " said
the father, " what fears we have had for you ! "
" Yes, father," answered he, " I have traveled all
over the world, since we parted, in one way or
other : and now I am very glad to get fresh air
again." " Wliy, where have j'ou been ? " said his
father. " I have been in a mouse-hole, in a snail-
shell, down a cow's throat, and in the wolf's belly ;
and yet here I am again safe and sound." " Well,"
said they, " we will not sell you again for all the
riches in the world." So they hugged and kissed
their dear little son, and gave him plenty to eat
and drink, and fetched new clothes for him, for
his old ones were quite spoiled on his journey.
PUSS IN BOOTS.
99
PUSS IN BOOTS.
There was once a miller, who, at his death, had
nothine to leave to his three children but his mill, his
ass, and his cat ; so he called in no lawyer, and made
no will. The eldest son took the mill; the second the
ass; while the youngest had nothing but the cat, who
seemed more liliely to prove a burden than a boon to
his new master. The poor fellow Avas quite downcast
and said to himself: "My brothers, by putting then
goods together, will be able to earn an honest li\eli-
hood ; but as for myself, when I shall have eaten
my cat, and sold his skin, what is there left ? then
I shall die of hunger."
The cat, who was sitting on
the window-seat, overheard these
words, without seeming to do so,
and, looking up, said to him
with a very serious, sober air, —
" Naj', dear master, do not be
downcast at your future pros-
pects. Only give me a bag, and
get me a pair of boots made, such
as other folks wear, so that I
may stride through the bram-
bles, and you will soon see that
you have a better bargain than you think for."
Although the cat's new master did not put
much faith in these promises, yet he had seen him
perform so many clever tricks in catching rats and
mice, — such as hanging stiff by his hind legs, to
make believe he were dead, and concealing him-
self in the meal-tub, as if he were nowhere about,
— that lie did not quite despair of his helping him
to better his fortunes. Besides, he knew not what
else to do, and there was no harm in trying this.
As soon as the cat was provided with what he
asked for, he drew on his boots, and, slinging the
bag round his neck, took hold of the two strings
with his fore-paws, and set off for a warren that
he knew of, plentifully stocked with rabbits. He
filled his bag with bran and sow-thistles, and then
stretched himself out as stiff as though he had
been dead, waiting patiently till some simple
<rf
pOi;
^onng labbit, unused to
w 01 Idly snaies and w iles,
should see the dainty
feast and nevei think of
the cat He had scai cely
1 unafew moments in, im-
busli befoi e a thoughtless
young labbit caught at
the I) lit, and went head-
long into the bag, whi re-
the Cut dnjiw tlie oti-iUgo, and iiiiiiicdltiteiy
strangled the foolish creature. The cat was vastly
proud of his victory, and immediately went to the
palace and asked to speak to the king. He was
shown into the king's cabinet, when he bowed re-
spectfully to his majesty, and said, " Sire, this is a
rabbit from the warren of the Marquis of Carabas
(such was the title the cat took it into his head to
bestow on his master), which he desired me to
present to your majesty."
" Tell your master that I am obliged by his
courtesy, and that I accept his present with much
pleasure," replied the king, looking graciously at
him.
Another time the cat went and concealed him-
self in a cornfield, and held his bag open as before,
and, very shortly after, two partridges were lured
into the trap, when he drew the strings and made
100
THE BOOK OF POPULAR TALES.
them both prisoners. He then
went and presented them to the
king, as he had done the rabbit
The king received the partridges
very graciously, and ordered the
messenger to be rewarded for his
trouble.
For two or three months, Puss
continued to carry game everj
now and then to the king, al
ways presenting it in the name
of his master, the JMarquis of
Carabas, who he said was a fa
mous sportsman. At last he happened to hear 'I
that the king was going to take a duve on the J
banks of the river, in company vMth his daugh-
ter, who was the most beautiful pimcess m the
world : and he said to his master, " If you will
but follow my advice, your fortune is as good as
made. You need only go and bathe in the river
at the spot that I shall point out, and leave the
rest to me."
The Marquis of Carabas did as his cat advised
him, though it was too much for him to say what
it was all coming to. Just as he was bathing', the
king came driving past, when Puss began to bawl
out as loud as he could, " Help ! help ! the Mar-
quis of Carabas is drowning ! Save him ! "
On hearing this, the king looked out of the car-
riage-window, and, recognizing the cat who had so
frequentlj' brought him game, ordered his bodj--
guards to fly to the assistance of my Lord Marquis
of Carabas.
While the poor marquis was being fished out of
the river, Puss stepped up to the royal carriage,
and informed his majesty, that, during the time
his master was bathing, some robbers had stolen
his clothes, although he had cried out " Stop
thief ! " with all his might. The rogue had really
only hidden them under a large stone. The king
immediately ordered the gentlemen of his ward-
robe to go and fetch one of his most sumptuous
dresses for the Marquis of Carabas.
When the marquis, who was a well-grown, hand-
some young fellow, came forth gayly dressed, he
looked so ele-
gant that the
king took him
for a verj- fine gentleman, and
said the politest things in the
world to him, while the prin-
cess was so struck with his ap-
pearance, that my Lord Mar-
quis of Carabas had scarcely
made his obeisance to her,
and looked at her once or
twice with a very tender air,
before she fell over head and
ears in love with him.
The king insisted on his
getting into the carriage and
taking a drive with them. ^ 2^-^
Puss, highly delighted at the "^^^-^
turn things were taking, and
determined that all should turn out in the very
best way, now ran on before, and having reached
a meadow where some peasants were mowing the
grass, he thus accosted them : " I say, good folks,
if you do not tell the king, when he comes this
way, that the field you are mowing belongs to the
Marquis of Carabas, you shall all be chopped as
fine as mince-meat."
PUSS IN BOOTS.
101
When the carriage came by, the king put his
head out, and asked the mowers whose good grass-
land that was. " It belongs to the Marquis of Ca-
rabas, please your majesty," said they in a breath,
for the cat's threats had frightened them mightily.
" Upon my word, marquis," observed the king,
" that is a fine estate of yours."
" Yes, sire," j;eplied the marquis, with an easy
air, " it yields me a tolerable income every year."
Puss, who continued to run on before the car-
riage, jn-esently came up to some reajjers. " I say,
you reapers," cried he, " mind you tell the king
that all this corn belongs to the Marquis of Cara-
bas or else you shall, every one of you, be chopped
into mince-meat."
The king passed by a moment after, and in-
quired to whom those cornfields belonged.
" To the Marquis of Carabas, please your maj-
esty," replied the reapers.
" Faith, it pleases our majesty riglit well to see
our beloved marquis is so wealthy ! " quoth the
kino-.
Puss kept still running on before the carriage,
and repeating the same instructions to all the la-
borers he met, and the king was astounded at the
vast possessions of the Marquis of Carabas, and
kept congratulating him, while the new-made no-
bleman received each fresh compliment more
lightly than the last, so that one could see he was
really a marquis, and a very grand one too.
At lentrth Puss reached a magnificent castle be-
longing to an ogre, who was immensely rich, since
all the lands the king had been riding through
were a portion of his estate. Puss having inquired
what sort of a person the ogre might be, and what
he was able to do, sent in a message asking leave
to speak with him, adding that he was unwilling
to pass so near his castle without paying his re-
spects to him.
The ogre received him as civillj' as it is in the
nature of an ogre to do, and bade him rest him-
self. " I have been told," said Puss, " that you have
the power of transforming yourself into all sorts
of animals, sucli, for instance, as a lion, or an ele-
phant." " So I have," rejjlied the ogre, sharply ;
" do you disbelieve it ? then look, and you shall
see me become a lion at once."
When Puss saw a lion before him, he was seized
with sucli a fright that he scrambled up to the
roof, although it was no easy job, owing to his
boots, which were not intended for walking in a
gutter and over tiles.
At last perceiving that the ogre had returned to
his natural shape. Puss came down again, and con-
fessed he had been exceedingly frightened.
" But I liave also been told," said Puss, " only I
really cannot believe it, that you likewise possess
the power of taking the shape of the smallest ani-
mals, and that, for instance, you could change
yourself into a rat or a mouse ; but that is really
too much to believe ; it is quite impossible."
" Impossible, indeed ! " quoth the ogre, now put
upon his mettle ; " you shall see ! "
102
THE BOOK OF POPULAR TALES.
So saying, he immediately took on the shape of
a mouse, and began frisking about the floor, when
Puss pounced .,--
upon him, gave
him one shake,
and that was the
end of the ogre.
By this time
the king had
reached the gates
of the ogre's
magnificent cas-
1 1 e, and e x-
pressed a wish to
enter so splen- ^^^iSMttyW^,
did a building. ^'f'lV\^/JXi,M,^l,/,
Puss hearing the rumbling of the carriage across
the drawbridge, now ran out to meet the king,
saying, " Your majesty is welcome to the Mar-
quis of Carabas's castle."
" What ! my lord marquis," exclaimed the
king, "does this castle likewise belong to you?
Really, I never saw anything more splendid than
the courtyard and the surrounding buildings ; pray
let us see if the inside be equal to the outside."
The marquis gracefully handed out the princess,
and, following the king, they mounted a flight of
steps, and were ushered by Puss, who danced be-
fore them, into a vast hall, where they found an
elegant feast spread. Some of the ogre's friends
were to have visited him that day, but the news
went about that
<iii IM ^j^g king had
come, and so
they dared not
go. The king
was positively
delighted, the
castle was so
magnificent and
the Marquis of
Carabas such an
excellent young
man ; the prin-
cess, too, was ev-
idently already in love with him so ; after drink-
ing five or six glasses of wine, his majesty hemmed
and said, —
" You have only to say the word, my lord mar-
quis, to become the son-in-law of your sover-
eign."
The marquis bowed and looked at the princess,
and that very same day they were married, and
the old king gave them his blessing. Puss, who
had brought it all about, looked on mightily
j^leased, and ever after lived there a great lord,
and hunted mice for mere sport, just when he
pleased.
LITTLE RED RIDING-HOOD.
103
LITTLE RED RIDING-HOOD.
country
girl, the
prettiest
Her mother
creature ever seen
was very fond of her and her
grandmother doted on her even
more. This good old woman had
made for her a little red riding-
hood, which became tlie girl so extremely well that
everybody called her Little Red Riding-Hood.
One day her mother, having made some cus-
tards, said to her, " Go, my dear, and see how
thy grandmamma does, for I hear she has been
very ill ; carry her a custard and a little pot of
butter." Little Red Riding-Hood set out at once
to go to her grandmother, who lived in another
village. As she was going through the wood she
met Gaffer Wolf, who had a very great mind to
eat her up, but durst not because of some fagot-
makers hard by in the forest.
He asked her whither she was going. The poor
child, who did not know it was dangerous to stay
and hear a wolf talk, said to him,
" I am going to see my grand-
mamma, and carry her a custard
and a little pot of butter from my
mother."
"Does she live far off?" asked
the \^olf.
"Oh, yes," said Little Red Rid-
ing-Hood ; " it is beyond that mill
you see there, at the first house in
tlie village."
" Well," said the wolf ; " and I
will go and see her too. I will go
this way, and go you that, and we
shall see who will be there soonest."
The wolf began to run as fast as he could, tak-
ing the nearest way ; and the little girl went by
that farthest about, diverting herself in gathering
nuts, running after butterflies, and making nose-
gays of such little flowers as she met with. The
wolf was not long before he got to the old woman's
house. He knocked at the door — tap, tap.
" Who is there ? "
"Your grandchild. Little Red Riding-Hood,"
replied the wolf, counterfeiting her voice ; " who
has brought you a custai'd and a little pot of but-
ter sent you by my mamma."
The good grandmothei-, who was in bed because
she was ill, cried out : —
" Pull the bobbin, and the latch will go up."
The wolf pulled the bobbin, and the door opened,
and in jumped the wolf, who fell upon the good
woman and ate her up in a moment, as he had
not tasted food for three days. He then shut the
door, and got into the grandmother's bed, expect-
ing Little Red Riding-Hood, who came some time
after, and knocked at the door — tap, tap.
« Who is there ? "
Little Red Riding-Hood, hearing the big voice
of the wolf, was at first afraid, but, believing her
grandmother had a cold, and was hoarse, an-
swered : —
104
THE BOOK OF POPULAR TALES.
" It is your grandchild, Little Red Rid-
ing-Hood, who has brought you a custard
and a little pot of butter which mamma
sends you."
The wolf cried out to her, softening his
voice as much as he could, " Pull the bob-
bin, and the latch will go up." Little Red
R i d in g - H o o d
pulled the bob-
bin, and the door
opened.
The wolf, see-
ing her come in,
said to her, liid-
ing himself under
the bedclothes,
" Put the custard
and the little pot
of butter upon
the stool, and
come and lie
down by me."
Little Red Rid-
ing-Hood undressed herself and got into bed,
where being greatly amazed to see how her grand-
mother looked in her night-clothes, said to her : —
" Grandmamma, what great arms you have
got!"
,;iMi,,,,iilii;,|,W||i).,,.i|M[ij.,l||
"That is the
better to hug
thee, mj' dear."
" Grandmam-
ma, what great
•llil-llf Isgs you have
^ got!"
" That is to
)un the better,
my child."
" Gi'andmam-
nia, what great
ears you have
ot!"
, " That is to
>^,e^, hear the better,
my child."
^ " Grandmam-
% ma, what great
eyes you have
gotr-
" It is to see the better, ray child."
" Grandmamma, what great teeth you have
got ! " _
" That is to eat thee up."
And, saying these words, this wicked wolf fell
upon poor Little Red Riding-Hood, and ate her
all up.
BEAUTY AND THE BEAST.
There was once a rich merchant who had six
children, three sons and three daughters ; and he
loved them more than he loved all his riches, so
that he was always seeking to make them happy
and wise. The daughters were extremely pretty,
but the youngest was more than prettj^, she was
beautiful; and as every one called her Little
Beauty when she was a child, and she became
more lovely each j^ear, the name grew up with
her, so that she had no other but just — Beauty.
Now Beauty was as good as she was beautiful,
but her elder sisters were ill-natured and jealous
of her, and could not bear to hear her called
Beauty. They were very jn-oud, too, of their
father's riches, and put on great airs and would
not condescend to visit other merchants' daugh-
ters, but were always dangling after persons of
quality, and going to plays and grand balls ;
they laughed at Beauty, who lived quietly at
home with her father. The father was so rich
that manj' great merchants wished to marry
his daughters, but the two eldest always said
that they could never think of marrying any-
body below a duke or at the least an earl ; as
for Beauty, she thanked her lovers for think-
ing so well of her, but as she was still very
BEAUTY AND THE BEAST.
105
young she wished to live a few years longer with
her father.
But suddenly it fell that the merchant lost all
his great wealth ; nothing remained save one small
house in the country, and there the poor man told
his children they must all now go and earn their
daily living. The two eldest daughters said that
they were not g^ing, for they had plenty of lovers
in town who would be glad enough to marry them,
though they had lost their fortune. But they
were greatly mistaken in this, for their lovers
would not even look at them now, and jeered at
them in their trouble because they had been so odi-
ously proud. Yet everybody pitied poor Beauty,
and several gentlemen who loved her, begged her
still to let them marry her, though she had not a
penny ; Beauty refused, and said she could not
leave her father now that trouble had come upon
him.
So the family went to live in the small house in
the country, where the merchant and his three
sons plowed and sowed the fields, and worked
all day in the garden ; and Beauty rose at four
o'clock every morning, put the house in order, and
got breakfast for the whole family. It was very
hard at fiirst, and no one helped her ; but every
day it grew easier to work, and Beauty waxed
healthier and rosier. When her work was done,
she would read, or play on the hai'psichord, or sit
at her spinning-wheel, singing as she spun. As
for her two sisters, they were idle and miserable,
and perfectly helpless ; they never got up till ten
o'clock, and then they spent the day moping and
fretting because they no longer had fine clothes to
wear, and could not go to fine parties to be ad-
mired. They sneered at Beauty, and said she was
nothing but a servant-gii'l after all, to like that
way of living ; but Beauty lived on cheerfully.
They had been in the country about a year,
when the merchant received a letter which brought
the news that a ship laden with rich goods belong-
ing to him, and which was thought to be lost, had
just come into port. At this the two eldest sisters
were half wild with joy, for now they could soon
leave the farm-house and go back to the gay city ;
14
and when their father was about leaving for the
port, to settle his business there, they begged for
all manner of fine clothes and trinkets, which he
was to bring with him. Then the merchant asked
Beauty, —
" And what shall I bring you. Beauty ? " for
Beauty had yet asked for nothing.
" Why, since you ask me, dear father," said she,
" I should like you to bring me a rose, for none
grow in these parts." Now it was not that Beauty
wished so very much for a rose, but she did not
like to seem to blame her sisters, or to appear bet-
ter than they, by saying that she did not wish for
anything.
The good man set off, but when he reached the
port he was obliged to go to law about the cargo,
and it ended in his turning back poorer than when
he left his home. He set out to return to the
farm-house ; when he was within thirty miles of
home, he came to a large forest through which he
must pass. The snow began to fall and covered
the path ; the night closed in, and it grew so darii
and so cold that the poor man gave himself up as
lost. He could not see the way, and he was faint
with cold and hunger; when, all of a sudden, he
saw a light, at the end of a long avenue of trees.
He turned into the avenue and rode until he came
to the end of it ; and there was a splendid palace,
yet not a soul could he see at the windows which
were blazing with light, or by the doors or in the
courtyard. His horse, seeing a stable door open,
walked in, and finding a crib full of hay and oats,
the poor jaded beast fell to eating heartily. The
merchant left him in the stall and entered the pal-
ace ; but, though he found nobody, and nobody
came out to him, there was a fire blazing, and a
table spread with the richest viands and set for
one person. Being wet to the skin, he went to-
ward the fire to dry himself, saying, —
" I hope the master of the house or his servants
will excuse the liberty I am taking, for no doubt
they will soon make their appearance."
He waited, but no one came. The clock struck
eleven ; and then, faint for want of food, he went
to the table and ate a chicken, yet all the while
106
THE BOOK OF POPULAR TALES.
in a great fright ; lie took several glasses of wine
also ; and being now satisfied, he felt more cour-
age and looked about him. The clock struck
twelve, and he left the hall through an open door
and passed through several splendid rooms till he
came to one with a comfortable bed ; and now,
being excessively tired, he took off his clothes and
got into it.
The merchant did not wake till ten o'clock on
the following morning, when he was surprised to
find a new suit of clothes instead of his own, which
had been quite ruined. He now began to believe
that the palace belonged to some good fairy, and
was sure of it when he looked out of the window
and saw that the snow had given place to lovely
gardens with flowery arbors. Returning to the
great hall, where he had supped, he found the ta-
ble prepared for his breakfast. He sat down with-
out hesitation to this meal, and when he had fin-
ished he went to look after his horse. The way
led under a bower of roses ; and remembering
Beauty's request, he plucked a bunch to take
home. No sooner had he done tliis than he heard
a frightful roar, and saw such a horrible Beast
stalking up to him that he was ready to faint with
fear.
" Ungrateful wretch ! " cried the Beast in a ter-
rific voice; "I saved your life by admitting you
into my palace, and you reward me by stealing
my roses, which I love beyond everything ! You
shall pay the forfeit with your life's blood ! " The
poor merchant threw himself on his knees before
the Beast, saying, —
" Forgive me, my lord. I did not know I was
offending you ; I only wanted to pluck a rose for
one of my daughters, who had asked me to bring
one home to her. I pray you, do not kill me, my
lord."
" I am not a lord, but a Beast," answered the
monster. " I hate flattery, and you will not whee-
dle me with any fine speeches ; but as j'ou say you
have daughters, I will forgive you, provided one of
them comes willingly to die in your stead ; but
swear that, should they refuse, you will return in
three months." The merchant had not the most
distant intention of suffering any of his daughters
to die for him ; but wishing to see his children
once more before he died, he swore to return ; and
the Beast dismissed him, telling him he need not
go empty-handed, but that he might go back to
the room where he had slept, and there he would
find a large chest which he was at liberty to fill
with whatever he fancied in the palace, and that it
would be sent after him to his home. The mer-
chant, comforting himself with the thought that at
least he should leave his children provided for, re-
turned to his room and found the chest as Beast
had said, with heaps of gold jDieces about the floor.
He filled the chest with the gold, and left sadly for
his home. He held the roses in his hand, and as
the children came to meet him, he gave them to
his youngest daughter, saying, —
"Take them, Beauty ; you little think how dear
they have cost your poor father ; " and then he
told all that had befallen him since he left his
home.
The two eldest sisters then began to lament
loudly, and to rail at Beauty because she had
been the cause of their father's death. She so
wise, indeed ! if she had been content to ask for
dresses, as they had, all would have been well ;
and now the hard-hearted thing had not even a
tear for the mischief she had done ! But Beauty
replied quietly that it were of little use to weep,
for she had resolved within herself to go and die
in her father's stead.
"No, no!" cried the three brothers at once;
" we will go and seek this monster, and either he
or we shall perish."
But the merchant told them they did not know
this Beast. He was more mighty than they could
imagine, and it would be vain attempting to resist
his will. Their duty it was to live and protect
their sistei's, for, as for himself, he would go back
to the Beast, as he had promised, and sacrifice the
few remaining years which he could expect to en-
joy ; and saying this, he left his children and went
to his room for the night. There, to his surprise,
for he had quite forgotten the Beast's promise, he
found the chest with the gold in it, which he had
BEAUTY AND THE BEAST.
107
packed in the Beast's palace ; but he determined
to say nothing about this at present to his eldest
daughters, for he knew they would at once pester
him to return to town.
Beauty was firm in her resolve, and when the
three months were over, she made ready to go
with her father. As they set out on the journey,
the family gatl^red about and wept over her, —
her father and brothers shedding real tears, but
the two heartless sisters pretended ones ; for they
rubbed their eyes beforeliand with an onion, to
make it seem as if they had cried a great deal.
The horse took the right road of his own accord,
and, on reaching the palace, which was illumi-
nated as before, he went at once into the stable,
while the father and daughter entered the great
hall, and found the table spread for two persons
with most dainty fai-e. After supper there was a
tremendous noise, and the Beast entered. Beauty
shuddered, and when he asked her whether she
had come of her own will, she could not help
trembling as she faltered out " Yes."
" Then I am obliged to you for your kindness,"
growled the Beast ; and turning to the father, he
added, " As for you, get you gone to-morrow, and
never let me see you here again. Good-night,
Beauty."
" Good-night, Beast," said she ; and Beast walked
off. The merchant again fell to entreating his
daughter to leave him there, while she should re-
turn to her home ; but when the morrow came
she prevailed on him to set out, he thinking, the
Beast will after all relent ; surely he will not harm
Beauty.
When her father was gone, Beauty could not
help shedding a few tears ; but soon she dried
her eyes and began walking about the various
rooms of the palace, and came to her surprise to a
door upon which was written, "Beauty's Room."
Opening it hastily, she found herself in a splen-
didly furnished chamber, where were a multitude
of books, a harpsichord, and much music. "It
cannot be," she thought, " that I have only a day
to live, else such pleasure would not have been
provided for me." Her surprise increased on open-
ing one of the books and seeing written in golden
letters, — Your wishes and commands shall be
obeyed ! you are here the queen over everything !
"Alas ! " she thought, "my wish would be to see
what my poor father is now about." No sooner
had she spoken this wish to herself, than, casting
her eyes upon a large looking-glass, she saw in it
her father's arrival at home. Her sisters came
out to meet him ; they tried to look sorrowful,
but it was plam enough they were highly de-
lighted that he should return without Beauty.
The vision lasted but a moment ; then it disap-
peared, and Beauty turned away, grateful to the
Beast for fulfilling her wish.
At noon she found dinner ready for her, and
all the while beautiful music was played ; but
though she heard the music she saw nobody. At
night the Beast came and asked leave to sup witli
her, which of course she could not refuse, though
she trembled from head to foot. Presently he in-
quired whether she did not think him very ugly ?
" Yes," said Beauty, " for I cannot tell a lie ;
but I think you very good." Then the supper
went on, pleasantly enough, and Beauty had half
recovered from her alarm, when he suddenly asked
her, —
" Beauty, will you marry me ? "
Though in great alarm, she faltered out, —
" No, Beast ; " when he sighed so as to shake
the whole house ; and, saying in a sorrowful tone,
" Good-night, Beauty," left the room, to her great
relief, though she could not help pitying him
from her soul.
Beauty lived in this manner for three months.
The Beast came to supper every night, and by
degrees, as she grew accustomed to his ugliness,
she learned to mind it less, and to think more of
his many amiable quahties. The only thing that
pained her was, that he never failed to ask her
each night if she would marry him, and when, at
last, she answered that she had the greatest friend-
ship though no love for him, he begged her at
least to promise never to leave him. Now that
very morning Beauty had seen in her glass that
her father lay sick with grief, supposing her to be
108
THE BOOK OF POPULAR TALES.
dead ; her sisters were married, her brothers were
gone for soldiers, and so she told the Beast, and
weeping said she should die if he refused her leave
to go once more
and see her fa-
ther.
"No," said
the Beast, " I
will not refuse
you, for I would
much r a t h e )•
your poor Beast
should die of
grief for your
absence ; so yon
may go." Bui
Beauty prom-
ised to return
in a week ; and
the Beast tell-
ing her that she
need only lay
her ring on her
toilet-table be-
fore she went to
bed, when she
meant to return,
bade her good-
night as usual,
and left her.
The next
morning Beau-
ty awoke to find
herself in her
father's cottage.
and so rejoiced
was he to sec
her alive that
his sickness left
him quickly.
He sent for her
sisters, who came and brought their husbands ; but
they were not living very happily with them, for
one was so vain of his person that he thought noth-
ing of his wife, and the other so sharp-tongued
that he was playing off his wit all day long on
everybody aiound him, and most of all on his own
wife. The sisters were so jealous on finding Beauty
grandly dressed
and hearing how
kind the Beast
had been to her,
that they laid a
plan for delay-
ing her return
beyond the time
which she had
promised, in
hopes that the
Beast would be
so angiy as to
devour her. Ac-
cordingly, when
the week was
over they made
such an ado
about her leav-
ing, and pro-
fessed to be so
grieved, that
Beauty agreed
to stay another
week, though
slie felt some
inisoivings.
On the night
I if the tenth day,
when her sisters
had been feast-
ing her and pre-
tending great
affection, she
dreamt that she
saw poor Beast
lying half dead
on the grass in
the palace garden ; and waking all in tears, she
got out of bed, laid her ring on the table, and
then went to bed again where she soon fell asleep.
When she awoke, she was relieved to find her-
WHITTINGTON AND HIS CAT.
109
self once more in the palace, and she waited im-
patiently till supper time, when she should see the
Beast. But the clock struck nine, and no Beast
appeared.
" Oh, if I have killed him ! " she cried, and ran
into the garden toward the spot she had dreamed
of, and there she saw the poor Beast lying sense-
less on the gr^ss. She threw herself upon his
body in despair ; she felt his heart beat, and run-
ning to a neighboring fountain for water, she threw
it into his face. The Beast opened his eyes and
said in a faint voice, —
" You forgot your promise, and I resolved to
starve myself to death ; but since you are come,
I shall at least die happy."
" No I you shall not die, dear Beast," cried
Beauty; " you shall live to be my husband, for
now I feel I really love you." At these words the
whole palace was suddenly ablaze with light, fire-
works flew in the air, and a band of music sounded.
There was no Beast, but in his place a very hand-
some prince was at her feet, thanking her for hav-
ing broken his enchantment.
"But where is my poor Beast ? " asked Beauty
anxiously ; " I want my dear Beast."
" I was the Beast," said the prince. " A wicked
fairy condemned me to live in that ugly form until
some good and beautiful maid should be found,
so good as to love me in sjDite of my ugliness."
Beauty, filled with surprise, took the prince by
the hand and they passed into the palace. There
stood Beauty's father ; and the young pair were
at once married, to the joy of the prince's subjects,
who had long mourned his mysterious absence,
and over whom the prince and his beautiful bride
reigned wisely for many a long and happy year.
THE HISTORY OF SIR RICHARD WHITTINGTON AND HIS CAT.
RiCHAKD WHITTINGTON was supposed to have
been an outcast, for he did not know his parents,
who either died, or had left him to the parish of
Taunton Dean, in Somersetshire. As he grew up,
being displeased with the cruel usage of his nurse,
he ran away from her at seven years of age, and
traveled about the country, living upon the char-
ity of well-disposed persons, till he came to be a
fine sturdy youth ; when at last, being threatened
with a whipping if he continued in that idle course
of life, he resolved to go to London, having heard
that the streets were paved with gold.
Not knowing the way, he followed the carrier;
and at night, for the little services he did him in
rubbing his horses, he got from him a supper.
When he arrived in this famous city, the carrier,
supposing he would be a ti-oublesome hanger-on,
told him plainly he must leave the inn, and imme-
diately seek for employment, giving him a groat.
With this poor Whittington wandered about, but
not knowing any one, and being in a tattered
garb, some pitied him as a forlorn, destitute wretch,
but few gave him anything.
What he had got being soon spent, his stomach
craved supply ; but not having anything to satisfy
it, he resolved rather to starve than steal.
After two hungry days, and lying on the bulk-
heads at night, weary and faint, he came to a
merchant's house in Leadenhall Street, where he
showed many signs of his distressed condition.
The ill-natured cook was ready to kick him from
the door, saying, " If you tarry here, I will kick
you into the kennel." This put him almost into
despair, so he laid himself down on the ground,
being unable to go any farther.
In the mean time, Mr. Fitzwarren, whose house
it was, came from the Royal Exchange, and, seeing
him there in that condition, demanded what he
wanted, and sharply told him, if he did not imme-
diately depart, he would cause him to be sent to
the house of correction, calling him a lazy, idle
fellow.
On this he got up, and after falling two or three
times, through faintness and want of food, he
made a bow, telling him he was a poor country
fellow, in a starving condition, and that, if he
110
THE BOOK OF POPULAR TALES.
might be put in a way, he would refuse no laboi',
if it was only for his victuals. This raised a
Christian compassion in the merchant towards
him, and wanting a scullion then, he immediately
ordered one of his servants to take him in, and
give him some food until orders were given how
he should be employed. And so he was feasted,
to his great refreshment.
This was the first step of Providence to raise him
to what in time made him the city's glory and the
nation's wonder. But he met with many difficul-
ties, for the servants made sport of him, and the
ill-natured cook told him, " You are to come un-
der me ; so look sharp, clean the spits and the
dripping-pan, make the fires, wind up the jack,
and nimbly do all other scullery work that I may
set you about, or else I will break your head with
my ladle, and kick you about like a foot-ball."
This was cold comfort, but better than starv-
ing ; and what gave him a beam of hope was that
Mistress Alice, his master's daughter, hearing her
father liad entertained another servant, came to
see him, and ordered that he should be kindly
used. After she had discoursed with him about
his kindred and method of life, and found his an-
swers ingenuous, she ordered him some cast-off
garments, and that he should be cleaned, and ap-
pear like a servant in the house.
Then she went to her parents, and gave them
her opinion of this stranger, which pleased them
well, saying, " He looks like a serviceable fellow
to do kitchen drudgery, run on errands, clean
shoes, and do such other things as the rest of the
servants think beneath them."
By this he was confirmed in his place, and a
flock bed prepared in the garret for him. These
circumstances pleased him, and he showed great
diligence in his work, rising early and sitting up
late, leaving nothing undone that he could do.
But being mostly under the cook-maid, he had but
sour sauce to these little sweets ; for as she was of
a morose temper, she used her authority beyond
reason ; so that, to keep in the family, he went
with many a broken head, bearing it patiently,
and the more he tried with good words to dissuade
her from her cruelty, the more she insulted him,
and not only abused him, but frequently com-
plained against him, endeavoring to get him
turned out of his service. But Mistress Alice,
hearing of her usage, interposed in his favor, so
that she could not prevail against him.
This was not the only misery he suffered, for,
lying in a place for a long time unfrequented,
such abundance of rats and mice had bred there,
that they were almost as troublesome by night as
the cook was by day. They ran over his face,
and disturbed him with their squeaking, so that
he knew not what to think of his condition or how
to mend it.
After many disquieting thoughts, he at last
comforted himself with the hope that the cook
might soon marry, or die, or quit her service, and
as for the rats and mice, a cat would be an effect-
WHITTINGTON AND HIS CAT.
Ill
ual remedy against them. Soon after, a merchant
came to dinner, and, as it rained hard, he stayed
all night. Wliittington having cleaned his shoes,
and brought them to his chamber-door, received
from him a penny.
This stock he improved, for, going along the
street of an errand, he saw a woman with a cat un-
der her arm ; so^he desired to know the price of it.
The woman praised it for a good mouser, and told
him, sixpence. But he declaring that a penny
was all his stock, she let him have it. He brought
the cat home, and kept her in a box all day, lest
the cook should kill her if she came into the
kitchen, and at night he set her to work for her
living. Puss delivered him from one plague; but
the other remained, though not for many years.
It was the custom with the worthy merchant,
Mr. Hugh Fitzwarren, that God might give a
greater blessing to his endeavors, to call his serv-
ants together when he sent out a ship, and cause
every one to ventui'e something in it, to try their
fortunes, for which they were to pay nothing for
freight or custom.
Now all but Wliittington appeared, and brought
things according to their abilities. But Misti-ess
Alice being by, and supposing that poverty made
him decline coming, ordered him to be called, on
which he made several excuses ; however, being
constrained to come, he fell on his knees, desiring
them not to jeer at a poor simple boy in expecta-
tion that he was going to turn merchant, since all
that he could claim as his own was but a poor cat,
which he had bought for a penny that had been
given him for cleaning shoes, and which had much
befriended him in keeping off the rats and mice.
Upon this Mistress Alice offered to lay some-
thing down for him ; but her father told her the
custom was, it must be his own which he ventured,
and ordered him to fetch his cat. This he did,
but with great reluctance, fancying nothing would
come of it, and with some tears delivered her to
the master of the ship, which was called the Uni-
corn, and which fell down to Blackwall in order
to proceed on her voyage.
The cook-maid, who little thought how advan-
tageous Whittington's cat would prove, when she
did not scold at him would jeer at him about his
grand adventure, and led him such a life that he
grew weary of enduring it. Little expecting what
ensued, he resolved, rather to try Dame Fortune
than live in such great torment. So, having
jjacked up his bundle over night, he got out early
on All-hallows Day, intending to ramble about the
country.
But as he went through Moorfields, he began to
have pensive thoughts, and his resolutions began
to fail. However, he went on to Holloway, and
sat down to consider the matter, when on a sud-
den Bow bells began to ring a merry peal. He
listened, fancied they called him back from his in-
tended journey, and promised him the good fort-
une that afterwards befell him. He thought they
sang, •
' Turn again, Wliittington,
Lord Mayor of Loudon."
This was a happy thought for him, and it made so
great an iuipression on him, that finding it early,
and that he might be at home before the family
were stirring, he delayed not. All things an-
swered his expectation, for, having left the door
ajar, he crept softly in, and got to his usual drudg-
ery-
During this time the ship in which the cat was
was driven by contrary winds on to the coast of
Barbary, a place unknown to the English. Finding
the people courteous, the master and factor traded
with them. Bringing their wares of sundry sorts
upon the decks, and opening them, they suited
them so well that the news was carried to the
king, who sent for patterns, with which he was so
pleased that he sent for the factor to his palace.
Their entertainment, according to custom, was
on the floor, which was covered with carpets inter-
woven with gold and silver, and on which they sat
cross-legged. This kind of table was no sooner
laid with various dishes but the scent drew to-
gether a great number of rats and mice, which de-
voured all that came in their way ; this much sur-
prised the factor, who asked the nobles if these
vermin were not offensive.
112
THE BOOK OF POPULAR TALES.
" Oh," said they, " very much so. His majesty
would give half his revenue to be freed from them ;
for they are not only offensive at his table, but his
chamber and bed
are so troubled
with them that
he is always
watched, for fear
of mischief."
The factor then
remembering ^B
Whittington's
cat, and rejoic-
ing at the occa-
sion, told them
that he had an
English beast in
the ship which
would rid all the
court of them S
quickly. fc
The king was ^
overjoyed at
hearing the good ^
news, and being -
a n X io u s to be
freed from those ^
vermin, which so ^
much spoiled his g
pleasure, dis- ^
turbed his mind, ^
and made all his
enjoyments bin ^
densome, desired —
to see this sui- =
prising creature,
saying, " Foi
such a thing, I
will load youi
ship with gold,
diamonds, and
pearls." This large offer made the master en-
deavor to enhance the cat's merits. " She is the
most admirable creature in the woi'ld," he said ;
" and I cannot spare her, for she keeps my ship
clear of them, otherwise they would destroy all
my goods." But his majesty would take no de-
nial, saying, " No price shall part us."
The cat being
sent for, and the
tables being
spread, the ver-
min came as be-
fore ; then put-
ting her on the
table, she fell to
work at once,
and' killed them
in a trice. Then
^B she came purring
""" and curling up
her tail to t h e
king and queen,
as if she asked a
1 eward for her
service; whilst
they admired
^ her, protesting it
^m was the finest di-
= \ ersion they had
ever seen.
" The Moorish
^king was so
^m pleased with the.
cat that he gave
ten times more
for her than all
the freight be-
sides. The ship
then sailed with
a fair wind, and
arrived safe at
Blackwall, being
the richest ship
that ever arrived
in England.
The master taking the cabinet of jewels with him
on shore, for they were too rich a prize to be left on
board, presented his bill of lading to Mr. Fitzwar-
ren who praised God for such a prosperous voyage.
WHITTINGTON AND HIS CAT.
113
But when he called all of his servants to give
each his due, the master showed him the cabinet
of pearls and jewels, and on being told it was all
for Whittiugton's cat, Mr. Fitzwarren said, "God
forbid that I should deprive him of one farthing
of it," and so he sent for him by the title of Mr.
Whittington, who was then in the kitchen clean-
ing pots and spits. Being told he must come to
his master, he made several excuses ; but, being
urged to go, he at length came to the door, and
there stood bowing and scraping, scrupling to en-
ter until the merchant commanded him in, and or-
dered a chair to be immediately set for him ; on
which he, thinking tbey intended to make sport of
him, fell on his knees, and with teai's in his eyes
besought them not to mock a simple fellow, who
meant none of them any harm.
Mr. Fitzwarren, raising him up, said, " In-
deed, Mr. Whittington, we are serious with you,
for in estate at this instant you are an abler
man than myself," and then he gave him the vast
riches, which amounted to three hundred thousand
pounds.
At length, being persuaded to believe, he fell
upon his knees, and praised God, who had vouch-
safed to behold so poor a creature in the midst of
his misery. Then turning to his master, he laid
his riches at his feet ; but he said, " No, Mr.
Whittington ; God forbid that I should take so
much as a ducat from you ; it may be a comfort
to you."
Whittington then turned to Mistress Alice, but
she also refused it ; upon which, bowing low, he
said to her, " Madam, whenever you please to make
choice of a husband, I will make you the greatest
fortune in the world." Upon this he began to
distribute his bounty to his fellow-servants, giv-
ing even his mortal enemy the cook one hundred
jjounds for her portion ; she saying she was in a
passion, he freely forgave her.
Upon this change the haberdashers, drapers,
tailors, and sempstresses were set to work to make
Mr. Whittington fine clothes, and all things an-
swerable to his fortune. Being dressed, he ap-
peared a very comely person, insomuch that Mis-
15
tress Alice began to lay her eyes about him. Now,
her father, seeing this, intended a match between
them, looking upon him to be a fortunate man.
He also took him to the Royal Exchange to see
the customs of the merchants, where he was no
sooner known than they came to welcome him
into their societj'.
Soon after this a match was proposed between
him and his master's daughter, when he excused
himself on account of the meanness of his birth ;
but that objection being removed by his present
worth, it was soon agreed on, and the lord mayor
and aldermen were invited to the wedding. After
the honeymoon was over, his father-in-law asked
him what employment he would follow, where-
upon he replied, he should like that of a mer-
chant. So they joined together in partnership,
and both grew immensely rich.
Though fortune had thus bountifully smiled on
the subject of our history, he was far from being
proud. He was, on the contrary, very merry,
which made his company and acquaintance courted
by all. In a short time he was nominated Sheriff
of London, in the year 1393, Sir John Hadley
then being lord mayor.
Thus he grew in riches and fame, being greatly
beloved by all, especially the poor, whose hunger
he always supplied. In five years' time he was
chosen lord maj'or, in which office he behaved
with such justice and prudence that he was chosen
to the same office twice afterwards.
In the last year he entertained King Henry V.,
after his conquest of France, and his queen at
Guildhall, in such a very grand manner, that the
king was pleased to say, " Never prince had such
a subject," and conferred upon him the honor of
knighthood. At this entertainment the king par-
ticularly praised the fire, which was made of
choice wood, mixed with mace, cinnamon, and all
other spices. On which Sir Richard said he would
endeavor to make one still more agreeable to his
majesty, and immediately tore and threw into the
fire the king's bond for ten thousand marks due to
the company of mercers ; two thousand five hun-
dred to the Chambers of London ; two thousand
114
THE BOOK OF POPULAR TALES.
to the grocers ; and to the staplers, goldsmiths,
haberdashers, vintners, brewers, and bakers, three
thousand marks each.
" All these," said Sir Richard, " with divers
other's, lent for the payment of your soldiers in
France, I have taken in and discharged, to the
amount of sixty thousand pounds sterling ; can
your majesty wish to see such another sight ? "
The king and nobles were struck dumb with sur-
prise at his wealth and liberality.
Sir Richard spent the rest of his days honored
by the rich and beloved by the poor. He had by
his wife two sons and two daughters, some of
whose posterity are worthy citizens. He built
many charitable houses, also a church in Vintry
Ward, dedicated to St. JMichael, adding to it a col-
lege, dedicated to St. Mary, with a yearly allow-
ance for jjoor scholars, near which he erected a
hospital, called God's house, and well endowed it.
There he caused his father-in-law and mother-in-
law to be buried, and left room for himself and
wife when death should call them. He built New-
gate, a place for criminals. He gave large sums
to Bartholomew's Hospital, and to many other
chai'itable uses.
Dame Alice, his wife, died in the sixty-third
year of her age, after which he would not marry,
though he outlived her near twenty years. In the
conclusion, he died, and was buried in the place
aforesaid, leaving a good name to posterity ; and
the following epitaph was written on their tomb,
and continued perfect till destroyed by the fire in
London : —
" Here lies Sir Richard Whittington, thrice mayor,
And his dear wife, a virtuous, loving pair ;
Him fortune raised to be beloved and great.
By the .idvcnture only of a cat.
Let none that read it of God's love despair,
Who trust iu Him, He will of them take care ;
But growing rich, choose humbleness, not ]]ride,
Let these dead virtuous persons be your guide."
BLUE BEARD.
Once upon a time there was a man who was
very rich. He had a fine house in town and an-
other in the country ; in the houses were costly
furniture and gold and silver plate ; when he
drove out it was in a coach covered with gild-
ing. But for all that not a woman or girl would
look at him, he was so ugly and terrible. Yes,
this man had a blue beard. Now there was in
the neighborhood a lady of quality who had two
daughters, who were perfectly beautiful. Blue
Beard wished to marry one of these and left it to
the mother to say which she would give him, but
neither of them would have him, for they could
not bear to marry a man with a blue beard, and,
besides, he had been married several times already,
and no one knew what had become of his wives.
Blue Beard, in order to become well acquainted
with these young ladies, invited them, their mother,
and a few of their particular friends to visit his
country seat, where they passed an entire week.
Nothing was thought of but jaunts, hunting and
fishing, parties, balls, and dinners. Nobody went
to bed ; the whole night was spent in merry-mak-
ing. In short, all went off so well that by the
end of the week the younger daughter began to
think the master of the house an agreeable man,
and that his beard was not so very blue, after all.
So it was that shortly after the return to town she
was married to him.
About a month afterward Blue Beard told his
wife that he was forced to take a journey, and
should be gone six weeks ; he had business of im-
portance to attend to ; but she was to amuse her-
self in his absence, to have all her young friends
about her, and to fare as sumptuously as if he
were present. " Here," he said, " are the keys
of my two large store-rooms ; these are for the
chests in which the best gold and silver plate are
kept; the.se are for the strong boxes in which I
keep my money ; these open the caskets that con-
tain my jewels ; this is the pass-key to all the
apartments. And this," he ended, looking at her
BLUE BEARD.
115
fixedly, " is the key to the closet at the end of the
long gallery on the ground floor. Open every-
thing and go everywhere except into that closet,
which I forbid
you to enter,
and I forbid you
so strictly that
if you dare to
open the door
you -will have
everything to
dread from my
anger." She
promised faith-
fully to obey
him, and when
h e h a d e m-
braced his obe-
dient wife he
got into his
coach and drove
away.
The neigh-
bors and friends
of the young
bride scai'cely
waited for an
invitation, so
eager were they
to see all the
treasures which
the house con-
tained, for
never before
had they dared
to enter it, being
much afraid of
the blue beard
of the owner.
Now they made
haste to run
through all the apartments and to peep into all
the closets to which they had entrance. They
went into the store-rooms and chambers and ad-
mired the elegance of the tapestries, the beds.
the sofas, the cabinets, the tables, the lightstands ;
there were mirrors so large that in them they
could see themselves from top to toe, and the mir-
rors had frames,
some of glass,
some of silver
and some of
gold, all more
beautiful and
magnificent
than any they
had ever before
seen. They
never ceased ex-
claiming upon
the wonderful
riches of this
wonderful man,
and they looked
with envy upon
the fortunate
bride. But she
heard and saw
all with impa-
tience, for she
could think of
nothing but the
closet at the end
of the gallery
on. the ground
floor. At length
her curiosity be-
came so great to
see what it con-
tained that she
slipped away
from her
friends, though
that was very
rude, and has-
tened down a
secret staircase, nearly falling from the top to the
bottom in her excitement. She came to the door
of the closet and stopped, remembering what her
husband had solemnly said to her, but the tempta-
116
THE BOOK OF POPULAR TALES.
tion was so strong that she could not overcome
it. She therefore took the key and opened with
trembUng hand the door of the closet.
At first she could make out nothing, for the
windows were closed there and it was dark ; after
a short time she began to see that there was blood
on the floor, and then that there were dead bodies
hung upon the walls. They were the wives of
Blue Beard. She was ready to die with fright,
and the key of the closet, which she had with-
drawn from the lock, fell from her hand. She
picked it ujj, locked the door again, and went up
to her chamber to compose herself, but she was
too agitated. She looked at the key of the closet,
and it was stained with blood. She wiped it and
wiped it but the blood would not come off. In
vain she washed it, and scrubbed it with sand and.
freestone, the blood was still there, for the key
was enchanted, and there was no means of clean-
ing it completely ; when the blood was washed off
one side it came back on the other.
Blue Beard came home that evening. He said
that he had received letters on his way telling
him that the business on which he was going was
already settled. His wife did her best to persuade
him that she was delighted at his early return.
When morning came he called for his keys. She
gave them to him, but her hand trembled. Then
he said : —
" Where is the key of the closet at the end of
the long gallery? it is not with the rest."
" I must have left it," she replied, " up-stairs
on my table."
" Then go at once and bring it to me." She
made excuses but thejr would not serve, and she
went and brought the key. Blue Beard looked
at it and asked his wife : —
"Why is there blood on this key? "
" I do not know," said the poor woman, paler
than death.
" You do not know ? " replied Blue Beard. " I
know. You wished to enter the closet. Very
well, madam, you shall enter it and take your
place among the ladies whom you saw there."
She flung herself at her husband's feet, weeping
and begging pardon for having disobeyed him.
Her beauty and grief would have melted a rock,
but Blue Beard's heart was harder than rock.
" You must die, madam ; you must die at once."
" If I must die," she replied, looking up at him
with streaming eyes, " give me a little time to
say my prayers."
'■ I will give you half a quarter of an hour," an-
swered Blue Beard, " but not a minute more."
As soon as he had left her she called her sister
and said, —
"Sister Anne" (for that was her name) "go
up, I p)ray thee, to the top of the tower and see if
my brothers be not coming. They have promised
to come to me to-daj' ; if you see them, sign to
them to make haste." Sister Anne mounted to
the top of the tower and the poor distressed creat-
ure called to her every few moments, —
" Anne ! Sister Anne ! dost thou not see anything
coming ? " and Sister Anne would answer, —
" I see nothing but the sun making dust, and
the grass growing green." In the mean time Blue
Beard, with a great cutlass in his hand, called out
from below to his wife, —
" Come down quickly, or I will come up to
thee : "
" One minute more," replied his wife, and then
in a low voice, —
" Anne ! Sister Anne ! dost thou not see any- ■
thing coming? " and Sister Anne replied, —
" I see nothing but the sun making dust and
the gi'ass growing green."
"Come down quicklj'," shouted Blue Beard,
" or I will come up to thee."
" I come," answered his wife, and then cried,
" Anne ! Sister Amie ! dost thou not see anything
coming? '
"I see," said Sister Anne, "a great cloud of
dust moving this way."
" Is it my brothers ? "
" Alas, no, sister ! it is a flock of sheep."
"Wilt thou not come down?" roared Blue
Beard.
" I am coming now. Anne ! Sister Anne ! dost
thou not see anything coming ? "
THE HIST OR T OF FORTUNATUS.
117
" Yes. I see two horsemen coming tLis way,
but they are a great way off. God be praised ! "
she added in a moment. " They are my brothers.
I am beckoning to them to hasten."
" Come down ! " and Blue Beard roared so
loudly that the house shook. The poor wife
went slowly down-stairs, and when she came to
her husband stie threw herself, all weeping and
with disheveled hair, at his feet.
" It is in vain," said Blue Beard, " thou must
die," and seizing her hair with one hand, he held
his cutlass with the other to strike off her head.
The poor wife lifted her weeping eyes up to him
and implored him to give her one moment in
which to collect her thoughts.
"No, no," said he, " commend thyself to God."
He raised his arm — at this moment there was a
loud knocking at the gate and Blue Beard stopped
short. The gate flew open and two horsemen
sprang in and ran with drawn swords upon Blue
Beard. He knew them at once, they were the
brothers of his wife, one was a dragoon, the other
a musketeer, and Blue Beard ran to the house
to save himself. But they were upon him in a
moment and before he could reach the door they
had slain him with their swords. The poor wife
was almost dead herself with fear, and could
scarcely rise to embrace her brothers.
It was found that Blue Beard had no heirs, and
so his young wife became mistress of all his riches.
She spent part of it in marrying her sister Anne
to a young gentleman whom she had long loved,,
another part in buying captains' commissions for
her two brothers, and with the rest she married
herself a very worthy man, who made her forget
her wretchedness with Blue Beard.
THE HISTORY OF FORTUNATUS.
In the famous Island of Cyprus there is a stately
city called Famagosta, in which lived a wealthy
citizen named Theodoras. He being left j'oung
by his parents addicted himself to all pleasure, re-
sorting to the courts of princes and spending all
his wealth in riotous living, to the grief of his
friends, who, thinking to make him leave his idle
courses, got him married to a rich citizen's daugh-
ter named Gratiana.
In one year after their marriage Gratiana gave
birth to a son, who was named Fortunatus. The-
odorus, in a short time, began again to follow his
old, bad courses, insomuch that he sold and mort-
gaged his land, until he had wasted all his estate,
so that he fell into extreme poverty. Gratiana
was forced to dress her meat and wash her clothes
herself, not being able to keep one servant, or hire
the meanest assistance.
Theodoras and his wife sitting one day at a
poor dinner, he could hardly refrain from weeping,
which his son, who was now about eighteen years
of age, and skilled in hunting, hawking, and play-
ing on the lute, perceiving, said, " Father, what
aileth you? for I observe, when you look upon
me, you seem sad. Sir, I have in some way of-
fended you."
Theodoras answered, " My dear son, thou art
not the cause of my grief, but I myself have been
the sole cause of the pinching poverty we all feel.
When I call to mind the wealth and honor so
lately enjoyed, and when I consider how unable I
am now to heljD my child, it is that which vexes
me."
To this his son replied, " Beloved father, do not
take immoderate care for me, for I am young and
strong. I have not been so brought up but that I
can shift for myself. I will go abroad and try
my fortune. I fear not but I shall find work and
preferment."
Soon after, without the least ceremony, Fortu-
natus set out, with a hawk on his hand, and trav-
eled towards the seaside, where he espied a galley
of Venice lying at anchor. He inquired what ship
she was, and where bound, hoping he might here
find employment. He was told the Earl of Flan-
ders was on board, and had lost two of his men.
118
THE BOOK OF POPULAR TALES.
Fortunatus, wishing that he could be entertained
as one of the servants, and so get away fi'om his
native place, where his poverty was so well known,
steps up to the earl, and says, " I understand, no-
ble lord, j'ou have lost two of your men ; if so you
please, I desire to be received into your service."
"What wages do you ask? " says the earl. " No
wages," says Fortunatus, "but to be rewarded ac-
cording to my deserts." This answer pleased the
earl, so the}' agreed, and sailed to Venice.
The earl now turned back and was joyfully re-
ceived by his subjects, and welcomed by his neigh-
bors, for he was a very affable and just prince.
Soon after his return he married the Duke of
Cleve's daughter, who was a very beautiful lady.
At the wedding, to which came several lords,
tournaments were held before the ladies, and
though there were so many gentlemen, yet none
behaved so well as Fortunatus.
After the nobles had finished their triumphs
and delightful games, the duke and the bride and
bridegroom agreed to let their servants try their
manhood at several pastimes for two jewels, each
worth a hundred crowns. This made all the serv-
ants glad, every one striving to do his best.
The Duke of Burgundy's servant won one, and
Fortunatus the other, which displeased the other
servants. Upon which they desired the duke's
servant to challenge Fortunatus to fight him be-
fore the ladies, the winner to have both jewels.
This challenge he accepted. Coming to the tilt-
yard, they encountered each other very briskly,
and at last Fortunatus hoisted the duke's servant
quite off his horse, at spear's length. Whereupon
he obtained the victorj', and got the jewels, which
increased the envy of all the other servants, but
much rejoiced the earl.
Among the earl's servants was a crafty old fel-
low, who consulted with the rest of the servants,
and agreed, for ten crowns, to make Fortunatus
quit his master's service of his own accord. To
accomplish the affair he pretended great friend-
ship to Fortunatus, treating him, and praising him
much for his great courage.
At last he told him he bad a secret to reveal to
him, which was, that his lord having conceived a
jealousy of his two chamberlains, of whom Fortu-
natus was one, he had a design privatelj' to have
them whipped. This much amazed Fortunatus,
who desired his fellow-servant to inform him how
to convey himself away ; " for," said he, " I had
rather wander as a vagabond, than be so served."
Says Robert, "■ I am sorry I told thee anything,
since I shall now lose thy company." Being re-
solved to go off, however, he desired Robert to
conceal his departure, and mounting his horse rode
away.
When Fortunatus had ridden ten miles he
bought another horse, and returned the earl's,
that he might not pursue him ; but when the earl
found he was gone without his leave, not knowing
the cause, he was offended, and demanded of the
servants if they knew the occasion ; which they
all denied. Then he went to the ladies and gen-
tlewomen, and inquired of them if they knew any-
thing of his departure. And they answered, No.
Then said the earl, " Though the cause of his
departure is hidden from me, j'et I am persuaded
he is not gone without some cause, which I will
find out, if it be possible." When Robert found
his lord was so vexed for the loss of Fortunatus,
he went and hanged himself, for fear of being dis-
covered.
Fortunatus, having sent home his master's
horse, traveled with all speed to Calais, where he
took shipping, and arrived safe in England. Com-
ing to London, he met with some young Cyprus
merchants, his countrymen, who riotously spent
their money in gaming ; so that in about half a
year's time their cash was quite spent. Fortuna-
tus, having least, was soon exhausted.
Being moneyless, he went to some of his land-
ladies to borrow three crowns, telling them he
wanted to go to Flanders to fetch four hundred
crowns that were in his uncle's hands ; but he was
denied, and none would they lend him. He then
desired to be trusted for a quart of wine ; but they
refused, and bid the servants fetch him a pint of
small beer. He then took shipping, and .soon ar-
rived in Picardy in France.
THE HISTORY OF FORTUNATUS.
119
Traveling through a wood, and being benighted,
he approached an old house, where he hoped to
find some relief ; but there was no creature in it.
Then, hearing a
noise among the
bears, he got up
into a tree,
where one of
them had climb-
e d. Fort u n a-
tus, being sur-
prised, drew his
sword, and
struck the bear,
so that he fell
from the tree.
The rest of the
beasts being
gone, Fortuna-
tus came down
from the tree,
and, laying his
mouth to the
wound, sucked
out some of the
blood, with
which he was
refreshed, and
then slept until
morning.
As soon as
F o r t u n a t u s
awoke, he saw
standing before
him a fair lady,
with her eyes
muffled. " I be-
seech thee," said
he, " sweet vir-
gin, to assist me,
that I may get
out of this wood, for I have traveled a great way
without food." She asked what country he was
of. He replied, " Of Cyprus, and am constrained
by poverty to seek my fortune." " Fear not, For-
tunatus," said she ; " I am the Goddess Fortune,
and by the permission of Heaven have the power
of six gifts, one of which I will bestow on thee.
So choose for
yourself. They
are, Wisdom,
Strength, Rich-
es, Health,
Beauty, and
Long Life."
Said Fortvma-
tus, " I desire
to have Riches
as long as I
live." With
that
him
say in
often
she
as
your
purse,
" As
you
hand
put
into this purse,
you shall find
ten pounds of
the coin of any
nation you shall
happen to be
in." Fortuna-
tus returned
many thanks to
the g oddess.
Then she bid
him follow her
out of the wood,
and so vanished.
He then pvit
his hand into
the purse, and
drew out the
first - fruits of
the goddess's
bounty, with
which he went to an inn, and refreshed himseK.
After which he paid his host, and instantly de-
parted, as doubting the reality of his money, not-
withstanding the evidence of his hands and eyes.
120
THE BOOK OF POPULAR TALES.
Two miles from this wood was a little town and
castle, where dwelt an earl who owned the wood.
Fortunatiis here took up his lodging at the best
inn, and asked the host if he could help him to
some good horses. The host him told there was
a dealer who had several very fine ones, of which
the earl had chosen three ; but was refused,
thouch he offered three hundred crowns for them.
Fortunatus went to his chamber, and took out of
his purse six hundred crowns, and bid the host to
send for the dealer with his horses.
The host at first supposed he had been in jest,
seeing him so meanly appareled ; but on being
convinced by the sight of the money, the dealer
and horses were sent for, and Fortunatus, with a
few words, bargained for two of those the earl had
wanted, and gave three hundred crowns for them.
He bought also costly saddles and furniture, and
desired his host to get him two servants.
The earl, hearing that the two horses had been
bought out of his hands, grew angry, and sent to
the innkeeper, to be informed who he was. The
earl, being told that he was a stranger, com-
manded him to be apprehended, imagining he had
committed some robbery. Fortunatus, on being
questioned who he was, answered he was born in
Cyprus, and was the son of a decayed gentleman.
The earl asked him how he got so much money.
He told him he came by it honestly.
Then the earl swore in a violent passion, that if
he would not discover, he would put him to the
rack. Fortunatus proposed to die rather than re-
veal it. Upon this he w^as put on the rack ; and
being again asked how he got so many crowns, he
said that he found them in a wood adjoining.
" Thou villain," said the earl, " the money you
found is mine, and thy body and goods are for-
feited." "O my gracious lord," said he, "I knew
not it was in your dominion." " But," said the
earl, " this shall not excuse you, for to-day I will
take thy goods, and to-morrow thy life."
Then did Fortunatus wish he had chosen Wis-
dom before Riches. He earnestly begged his life
of the earl, who, at the entreaty of some of the
nobles, spared his life, and restored him the
crowns and his purse, and charged him never to
come into his dominion. Fortunatus rejoiced that
he had so well escaped, and had not lost his purse.
After that he had traveled towards his own coun-
try, having got horses and servants to attend him,
he arrived at Famagosta, where it was told him that
his father and mother were dead. He then pur-
chased his father's house, pulled it down, and
built a stately palace. He also built a fine church,
and had three tombs made : one for his father and
mother, the other for the wife he intended to
marry, and the last for his heirs and himself.
Not far from Famagosta lived a lord who had
three daughters, one of whom the King of Cyprus
intended to bestow on Fortunatus, but gave him
leave to take his choice. When Fortunatus had
asked them the question, he chose the j'oungest, to
the great grief of the other two sisters; but the
countess and earl approved of the match. Fortu-
natus presented the countess, his wife's mother,
and her two sisters with several rich jewels.
Then did the king offer to keep the wedding at
his court ; but Fortunatus wished to keep it at his
own palace, desiring the king and queen's com-
pany. " Then," said the king, " I will come with
my queen and all my relations." After four da3's
the king and all his company went to Fortunatus'
house, where they were entertained in a grand
manner. His house was .adorned with costly fur-
niture, glorious to behold. This feasting lasted
forty days. Then the king returned to his court,
vastly well satisfied with the entertainment.
After this, Fortunatus made another feast for the
citizens, their wives and daughters.
Fortunatus and his wife Cassandra lived long
in a happy state, and found no want of anything
but children. Fortunatus knew the virtue of his
purse would fail at his death if he had no heirs.
Therefore he made it constantly his prayer to God
that he would be pleased to send him a child, and
at length in due time a son was born to him, and
he named him Ampadu. Shortly after, he had
another son : and he provided for them the best of
tutors, to take care they had an education suitable
to their fortunes.
THE HISTORY OF FORTUNATUS.
121
Fortunatus, having been married twelve years,
took it into his head to travel once more ; which
his wife much opposed, desiring him, by all the
love he bore to her and her dear children, not to
leave them. But he was resolved, and soon after
took leave of his wife and children, promising
them to return again in a short space. A few
da3's after, he took shipping for Alexandria, where
he stayed some time, and got acquainted with the
sultan, whose favor he gained so as to receive let-
ters to carry him safe through his dominions.
Fortunatus, after supper, opened his purse, and
gave to all the sultan"s servants very liberally.
The sultan, being highly pleased, told Fortunatus
he would show him such curiosities as he had
never seen. Then he took him to a strong marble
tower. In the first room were several very rich
vessels and jewels ; in the second he showed sev-
eral vessels of gold coin, with a fine wardrobe of
garments, and golden candlesticks, which shone
all over the room, and mightily pleased Fortu-
natus.
Then the sultan showed him his bed-chamber,
which was finely adorned ; and likewise a small
felt hat, simple to behold ; saying, " I set more
value on this hat than on all my jewels, as such
another is not to be had, for it lets a person be
wherever he doth wish."
Fortunatus imagined this hat would agree verj'
well with his purse, and he thereupon put it on
his head, saying he should be very glad of a hat
that had such virtue. So the sultan immediately
gave it to him. With that he suddenly wished
himself in his ship, it being then under sail, that
16
he might return to his own country. The sultan,
looking out of the window and seeing the ship un-
der sail, was very angi-y, and commanded his men
to fetch him back, declaring, if they took him, he
should be immediately put to death. But all in
vain. Fortunatus was too quick for them, and ar-
riving safe at Famagosta, richly laden, was joy-
fully received by his wife, two sons, and the citi-
zens.
He now began to care for the advancement of
his children, maintained a princely court, and pro-
vided masters to instruct his children in all man-
ner of chivalry. The youngest was most inclined
to behave manfully, which caused Fortunatus to
bestow many jewels upon him for his exploits.
When he had many years enjoyed all earthly pleas-
ures, Cassandra died, wdiich so grieved him that he
prepared himself for death also.
Fortunatus, perceiving his death to approach,
said to his two sons : " God has taken away your
mother, who so tenderly nourished you ; and I,
perceiving death at hand, will show you how you
may continue in honor to your dying days." Then
he declared to them the virtue of his purse, and
that it would last no longer than their lives. He
also told them the virtue of his wishing-hat, and
commanded them not to part with those jewels,
but to keep them in common, and live friendly to-
gether, and not to make any person privy to their
virtues ; " For," said he, " I have concealed them
forty years, and never revealed them to any but
you." Having said this, he ceased to speak and
immediately gave up the ghost. His sons buried
him in the magnificent church before mentioned.
122
THE BOOK OF POPULAR TALES.
JACK AND THE BEAN-STALK.
N the days of King Al-
fred, there Hved a jjoor
woman, whose cottage
was in a remote country
village, many miles from
London. She had been
a widow some years, and
had an only child named
Jack, whom she indulged
so much that he never paid the least attention to
anything she said, but was idle, careless, and
wasteful. His follies were not owing to a bad
disposition, but to his mother's foolish partiality.
By degrees, he spent all that she had — scarcely
anything remained but a cow. One day, for the
first time in her life, she reproached him : " Cruel,
cruel boy ! you have at last brought me to beg-
gary. I have not money enough to purchase even
a bit of bread ; nothing now remains to sell but
my poor cow ! I am sorry to part with her ; it
grieves me sadly, but we cannot starve." For a
few minutes Jack felt remorse, but it was soon
over ; and he began asking his mother to let him
sell the cow at the next village, and teased her so
much that she at last consented. As he was go-
ing along he met a butcher, who inquired why he
was driving the cow from home ? Jack replied,
he was going to sell it. The butcher held some
curious beans in his hat ; they were of various col-
ors, and attracted Jack's attention : this did not
pass unnoticed by the man, who, knowing Jack's
easy temper, thought now was the time to take
advantage of it ; and, determined not to let slip so
good a chance, asked what was the price of the cow,
offering at the same time all the beans in his hat
for her. The silly boy could not hide the pleasure
he felt at what he fancied so great an offer : the
bargain was struck instantly, and the cow ex-
changed for a few paltry beans. Jack made the
best of his way home, calling aloud to his mother
before he reached the door, thinking to surprise
her.
When she saw the beans, and heard Jack's ac-
count, her patience quite forsook her : she tossed
the beans out of the window, where they fell on
the garden-bed below. Then she threw her apron
over her head, and cried bitterly. Jack tried to
console her, but in vain, and, not having anything
to eat, they both went supperless to bed. Jack
awoke early in the morning, and seeing something
uncommon darkening the window of his bed-cham-
ber, ran down-stairs into the garden, where he found
some of the beans had taken root, and sprung up
surprisingly: the stalks were of an immense thick-
ness, and had twined together until they formed a
ladder like a chain, and so high that the top ap-
peared to be lost in the clouds. Jack was an ad-
venturous lad ; he determined to climb up to the
top, and ran to tell his mother, not doubting but
that she would be equally pleased. She declared
he should not go ; said it would break her heart if
he did — entreated and threatened, but all in
vain. Jack set out, and after climbing for some
hours reached the top of the bean-stalk, quite ex-
hausted. Looking ai'ound, he found himself in a
strange country ; it appeared to be ;i barren desert
— not a tree, shrub, house, or living creature was
to be seen ; here and there were scattered frag-
ments of stone ; and at unequal distances small
heaps of earth were loosely thrown together.
Jack seated himself upon a block of stone, and
thought of his mother ; he thought with sorrow
upon his disobedience in climbing the bean-stalk
against her will, and feai'ed that he must die of hun-
ger. However, he walked on, hoping to see a house,
where he might beg something to eat and drink.
He did not find it ; but he saw at a distance a
beautiful lady, walking alone. She was elegantly
clad, and carried a white wand, at the top of
which sat a peacock of pure gold.
Jack, who was a gallant fellow, went straight
up to her; when, with a bewitching smile, she
asked him how he came there. He told her all
about the bean-stalk. The lady answered him by
JACK AND THE BEAN-STALK.
123
a question, "Do you remember your father, young
man ? "
" No, madam ; but I am sure tliei-e is some
mystery about him, for when I name him to my
mother she always begins to weep, and will tell
me nothing."
" She dare not," replied the lady, " but I can
and will. Forrknow, young man, that I am a
fairy, and was your father's guardian. But fairies
are bound by laws as well as mortals ; and by an
eri-or of mine I lost my power for a term of years,
so that I was unable to succor your father when
he most needed it, and he died." Here the fairy
looked so sorrowful that Jack's heart warmed to
her, and he begged her earnestly to tell him more.
"I will; only you must promise to obey me in
everything, or you will perish yourself."
Jack was brave, and, besides, his fortunes were
so bad they could not well be worse — so he prom-
ised.
The fairy continued : " Your father. Jack, was
a most excellent, amiable, generous man. He had
a good wife, faithful servants, plenty of money ;
but he had one misfortune — a false friend. This
was a giant, whom he had succored in misfort-
une, and who returned his kindness by murdering
him, and seizing on all his property ; also making
your mother take a solemn oath that she would
never tell you anything about your father, or he
would murder both her and you. Then he turned
her off with you in her arms, to wander about the
wide world as she might. I could not help her, as
my power only returned on the day you went to
sell your cow."
" It was I," added the fairy, " who impelled you
to take the beans, who made the bean-stalk grow,
and inspired you with the desire to climb uja it to
this strange country ; for it is here the wicked
giant lives who was your father's destroyer. It is
you who must avenge him, and rid the world of a
monster who never will do anything but evil. I
will help you. You may lawfully take possession
of his house and all his riches, for everything he
has belonged to your father, and is therefore
yours. Now farewell ! Do not let your mother
know you are acquainted with your father's his-
tory ; this is my command, and if you disobey me
you will suffer for it. Now go."
Jack asked where he was to go.
" Along the direct road, till you see the house
where the giant lives. You must then act accord-
ing to your own judgment, and I will guide you if
any difficulty arises. Farewell ! "
She bestowed on the youth a benignant smile,
and vanished.
Jack pursued his journey. He walked on till
after sunset, when, to his great joy, he espied a
large mansion. A plain-looking woman was at
the door : he accosted her, begging she would give
him a morsel of bread and a night's lodging. She
expressed the greatest surprise, and said it was
quite uncommon to see a human being near their
house ; for it was well known that her husband
was a powerful giant, who would never eat any-
thing but human flesh, if he could possibly get it ;
that he would walk fifty miles to procure it, usu-
ally being out the whole day for that jDurpose.
This account greatly terrified Jack, but still he
hoped to elude the giant, and therefore he again
entreated the woman to take him in for one night
only, and hide him where she thought j^roper.
She at last suffered herself to be persuaded, for
she was of a compassionate and generous nature,
and took him into the house. First, they entered
a fine large hall, magnificently furnished ; then
they passed through several spacious rooms, in the
same style of gi'andeur ; but all appeared forsaken
and desolate. A long gallery came next , it was
very dark — just light enough to show that, in-
stead of a wall on one side, there was a grating of
iron which parted off a dismal dungeon, from
whence issued the groans of those victims whom
the cruel giant kept in confinement for his own
voracious appetite. Poor Jack was half dead with
fear, and would have given the world to have
been with his mother again, for he now began to
doubt if he should ever see her more ; he even
mistrusted the good woman, and thought she had
let him into the house for no other purpose than
to lock him up among the unfortunate people in
124
THE BOOK OF POPULAR TALES.
the dungeon. However, he sat clown to the abun-
dant table when she bade him, and, not seeing any-
thing to make him imcomfortable, soon forgot his
feai', and was just beginning to enjoy himself,
when he was startled by a loud knocking at the
outer door, which made the whole house shake.
" Ah ! that 's the giant ; and if he sees you he
will kill you and me too," cried the poor woman,
trembling all over. " What shall I do ? "
" Hide me in the oven," cried Jack, now as
bold as a lion at the thought of being face to face
with his father's cruel murderer. So he crept
into the oven — for there was no fire near it —
and listened to the giant's loud voice and heavy
step as he went up and down the kitchen scolding
his wife. At last he seated himself at table, and
Jack, peeping through a crevice in the oven, was
amazed to see what a quantity of food he devoured.
It seemed as if he never would have done eating
and drinking ; but he did at last, and, leaning
back, called to his wife in a voice like thunder : —
" Bring me my hen ! "
She obeyed, and placed upon the table a very
beautiful live hen.
" Lay ! " roared the giant, and the hen laid im-
mediately an egg of solid gold.
" Lay another ! " and every time the giant said
this the hen laid a larger egg than before.
He amused himself a long time with his hen,
and then sent his wife to bed, while he fell asleep
by the fireside, and snored like the roaring of can-
non.
As soon as he was asleep Jack crept out of the
oven, seized the hen, and ran off with her. He
got safely out of the house, and finding his way
along the road by which he had come, reached
the top of the bean-stalk, which he descended in
safety.
His mother was ovei-joyed to see him. She
thought he had come to some ill end.
" Not a bit of it, mother. Look here ! " and he
showed her the hen. "Now lay!" and the hen
obeyed him as readily as she did the giant, and
laid as many golden eggs as he desired.
These eggs being sold, Jack and his mother got
plenty of money, and for some months lived very
happily together ; till Jack had another great long-
ing to climb the bean-stalk, and carry away some
more of the giant's riches. He had told his
mother of his adventure, but had been very care-
ful not to say a word about his father. He
thought of his journey again and again, but still
he could not summon resolution enough to break
it to his mother, being well assured that she would
endeavor to prevent his going. However, one
day he told her boldly that he must take another
journey up the bean-stalk ; she begged and prayed
him not to think of it, and tried all in her power
to dissuade him. She told him that the giant's
wife would certainly know him again, and that
the giant would desire nothing better than to get
him into his power, that he might put him to a
cruel death, in order to be revenged for the loss of
his hen. Jack, finding that all his arguments
were useless, ceased speaking, though resolved to
go at all events. He had a dress prepared which
would disguise him, and something to color his
skin ; he thought it impossible for any one to rec-
ollect him in this dress.
A few mornings after, he rose very early and, ,
unperceived bj^ any one, climbed the bean-stalk a
second time. He was greatly fatigued when he
reached the top, and very hungry. Having rested
some time on one of the stones, he pursued his
journey to the giant's mansion, which he reached
late in the evening : the woman was at the door
as before. Jack addi-essed her, at the same time
telling her a pitiful tale, and requesting that she
would give him some victuals and drink, and also
a night's lodging.
She told him (what he knew before very well)
about her husband's being a powerful and cruel
giant, and also that she had one night admitted a
poor, hungry, friendless bo}' ; that the little un-
grateful fellow had stolen one of the giant's treas-
ures ; and ever since that her husband had been
worse than before, using her very cruelly, and con-
tinually upbraiding her with being the cause of
his misfortune. Jack felt sorry for her, but con-
fessed nothing, and did his best to persuade her to
JACK AND THE BEAN-STALK.
126
admit him, but found it a very hard task. At
last she consented, and as she led the way, Jack
observed that everything was just as he had found
it before : she took him into the kitchen, and
after he had done eating and drinking, she hid
him in an old lumber-closet. The giant returned
walked in so
was shaken to
seated himself
after exclaim-
fresh meat ! "
was the
brought a
and left it
at the usual time, and
heavily that the house
its foundation. He
by the fire, and soon
ed: "Wife, I smell
The wife replied it
crows, which had
piece of raw meat,
at the top of the
house. While
supper was pre-
paring, the
giant was very
ill-tempered
and impatient,
frequently lift-
ing up his hand
to strike his
wife for not
being quick
enough. He
was also con-
tin u ally up-
braiding her
with the loss of his wonderful hen.
At last, having ended his supper, he cried,
" Give me something to amuse me — my harp or
my monej'-bags."
"Which will you have, my dear?" said the
wife, humbly.
" My money-bags, because they are the heaviest
to carry," tliundered he.
She brought them, staggering under the weight;
two bags — one filled with new guineas, and the
other with new shillings ; she emptied them out
on the table, and the giant began counting them
in great glee. " Now you may go to bed, you
old fool." So the wife crept away.
Jack, from his hiding-place, watched the count-
ing of the money, which he knew was his poor
father's, and wished it was his own ; it would give
him much less trouble than going about selling
the golden eggs. The giant, little thinking he
was so narrowly observed, reckoned it all up, and
then replaced it in the two bags, which he tied uji
very carefully and put beside his chair, with his
little dog to guard them. At last he fell asleep
as before, and snored so loud, that Jack compared
his noise to the roaring of the sea in a high wind,
when the tide is coming in. At last Jack, con-
cluding all secure, stole out, in order to carry off
the two bags of money ; but just as he laid his
hand upon one of them the little dog, which
he had not perceived before, started from
under the giant's chair and barked most furi-
ously. Instead of endeavoring to
escape. Jack stood still, though ex-
pecting his enemy to awake every
instant. Con-
trary, howevei',
to his expecta-
tion, the giant
continued in a
sound sleep, and
Jack, seeing a
piece of meat,
threw it to the
dog, who at once
ceased barking,
and began to
devour it. So
Jack carried off the bags, one on each shoulder,
but they were so heavy that it took him two
whole days to descend the bean-stalk and get back
to his mother's door.
When he came he found the cottage deserted.
He ran from one room to another, without being
able to find any one ; he then hastened into the
village, hoping to see some of the neighbors, who
could inform him where he could find his mother.
An old woman at last directed him to a neighbor-
ing house, where she was ill of a fever. He was
greatly shocked at finding her apparently dying,
and blamed himself bitterly as the cause of it all.
126
THE BOOK OF POPULAR TALES.
However, at sight of her dear
son the poor woman revived, and
slowly recovered health. Jack
gave her his two money-bags :
they had the cottage rebuilt and
well furnished, and lived happier
than they had ever done before.
For three years Jack talked no
more of the bean-stalk, but he
could not forget it, though he
feared making his mother un-
happy. It was in vain endeav-
oring to amuse himself : he be-
came thouglitful, and would arise
at the first dawn of day, and sit
looking at the bean-stalk for
hours together. His mother saw
that something preyed upon his
mind, and endeavored to discover
the cause ; but Jack knew too
well what the consequence would
be should she succeed. He did
his utmost, therefore, to conquer
the great desire he had for another journey up the
bean-stalk. Finding, however, that his inclination
grew too powerful for him, he began to make secret
preparations for his journey. He got ready a
new disguise, better and more complete than the
former ; and when summer came, on the longest
day he woke as soon as it was light, and, without
telling his mother, ascended the bean-stalk. He
found the road and journey much as on the two
former times. He arrived at the giant's mansion
in the evening, and found the wife standing, as
usual, at the door. Jack had disguised himself so
completely that she did not appear to have the least
recollection of him ; however, when he pleaded
hunger and poverty, in order to gain admittance,
he found it very difficult indeed to persuade her.
At last he prevailed, and was concealed in the
copper. When the giant returned, he said, furi-
ously, " I smell fresh meat ! " But Jack felt quite
composed, as he had said so before, and had been
soon satisfied. However, the giant started up sud-
denly, and, notwithstanding all his wife could say,
he searched all round the room.
Whilst this was going forward
Jack was exceedingly terrified,
wishing himself at home a thou-
sand times ; but when the giant
approached the copper, and put
his hand upon the lid. Jack
thought his death was certain.
However, nothing happened ; for the giant did
not take the trouble to lift up the lid, but sat
down shortly by the fireside, and began to eat his
enormous supper. When he had finished, he
commanded his wife to fetch his harp. Jack
peeped under the copper-lid, and saw a most
beautiful harp. The giant placed it on the table,
said " Play ! " and it played of its own accord,
without anybody touching it, the most exquisite
music imaginable. Jack, who was a very good
THE HISTORY OF VALENTINE AND ORSON.
127
musician, was delighted, and more anxious to get
this than any other of his enemy's treasures. But
the giant not being particularly fond of music,
the harp had only the effect of lulling him to sleep
earlier than usual. As for the wife, she had gone
to bed as soon as ever she could.
As soon as he thought all was safe. Jack got
out of tlie copper, and seizing the harp, was
eagerly running off with it. But the harp was
enchanted by a fairy, and as soon as it found itself
in strange hands it called out loudly, just as if it
had been alive, " Master ! Master ! "
The giant awoke, started up, and saw Jack
scampering away as fast as his legs could carry
him.
" O you villain ! it is you who have robbed me
of my hen and my money-bags, and now you are
stealing my harp also. Wait till I catch you, and
I '11 eat you up alive ! "
" Very well ; try ! " shouted Jack, who was not
a bit afraid, for he saw the giant was so tipsy he
could hardly stand, much less run ; and he him-
self had young legs and a clear conscience, which
carry a man a long way. So, after leading the
giant a considerable race, he contrived to be first
at the top of the bean-stalk, and then scrambled
down it as fast as he could, the harp playing all
the while the most melancholy music, till he said,
" Stop," and it stopped.
Arrived at the bottom, he found his mother sit-
ting at her cottage-door, weeping silently.
" Here, mother, don't cry ; just give me a
hatchet; make haste." For he knew there was
not a moment to spare ; he saw the giant begin-
ning to descend the bean-stalk.
The giant was midway when Jack with his
hatchet cut the bean-stalk close off at the root ;
the monster fell headlong into the garden, and was
killed on the spot.
Instantly the fairy appeared, and explained
everything to Jack's mother, begging her to for-
give Jack, who was his father's own son for
bravery and generosity, and who would be sure to
make her happy for the rest of her days.
So all ended well, and nothing was ever more
heard or seen of the wonderful Bean-stalk.
THE HISTORY OF VALENTINE AND ORSON.
It stands upon record that Pepin, king of
France, had a fair sister named Bellisant, who
was married to Alexander, the Emperor of Greece,
and by him carried to his capital at Constantino-
ple ; from whence, after having lived with great
virtue, she was banished through the means of a
false accuser, whom she had severely checked for
his imprudence. Although she was ill, yet was
she compelled to leave her husband's empire, to
the great regret of the people, and went away at-
tended by a squire named Blandiman.
After a long and fatiguing journey, she arrived
in the forest of Orleans, where, being very faint,
she dismissed her attendant for a nurse, but before
his return gave birth to two lovely children, one
of which was carried off by a she-bear ; but she,
wishing to save it, pursued on her hands and
knees, leaving the other behind. Before her re-
turn. King Pepin, being a-hnnting in the forest,
came to the tree where she had left the other babe,
and causing it to be taken up, sent it to a nurse,
and when it grew up he called his name Valen-
tine. Blandiman at length came back and instead
of finding his mistress, found her brother Pepin at
the tree, to whom he declared all that had hap-
pened, and how his sister was banished through
the false suggestions of the arch-priest. But King
Pepin, hearing this, believed the charge, and was
greatly enraged against the Lady Bellisant, saying
the emperor ought to have put her to death. So
leaving Blandiman, he returned with his nobles to
Paris.
The Lady Bellisant, having followed the bear to
no purpose, returned to the place where she had
left the other babe ; but great was her sorrow
when Blandiman said he had seen her brother Pe-
128
THE BOOK OF POPULAR TALES.
pin, but could tell nothing of the child ; and hav-
ing comforted her for the loss of it, they went to
the seaside, took shipping, and arrived at the cas-
tle of the great Feragus, in Portugal.
All this -while the bear nourished the infant
among her young ones, until at length it grew up
a wild, hairy man, doing great mischief to all that
passed through the forest; in which we will leave
him and return to the arch-priest, who continued
his ill-doing until he was impeached by a mer-
chant of having wrongfully accused the empress ;
upon which they fought, and the merchant con-
quering, made the priest confess all his treasons.
The emperor wrote about it to the King of France
and the arch-priest was hanged.
Now was Valentine grown a lusty young man,
and by the king was greatly beloved, as if he had
been his own child ; he commanded him to be
taught the use of arms, in which he soon became
so expert that few in the court dared to encounter
him, which made Hufray and Henry, the king's
sons, exceedingly envy him. At this juncture
great complaints were made against the Wild Man,
from whom no knight who had encountered him
had escaped with his life, which made the king
promise a thousand marks to anj' one who should
bring him dead or alive, which offer none dared
to accept. Hufray and Henry desired King Pepin
to send Valentine, with a view of getting rid of so
powerful a rival in the king's favor ; but his maj-
esty, seeing their malice, was very angry, telling
them he had rather lose the best baron in the land.
However, Valentine desired leave of his majesty
to go to the forest, resolving either to conquer the
Wild Man or die in the attempt. Accordingly,
having furnished himself with a good horse and
arms, he set forward on his journey, and after hard
traveling he arrived in the forest. In the evening
he tied his horse to a large spreading oak, and got
up into a tree himself for security, where he rested
that night.
Next morning he beheld the Wild Man travers-
ing the forest in search of his prey ; at length he
came to the tree where Valentine's hoi'se stood,
from whom he pulled many hairs, upon which the
horse kicked him. The Wild Man feeling the
pain, was going to tear him to pieces, which Val-
entine seeing, made signs as if he would fight him,
and accordingly he leaped down and gave him a
blow, but the Wild Man caught him by the arm
and threw him to the ground ; then taking up
Valentine's shield, he beheld it with amaze, in re-
spect to the colors thereon emblazoned. Valentine
being much bruised, got up and came to his brother
in much anger, but Orson ran to a tree, and then
they engaged, but both being terribly wounded,
gave out by consent ; after which Valentine sig-
nified to Orson that if he would yield to him he
would order matters so as he should become a ra-
tional creature.
Orson, thinking that he meant no harm,
stretched forth his hands to him ; upon which he
bound him and then led him to Paris, where he
presented him to King Pepin, who had the Wild
Man baptized by the name of Orson, from his be-
ing taken in a wood. Orson's actions, during their
stay there, very much amused the whole court, so
that at length the Duke of Acquitain sent letters
importing that whoever should overcome the Green
Knight, a fiei'ce Pagan champion, should have his
daughter Fazon in marriage. Upon which Valen-
tine set out for that province, attended by his
brother Orson, by which means he came to the
knowledge of his parents, as we shall find here-
after.
After a long journey, Valentine and Orson ar-
rived at Duke Savary's palace in Acquitain, and
making known the reasons that bi-ought them
there, were presented to Fazon, to whom Valen-
tine thus addressed himself : " Sweet creature !
King Pepin has sent me hither to fight the Green
Knight, and with me the bravest knight in all his
realm, who, though he is dumb and naked, is en-
dued with such valor that no knight under the sun
is able to cope with him."
During this speech she viewed Orson narrowly
and he her ; but supper coming in, interrupted
them, and they sat down to eat. W^hilst they
were in the midst of their feasting, the Green
Knight entered, saying, —
THE HISTORY OF VALENTINE AND ORSON.
129
" Noble Duke of Acquitain, hast thou any more
knights to cope with me for thy daughter ? "
"Yea," replied the duke, "I have seventeen,"
and so he showed them to him. The Green
Knight then said to them : —
" Eat your fill, for to-morrow will be your
last."
Orson, heariag what he had said, was much in-
censed against him, and suddenly rising from the
table, threw the Green Knight with such force
against the wall as laid him dead for some time,
which very much pleased the vphole company.
Next daj', many knights went to fight the Green
Knight, but he overcame and slew them all, until
at last Orson, being armed in Valentine's armor,
came to the Green Knight's pavilion, and defying
him, they began the most desperate combat that
ever was heard of, and the Green Knight made
so great a stroke at him, as cut off the top of his
helmet, and half his shield, wounding him much.
But this served only to enrage the valiant Orson,
who, coming to him on foot, took hold of him,
and pulling him from his horse, got astride him,
and was just going to kill him, when he was pre-
vented by Valentine, who interceded with Orson
to spare his life, on condition of his turning
Christian, and he acquainted King Pepin how he
was conquered.
The Green Knight having promised to perform
all that was desired, they led him a prisoner to
the city of Acquitain, and the duke received them
with great joy, and offered the Lady Fazon to
Orson; but he would not marry her till his brother
had won the Green Knight's sister. Lady Cleri-
mond, nor till they had talked with the enchanted
Head of Brass, to know his parents, and get the
proper use of his tongue. When the lady knew
this she was very sorrowful, because she loved
Orson, and was resolved to marry none but him
■who had nobly conquered the Green Knight.
Valentine and Orson having taken leave of the
Duke of Acquitain and his daughter Fazon, pro-
ceeded on their journey in search of the Lady
Clerimond, and at last came to a tower of bur-
nished brass ; which upon inquiry they discovered
IT
to be kept by Clerimond, sister to Feragus and
the Green Knight; and having demanded entrance
were refused it by the sentinel, which provoked
Valentine to that degree that he drew sword
against him with such fury as to make the sentinel
fall dead at his feet.
The Lady Clerimond beheld all this dispute,
and, seeing them brave knights, received them
courteously. Valentine having presented tokens
from the Green Knight, told her he came there
for the love of her, and to discourse with the all-
knowing Head of Brass concerning their parents.
After dinner the Lady Clerimond took them by
the hand, and led them to the Chamber of Varie-
ties, where the Head was placed between four
pillars of pure jasper. When they entered the
chamber the Head made the following speech to
Valentine : —
" Thou famous knight of royal extract art called
Valentine the Valiant, who of right ought to marry
the Lady Clerimond. Thou art son to the Em-
peror of Greece and the Empress Bellisant who is
now in the castle of Feragus in Portugal, vphere
she has resided for twenty years. King Pepin is
thy uncle, and the Wild Man thy brother. The
Empress Bellisant brought ye two forth in the
forest of Orleans ; he was taken away by a raven-
ous bear; and thou wast taken up by thy uncle
Pepin, who brought thee up to man's estate.
Moreover, I likewise tell thee that thy brotlier
shall never speak until thou cuttest the thread
that groweth under his tongue."
The Brazen Head having ended his speech,
Valentine embraced Orson, and cut the thread
which grew under his tongue, when he directly
related many surprising things. After which Val-
entine married the Lady Clerimond, but not be-
fore she had turned a Christian.
In this castle there lived a dwarf, named Paco-
let, who was an enchanter, and by his art had
contrived a horse of wood, and in the forehead a
fixed pin, by turning of which one could convey
one's self to the farthest part of the world. This
enchanter flew to Portugal and informed Feragus
of his sister's nuptials, and of her turning Chris-
130
THE BOOK OF POPULAR TALES.
tian, which so enraged him that he swore by Ma-
homet he would make her rue it, and therefore
got ready his fleet and sailed toward the castle of
Clerimond, where, when he arrived, he concealed
his malice from his sister, and also the two knights,
telling them that he came to fetch them into
Poi-tugal, the better to solemnize their marriage,
and he would turn Christian on their arrival at
his castle, all which they believed, and soon after
embarked with hi)n. When he had got them on
board he ordered them to be put in irons, which
so much grieved his sister Clerimond that she
■would have thrown herself into the sea, had she
not been stopped.
When they were come to Portugal he put Val-
entine and Orson into a dungeon, and fed them
with bread and water, but allowed his sister Cleri-
mond the liberty of the castle, where she met the
Empress Bellisant, wlio bad been confined twenty
years in the castle of Feragus. She seeing her so
full of grief, consoled her, inquiring the reason,
which she told her.
The empress was mightily grieved, but Pacolet
comforted them, saying that he would release
them all that evening, which he accordingly did
in the following manner. In the dead of the night
he went to the dungeon where lay Valentine and
Orson bound in chains, and touching the doors
with his magic wand, they flew open, and coming
to the knights he released them and conducted
them to the apartment where Bellisant and Cleri-
mond were, who were exceedingly transported ;
but Pacolet hindered them from discoursing lone
by telling them that they must depart before the
guards of Feragus awaked, which would put a
stop to his proceedings. So Pacolet led them out
of the castle and having prepared a ship, he con-
veyed them to Lady Fazon, at the city of Acqui-
tain. The next morning when Feragus heard of
their escape he was enraged to the highest de-
gree.
The knights and ladies being out of danger
soon arrived at Acquitain, to the great joy of
Lady Fazon, who was soon after married to Orson
with great solemnity, upon which occasion tilts
and tournaments were performed for many days,
but Valentine carried off the prize, overthrowing
at least a hundred brave knights.
Feragus, to be revenged on them, assembled an
army, marched against the city of Acquitain, and
laid close siege to it, with a vast army of Saracens.
When Duke Savary perceived it, he resolved to
give them battle the very next morning, and ac-
cordingly he sallied forth with all his foi-ces, but
venturing too far, he was taken by the Saracens,
and carried to Feragus's tent.
Now Orson was resolved to set him free or lose
his life ; so putting on the armor of a dead Sara-
cen, he called Pacolet, and went through the enemy
without being molested, until they arrived at the
tent where the duke was confined ; which done,
they gave him a horse and a road to the Christian
army ; on their return, a general shout was made
bj' all the ai-my, " Long live the Duke of Acqui-
tain," which so dismayed tlie Saracens that they
fled away in confusion, and the Christians pur-
sued them, till the night obliged them to give
over.
Soon after the victory, Valentine, Orson, the
Ladies Bellisant, Clerimond, and Fazon, after they
had taken leave of Didie Savaiy and his nobles,
set out for Constantinople to see the emperor,
and were received with great joy.
At length the emperor set out from Constan-
tinople, after taking leave of his family, to visit
a strong castle he had in Spain. While he was
absent Brandifer, brother to Feragus, invaded the
empire with a very great army, and finally be-
sieged Constantinople, where lay Valentine and
Orson, the Green Knight, and all the ladies. Val-
entine, seeing the condition they all were in, re-
solved to give Brandifer battle, and thereupon di-
vided his army into ten battalions commanded by
ten knights, and sallying out of the city began the
fight with the Saracens, who drew up in readiness
to receive them.
In the mean time the emperor, who was at sea,
returned homeward, and in his way he met a fleet
going to the assistance of Brandifer, which bore
upon him with full sail ; whereupon, exhorting his
THE HISTORY OF VALENTINE AND ORSON.
131
companions to behave like men, tliey made ready
to receive tliera, and after a most bloody and ob-
stinate battle the emperor got the victory, having
slain many of the Pagans and dispersed their
ships.
After this victory the emperor commanded his
men to put on the arms of the vanquished, as he
did himself, thfnking thereby the better to fall on
the besiegers his enemies, but the stratagem proved
most fatal to him, as we shall hereafter find.
All this while the Christians and Valentine
braveljr encountered Brandifer and his men be-
fore the walls of Constantinople, sometimes gain-
ing, and sometimes losing, ground ; but at length
Valentine came to the standard of Bi'andifer,
whei-e an Indian king ran upon him with great
force, but Valentine, avoiding him, struck him
with such fury as cleft him down the middle. On
the other hand Orson and the Green Knight were
not idle, but with their brandished swords cut
themselves a passage quite through the Pagan
army, destroying all that opposed them.
Soon after, news came that a mighty fleet of
Saracens was entering the harbor ; whereupon
Valentine judged it was necessary to go thither
and opiDose their landing, but it proved fatal; for
in this fleet was the emperor, his father, whom,
being clad in Saracen armor, Valentine by mis-
take ran quite through the body with his spear ;
which when he knew, he would have killed him-
self, had not his brother and the Green Knight
prevented him ; but getting a horse, with an in-
tent to lose his life, he rushed into the midst of the
enemy, till he came to the giant Brandifer, who
when he saw Valentine encountered him so
fiercely that both fell to the ground ; but Valen-
tine recovering gave him a stab, which sent him
after his false prophet Mahomet.
The Pagans, seeing their king dead, threw down
their arms and ran, and the Christians pursued
them with a mighty slaughter. At last, the pur-
suit being ovei', they returned to Constantinople,
and Orson acquainted the empress with the death
of his father, but concealed by whom it was done,
upon which it was concluded that Valentine and
Orson should govern the empire by turns, with
their wives, the Ladies Fazon and Clerimond,
whose brother, the Green Knight, was crowned
King of the Green Mountain, the people of which
were much delighted to have so brave a warrior
for their king.
Now Valentine being greatly vexed in mind for
the death of his father, whom he had killed out of
a mistake, resolved to make a pilgrimage to the
Holy Sepulchre ; and thereupon taking leave of
his wife Clerimond, and giving the government of
the empire unto his brother, he departed, to the
great sorrow of all, particularly his brother Orson
and the fair Clerimond. After seven years' ab-
sence he returned, dressed like a poor jjalmer, beg-
ging victuals at the gate of his own palace ; and
at length being sick and about to die, he called
for Clerimond and made himself known to her, at
which she was readj^ to give up the ghost.
At last, having recommended her to his broth-
er's care, and the empress, his dear mother, and
asking a blessing of them, he turned on one side
and breathed out his noble soul from his illustri-
ous body, to the gi'eat grief of all the valiant
knights of Christendom, to whom he had been a
most noble example and a generous reliever.
Clerimond never would espouse any one, but be-
took her to a single life, always lamenting the loss
of her beloved husband.
After his death, Orson governed the empire
with great wisdom and justice for seven years, till
at length, seeing the fragile state of human affairs,
he gave the charge of his empire, wife, and chil-
dren to the Green Knight, and then, turning her-
mit, he became once more a voluntary dweller in
the forests and woods, where, after living to a
great age, this magnanimous and invincible hero
surrendered up his body unto never-sparing death,
and his soul to the immortal God, of whose attri-
bute it had a true resemblance.
Thus, reader, you may see that none withstand,
Though great iu valor, or in vast command,
The mighty force of death's all conquering hand.
132
THE BOOK OF POPULAR TALES.
CLEVER ALICE.
Once upon a time there was a man who had a
daughter, who was called " Clever Alice ; " and
when she was grown up her father said, "We
must see about her marrying."
" Yes," replied her mother, " whenever a young
man shall appear who is worthy of her."
At last a certain youth, by name Hans, came
from a distance to make a proposal of marriage ;
but he required one condition, that the Clever
Alice should be very prudent.
" Oh," said her father, " no fear of that ! she
has got a head full of brains ; " and the mother
added, " Ah, she can see the wind blow up the
street, and hear the flies cough ! "
" Very well," replied Hans ; " but remember, if
she is not very prudent I will not take her."
Soon afterwards they sat down to dinner, and her
mother said, " Alice, go down into the cellar and
draw some beer."
So Clever Alice took the jug down from the
wall, and went into the cellar, jerking the lid up
and down on her way, to pass away the time. As
soon as she got down-stairs, she drew a stool and
plaped it before the cask, in order that she might
not have to stoop, for she thought stooping might
in some way injui'e her back, and give it an un-
desirable bend. Then she placed the can before
her and turned the tap, and while the beer was
running, as she did not wish her eyes to be idle,
she looked about upon the wall above and be-
low.
Presently she perceived, after much peeping
into this corner and that corner, a hatchet, which
the bricklayers had left behind, sticking out of
the ceiling right above her head. At the sight of
this Clever Alice began to cry, saying, " Oh ! if I
marry Hans, and we have a child, and he grows
up, and we send him into the cellar to draw beer,
the hatchet will fall upon his head and kill him ; "
and so she sat there weeping with all her might
over the impending misfortune.
Meanwhile the good folks up-stairs were waiting
for the beer, but as Clever Alice did not come, her
mother told the maid to go and see what she was
stopping for. The maid went down into the cel-
lar, and found Alice sitting before the cask crying
heartily, and she asked, " Alice, what are you
weeping about ? "
" Ah," she replied, " have I not cause ? If I
marry Hans, and we have a child, and he grows
up, and we send him here to draw beer, that
hatchet will fall upon his head and kill him."
" Oh," said the maid, " what a clever Alice we
have ! " And, sitting down, she began to weep,
too, for the misfortune that was to happen.
After a while, when the servant did not return,
the good folks above began to feel very thirsty ; so
the husband told the boy to go down into the cel-
lar, and see what had become of Alice and the
maid. The boy went down, and there sat Clever
Alice and the maid both crying, so he asked the
reason ; and Alice told him the same tale, of the
hatchet that was to fall on her child, if she mar-
ried Hans, and if they had a child. When she
had finished, the boy exclaimed, " What a clever
Alice we have ! " and fell weeping and howling
with the others.
Up-stairs they were still waiting, and the hus-
band said, when the boy did not return, " Do you
go down, wife, into the cellar and see why Alice
stays so long." So she went down, and finding all
three sitting there crying, asked the reason, and
Alice told her about the hatchet which must inevi-
tably fall upon the head of her son. Then the
mother likewise exclaimed, " Oh, what a clever
Alice we have ! " and, sitting down, began to weep
as much as any of the rest.
Meanwhile the husband waited for his wife's re-
turn ; but at last he felt so very thirsty that he
said, "I must go myself down into the cellar and
see what is keeping our Alice." As soon as he
entered the cellar, there he found the four sitting
and crying together, and when he heard the rea-
son, he also exclaimed, " Oh, what a clever Alice
CLEVER ALICE.
133
we have ! " and sat down to cry with the whole
strength of his lungs.
All this time the bridegroom above sat waiting,
but when nobody returned, he thought they must
be waitins for him, and so he went down to see
what was the matter. When he entered, there
sat the five crying and groaning, each one in a
louder key thai5 his neighbor.
" What misfortune has happened ? " he asked.
" Ah, dear Hans ! " cried Alice, " if you and I
should marry one another, and have a child, and
he should grow up, and we, perhaps, send him
down to this cellar to tap the beer, the hatchet
which has been left sticking up there may fall on
his head, and so kill him ; and do you not think
this is enough to weep about ? "
" Now," said Hans, " more prudence than this
is not necessary for my housekeeping ; because you
are such a clever Alice, I will have you for my
wife." And, taking her hand, he led her home,
and celebrated the wedding directly.
After they had been married a little while,
Hans said one morning, " Wife, I will go out to
work and earn some money ; do you go into the
field and gather some corn wherewith to make
bread."
" Yes," she answered, " I will do so, dear Hans."
And when he was gone, she cooked herself a nice
mess of pottage to take with her. As she came
to the field she said to herself, " What shall I do ?
Shall I cut first, or eat first ? Ay, I will eat first ! "
Then she ate up the contents of her pot, and when
it was finished she thought to herself, " Now,
shall I reap first or sleep first ? Well, I think I
will have a nap ! " and so she laid herself down
amongst the corn, and went to sleep.
Meanwhile Hans returned home, but Alice did
not come, and so he said, " Oh, what a prudent
Alice I have ! She is so industrious that she does
not even come home to eat anything." By and
by, however, evening came on, and still she did
not return ; so Hans went out to see how much
she had reaped ; but, behold, nothing at all, and
there lay Alice fast asleep among the corn ! So
home he ran very fast, and brought a net with
little bells hanging on it, which he threw over her
head while she still slept on. When he had done
this, he went back again and shut the house-door,
and, seating himself on his stool, began working
^evy industriously.
At last, when it was nearly dark, the Clever
Alice awoke, and as soon as she stood up, the net
fell all over her hair, and the bells jingled at every
step she took. This quite frightened her, and
she began to doubt whether she were really Clever
Alice, and said to herself, " Am I she, or am I
not ? " This was a question she could not answer,
and she stood still a long while considering about
it. At last she thought she would go home and
ask whether she were really herself — supposing
somebody would be able to tell her. When she
came to the house-door it was shut ; so she tapped
at the window, and asked, " Hans, is Alice with-
in ? " " Yes," he replied, " she is." At which an-
swer she became really terrified, and exclaiming,
" Ah, heaven, then I am not Aiice ! " she ran up
to another house, intending to ask the same ques-
tion. But as soon as the folks within heard the
jingling of the bells in her net, they refused to
open their doors, and nobody would receive her.
So she ran straight away from the village, and no
one has ever seen her since.
THE BOOK OF STORIES IN VERSE.
THE CHILDREN IN THE WOOD.
Now ponder well, you parents dear,
These words which I shall write ;
A doleful story you shall hear,
In time brought forth to light.
A gentleman of good account
In Norfolk dwelt of late,
Who did in honor far surmount
Most men of his estate.
Sore sick he was, and like to die.
No help his life could save ;
His wife by him as sick did lie,
And both possessed one grave.
No love between these two was lost.
Each was to other kind ;
In love they lived, in love they died.
And left two babes behind.
The one, a fine and pretty boy.
Not passing three years old ;
The other, a girl more young than he.
And framed in beauty's mold.
The father left his little son,
As plainly doth appear.
When he to perfect age should come.
Three hundred pounds a year.
And to his little daughter Jane,
Five hundred pounds in gold,
To be paid down on her marriage-day.
Which might not be controlled :
But if the children chanced to die
Ere they to age should come,
Their uncle should possess their wealth ;
For so the will did run.
" Now, brother," said the dying man,
'' Look to my children dear ;
Be good unto my boy and girl.
No friends else have they here :
To God and you I recommend
My children dear this day ;
But little while be sure we have
Within this world to stay.
" You must be father and mother both,
And uncle all in one ;
God knows what will become of them,
When I am dead and gone."
With that bespake their mother dear,
" O brother kind," quoth she,
" You are the man must bring our babes
To wealth or misery.
" And if you keep them carefully.
Then God will you reward ;
But if you otherwise should deal,
God will your deeds regard."
With lips as cold as any stone,
They kissed their children small :
THE CHILDREN IN THE WOOD.
135
"God bless you both, my chiklren
dear ; "
"With that their tears did fall.
These speeches then their brother
spake
To this sick couple there :
•• The keeping of your little ones,
Sweet sister, do not fear.
God never prosper me nor mine,
Nor aught else that I have,
If I do wrong your children dear
When you are laid in grave."
The parents being dead and gone,
The children home he takes,
And brings them straight unto his house,
Where much of them he makes.
He had not kept these pretty babes
A twelvemonth and a day,
But, for their wealth, he did devise
To make them both away.
He bargained with two ruffians strong
Which were of furious mood.
That they should take these children young
And slay them in a wood.
He told his wife an artful tale :
He would the children send
To be brought up in fair London,
With one that was his friend.
Away then went those pretty babes,
Rejoicing at that tide,
Rejoicing with a merry mind.
They should on cock-horse ride.
They prate and prattle pleasantly.
As they rode on the way.
To those that should their butchers be,
And work their lives' decay.
So that the pretty speech they had,
Made murder's heart relent :
And they that undertook the deed
Full sore did now repent.
Yet one of them, more hard of heart,
Did vow to do his charge.
Because the wretch that hired him
Had paid him very large.
The other won't agree thereto.
So here they fall to strife ;
With one another they did fight
About the children's life :
And he that was of mildest mood.
Did slay the other there.
Within an unfrequented wood :
The babes did quake for fear !
He took the children by the hand,
Tears standing in their eye,
And bade them straightway follow him,
And look they did not cry ;
And two long miles he led them on,
While they for food complain :
" Stay here," quoth he, " I 'U bring you bread.
When I come back again."
These pretty babes, with hand in hand.
Went wandering up and down ;
But never more could see the man
Approaching from the town : ^
Their pretty lips with blackberries
Were all besmeared and dyed.
136
THE BOOK OF STORIES IN VERSE.
And wlien they saw the darksome uight,
They sat them down and cried.
Thus wandered these poor innocents
Till death did end their grief,
In one another's arms they died,
As wanting due relief:
No burial this pretty pair
Of any man receives.
Till Robin Redbreast piously
Did cover them with leaves.
MARY'S LAMB.
Mary had a little lamb.
Its fleece was white as snow ;
And everywhere that Mary went.
The lamb was sure to go.
He followed her to school one day, —
That was against the rule ;
It made the children laugh and play.
To see a lamb at school.
And now the heavy wrath of God
Upon their uncle fell ;
Yea, fearful fiends did haunt his house,
His conscience felt an hell :
His barns were fired, his goods consumed,
His lands were barren made,
His cattle died within the field.
And nothing with him stayed.
And in the voyage to Portugal
Two of his sons did die ;
And, to conclude, himself was brought
To want and misery.
He pawned and mortgaged all his land
Ere seven years came about.
And now at length this wicked act
Did bj' this means come out :
The fellow that did take in hand
These children for to kill.
Was for a robbery judged to die.
Such was God's blessed will.
Who did confess the very truth.
As here hath been displayed :
Their uncle having died in gaol.
Where he for debt was laid.
You that executors be made.
And overseers eke
Of children that be fatherless,
And infants mild and meek ;
Take you example by this thing,
And yield to each his right,
Lest God with such like misery
Y''our wicked minds requite.
Old Ballad.
So the teacher turned him out,
But still he lingered near,
And waited patiently about.
Till Mary did appear.
Then he ran to her, and laid
His head upon her arm,
As if he said, " I 'm not afraid, —
You '11 keep me from all harm."
" What makes the lamb love Mary so ? "
The eager children cry.
"Oh, Mary loves the lamb, you know,"
The teacher did reply.
Mrs. Hale.
THE SPIDER AND HIS WIFE.
In a little dark crack, half a yard from the ground.
An honest old spider resided:
So pleasant and snug, and convenient 'twas found.
That his friends came to see it for many miles round :
It seemed for his pleasure provided.
Of the cares, and fatigues, and distresses of life,
This spider was thoroughly tired :
So leaving those scenes of contention and strife,
(His children all settled) he came with his wife.
To live in this cranny retired.
He thought that the little his wife would consume,
'T would be easy for him to provide her.
Forgetting he lived in a gentleman's room.
Where came every morning a maid and a broom,
Those pitiless foes to a spider.
THE NOTORIOUS GLUTTON.
137
For when (as sometimes it would chance to befall)
Just when his neat web was completed,
Brush — came the great broom down the side of
wall,
And perhaps carried with it, web, spider, and all,
He thought himself cruelly treated.
One day, when their cupboard was empty and dry,
His wife (Mrs. Hairy-leg Spinner)
Said to him, " Dear, go to the cobweb and try,
If you can't find the leg or the wing of a fly,
As a bit of a relish for dinner."
the
And, high iu repute with his feathery friends.
Was called Doctor Drake ; — for this doctor she sends.
In a hole of the dunghill was Doctor Drake's shop.
Where he kept a few simples for curing the crop ;
Some gravel and pebbles, to help the digestion.
And certain famed plants of the doctor's selection.
So, taking a handful of comical things,
And brushing his topple and pluming his wings,
And putting his feathers in apple-pie order.
Set out, to prescribe for the lady's disorder.
Directly he went, his long search to resume,
(For nothing he ever denied her)
Alas ! little guessing his terrible doom ;
Just then came the gentleman into his room,
And saw the unfortunate spider.
So, while the poor fellow, in search of his pelf.
In the cobwebs continued to linger,
The gentleman reached a long cane from the shelf
(^For certain good reasons best knoivn to himself
Preferring his stick to his finger) —
Then presently poking him down to the floor,
(Not stopping at all to consider)
With one horrid crush the whole business was o'er,
The poor little spider was heard of no more,
To the lasting distress of his widow !
Jane Taylor.
THE NOTORIOUS GLUTTON.
A DOCK, who had got such a habit of stuffing,
That all the day long she was panting and puffing;
And by every creature, who did her great crop see,
Was thought to be galloping fast for a dropsy ;
One day, after eating a plentiful dinner.
With full twice as much as there should have been in
her,
While up to her eyes in the gutter a roking,
Was greatly alarmed by the symptoms of choking.
Now there was an old fellow, much famed for discerning
(A drake, who had taken a liking for learning),^
18
" Dear sir," said the duck, with a delicate quack.
Just turning a little way round on her back,
And leaning her head on a stone iu the yard,
" My case, Doctor Drake, is exceedingly hard.
"■I feel so distended with wind, and opprest.
So squeamish and faint — such a load at my chest;
And, day after day, I assure you it is hard
To suffer with patience these pains in my gizzard."
" Give me leave," said the doctor, with medical look,
As her flabby cold paw in his fingers he took ;
"By the feel of your pulse — your complaint, I 've been
thinking
Is caused by your habit of eating and drinking."
" Oh no, sir, believe me," the lady replied
(Alarmed for her stomach as well as her pride),
" I am sure it arises from nothing I eat.
For I rather suspect I got wet in my feet.
" I 've only been raking a bit in the gutter.
Where the cook had been pouring some cold melted
butter ;
And a slice of green cabbage, and scraps of cold
meat,
Just a trifle or two, that I thought I could eat."
The doctor was just to his business proceeding,
By gentle emetics, a blister, and bleeding.
When all on a sudden she rolled on her side.
Gave a horrible quackle, a struggle, and died !
Her remains were interred in a neighboring swamp
By her friends, with a great deal of funeral pomp ;
138
THE BOOK OF STORIES IN VERSE.
But I 've heard this inscription her tombstone was put
on,
"Here lies Mrs. Dock, the notorious glutton:"
And all the young ducklings are brought by their
friends,
To learn the disgrace in which gluttony ends.
Jane Taylor.
Nor once did she lack to continue her clack,
Till again she laid down on her pillow.
You '11 thiuk now, perhaps, there would have been gaps,
If she had n't been wonderful clever ;
. That her sense was so great, and so witty her pate
That it would be forthcoming forever.
DIRTY JACK.
There was one little Jack, not very long back,
And 't is said to his lasting disgrace,
That he never was seen with his hands at all clean.
Nor yet ever clean was his face.
His friends were much hurt to see so much dirt,
And often and well did they scour :
But all was in vain, he was dirty again
Before they had done it an hour.
But that 's quite absurd, for have you not heard,
Much tongue and few brains are connected,
That they are supposed to think least who talk most.
And their wisdom is always susj)ected ?
While Lucj' was young, had she bridled her tongue
With a little good sense and exertion.
Who knows but she might have been our delight.
Instead of our jest and aversion ?
Jane Taylor.
When to wash he was sent, he reluctantly went,
With water to splash himself o'er,
But he left the black streaks all over his cheeks,
And made them look worse than before.
The pigs in the dirt could n't be more expert
Than he was, at grubbing about ;
And the people have thought, this gentleman ought
To be made with four legs and a snout.
The idle and bad may, like to this lad,
Be dirty and black, to be sure.
But good boys are seen to be decent and clean,
Although they are ever so poor.
Jane Taylor.
MEDDLESOME MATTY.
On, how one ugly trick has spoiled
The sweetest and the best !
Matilda, though a pleasant child.
One ugly trick possest.
Which, like a cloud before the skies,
Hid all her better qualities.
Sometimes she'd lift the tea-pot lid,
To peep at what was in it ;
Or tilt the kettle, if you did
But turn your back a minute.
In vain you told her not to touch,
Her trick of meddling grew so much.
THE CHATTERBOX.
From morning to night 't was Lucy's delight
To chatter and talk without stopping ;
There was not a day but she rattled away.
Like water forever a dropping !
As soon as she rose, while she put on her clothes,
'T was vain to endeavor to still her ;
Her grandmamma went out one day.
And by mistake she laid
Her spectacles and snuff-box gay
Too near the little maid :
Ah, well ! thought she, I '11 try them on,
As soon as grandmamma is gone.
Forthwith she placed upon her nose
The glasses large and wide ;
And looking round, as I suppose,
The snufF-box too she spied.
NEVER PLAT WITH FIRE.
139
Oh, what a pretty box is this !
I '11 opeu it, said little miss.
I know that grandmamma would say,
Don't meddle with it, dear !
But then, she 's far enough away,
And no one else is near ;
Besides, w^iat can there be amiss
In opening such a box as this ?
So thumb and finger went to work
To move the stubborn lid ;
And presently a mighty jerk
The mighty mischief did ;
For, all at once, ah woeful case !
The suuiF came puffing in her face.
Poor eyes, and nose, and mouth, and chin,
A dismal sight presented ;
And, as the snuff got farther in.
Sincerely she repented.
In vain she ran about for ease.
She could do nothing else but sneeze !
She dashed the spectacles away
To wipe her tingling eyes ;
And as in twenty bits they lay.
Her grandmamma she spies.
Heyday ! and what 's the matter now ?
Cried grandmamma, with lifted brow.
Matilda, smarting with the pain.
And tingling still, and sore,
Made many a promise to refrain
From meddling evermore ;
And 't is a fact, as I have heard.
She ever since has kept her word.
Jane Tatlob.
THE PIN.
Dear me ! what signifies a pin,
Wedged in a rotten board ?
I 'm certain that I won't begin.
At ten years old, to hoard !
I never will be called a miser.
That I 'm determined, said Eliza.
So onward tript the little maid,
And left the pin behind,
Which very snug and quiet laid,
To its hard fate resigned ;
Nor did she think (a careless chit)
'T was worth her while to stoop for it.
Next day a party was to ride
To see an air balloon ;
And all the company beside
Were dressed and ready soon ;
But she a woeful case was in.
For want of just a single pin !
In vain her eager eye she brings
To every darksome crack.
There was not one ! and all her things
Were dropping off her back.
She cut her pincushion in two,
But no ! not one had slidden through.
At last, as hunting ou the floor
Over a crack she lay.
The carriage rattled to the door,
Then rattled fast away ;
But poor Eliza was not in,
For want of just — a single pin.
There's hardly anything so small,
So trifling, or so mean.
That we may never want at all.
For service unforeseen ;
And willful waste, depend upon 't.
Is, almost always, willful want !
Jane Taylor.
NEVER PLAY AVITH FIRE.
Mt prayers I said, I went to bed,
And soon I fell asleep :
But soon I woke, my sleep was broke,
I through my curtain peep.
I heard a noise of men and boys.
The watchman's rattle too ;
And FIRE they cried — and then cried I,
Oh dear ! what shall I do ?
140
THE BOOK OF STORIES IN VERSE.
A shout so loud came from the crowd
Around, above, below ;
And in the street the neighbors meet,
Who would the matter know.
Now down the stairs run threes and pairs
Enough to break their bones ;
The firemen swear, the engines tear
And thunder o'er the stones.
The roof and wall, and stair and all,
And rafters tumble iu ;
Red flames and blaze now all amaze,
And make a dreadful din !
And horrid screams, when bricks and beams
Come tumbling on their heads ;
And some are smashed, and some are crashed ;
Some leap on feather beds.
Some burn, some choke with fire and smoke !
And oh, what was the cause ?
My heart's dismayed, last night I played
With Tommy, lighting straws !
Adelaide Taylor.
THE POND.
There was a round pond, and a pretty pond too.
About it white daisies and buttercups grew,
And dark weeping willows, that stooped to the ground.
Dipped iu their long branches and shaded it round.
A party of ducks to this pond would repair,
To feast on the green water-weeds that grew there ;
Indeed the assembly would frequently meet
To talk o'er affairs in this pleasant retreat.
Now the subjects, on which they were wont to con-
verse,
I 'm sorry I cannot include in my verse ;
For though I 've oft listened in hopes of discerning,
I own 't is a matter that baffles my learning.
One day a young chicken, who lived thereabout,
Stood watching to see the ducks pass in and out ;
Now standing tail upwards, now diving below ;
She thought of all things she should like to do so.
So this foolish chicken began to declare,
" I 've really a great mind to venture in there ;
My mother 's oft told me I must not go nigh,
But really, for my part, I cauuot tell why.
" Ducks have feathers and wings, and so have I too,
And my feet — what 's the reason that they will not do ?
Though my beak is pointed, and their beaks are round.
Is that any reason that I should be drowued ?
" So why should not I swim as well as a duck ?
Suppose that I venture and e'en try my luck ?
For," said she, spite of all that her mother had taught
her,
" 1 'm really remarkably fond of the water."
So in this poor ignorant animal flew,
And found that her dear mother's cautions were true ;
She splashed, and she dashed, and she turned herself
round.
And heartily wished herself safe on the ground.
But now 't was too late to begin to repent.
The harder she struggled the deeper she went ;
And when every effort she vainly had tried,
She slowly sank down to the bottom and died !
The ducks, I perceived, began loudly to quack,
When they saw the poor fowl floating dead on its back ;
And by their grave looks, it was very apparent,
They discoursed on the sin of not minding a parent.
Jane Taylor.
THE COW AND THE ASS.
Hard by a green meadow a stream used to flow.
So clear, one might see the white pebbles below ;
To this cooling stream the warm cattle would stray.
To stand in the shade ou a hot summer's day.
A cow, quite oppressed with the heat of the sun.
Came here to refresh, as she often had done ;
And standing stock still, leaning over the stream.
Was musing, perhaps, or perhaps she might dream.
NOSE AND EYES.
141
But soon a brown ass, of respectable look,
Came trotting up also to taste of the brook,
And to nibble a few of the daisies and grass ;
" How d' ye do ? " said the cow ; " How d' ye do ? "
said the ass.
" Take a seat," cried the cow, gently waving her hand ;
" By no means, dear madam," said he, " while you
stand ; "
Then stooping to drink, with a complaisant bow,
" Ma'am, your health," said the ass ; " thaak you, sir,"
said the cow.
"When a few of these compliments more had been past.
They laid themselves down on the herbage at last ;
And, waiting politely, as gentlemen must.
The ass held his tongue, that the cow might speak first.
" That you 're of great service to them is quite true,
But surely they are of some service to you ;
'T is their nice green pasture in which you regale.
They feed you in winter when grass and weeds fail.
e
'T is under their shelter you snugly repose.
When without it, dear ma'am, you perhaps might be
froze.
For my part, I know, I receive much from man,
And for him, in return, I do all that I can."
The cow upon this cast her eye on the grass,
Not pleased at thus being reproved by an ass ;
Yet, thought she, " I 'm determined I '11 benefit by 't,
For I really believe the fellow is right."
Jane Taylor.
Then with a deep sigh, she directly began,
" Don't you think, Mr. Ass, we 're injured by man ?
'T is a subject that lays with a weight on my mind :
"We certainly are much ojspressed by mankind.
" Now what is the reason (I see none at all)
That I always must go when Suke chooses to call ;
Whatever I 'm doing ('t is certainly hard)
At once I must go to be milked in the yard.
" I 've no will of my own, but must do as they please.
And give them my milk to make butter and cheese :
I 've often a vast iiind to knock down the pail,
Or give Suke a box on the ear with my tail."
" But, ma'am," said the ass, " not presuming to teach —
Oh dear, I beg pardon — pray finish your speech ;
I thought you had done, ma'am, indeed," said the
swain,
" Go on, and I '11 not interrupt you again."
" Why, sir, I was only a going to observe,
I 'm resolved that these tyrants no longer I '11 serve :
But leave them forever to do as they please,
And look somewhere else for their butter and cheese."
Ass waited a moment, to see if she 'd done.
And then, " not presuming to teach," he began ;
" With submission, dear madam, to your better wit,
I own I am not quite convinced of it yet.
NOSE AND EYES.
Between Nose and Eyes a strange contest arose ;
The spectacles set them unhap[)ily wrong ;
The point in dispute was, as all the world knows.
To which the said spectacles ought to belong.
So the Tongue was the lawyer, and argued the cause
With a great deal of skill, and a wig full of learn-
ing ;
While Chief-justice Ear sat to balance the laws.
So famed for his talent in nicely discerning.
" In behalf of the Nose, it will quickly appear.
And your lordship," he said, " will undoubtedly
find.
That the Nose has had spectacles always in wear, —
Which amounts to possession time out of mind."
Then holding the spectacles up to the court, —
'' Your lordship observes they are made with a
straddle
As wide as the ridge of the Nose is ; in short,
Designed to sit close to it, just like a sadtUe.
" Again, would your lordship a moment suppose
('T is a case that has happened, and may be again)
That the visage or countenance had not a Nose,
Pray who would or who could wear spectacles
then?
142
THE BOOK OF STORIES IN VERSE.
" On the whole it appears, and my argument shows,
With a reasoning the court will never condemn.
That the spectacles plainly were made for the Nose,
And the Nose was as plainly intended for them."
Then, shifting liis side, as a lawyer knows how,
He pleaded again in behalf of the Eyes ;
But what were his arguments few people know,
For the court did not think they were equally wise.
So his lordship decreed, with a grave, solemn tone,
Decisive and clear, without one if or but, —
That whenever the Nose put his spectacles on,
By daylight or candle-light. Eyes should be shut.
William Cowper.
THE AYIND IN A FROLIC.
The wind one morning sprang up from sleep,
Saying, " Now for a frolic ! now for a leap !
Now for a madcap galloping chase !
I '11 make a commotion in every place ! "
So it swept with a bustle right through a great town.
Creaking the signs, and scattering down
Shutters, and whisking, with merciless squalls.
Old women's bonnets and gingerbread stalls.
There never was heard a much lustier shout,
As the apples and oranges tumbled about ;
And the urchins, that stand with their thievish eyes
Forever on watch, ran off each with a prize.
Then away to the fields it went blustering and hum-
ming,
And the cattle all wondered whatever was coming.
It plucked by their tails the grave, matronly cows.
And tossed the colts' manes all about their brows.
Till, offended at such a familiar salute,
They all turned their backs and stood silently mute.
So on it went, capering and playing its pranks ;
Whistling with reeds on the broad river banks ;
Puffing the birds, as they sat on the spray.
Or the traveler grave on the king's highway.
It was not too nice to bustle the bags
Of the beggar, and flutter his dirty rags.
'Twas so bold that it feared not to play its joke
With the doctor's wig, and the gentleman's cloak.
Through the forest it roared, and cried gayly, " Now,
You sturdy old oaks, I '11 make you bow ! "
And it made them bow without more ado.
Or it cracked their great branches through and through.
Then it rushed like a monster o'er cottage and farm,
Striking their inmates with sudden alarm ;
And they ran out like bees in a midsummer swarm.
There were dames with their kerchiefs tied over their
caps,
To see if their poultry were free from mishaps ;
The turkeys they gobbled, the geese screamed aloud.
And the hens crept to roost in a terrified crowd ;
There was rearing of ladders, and logs laying on,
Where the thatch from the roof threatened soon to be
gone.
But the wind had passed on, and had met in a lane
With a school-boy, who panted and struggled in vain,
For it tossed him, and twirled him, then passed, and he
stood
With his hat in a pool, and his shoe in the mud.
William Howitt.
THE DIVERTING HISTORY OF JOHN
GILPIN.
John Gilpin was a citizen
Of credit and renown,
A train-band captain eke was he
Of famous London Town.
John Gilpin's spouse said to her dear,
" Though wedded we have been
These twice ten tedious j-ears, yet we
No holiday have seen.
" To-morrow is our wedding-day,
And we will then repair
Unto the Bell at Edmonton,
All in a chaise and pair.
" My sister and my sister's child.
Myself, and children three,
Will fill the chaise ; so you must ride
On horseback after we."
He soon replied, " I do admire
Of womankind but one.
And you are she, my dearest dear,
Therefore it shall be done.
THE DIVERTING HISTORY OF JOHN GILPIN.
143
" I am a linen-draper bold,
As all the world doth know,
And my good friend, the Calender,
Will lend his horse to go."
So down he came ; for loss of time,
Although it grieved him sore,
Yet loss of pence, full well he knew,
Would trouble him much more.
Quoth Mrs. Gilpin, " That 's well said ;
And for that wine is dear.
We will be furnished with our own,
Which is both bright and clear."
'T was long before the customers
Were suited to their mind.
When Betty, screaming, came down-stairs,
" The wine is left behind ! "
John Gilpin kissed his lov-
ing wife ;
O'erjoyed was he to find
That, though on pleasure
she was bent.
She had a frugal mind.
The morning came, the
chaise was brought.
But yet was not al-
lowed
To drive up to the door,
lest all
Should say that she was
proud.
So three doors off the
chaise was stayed,
Where they did all get
in,
Six precious souls, and all
#igog
To dash through thick and thin
Smack went the whip, round went the wheels,
Were never folk so glad ;
The stones did rattle underneath,
As if Cheapside were mad.
John Gilpin, at his horse's side,
Seized fast the flowing mane,
And up he got, in haste to ride,
But soon came down again.
Good lack ! " quoth he, " yet bring it me,
My leathern belt likewise,
In which I bear my trusty sword
When I do exercise."
Now Mistress Gilpin (careful soul) !
Had two stone-bottles found.
To hold the liquor that she loved,
And keep it safe and sound.
Each bottle had a curling ear.
Through which the belt he
drew.
And hung a bottle on each
side.
To make his balance true.
Then over all, that he might
be
Equipped from top to toe,
His long red cloak, well
brushed and neat,
He manfully did throw.
Now see him mounted once again
Upon his nimble steed,
Full slowly pacing o'er the stones.
With caution and good heed.
But finding soon a smoother road
Beneath his well-shod feet.
The snorting beast began to trot.
Which galled him in his seat.
For saddle-tree scarce reached had he.
His journey to begin,
When, turning round his head, he saw
Three customers come in.
So, " Fair and softly," John he cried,
But John he cried in vain ;
That trot became a gallop soon,
In spite of curb and rein.
144
THE BOOK OF STORIES IN VERSE.
So stooping down, as needs he must
Who cannot sit upright,
He grasped the mane with both his hands.
And eke with all his might.
His horse, who never in that sort
Had handled been before,
What thing upon his back had got
Did wonder more and more.
Away went Gilpin, neck or nought ;
Away went hat and wig ;
He little dreamt, wheu he set out,
Of running such a rig.
The wind did blow, the cloak did fly,
Like streamer long and gay.
Till loop and button failing both,
At last it flew away.
Then might all people well discern
The bottles he had slung ;
A bottle swinging at each side,
As hath been said or sung.
The dogs did bark, the children screamed,
Up flew the windows all ;
And every soul cried out, " Well done ! "
As loud as he could bawl.
THE DIVERTING HISTORY OF JOHN GILPIN.
146
Away went Gilpin — who but he?
His fame soon spread around,
" He carries weight ! he rides a race !
'T is for a thousand pound I "
And still as fast as he drew near,
'Twas wonderful to view
How in a tvice the turnpike men
Their gates wide open threw.
And now, as he went bowing down
His reeking head full low.
The bottles twain behind his back
Were shattered at a blow.
Down ran the wine into the road,
Most piteous to be seen,
Which made his horse's flanks to smoke
As they had basted been.
But still he seemed to carry weight.
With leathern girdle braced ;
For all might see the bottle necks
Still dangling at his waist.
Thus all through merry Islington
These gambols he did play.
Until he came unto the Wash
Of Edmonton so gay ;
And there he threw the wash about
On both sides of the way,
Just like unto a trundling mop,
Or a wild goose at play.
At Edmonton his loving wife
From the balcony spied
Her tender husband, wondering much
To see how he did ride.
" Stop, stop, John Gilpin ! — Here 's the house '
They all aloud did cry ;
" The dinner waits, and we are tired ; "
Said Gilpin, " So am I ! "
But yet his horse was not a whit
Inclined to tarry there ;
19
For why ? his owner had a house
Full ten miles off, at Ware.
So like an arrow swift he flew,
Shot by an archer strong ;
So did he fly — which brings me to
The middle of my song.
Away went Gilpin, out of breath.
And sore against his will.
Till, at his friend the Calender's,
His horse at last stood still.
The Calender, amazed to see
His neighbor in such trim,
Laid down his pipe, flew to the gate,
And thus accosted him.
"What news? what news ? your tidings tell;
Tell me you must and shall —
Say, why bare-headed you are come,
Or why you come at all ? "
Now Gilpin had a pleasant wit.
And loved a timely joke ;
And thus unto the Calender,
In merry guise, he spoke :
" I came because your horse would come ;
And, if I well forebode,
My hat and wig will soon be here,
They are upon the road."
The Calender, right glad to find
His friend in merry pin.
Returned him not a single word,
But to the house went in ;
Whence straight he came, with hat and wig,
A wig that flowed behind ;
A hat not much the worse for wear.
Each comely in its kind.
He held them up, and in his turn
Thus showed his ready wit ;
" My head is twice as big as yours,
They therefore needs must fit.
146
THE BOOK OF STORIES IN VERSE.
" But let me scrape the dust away,
That hangs upon your face ;
And stop and eat, for well you may
Be in a hungry case."
Said John, " It is my wedding-day,
And all the world would stare,
If wife should dine at Edmonton,
And I should dine at Ware."
So, turning to his horse, he said,
" I am in haste to dine ;
'T was for your pleasure you came here.
You shall go back for mine."
Ah, luckless speech, and bootless boast !
For which he paid full dear ;
For, while he spake, a braying ass
Did sing most loud and clear ;
Whereat his horse did snort, as he
Had heard a lion roar.
And galloped off with all bis might.
As he had done before.
Away went Gilpin, and away
Went Gilpin's hat and wig ;
He lost them sooner than at first.
For why ? — they were too big.
Now Mrs. Gilpin, when she saw
Her husband posting down
Into the country far away.
She pulled out half-a-crown ;
The frighted steed he frighted more,
And made him faster run.
Away went Gilpin, and away
Went postboy at his heels,
The postboy's horse right glad to miss
The rumbling of the wheels.
Six gentlemen upon the road
Thus seeing Gilpin fly,
W^ith postboy scampering in the rear.
They raised a hue and cry : —
" Stop thief ! — stop thief ! — a highwayman ! "
Not one of them was mute ;
And all and each that passed that way
Did join in the jjursuit.
And now the turnpike gates again
Flew open in short space:
The toll-men thinking, as before,
That Gilpin rode a race.
And so he did, and won it too.
For he got first to town ;
Nor stopped till where he had got up
He did again get down.
Now let us sing, long live the king,
And Gilpin, long live he ;
And, when he next doth ride abroad,
May I be there to see.
William Cowper.
And thus unto the youth she said,
That drove them to the Bell,
" This shall be yours, when you bring back
My husband safe and well."
The youth did ride, and soon did meet
John coming back amain ;
Whom in a trice he tried to stop.
By catching at his rein ;
But not performing what he meant.
And gladly would have done.
THE SPIDER AND THE FLY.
" Will you walk into my parlor ? " said the spider to
the fly ;
" 'T is the prettiest little parlor that ever you did spy.
The way into my parlor is up a winding stair.
And I have many curious tilings to show when you
are there."
" Oh no, no," said the little fly ; " to ask me is in vain,
For who goes up your winding stair can ne'er come
down again."
A VISIT FROM ST. NICHOLAS.
147
" I 'm sure you must be weary, clear, with soaring up so Alas, alas ! how very soon this silly little fly,
high ; Hearing his wily, flattering words, came slowly flitting
Will you rest upon my little bed? " said the spider to by;
the fly. With buzzing wings she hung aloft, tiien near and
" There are pretty curtains drawn around ; the sheets nearer drew,
are tine and thin. Thinking only of her brilliant eyes and green and pur-
And if you like to rest a while, I '11 snugly tuck you in ! " pie hue,
" Oh no, no," saidrthe little fly, " for I 've often heard Thinking only of her crested head. Poor, foolish thing !
it said, at last
They never, never wake again who sleep upon your Up jumped the cunning spider, and fiercely held her
bed ! " fast ;
Said the cunning spider to the fly : " Dear friend, what
can I do
To prove the warm affection I 've always felt for you ?
I have within my pantry good store of all that 's nice ;
I 'm sure you 're very welcome — will you please to
take a slice ? "
" Oh no, no," said the little fly ; " kind sir, that cannot
be:
I 've heard what 's iu your pantry, and I do not wish to
see ! "
" Sweet creature ! " said the spider, " you 're witty and
you 're wise ;
How handsome are your gauzy wings I how brilliant
are your eyes !
I have a little looking-glass upon my parlor shelf ;
If you '11 step in one moment, dear, you shall behold
yourself."
" I thank you, gentle sir," she said, for what you 're
pleased to say.
And, bidding you good-morning now, I '11 call another
day."
The spider turned him round about, and went into his
den.
For well he knew the silly fly would soon come back
again :
So he wove a subtle web in a little corner sly,
And set his table ready to dine upon the fly ;
Then came out to his door again, and merrily did sing :
" Come hither, hither, pretty fly, with the pearl and
silver wing ;
Your robes are green and purple ; there 's a crest upon
your head ;
Your eyes are like the diamond bright, but mine are
dull as lead ! "
He dragged her up his winding stair, into his dismal
den —
Within his little parlor — but she ne'er came out again !
And now, dear little children, who may this story read,
To idle, silly, flattering words I pray you ne'er give
heed ;
Unto an evil counselor close heart and ear and eye.
And take a lesson from this tale of the spider and the
fly-
Mary Howitt.
A VISIT FROM ST. NICHOLAS.
'T WAS the night before Christmas, when all through
the house
Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse ;
The stockings were hung by the chimney with care,
In hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there ;
The children were nestled all snug in their beds.
While visions of sugar-plums danced in their heads ;
And mamma in her kerchief, and I in my cap.
Had just settled our brains for a long winter nap, —
When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter,
I sprang from my bed to see what was the matter.
Away to the window I flew like a flash.
Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash.
The moon, on the breast of the new-fallen snow,
Gave a lustre of midday to objects below ;
When what to my wondering eyes should appear
But a miniature sleigh and eight tiny reindeer,
With a little old driver, so lively and quick,
I knew in a moment it must be St. Nick.
More rapid than eagles his coursers they came.
And he whistled, and shouted, and called them by name %
148
THE BOOK OF STORIES IN VERSE.
" Now, Dasher ! now, Dancer ! now, Prancer and
Vixen !
On ! Comet, on ! Cupid, on ! Dunder and Blixen ! —
To the top of the porch, to the top of the wall !
Now, dash away, dash away, dash away all ! "
As dry leaves that before the wild hurricane Hy,
When they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky,
So up to the house-top the coursers they flew,
With the sleigh full of toys — and St. Nicholas too.
And then in a twinkling I heard on the roof
The prancing and pawing of each little hoof.
As I drew in my head, and was turning around,
Down the chimney St. Nicholas came with a bound.
He was dressed all in fur from his head to his foot,
And his clothes were all tarnished with ashes and
soot,
A bundle of toys he had flung on his back,
And he looked like a peddler just opening his pack.
His eyes, how they twinkle ! his dimples, how merry !
His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry ;
His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow,
And the beard on his chin was as white as the snow.
The stump of a pipe he held tight in his teeth.
And the smoke, it encircled his head like a wreath.
He had a broad face and a little round belly
That shook, when he laughed, like a bowl full of jelly.
He was chubby and plump — a right jolly old elf ;
And I laughed when I saw him, in spite of myself.
A wink of his eye, and a twist of his head,
Soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread.
He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work.
And filled all the stockings ; then turned with a jerk.
And laying his finger aside of his nose,
And giving a nod, up the chimney he rose.
He sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle,
And away they all flew like the down of a thistle ;
But I heard him exclaim, ere he drove out of sight,
" Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good-night ! "
Clement C. Moore.
THE MOUNTAIN AND THE SQUIRREL.
The mountain and the squirrel
Had a quarrel,
And the former called the latter " Little prig ; "
Bun replied,
" You are doubtless verj' big.
But all sorts of things and weather
Must be taken in together
To make up a year,
And a sphere.
And I think it no disgrace
To occupy my place.
If I 'm not so large as you,
You are not so small as I,
And not half so spry :
I '11 not deny you make
A very pretty squirrel track.
Talents differ ; all is well and wisely put ;
If I cannot carry forests on my back,
Neither can j-ou crack a nut."
Ralph AValdo Emeeson.
HOLY THURSDAY.
'T WAS on a Holy Thursday, their innocent faces clean,
Came children walking two and two, in red, and blue,
and green :
Gray -headed beadles walked before, with wands as white
as snow,
Till into the high dome of Paul's, they like Thames'
waters flow.
Oh what a multitude they seemed, these flowers of Lon-
don town.
Seated in companies they were, with radiance all their
own :
The hum of multitudes was there, but multitudes of
lambs,
Thousands of little boys and girls raising their innocent
hands.
Now like a mighty wind they raise to heaven the voice
of song,
Or like harmonious thunderings the seats of heaven
among :
Beneath them sit the aged men, wise guardians of the
poor.
Then cherish pity, lest you drive an angel from your
door.
William Blake.
THE PIED PIPER OF HAMELIN.
149
AN ELEGY ON THE DEATH OF A JNLAD
DOG.
Good people all, of every sort,
Give ear unto my song ;
And if you fiud it wondrous short,
It cannot hold you long.
r
In Islington there was a man.
Of whom the world might say,
That still a godly race he ran
Whene'er he went to pray.
A kind and gentle heart he had.
To comfort friends and foes ;
The naked every day he clad,
When he put on his clothes.
And in that town a dog was found,
As many dogs there be,
Both mongrel, puppy, whelp, and hound,
And curs of low degree.
This dog and man at first were friends ;
But when a pique began,
The dog, to gain his private ends,
Went mad, and bit the man.
Around from all the neighboring streets
The wondering neighbors ran.
And swore the dog had lost his wits,
To bite so good a man.
The wound it seemed both sore and sad
To every Christian eye :
And while they swore the dog was mad,
They swore the man would die.
But soon a wonder came to light,
That showed the rogues they lied,
The man recovered of the bite,
The dog it was that died.
Oliver Goldsmith.
THE PIED PIPER OF HAMELIN.
Hamelin Town 's in Brunswick,
By famous Hanover city ;
The river Weser deep and wide
Washes its walls on the southern side ;
A pleasanter spot you never spied ;
But, when begins my ditty,
Almost five hundred years ago.
To see the townsfolk suffer so
From vermin, was a pity.
Rats !
They fought the dogs and killed the cats.
And bit the babies in their cradles,
And ate the cheeses out of the vats.
And licked the soup from the cook's own ladles.
Split open the kegs of salted sprats.
Made nests inside men's Sunday hats,
And even spoiled the women's chats.
By drowning their speaking
With shrieking and squeaking
In fifty different sharps and flats.
At last the people in a body
To the Town-hall came flocking :
"'Tis clear," cried they, "our Mayor's a noddy;
And as for our Corporation — shocking
To think we buy gowns lined with ermine
For dolts that can't or won't determine
What 's best to rid us of our vermin !
You hope, because you 're old and obese.
To find in the furry civic robe ease !
Rouse up, sirs ! Give your brains a racking
To find the remedy we 're lacking.
Or, sure as fate, we '11 send you packing ! "
At this the Mayor and Corporation
Quaked with a mighty consternation.
An hour they sat in council.
At length the Mayor broke silence :
' For a guilder I 'd my ermine gown sell ;
I wish I were a mile hence !
It 's easy to bid one rack one's brain —
I 'm sure my poor head aches again,
I 've scratched it so, and all in vain.
Oh for a trap, a trap, a trap ! "
Just as he said this, what should hap
At the chamber door, but a gentle tap ?
' Bless us," cried the Mayor, " what 's that ?
Anything like the sound of a rat
Makes my heart go pit-a-pat !
150
THE BOOK OF STORIES IN VERSE.
" Come iu ! " the Mayor cried, looking bigger :
And in did come the strangest figure !
His queer long coat from heel to head
Was half of j-ellow, and half of red ;
And he himself was tall and thin,
With sharp blue eyes each like a pin.
And light loose hair, yet swarthy skin,
No tuft on cheek, nor beard on chin,
But lips where smiles went out and in —
There was no guessing his kith and kin !
And nobody could enough admire
The tall man and his quaint attire '.
Quoth one, '• It 's as if my great-grandsire,
Starting up at the trump of Doom's tone.
Had walked this way from his painted tombstone I '
He advanced to the council table :
And, " Please your honors," said he, '• I 'm able,
By means of a secret charm, to draw
All creatures living beneath the sun.
That creep, or swim, or fly, or run.
After me so as yon never saw !
And I chiefly use my charm
On creatures that do people harm.
The mole, the toad, the newt, the viper ;
And people call me the Pied Piper.
Yet," said he, " poor piper as I am.
In Tartary I freed the Cham,
Last June, from his huge swarm of gnats ;
I eased in Asia the Nizam
Of a monstrous brood of vampyre bats :
And as for what your brain bewilders,
If I can rid your town of rats
Will vou give a thousand guilders ? "
" One ? fifty thousand ! " was the exclamation
Of the astonished Mayor and Corporation.
Into the street the Piper slept.
Smiling first a little smile.
As if he knew what magic slept
In his quiet pipe the while ;
Then like a musical adept,
To blow the pipe his lips he wrinkled.
And green and blue his sharp eyes twinkled,
Like a candle flame where salt is sprinkled ;
And ere three shrill notes the pipe had uttered,
You heard as if an army muttered ;
And the muttering grew to a grumbling ;
And the grumbling grew to a mighty rumbling ;
And out of the houses the rats came tumbling —
Great rats, small rats, lean rats, brawny rats,
Brown rats, black rats, gray rats, tawny rats,
Grave old plodders, gay young friskers,
Fathers, mothers, uncles, cousins.
Cocking tails, and pricking whiskers.
Families by tens and dozens.
Brothers, sisters, husbands, wives —
Followed the Piper for their lives.
From street to street he piped, advancing,
And step for step they followed dancing.
Until they came to the river Weser
Wherein all plunged and perished.
Save one, who stout as Julius Cssar,
Swam across, and lived to carry
(As he the manuscript he cherished)
To Eat-land home his commentary.
Which was, " At the first shrill notes of the pipe,
I heard a sound as of scraping tripe,
And putting apples wondrous ripe
Into a cider press's gripe ;
And a moving away of pickle-tub boards,
And a leaving ajar of conserve cupboards,
And a drawing the corks of train-oil flasks,
And a breaking the hoops of butter casks ;
And it seemed as if a voice
(.Sweeter far than by harp or by psaltery
Is breathed) called out, O rats, rejoice I
The world is grown to one vast drysaltery '■
So munch on, crunch on, take your nuncheon.
Breakfast, dinner, supper, luncheon !
And just as a bulky sugar puncheon.
All ready staved, like a great sun shone
Glorious, scarce an inch before me,
Just as methought it said, ' Come, bore me ! '
— I found the Weser rolling o'er me."
You should have heard the Hamelin people
Ringing the bells till they rocked the steeple ;
" Go," cried the ilayor, '• and get long poles !
Poke out the nests, and block up the holes !
Consult with carpenters and builders.
And leave in our town not even a trace
Of the rats 1 " When suddenly up the face
Of the Piper perked in the market-place.
With a " First, if you please, my thousand guild-
THE PIED PIPER OF HAMELIN.
151
A thousand guilders ! The Mayor looked blue,
So did the Corporation too.
For council dinners made rare havock
With Claret, Moselle, Vin-de-Grave, Hock ;
And half the money would replenish
Their cellar's biggest butt with Rhenish.
To pay this sum to a wandering fellow
Witii a gypsy coat of red and yellow !
" Besides," quotn the Mayor, with a knowing wink,
" Our business was done at the river's brink ;
AVe saw with our eyes the vermin sink,
And what 's dead can't come to life, I think.
So, friend, we 're not the folks to shrink
From the duty of giving you something for drink,
And a matter of money to put in your poke ;
But, as for the guilders, what we spoke
Of them, as you very well know, was in joke —
Beside, our losses have made us thrifty :
A thousand guilders ! come, take fifty ! "
The Piper's face fell, and he cried,
" No trifling ! I can't wait beside !
I 've promised to visit by dinner-time
Bagdat, and accept the prime
Of the head-cook's pottage, all he 's rich in,
For having left in the caliph's kitchen,
Of a nest of scorpions no survivor.
With him I proved no bargain-driver.
With you, don't think I '11 bate a stiver !
And folks who put me in a passion
May find me pipe to another fashion."
" How ? " cried the Mayor, " d' ye think I '11 brook
Being worse treated than a cook ?
Insulted by a lazy ribald
Witli idle pipe and vesture piebald ?
You threaten us, fellow ? Do your worst.
Blow your pipe there till you burst."
Once more he stept into the street.
And to his lips again
Laid his long pipe of smooth, straight cane ;
And ere he blew three notes (such sweet
Soft notes as yet musician's cunning
Never gave the enraptured air),
There was a rustling that seemed like a bustling.
Of merry crowds justling at pitching and hustling,
Small feet were pattering, wooden shoes clattering,
Little hands clapping and little tongues chattering,
And like fowls in a farmyard when barley is scatter-
ing
Out came the children running :
All the little boys and girls,
With rosy cheeks and flasen curls,
And sparkling eyes and teeth like pearls.
Tripping and skipping ran merrily after
The wonderful music with shouting and laughter.
The Mayor was dumb, and the Council stood
As if they were changed into blocks of wood,
Unable to move a step, or cry
To the children merrily skipping by —
And could only follow with the eye
That joyous crowd at the Piper's back.
And now the Mayor was on the rack,
And the wretched Conncil's bosoms beat.
As the Piper turned from the High Street
To where the Weser rolled its waters
Right in the way of their sons and daughters !
However he turned fi'om south to west.
And to Koppelberg Hill his steps addressed,
And after him the children pressed ;
Great was the joy in every breast.
" He never can cross that mighty top ;
He 's forced to let the piping drop,
And we shall see our children stop ! "
When, lo ! as they reached the mountain's side,
A wondrous portal opened wide.
As if a cavern was suddenly hollowed ;
And the Piper advanced, and the children followed,
And when all were in to the very last.
The door in the mountain side shut fast.
Dill I say, all ? No ! One was lame,
Anil could not dance the whole of the way ;
And in after years, if you would blame
His sadness, he was used to say, —
" It 's dull in our town since my playmates left !
I can't forget that I 'm bereft
Of all the pleasant sights they see,
Which the Piper also promised me :
For he led us, he said, to a joyous land,
Joining the town and just at hand,
Where waters gushed and fruit-trees grew.
And flowers put forth a fairer hue.
And everything was strange and new ;
The sparrows were brighter than peacocks here,
152
THE BOOK OF STORIES IN VERSE.
And their dogs outran our fallow-deer,
And lioney-bees had lost their stings.
And horses were born with eagles' wings ;
And just as I became assured
My lame foot would be speedily cured,
The music stopped and I stood still,
And found myself outside the hill,
Left alone against my will.
To go now limping as before,
And never hear of that country more ! "
The Mayor sent east, west, north, and south
To offer the Piper by word of mouth,
Wherever it was man's lot to find him,
THE PIED PIPER OF HAMELIN.
153
Silver and gold to his heart's content,
If he 'd only return the way he went,
And bring the children behind him.
But when they saw 't was a lost endeavor,
And Piper and dancers were gone forever,
They made a decree that lawyers never
Should think their records dated duly,
If after the da}^ of the month and year
These words did not as well appear,
" And so long after what happened here
On the twenty-second of July,
Thirteen hundred and seventy-six ; "
And the better in memory to fix
The place of the children's last retreat,
They called it the Pied Piper's Street —
Where any one playing on pipe or tabor.
Was sure for the future to lose his labor.
Nor suffered they hostelry or tavern
To shock with mirth a street so solemn ;
But opposite the place of the cavern
They wrote the story on a column.
And on the great church window painted
S3
The same, to make the world acquainted
How their children were stolen away ;
And there it stands to this very day.
And I must not omit to say
That in Transylvania there 's a tribe
Of alien people, that ascribe
The outlandish ways and dress
On which their neighbors lay such stress.
To their fathers and mothers having risen
Out of some subterraneous prison
Into which they were trepanned
Long ago in a mighty band.
Out of Hamelin town in Brunswick land.
But how or why, they don't understand.
So, Willy, let you and me be wipers
Of scores out with all men, — especially pipers,
And whether they pipe us free from rats or from
mice
If we Ve promised them aught, let us keep our prom-
ise.
RoBEET Browning.
STORIES FROM HANS CHRISTIAN ANDERSEN.
THE CONSTANT TIN SOLDIER.
Thbke were once five-and-twenty tin soldiers ;
they were all brothers, for they had all been born
of one old tin spoon. They shouldered their
muskets, and looked straight before them; their
uniform was red and blue, and very splendid.
The first thing they had heard in the world, when
the lid was taken off their box, had been the
words " Tin soldiers! " These words were uttered
by a little boy, clapping his hands ; the soldiers
had been given to him, for it was his birthday ;
and now he put them upon the table. Each sol-
dier was exactly like the rest ; but one of them
had been cast last of all, and there had not been
enough tin to finish him ; but he stood as firmly
upon his one leg as the others on their two ;
and it was just this soldier who became remark-
able.
On the table on which they had been placed
stood many other playthings, but the toy that
attracted most attention was a neat castle of card-
board. Through the little windows one could see
straight into the hall. Before the castle some
little trees were placed round a little looking-
glass, which was to represent a clear lake. Waxen
swans swam on this lake, and were mirrored in it.
This was all very pretty ; but the prettiest of all
was a little lady, who stood at the open door of
the castle ; she was also cut out in paper, but she
had a dress of the clearest gauze, and a little nar-
row blue ribbon over her shoulders, that looked
like a scarf ; and in the middle of this ribbon was
a shining tinsel rose, as big as her whole face.
The little lady stretched out both her arms, for
she was a dancer, and then she lifted one leg so
high that the Tin Soldier could not see it at all,
and thought that, like himself, she had but one
leg.
" That would be the wife for me," thought he ;
but she is very grand. She lives in a castle, and
I have only a box, and there are five-and-twenty
of us in that. It is no place for her. But I must
try to make acquaintance with her."
And then he lay down at full length behind a
snuff-box which was on the table ; there he could
easily watch the little dainty lady, who con-
tinued to stand on one leg without losing her bal-
ance.
When the evening came, all the other tin sol-
diers were put into their box, and the people in
the house went to bed. Now the toys began to
play at " visiting," and at " war," and " giving
balls." The tin soldiers rattled in their box, for
they wanted to join, but could not lift the lid.
The Nut-cracker threw somersaults, and the Pen-
cil amused itself on the table ; there was so much
noise that the Canary woke up, and began to
speak too, and even in verse. The only two who
did not stir from their places were the Tin Soldier
and the Dancing Lady ; she stood straight up on
the point of one of her toes, and stretched out
both her arms : and he was just as enduring on
his one leg ; and he never turned his eyes away
from her.
Now the clock struck twelve — and, bounce !
— the lid flew off the snuff-box; but there was
not snuff in it, but a little black goblin ; you see,
it was a trick.
" Tin Soldier," said the Goblin, " don't stare at
things that don't concern J'ou."
But the Tin Soldier pretended not to hear him-
THE CONSTANT TIN SOLDIER.
155
" Just you wait til] to-morrow ! " said the Gob-
lin.
But when the moriung came, and the children
got up, the Tin Soldier was placed in the win-
dow ; and whether it was the Goblin or the
draught that did it, all at once the window flew
open, and the Soldier fell, head over heels, out of
the third stor^r. That was a terrible passage !
He put his leg straight up, and struck with his
helmet downward, and his bayonet between the
paving-stones.
The servant-maid and the little boy came down
directhr to look for him, but though they almost
trod upon him they could not see him. If the
Soldier had cried
out, "Here I am!"
they would have
found him ; but he
did not think it
fitting to call out
loudly, because he
was ill uniform.
Now it began
to rain ; the drops
soon fell thicker,
and at last it came
down in a complete
stream. When
the rain was past,
two street boys came by.
'' Just look ! " said one of them, " there lies a
tin soldier. He must come out and ride in the
boat."
And they made a boat out of a newspaper, and
put the Tin Soldier in the middle of it ; and so
he sailed down the gutter, and the two boys ran
beside him and clapped their hands. Goodness
preserve us ! how the waves rose in that gutter,
and how fast the stream ran ! But then it had
been a heavy rain. The paper boat rocked up
and down, and sometimes turned round so rapidly
that the Tin Soldier trembled ; but he remained
firm, and never changed countenance, and looked
straight before him, and shouldered his musket.
All at once the boat went into a long drain,
and it became as dark as if he had been in his
box.
" Where am I going now ? " he thought. " Yes,
yes, that 's the Goblin's fault. Ah ! if the little
lady only sat here with me in the boat, it might
be twice as dark for what I should care."
Suddenly there came a great water-rat, which
lived under the drain.
" Have you a passport? " said the Rat. " Give
me your passport."
But the Tin Soldier kept silence, and only held
his musket tighter than ever.
The boat went on, but the Rat came after it.
Hu ! how he gnashed his teeth, and called out to
the bits of straw
^^
11%
and wood, —
"Hold him!
hold him! he
has n't paid toll —
he hasn't shown
his passport ! "
But the stream
became stronger
and stronger. The
Tin Soldier could
see the bright day-
light where the
arch ended ; but
he heard a roaring
noise, which might well frighten a bolder man.
Only think, — just where the tunnel ended, the
drain ran into a great canal ; and for him that
would have been as dangerous as for us to be car-
ried down a great waterfall.
Now he was already so near it that he could not
stop. The boat was carried out, the poor Tiii Sol-
dier stiffening himself as much as he could, and no
one could say that he moved an eyelid. The boat
whirled round three or four times, and was full of
water to the very edge — it must sink. The Tin
Soldier stood up to his neck in water, and the
boat sank deeper and deeper, and the paper was
loosened more and more ; and now the water closed
over the soldier's head. Then he thought of the
pretty little Dancer, and how he should never
156
STORIES FROM HANS CHRISTIAN ANDERSEN.
see her again ; and it sounded in the soldier's
ears : ■
' Farewell, farewell, thou warrior brave,
Die shalt thou this day."
And now the paper parted, and the Tin Soldier
fell out ; but at that moment he was snapped up
by a great fish.
Oh, how dark it was in that fish's body ! It
was darker yet than in the drain tunnel ; and then
it was very nari-ow, too. But the Tin Soldier re-
mained unmoved, and lay at full length, shoulder-
ing his musket.
The fish swam to and fro ; he made the most
■wonderful movements, and then became quite still.
At last something flashed through him like light-
ning. The daylight shone quite clear, and a
voice said aloud, " The Tin Soldier ! " The fish
had been caught, carried to market, bought, and
taken into the kitchen, where the cook cut him
open with a large knife. She seized the soldier
round the body with both her hands, and carried
him. into the room, where all were anxious to see
the remarkable man who had traveled about in the
inside of a fish ; but the Tin Soldier was not at all
proud. They placed him on the table, and there
— no! What curious things may hapjjen in the
world ! The Tin Soldier was in the very room in
which he had been before ! he saw the same chil-
dren, and the same toys stood upon the table : and
there was the pretty castle with the graceful little
Dancer. She was still balancing herself on one
leg, and held the other extended in the air. She
was faithful too. That moved the Tin Soldier : he
was very near weeping tin tears, but that would
not have been proper. He looked at her, but they
said rtothing to each other.
Then one of the little boys took the Tin Soldier
and flung him into the stove. He gave no reason
for doing this. It must have been the fault of the
Goblin in the snuff-box.
The Tin Soldier stood there quite illuminated,
and felt a heat that was terriible ; but whether
this heat proceeded fi-om the real fire or from love
he did not know. The colors had quite gone off
from him ; but whether that had happened on the
journey, or had been caused by grief, no one could
say. He looked at the little lady, she looked at
him, and he felt that he was melting ; but he stood
firm, shouldering his musket. Then suddenly the
door flew open, and the draught of air caught the
Dancer, and she flew like a sylph just into the
stove to the Tin Soldier, and flashed up in a flame,
and then was gone ! Then the Tin Soldier melted
down into a lump, and when the servant-maid
took the ashes out next day, she found him in the
shape of a little tin heart. But of the Dancer
nothing remained but the tinsel rose, and that was
burned as black as a coal.
THE EMPERORS NEW CLOTHES.
167
THE EMPEROR'S NEW CLOTHES.
Many years ago there lived an emperor, who
"was so excessively fond of grand new clothes that
he spent all his money upon them, that he might
be very fine. He did not care about his soldiers,
nor about the theatre, and only liked to drive out
and show his new clothes. He had a coat for
every hour of the day; and just as they say of a
king, " He is in council," so they always said of
him, " The emperor is in the wardrobe."
In the gi'eat city in which he lived it was al-
ways very merry ; every day came many stran-
gers ; one day two rogues came : they gave them-
selves out as weavers, and declared they could
weave the finest stuff any one could imagine. Not
only were their colors and patterns, they said, un-
commonly beautiful, but the clothes made of the
stuff possessed the wonderful quality that they be-
came invisible to any one who was unfit for the of-
fice he held, or was incorrigibly stupid.
" Those would be capital clothes ! " thought the
emperor. " If I wore those, I should be able to
find out what men in my empire are not fit for the
places they have ; I could tell the clever from the
dunces. Yes, the stuff must be woven for me di-
rectly ! "
And he gave the two rogues a great deal of
cash in hand, that they might begin their work at
once.
As for them, they put up two looms, and pre-
tended to be working ; but they had nothing at
all on their looms. They at once demanded the
finest silk and the costliest gold ; this they put
into their own pockets, and worked at the empty
looms till late into the night.
" I should like to know how far they have got
on with the stuff," thought the emperor. But he
felt quite uncomfortable when he thought that
those who were not fit for their offices could not
see it. He believed, indeed, that he had nothing
to fear for himself, but yet he preferred first to
send some one else to see how matters stood. All
the people in the city knew what peculiar power
the stuff possessed, and all were anxious to see
how bad or how stupid their neighbors were.
"I will send my honest old minister to the
weavers," thought the emperor. "He can judge
best how the stuff looks, for he has sense, and no
one understands his office better than he."
Now the good old minister went out into the
hall where the two rogues sat working at the
empty looms.
" Mei-cy on us ! " thought the old minister, and
he opened his eyes wide. " I cannot see anything
at all ! " But he did not say this.
Both the rogues begged him to be so good as to
come nearer, and asked if he did not approve of
the colors and the pattern. Then they pointed
to the empty loom, and the poor old minister
went on opening his eyes ; but he could see noth-
ing for there was nothing to see.
" Mercy ! " thought he, " can I indeed be so
stupid? I never thought that, and not a soul
must know it. Am I not fit for my office? No,
it will never do for me to tell that I could not
see the stuff."
" Don't you say anything to it? " asked one,
as he went on weaving.
" Oh, it is charming — quite enchanting I " an-
swered the old minister, as he peered through
his spectacles. " What a fine pattern, and what
colors ! Yes, I shall tell the emperor that I am
very much pleased with it."
" Well, we are glad of that," said both the
weavers ; and then they named the colors, and
explained the strange pattern. The old minister
listened attentively, that he might be able to re-
peat it when the emperor came. And he did so.
Now the rogues asked for more money, and silk
and gold, which they declared they wanted for
weaving. They put all into their own pockets,
and not a thread was put upon the loom ; they
continued to work at the empty frames as before.
The emperor soon sent again, dispatching an-
other honest officer of the court, to see how the
158
STORIES FROM HANS CHRISTIAN ANDERSEN.
weaving was going on, and if the stuff would soon
be ready. He fared just like the first : he looked
and looked, but, as there was nothing to be seen
but the empty looms, he could see nothing.
" Is not that a pretty piece of stuff ? " asked
the two rogues ; and they displayed and explained
the handsome pattern which was not there at all.
"I am not stupid!" thought the man: "it
must be ray good office, for which I am not fit.
It is funny enough, but I must not let it be no-
ticed." And so he praised the stuff which he did
not see, and expressed his pleasure at the beauti-
ful colors and charming pattern. " Yes, it is en-
chanting," he told the emperor.
All the people in
the town were talk-
ing of the gorgeous
stuff. The emperor
wished to see it him-
self while it was
still upon the loom.
With a whole crowd
of chosen men,
among whom were
also the two honest
statesmen who had
already been there,
he went to the two
cunning rogues, who
were now weaving with
fibre or thread.
" Is not that splendid ? " said the two states-
men, who had already been there once. " Does
not your majesty remark the pattern and the
colors?" And they pointed to the empty loom,
for they thought that the others could see the
stuff.
"What's this?" thought the emperor. "I
can see nothing at all ! That is terrible. Am I
stupid? Am I not fit to be emperor? That
would be the most dreadful thing that could hap-
pen to me. Oh, it is very pretty ! " he said aloud.
" It has our highest approbation." And he nod-
ded in a contented way, and gazed at the empty
loom, for he would not say that he saw nothing.
might and main without
The whole suite whom he had with him looked
and looked, and saw nothing, any more than the
rest ; but, like the emperor they said, " That is
pretty ! " and counseled him to wear the splendid
new clothes for the first time at the great proces-
sion that was presently to take place. " It is
splendid, excellent ! " went from mouth to mouth.
On all sides there seemed to be general rejoicing
and the emperor gave the rogues the title of Im-
perial Court Weavers.
The whole night before the morning on which
the procession was to take place, the rogues were
up, and kept more than sixteen candles burning.
The people could see that they were hard at work,
completing the em-
peror's new clothes.
They pretended to
take the stuff down
from the loom ; they
made cuts in the air
with great scissors ;
thej' sewed with nee-
dles without thread ;
and at last they said,
" Now the clothes are .
ready ! "
The emperor came
himself with his no-
blest cavaliers ; and
the two rogues lifted up one arm as if they were
holding something, and said, " See, here are the
trousers ! here is the coat ! here is the cloak ! "
and so on. " It is as light as a spider's web : one
would think one had nothing on ; but that is just
the beauty of it."
" Yes," said all the cavaliers ; but they could
not see anything, for nothing was there.
" Will your imperial majesty please to conde-
scend to take off your clothes ? " said the rogues ;
" then we will put on you the new clothes here in
front of the great mirror."
The emperor took off his clothes, and the
rogues pretended to put on him each new garment
as it was ready ; and the emperor turned round
and round before the mirror.
THE DAISY.
159
" Oh, how well they look ! how capitally they
fit ! " said all. '• What a pattern ! what colors !
That is a splendid dress ! "
" They are standing outside with the canopy
which is to be borne above your majesty in the
procession ! " announced the head master of cere-
monies.
" Well, I afc ready," replied the emperor.
" Does it not suit me well?'" And he turned again
to the mirror, for he wanted it to appear as if he
contemplated his adornment with great interest.
The two chamberlains who were to carry the
train stooped down with their hands toward the
floor, just as if they were picking up the mantle ;
then they pretended to be holding something in
the air. They did not dare to let it be noticed
that they saw nothing.
So the emperor went in procession under the
rich canopy, and every one in the streets said,
" How incomparable are the emperor's new
clothes ! what a train he has to his mantle ! how
it fits him ! " No one would let it be perceived
that he could see nothing, for that would have
shown that he was not fit for his office, or was
very stupid. No clothes of the emperor's had
ever had such a success as these.
" But he has nothing on ! " a little child cried
out at last.
" Just hear what that innocent says ! " said the
father : and one whispered to another what the
child had said.
" But he has nothing on ! " said the whole
people at length. That touched the emperor, for
it seemed to him that they were right ; but he
thought within himself, " I must go through with
the procession." And so he held himself a little
higher, and the chamberlains held on tighter than
ever, and carried the train that did not exist at
all.
THE DAISY.
Now you shall hear .
Out in the country, close by the road-side, there
was a country house : you yourself have certainly
once seen it. Before it is a little garden with
flowers, and a paling which is painted. Close by
it, by the ditch, in the midst of the most beautiful
green grass, grew a little Daisy. The sun shone
as warmly and as brightly upon it as on the great
splendid garden flowers, and so it grew from hour
to hour. One morning it stood in full bloom, with
its little shining white leaves spreading like rays
round the little yellow sun in the centre. It never
thought that no man would notice it down in the
grass, and that it was a poor despised floweret ;
no, it was very merry, and turned to the warm
sun, looked up at it, and listened to the Lark carol-
ins: high in the air.
The little Daisy was as happy as if it were a
great holiday, and yet it was only a Monday. All
the children were at school ; and while they sat on
their benches learning, it sat on its little green
stalk, and learned also from the warm sun, and
from all around, how good God is. And the
Daisy was very glad that everything that it si-
160
STORIES FROM HANS CHRISTIAN ANDERSEN.
' the sun
Oh, how
m\ M h
lently felt was sung so loudly and charmingly by
the Lark. And the Daisy looked up with a kind
of respect to the happy bird who could sing and
fly ; but it was not at all sorrowful because it
could not fly and sing also.
" I can see and hear," it thought :
shines on me, and the forest kisses me
richly have I been gifted ! "
Within the palings stood many stiff, aristocratic
flowers — the less scent they had the more they
flaunted. The peonies blew themselves out to be
greater than the roses, but size will not do it ; the
tulips had the most splendid colors, and they
knew that, and held themselves bolt upright, that
they might be seen more plainly. They did not
notice the little Daisy
outside there, but the
Daisy looked at them
the more, and
thought, " How rich
and beautiful they
are ! Yes, the pretty
bird flies across to
them and visits them.
I am glad that I stand
so near them, for at
any rate I can enjoy
the sight of their
splendor!" And
just as she thought that — "keevit ! " — down
came flying the Lark, but not down to the peonies
and tulips — no, down into the grass to the lowly
Daisy, which started so with joy that it did not
know what to think.
The little bird danced round about it, and
sang, —
" Oh, how soft the grass is ! and see what a
lovely little flower, with gold in its heart and sil-
ver on its dress I "
For the yellow point in the Daisy looked like
gold, and the little leaves around it shone silvery
white.
How happy was the little Daisy — no one can
conceive how happy ! The bird kissed it with his
beak, sang to it, and then flew up again into the
/iW^r^
blue air. A quarter of an hour passed, at least,
before the Daisy could recover itself. Half
ashamed, yet inwardly rejoiced, it looked at the
other flowers in the garden, for they had seen the
honor and happiness it had gained, and must un-
derstand what a joy it was. But the tulips stood
up twice as stiff as before, and they looked quite
peaky in the face and quite red, for they had beeri
vexed. The peonies were quite wrong-headed : it
was well they could not speak, or the Daisy would
have received a good scolding. The poor little
flower could see very well that they were not in a
good humor, and that hurt it sensibly. At this
moment thei-e came into the garden a girl with a
great sharp, shining knife; she went straight up
to the tulips, and cut
off one after another
of them.
" Oh : " sighed the
little Daisj', " that is
dreadful I Now it
is all over with
them."
Then the girl went
away with the tulips.
The Daisy was glad
to stand out in the
grass, and to be only
a poor little flower ;
it felt very grateful ; and when the sun went
down it folded its leaves and went to sleep, and
dreamed all night long about the sun and the
pretty little bird.
The next morning, when the flower again hap-
pily stretched out all its white leaves, like little
arms, toward the air and the light, it recognized
the voice of the bird, but the song he was singing
sounded mournfully. Yes, the poor Lark had
good reason to be sad : he was caught, and now
sat in a cage close by the open window. He sang
of free and happy roaming, sang of the young
green corn in the fields, and of the glorious jour-
ney he might make on his wings high through the
air. The poor Lark was not in good spirits, for
there he sat a prisoner in a cage.
THE DAISY.
161
The little Daisy wished very much to help him.
But what was it to do ? Yes, that was difficult to
make out. It quite forgot how everything was so
beautiful around, how warm the sun shoue, and
how splendidly white its owu leaves were, Ah !
it could think only of the imprisoned bird, and
how it was powerless to do anything for him.
Just then two little boys came out of the gar-
den. One of them carried in his hand the knife
which the girl had used to cut off the tulips.
They went straight up to the little Daisy, which
could not at all make out what they wanted.
" Here we may cut a capital piece of turf for
the Lai-k," said one of the boys ; and he began to
cut off a square patch round about the Daisy, so
that the flower remained standing in its piece of
grass.
" Tear off the flower ! " said the other boy.
And the Daisy trembled with fear, for to be
torn otf would be to lose its life; and now it
wanted particularly to live, as it was to be given
with the piece of turf to the captive Lai'k.
" No, let it stay," said the other boy ; " it
makes such a nice ornament."
And so it remained, and was put into the Lark's
cage. But the poor bird complained aloud of his
lost liberty, and beat his wings against the wires
of his prison ; and the little Daisy could not speak
— could say no consoling word to him, gladly as
it would have done so. And thus the whole morn-
ing passed.
'* Here is no water," said the captive Lark.
"They are all gone out, and have forgotten to
give me anything to drink. My throat is dry and
burning. It is like fire and ice within me, and
the air is so close. Oh, I must die ! I must leave
the warm sunshine, the fresh green, and all the
splendor that God has created! "
And then he thrust his beak into the cool turf
to refresh himself a little with it. Then the bird's
eye fell upon the Daisy, and he nodded to it, and
kissed it with his beak, and said, —
" You also must wither in here, poor little
flower. They have given you to rae with the little
patch of green grass on which you grow, instead of
21
the whole world which was mine out there ! Every
little blade of grass shall be a great tree for me, and
every one of your fragrant leaves a great flower.
Ah, you only tell me how much I have lost I "
" If I could only comfort him ! " thought the
Daisy.
It could not stir a leaf ; but the scent which
streamed forth from its delicate leaves was far
stronger than is generally found in these flowers ;
the bird also noticed that, and though he was
fainting with thirst, and in his pain plucked up the
green blades of grass, he did not touch the flower.
The evening came on, and yet nobody appeared
to bring the poor bird a drop of water. Then he
stretched out his pretty wings and beat the air
frantically with them ; his song changed to a
mournful piping, his little head sank down toward
the flower, and the bird's heart broke with want
and yearning. Then the flower could not fold its
leaves, as it had done on the previous evening, and
sleep ; it drooped, sorrowful and sick, toward the
earth.
Not till the next morn did the boys come ; and
when they found the bird dead they wept — wept
many tears — and dug him a neat grave, which
they adorned with leaves of flowers. The bird's
corpse was put into a pretty red box, for he was to
be royally buried — the poor bird ! While he was
alive and sang they forgot him, and let him sit in
his cage and suffier want ; but now that he was
dead he had adornment and many tears.
But the patch of turf with the Daisy on it was
thrown out into the high-road : no one thought of
the flower that had felt the most for the little
bird, and would have been so glad to console him.
162
STORIES FROM HANS CHRISTIAN ANDERSEN
THE UGLY DUCKLING.
It was so glorious out in the country ; it was
summer ; the cornfields were yellow, the oats
were green, the hay had been put up in stacks in
the green meadows, and the stork went about on
his long red legs, and chattered Egyptian, for this
was the language he had learned from his good
mother. All around the fields and meadows were
great forests, and in the midst of these forests lay
deeji lakes. Yes, it was right glorious out in the
country. In the midst of the sunshine there lay
an old farm, with deep canals about it, and from
the wall down to
the water grew
great burdocks, so
high that little chil-
dren could stand
upright under the
loftiest of them. It
was just as wild
there as in the
deepest wood, and
here sat a Duck
upon her nest ; she
had to hatch her
ducklings ; but she
was almost tired
out before the little
ones came and then she so seldom had visitors.
The other ducks liked better to swim about in the
canals than to run up to sit down under a burdock,
and cackle with her.
At last one egg-shell after another burst open.
" Piep ! piep ! " it cried, and in all the eggs there
were little creatures that stuck out their heads.
"Quack! quack!" they said; and they all
came quacking out as fast as they could, looking
all round them under the green leaves ; and the
mother let them look as much as they chose, for
green is good for the eye.
"How wide the world is! " said all the young
ones, for they certainly had much more roona now
than when they were in the eggs.
" D' ye think this is all the world ? " said the
mother. " That stretches far across the other side
of the garden, quite into the parson's field ; but I
have never been there yet. I hope you are all to-
gether," and she stood up. "No, I have not all.
The largest egg still lies there. How long is that
to last? I am really tired of it." And she sat
down again.
"Well, how goes it?" asked an old Duck who
had come to pay her a visit.
" It lasts a long time with that one egg," said
the Duck who sat
there. " It will not
burst. Now, only
look at the others ;
are they not the
2)rettiest little
ducks one could
possibly see ? They
are all like their
father : the rogue,
he never comes to
see me."
" Let me see the
ega; which will not
burst," said the old
visitor. "You may
be sure it is a turkey's egg. I was once cheated
in that way, and had much anxiety and trouble
with the young ones, for they are afraid of the
water. Must I say it to you, I could not get them
to venture in. I quacked and I clacked, but it
was no use. Let me see the egg. Yes, that 's a
turkey's egg. Let it lie there, and teach the other
children to swim."
" I think I will sit on it a little longer," said
the Duck. " I 've sat so long now that I can sit a
few days more."
" Just as you please," said the old Duck ; and
she went away.
At last the great egg burst. " Piep ! piep ! "
said the little one, and crept forth. It was
THE UGLY DUCKLING.
163
very large and verj' ugly- The Duck looked
at it.
" It 's a very large duckling," said she ; " none
of the others look like that : can it really be a tur-
key chick ? Well, we shall soon find out. It
must go into the water, even if I have to thrust it
in myself."
The next day it was bright, beautiful weather ;
the sun shone on all the green trees. The Mother-
Duck went down to the canal with all her family.
Splash ! she jumped into the water. " Quack !
quack ! " she said, and one duckling after another
plunged in. The water closed over their heads,
but they came up in an instant, and swam cap-
itally ; their legs went of themselves, and they
were all in the water. The ugly gray Duckling
swam with them.
"No, it's not a turkey," said she; "look how
well it can use its legs, and how straight it holds
itself. It is my own child ! On the whole it 's
quite pretty, if one looks at it rightly. Quack !
quack ! come with me, and I '11 lead you out into
the great world, and present you in the duck-yard ;
but keep close to me, so that no one may tread on
you, and take care of the cats ! "
And so the)^ came into the duck-yard. There
was a terrible riot going on in there, for two fam-
ilies were quarreling about an eel's head, and the
cat got it after all.
" See, that 's how it goes in the world ! " said
the Mother-Duck ; and she whetted her beak, for
she too wanted the eel's head. " Only use your
legs," she said. " See that you can bustle about,
and bow your heads before the old Duck yonder.
She 's the grandest of all here ; she 's of Spanisli
blood — that 's why she 's so fat ; and d' ye see ?
she has a red rag round her leg ; that 's something
particularly fine, and the greatest distinction a
duck can enjoy ; it signifies that one does not
want to lose her, and that she 's to be known by
the animals and by men too. Shake yourselves
— don't turn in your toes ; a well brought-up
duck turns its toes quite out, just like father and
mother, — so ! Now bend your necks and say
Quack ! '"
And they did so : but the other ducks round
about looked at them, and said quite boldly, —
"Look there! now we 're to have these han?r
o
ing on, as if there were not enough of us already !
And — fie ! — how that duckling yonder looks ;
we won't stand that ! " And one duck flew up at
it, and bit it in the neck.
" Let it alone," said the mother ; " it does no
harm to any one."
" Yes, but it 's too large and peculiar," said the
Duck who had bitten it ; " and therefore it must
be put down."
" Those are pretty children that the mother has
there," said the old Duck with the rag round her
leg. " They 're all pretty but that one ; that was
rather unlucky. I wish she could bear it over
again."
" That cannot be done, my lady," replied the
Mother-Duck. " It is not pretty, but it has a
really good disposition, and swims as well as any
other ; yes, I may even say it, swims better. I
think it will grow up pretty, and become smaller
in time ; it has lain too long in the egg, and there-
fore is not properly shaped." And then she
pinched it in the neck, and smoothed its feathers.
" Moreover, it is a drake," she said, " and therefore
it is not of so much consequence. I think he will
be very strong : he makes his way already."
" The other ducklings are graceful enough,"
said the old Duck. " ]\Iake yourself at home ; and
if you find an eel's head, you may bring it me."
And now they were at home. But the poor
Duckling which had crept last out of the egg, and
looked so ugly, was bitten and pushed and jeered,
as much by the ducks as by the chickens.
" It is too big I " they all said. And the turkey-
cock, who had been born with spurs, and therefore
thought himself an emperor, blew himself up like
a ship in full sail, and bore straight down upon it;
then he gobbled and grew quite red in the face.
The poor Duckling did not know where it should
stand or walk ; it was quite melancholy because it
looked ugl}', and was the butt of the whole duck-
yard.
So it went on the first day ; and afterwards it
164
STORIES FROM HANS CHRISTIAN ANDERSEN.
became worse ami worse. The poor Duckling was
hunted about by every one ; even its brothers and
sisters were quite angry with it, and said, " If the
cat would only catch you, you ugly creature ! "
And the mother said, " If you wei-e only far
away ! " And the ducks bit it, and the chickens
beat it, and the girl who had to feed the poultry
kicked at it with her foot.
Then it ran and flew over the fence, and the lit-
tle birds in the bushes flew up in fear.
" That is because I am so ugly ! " thought the
Duckling ; and it shut its eyes, but flew on far-
ther, and so it came out into the great moor, where
the wild ducks lived. Here it lay the whole night
long ; and it was weary and downcast.
Towards morning the wild ducks flew up, and
looked at their new companion.
" What sort of a one are you ? " they asked ;
and the Duckling turned in every direction, and
bowed as well as it could. " You are remarkably
ugly ! " said the Wild Ducks. " But that is noth-
ing to us, so long as you do not marry into our
family."
Poor thing ! it certainly did not think of marrj'-
ing, and only hoped to obtain leave to lie among
the reeds and drink some of the swamja water.
Thus it lay two whole days ; then came thither
two wild geese, or, properly speaking, two wild
ganders. It was not long since each had crept
out of an egg, and that 's why they were so saucy.
" Listen, comrade," said one of them. " You 're
so ugly that I like you. Will you go with us, and
become a bird of passage ? Near here, in another
moor, there are a few sweet lovely wild geese, all
unmarried, and all able to say ' Rap ? ' You 've a
chance of making your fortune, ugly as you are."
" Pitt' I paff ! " resounded through the air ; and
the two ganders fell down dead in the swamp, and
the water became blood red. " Piff ! paff ! " it
sounded again, and the whole flock of wild geese
rose up from the reeds. And then there was an-
other report. A great hunt was going on. The
sportsmen were lying in wait all round the moor,
and some were even sitting up iu the branches of
the trees, which spread far over the reeds. The
blue smoke rose ujj like clouds among the dark
trees, and was wafted far away across the water;
and the hunting dogs came — splash, splash! —
into the swamp, and the rushes and the reeds bent
down on every side. That was a fright for the
poor Duckling ! It turned its head, and put it un-
der its wing ; but at that moment a frightful great
dog stood close by the Duckling. His tongue
hung far out of his mouth, and his eyes gleamed
horrible and ugly; he thrust out his nose close
against the Duckling, showed his sharp teeth,
and — splash, splash ! — on he went, without seiz-
ing it.
" Oh, Heaven be thanked I " sighed the Duck-
ling. " I am so ugly that even the dog does not
like to bite me ! "
And so it laj' quite quiet, while the shots rattled
through the reeds and gun after gun was fired.
At last, late in the day, all was still ; but the poor
Duckling did not dare to rise up ; it waited several
houi's before it looked round, and then hastened
away out of the moor as fast as it could. It ran
on over field and meadow ; there was such a storm
raging that it was difiicult to get from one place to
another.
Towards evening the Duck came to a little mis-
erable peasant's hut. This hut was so dilapidated
that it did not itself know on which side it should
fall ; and that's why it remained standing. The
storm whistled round the Duckling in such a way
that the poor creature was obliged to sit down, to
stand against it ; and the wind blew worse and
worse. Then the Duckling noticed that one of
the hinges of the door had given waj', and the
door hung so slanting that the Duckling could slip
through the crack into the room ; and that is what
it did.
Here lived a woman, with her Cat and her Hen.
And the Cat, whom she call Sonnie, could arch
his back and purr, he could even give out sparks ;
but for that one had to stroke his fur the wrong
way. The Hen had quite little, short legs, and
therefore she was called Chickabiddy Shortshanks :
she laid good eggs, and the woman loved her as
her own child.
THE UGLY DUCKLING.
165
In the morning the strange Duckling was at
once noticed, and the Cat began to purr and the
Hen to chick.
'•' What 's this ? " said the woman, and looked
all round ; but she could not see well, and there-
fore she thought the Duckling was a fat duck that
had strayed. "This is a rare prize!" she said.
" Now I shall fiave ,.
i
duck's
eggs. I hope
it is not a drake. We
must try that."
And so the Duck-
ling was admitted on
trial for three weeks ;
but no eggs came.
And the Cat was mas-
ter of the house, and
the Hen was the lady,
and always said " We
and the world I " for
she thought they were
half the world, and by
far the better half.
The Duckling
thought one might
have a different opin-
ion, but the Hen
would not allow it.
"Can you lay
eggs ? " she asked.
" No."
"Then will you
hold your tongue ! "
And the Cat said,
" Can you curve your back, and purr, and give
out sparks ? "
" No."
" Then you will please have no opinion of your
own when sensible folks are speaking."
And the Duckling sat in a corner and was mel-
ancholy ; then the fresh air and the sunshine
streamed in ; and it was seized with such a strange
longing to swim on the water, that it could not
help telling the Hen of it.
"What are you thinking of?" cried the Hen.
" You have nothing to do, that 's why you have
these fancies. Lay eggs, or purr, and they will
pass over."
" But it is so charming to swim on the water! "
said the Duckling, " so refreshing to let it close
above one's head, and to dive down to the bot-
tom."
"Yes, that must be
a mighty pleasure,
truly," quoth the Hen,
" I fancy you must
have gone crazy. Ask
the Cat about it, —
he 's the cleverest an-
imal I know, — ask
him if he likes to swim
on the water, or to
dive down : I won't
speak about myself.
Ask our mistress, the
old woman ; no one in
the word is cleverer
than she. Do you
think she has any
desire to swim, and
to let the water close
above her head ? "
" You don't under-
stand me," said the
Duckling.
"We don't under-
stand you? Then
pray who is to un-
derstand you ? You
surely don't pretend to be cleverer than the Cat
and the woman — I won't say anything of my-
self. Don't be conceited, child, and thank your
Maker for all the kindness you have received.
Did you not get into a warm room, and have you
not fallen into company from which you may learn
something? But you are a chatterer, and it is
not pleasant to associate with you. You may
believe me, I speak for your good. I tell you
disagreeable things, and by that one may always
know one's true friends ! Only take care that
166
STORIES FROM HANS CHRISTIAN ANDERSEN.
you learn to lay eggs, or to purr, and give out
sparks ! "
" I think I will go out into the wide world,"
said the Duckling.
" Yes, do go," replied the Hen.
And so the Duckling went away. It swam on
the water, and dived, but it was slighted by every
creature because of its ugliness.
Now came the autumn. The leaves in the for-
est turned yellow and brown ; the wind caught
them so that they danced about, and up in the air
it was very cold. The clouds hung low, heavy
with hail and snow-flakes, and on the fence stood
the raven, crying, " Croak ! croak ! " for mere
cold ; yes, it was enough to make one feel cold to
think of this. The poor little Duckling certainly
had not a good time. One evening — the sun was
just setting in his beauty — there came a whole
flock of great, handsome birds out of the bushes ;
they were dazzlingly white, with long, flexible
necks ; they were swans. They uttered a very pe-
culiar cry, spread forth their glorious great wings,
and flew away from that cold I'egion to warmer
lands, to fair open lakes. Thej' mounted so
high, so high I and the ugly Duckling felt quite
strangely as it watched them. It turned round
and round in the water like a wheel, stretched out
its neck towards them, and uttered such a strange,
loud cry as frightened itself. Oh ! it could not
forget those beautiful, happy birds ; and so soon
as it could see them no longer, it dived down to
the very bottom, and when it came up again it
was quite beside itself. It knew not the name of
those birds, and knew not wliither thej^ were fly-
ing; but it loved tliem more than it had ever
loved any one. It was not at all envious of them.
How could it think of wishing to possess such
loveliness as they had ? It would have been glad
if only the ducks would have endured its company
— the poor, ugly creature !
And the winter grew cold, very cold ! The
Duckling was foi-ced to swim about in the water,
to prevent the surface from freezing entirely ; but
every night the hole in which it swam about be-
came smaller and smaller. It froze so hard that
the icy covering crackled again ; and the Duck-
ling was obliged to use its legs continually to pre-
vent the hole from freezing up. At last it became
exhausted, and lay quite still, and thus froze fast
into the ice.
Early in the morning a peasant came bv, and
when he saw what had ha^spened, he took his
wooden shoe, broke the ice-crust to pieces, and
carried the Duckling home to his wife. Then it
came to itself again. The children wanted to
play with it ; but the Duckling thought they
wanted to hurt it, and in its terror fluttered up
into the milk-pan, so that the milk spurted down
into the room. The woman clasped her hands, at
which the Duckling flew dovcn into the butter-tub,
and then into the meal-barrel and out again. How
it looked then ! The woman screamed, and struck
at it with the fire-tongs ; the children tumbled
over one another in their efforts to catch tlie
Duckling ; and they laughed and they screamed !
— well it was that the door stood open, and the
poor creature was able to slip out between the
shrubs into the newly-fallen snow — there it lay
quite exhausted.
But it would be too melancholy if I were to tell
all the misery and care which the Duckling had
to endure in the hard winter. It lay out on the
moor among the reeds, when the sun began to
shine again and the larks to sing : it was a beauti-
ful spring.
Then all at once the Duckling could flap its
wings : they beat the air more strongly than be-
fore, and bore it strongly away; and before it
well knew how all this happened, it found itself in
a great garden, where the «lder-trees smelt sweet,
and bent their long green branches down to the
canal that wound through the region. Oh, here it
was so beautiful, such a gladness of spring ! and
from tlie thicket came three glorious white swans ;
they rustled their wings, and swam lightly on the
water. The Duckling knew the splendid creat-
ures, and felt oppressed by a peculiar sadness.
" I will fly away to them, to the roj-al birds !
and they will beat me, because I, that am so ugly,
dare to come near them. But it is all the same.
THE FIR-TREE.
167
^'^}^~yh^
Better to be killed by them than to be pursued by
ducks, aud beaten by fowls, and pushed about by
the girl who takes care of the poultry yard, and to
suffer hunger in winter ! " And it flew out into
the water, and swam towards the beautiful swans :
these looked at it, and came sailing down upon it
with outspread wings.
" Kill me ! " said the
poor creature, and bent
its head down upon
the water, expecting
nothing but death.
But what was this
that it saw in the clear
water ? It beheld its
own image ; and, lo !
it was no longer a
clumsy dark-gray bird,
ugly and hateful to
look at, but a — swan I
It matters nothing if one is born in a duck-yai'd
if one has only lain in a swan's egg.
It felt quite glad at all the need and misfortune
it liad suffered, now it realized its happiness in all
the splendor that surrounded it. And the great
swans swam round it, and stroked it with their
beaks.
Into the garden came little children, who threw
bread and corn into the water ; and the youngest
cried, " There is a new one ! " and the other chil-
dren shouted joyously, " Yes, a new one has ar-
rived ! " And they clapped their hands and danced
about, and ran to their father and mother ; and
bread and cake were thrown into the water ; and
they all said, " The new one is the most beauti-
ful of all ! so young
and handsome ! " and
the old swans bowed
their heads b e f or e
him. Then he felt
quite ashamed, and
hid his head under
his wings, for he did
not know what to do ;
he was so happy, and
yet not at all proud.
He thought how he
had been persecuted
and despised ; and
now he heard them saying that he was the
most beautiful of all birds. Even the elder-tree
bent its branches straight down into the water
before him, and the sun shone warm and mild.
Then his wings rustled, he lifted his slender neck,
and cried rejoicingly from the depths of his
heart, —
" I never dreamed of so much happiness when I
was the Ugly Duckling ! "
THE FIR-TREE.
Out in the woods stood a nice little Fir-tree.
The place he had was a very good one ; the sun
shone on him ; as to fresh air, there was enough
of that, and round him grew many large-sized
comrades, pines as well as firs. But the little Fir
wanted so very much to be a grown-up tree.
He did not think of the warm sun and of the
fresh air ; he did not care for the little cottage-
children that ran about and prattled when they
were in the woods looking for wild strawberries.
The children often came with a whole pitcher full
of strawberries, or a long row of them threaded
on a straw, and sat down near the young tree
and said, " Oh, how pretty he is ! what a nice little
fir ! " But this was what the tree could not bear
to hear.
At the end of a year he had shot up a good deal,
and after another year he was another long bit
taller ; for with fir-trees one can always tell by
the shoots how many years old they are.
" Oh, were I but such a high tree as the others
are," sighed he. " Then I should be able to spread
out my branches, and with the tops to look into
the wide world ! Then would the birds build
168
STORIES FROM HANS CHRISTIAN ANDERSEN.
nests among my brandies ; and when there was
a breeze, I could bend with as much stateliness as
the others ! "
Neither the sunbeams, nor the birds, nor the
red clouds which morning and evening sailed above
him, gave the little tree any pleasure.
In winter, when the snow lay glittering on the
ground, a hare would often come leaping along, and
jump right over the little tree. Oh, that made
him so angry ! But two winters were past, and
in the third the tree was so large that the hare
was obliged to go round it. " To grow and grow,
to get older and be tall," thouglit the tree, —
" that, after all, is the most delightful thing in
the world ! " ' L / "^
^*— ^^t-i ]^' — -'
In a ut u m n the
"wood-cutters always
came and felled some
of the largest tre'es.
This happened evei-y
year ; and the young
Fir-tree, that had
now grown to a very
comely size, trembled
at the sight ; for the
magnificent great
trees fell to the earth
with noise and cracking, the branches were lopped
off, and the trees looked long and bare : they
w^ere hardly to be recognized ; and then they were
laid in carts, and the horses dragged them out
of the wood.
Where did they go to ? What became of
them?
In spring, when the Swallows and the Storks
came, the tree asked them, " Don't you know
where they have been taken ? Have you not
met them anywhere ? "
The Swallows did not know anything about it;
but the Stork looked musing, nodded his head,
and said, " Yes ; I think I know ; I met many
ships as I was flying hither from Egypt ; on the
ships were magnificent masts, and I venture to as-
sert that it was they that smelt so of fir. I may
congratulate you, for they lifted, themselves on
high most majestically ! "
" Oh, were I but old enough to fly across the
sea ! But how does the sea look in reality ? What
it is like?"
" That would take a long time to explain,"
said the Stork, and with these words off he went.
" Rejoice in thy growth ! " said the Sunbeams,
" rejoice in thy vigorous growth, and in the fresh
life that moveth within thee ! "
And the Wind kissed the tree, and the Dew
wept tears over him ; but the Fir understood it
not.
When Christmas came, quite young trees were
cut down ; trees which
often were not even
as large or of the
same age as this Fii--
tree, who could never
rest, but always
wanted to be off.
These young trees,
and they were always
the finest looking, re-
^,^4"^-' tained their branches ;
— ' -S^^^M/j ^^^1 were laid on
it carts, and the horses
drew them out of the wood.
" Where are they going to ? " asked the Fir.
" They are not taller than I ; there was one in-
deed that was considerably shorter ; — and why
do they retain all their branches ? Whither are
they taken ? "
" We know ! we know ! " chirped the Spar-
rows. " We have peeped in at the windows in
the town below! We know whither they are
taken ! The greatest splendor and the greatest
magnificence one can imagine await them. We
peeped through the windows, and saw them
planted in the middle of the warm room, and or-
namented with the most splendid things, — with
gilded apples, with gingerbread, with toys, and
many hundred lights ! "
" And then ? " asked the Fir-tree, trembling
THE FIR-TREE.
169
in every bough. "And then? What happens
then ? "
" We did not see anything more : it was in-
comparably beautiful."
" I would fain know if I am destined for so
glorious a career," cried the tree, rejoicing. " That
is still better than to cross the sea ! What a long-
ing do I suffer \ Were Chiistmas but come ! I
am now tall, and my branches spread like the
others that were carried off last year ! Oh, were
I but already on the cart ! Were I in the warm
room with all the splendor and magnificence !
Yes ; then something better, something still
grander, will surely follow, or wherefore should
they thus ornament me ? Something better, some-
thing still grander, mu&t follow — but what ? Oh,
how I long, how I suffer I I do not know myself
what is the matter with me I "
"Rejoice in our presence!" said the Air and
the Sunlight ; " rejoice in thy own fresh youth ! "
But the tree did not rejoice at all ; he grew
and grew, and was green both winter and sum-
mei-. People that saw him said, " What a fine
tree ! " and towards Christmas he was one of the
first that was cut down. The axe struck deep
into the very pith ; the tree fell to the earth with
a sigh : he felt a pang — it was like a swoon ; he
could not think of happiness, for he was sorrowful
at being separated from his home, from the place
where he had sprung up. He well knew that he
should never see his dear old comrades, the little
bushes and flowers around him, any more ; per-
haps not even the birds ! The departure was not
at all agreeable.
The tree only came to himself when he was
unloaded in a courtyai-d with the other trees, and
heard a man say, " That one is splendid I we don't
want the others." Then two servants came in
rich livery and carried the Fir-tree into a large
and splendid drawing-room. Portraits were hang-
ing on the walls, and near the white porcelain
stove stood two large Chinese vases with lions on
the covers. There, too, were large easy-chairs,
silken sofas, large tables full of picture-books,
and full of toys worth hundreds and hundreds of
22
crowns — at least the children said so. And the
Fir-tree was stuck upright in a cask that was
filled with sand : but no one could see that it was
a cask, for green cloth was hung all round it, and
it stood on a large gayly-colored carpet. Oh, how
the tree quivered ! What was to happen ? The
servants, as well as the young ladies, decorated it.
On one branch there hung little nets cut out of
colored paper, and each net was filled with sugar-
plums ; and among the other boughs gilded apples
and walnuts were suspended, looking as though
they had gi'own there, and little blue and white
tapers were placed among the leaves. Dolls that
looked for all the world like men — the tree had
never beheld such before — were seen among the
foliage, and at the very top) a large star of gold
tinsel was fixed. It was really splendid — be3'ond
description splendid.
" This evening ! " said they all ; " how it will
shine this evening ! "
" Oh," thought the tree, " if the evening were
but come ! If the tajoers were but lighted ! And
then I wonder what will happen ! Perhaps the
other trees from the forest will come to look at
me ! Perhaps the sparrows will beat against the
window-panes I I wonder if I shall take root here,
and winter and summer stand covered with orna-
ments ! "
He knew very much about the matter I but he
was so impatient that for sheer longing he got a
pain in his back, and this with trees is the same
thing as a headache with us.
The candles were now lighted. What bright-
ness ! What splendor ! The tree trembled so in
every bough that one of the tapers set fire to the
foliage. It blazed up splendidly.
" Help ! help ! " cried the young ladies, and
they quickly put out the fire.
Now the tree did not even dare tremble. What
a state he was in I He was so uneasy lest he should
lose something of his splendor, that he was quite
bewildered amidst the glare and brightness ; when
suddenly both folding-doors opened, and a troop
of children rushed in as if they would upset the
tree. The older persons followed quietly ; the
170
STORIES FROM HANS CHRISTIAN ANDERSEN.
little ones stood quite still. But it was only for a
moment ; then they shouted so that the whole
place reechoed with their rejoicing ; they danced
round the tree, and one present after the other
was pulled off.
"What are they about?" thought the tree.
"What is to happen now!" And the lights
burned down to the very branches, and as they
burned down they were put out one after the
other, and then the children had permission to
plunder the tree. So they fell upon it with such
violence that all its branches cracked ; if it had
not been fixed firmly in the cask, it would certainly
have tumbled down.
The children danced about with their beautiful
playthings ; no one looked at the ti'ee except the
old nurse, who peeped between the branches ; but
it was only to see if there was a fig or an apple
left that had been forgotten.
"A story! a story ! " cried the children, draw-
ing a little fat man towards the tree. He seated
himself imder it, and said, " Now we are in the
shade, and the tree can listen too. But I shall
tell only one story. Now which will you have ;
that about Ivedy-Avedy, or about Klumpy-Dumpy
who tumbled down-stairs, and yet after all came
to the throne and married the princess ? "
" Ivedy-Avedy," cried some ; " Klumpy-Dumpy,"
cried the others. There was such a bawling and
screaming ! — the Fir-tree alone was silent, and
he thought to himself, " Am I not to bawl with
the rest ? — am I to do nothing whatever ? " for
he was one of the company, and had done what
he had to do.
And the man told about Klumpy-Dumpy that
tumbled down, who notwithstanding came to the
throne, and at last married the princess. And
the children clapped their hands, and cried out,
" Oh, go on ! Do go on ! " They wanted to hear
about Ivedy-Avedy too, but the little man only told
them about Klumpy-Dumpy. The Fir-tree stood
quite still and absorbed in thought : the birds
in the wood had never related the like of this,
" Klumpj'-Dumpy fell down-stairs, and yet he
married the princess ! Yes, yes ! that 's the way
of the world ! " thought the Fir-tree, and believed
it all, because the man who told the story was so
good-looking. " Well, well ! who knows, perhaps
I may fall down-stairs too, and get a princess as
wife ! " And he looked forward with joy to the
moiTow, when he hoped to be decked out again
with lights, playthings, fruits, and tinsel.
" I won't tremble to-morrow ! " thought the Fir-
tree. " I will enjoy to the full all my splendor !
To-morrow I shall hear again the story of Klumpy-
Dumpy, and perhaps that of Ivedy-Avedy too."
And the whole night the tree stood still and in
deep thought.
In the morning the servant and the housemaid
came in.
" Now then the splendor will begin again,"
thought the Fir. But they dragged him oat of
the room, and up the stairs into the loft ; and here
in a dark corner, where no daylight could enter,
they left him. " What 's the meaning of this ? "
thought the tree. " What am I to do here ?
What shall I hear now, I wonder ? " And he
leaned against the wall lost in reverie. Time
enough had he too for his reflections : for days
and nights passed on, and nobody came up ; and
when at last somebody did come, it was only to
put some great trunks in a corner out of the way.
There stood the tree quite hidden ; it seemed as
if he had been entirely forgotten.
" 'T is now winter out-of-doors ! " thought the
tree. " The earth is hard and covered with snow ;
men cannot plant me now, and therefore I have
been put up here under shelter till the spring-
time comes ! How thoughtful that is ! How kind
man is, after all ! If it only were not so dark
here, and so terribly lonely ! Not even a hare.
And out in the woods it was so pleasant, when
the snow was on the ground, and the hare leaped
by; yes — even when he jumped over me ; but I
did not like it then. It is really terribly lonely
here ! "
" Squeak ! squeak ! " said a little Mouse at the
same moment, peeping out of his hole. And then
another little one came. Thej^ snuffed about the
Fir-tree, and rustled among the branches.
THE FIR-TREE.
171
" It is dreadfully cold," said the Mouse. " But
for that, it would be delightful here, old Fir,
would n't it ? "
" I am by no means old," said the Fir-tree.
" There 's many a one considerably older than I
am."
"Where do you come from," asked the Mice;
" and what can ytfu do ? " They were so extremely
curious. " Tell us about the most beautiful spot
on the earth. Have you never been there ? Were
you never in the larder, where cheeses lie on the
shelves, and hams hang from above ; where one
dances about on tallow candles ; that place where
one enters lean, and comes out again fat and
portly? "
" I know no such place," said the tree. " But
I know the wood, where the sun shines, and where
the little birds sing." And then he told all about
his youth ; and the little Mice had never heard
the like before ; and they listened and said, —
" Well, to be sure I How much you have seen !
How happy you must have been I "
" I ! " said the Fir-tree, thinking over what he
had himself related. " Yes, in reality those were
happy times." And then he told about Christmas
Eve, when he was decked out with cakes and can-
dles.
" Oh," said the little Mice, " how fortunate you
have been, old Fir-tree ! "
" I am by no means old," said he. " I came
from the wood this winter ; I am in my prime,
and am only rather short for my age."
" What delightful stories you know ! " said the
Mice : and the next night they came with four
other little IMice, who were to hear what the tree
recounted ; and the more he related, the more
plainly he remembered all himself; and it ap-
peared as if those times had really been happy
times. "But they may still come — they may
still come. Klumpy-Dumpy fell down-stairs, and
yet he got a princess ! " and he thought at the
moment of a nice little Birch-tree growing out
in the woods : to the Fir, that would be a real
charming princess.
" Who is Klumpy-Dumpy ? " asked the Mice.
So then the Fir-tree told the whole fairy tale, for
he could remember every single word of it ; and the
little Mice jumped for joy up to the very top of the
tree. Next night two more Mice came, and on
Sunday two Rats, even ; but they said the stories
were not interesting, which vexed the little Mice ;
and they, too, now began to think them not so
very amusing either.
" Do you know only one story ? " asked the
Rats.
" Only that one," answered the tree. " I heard
it on my happiest evening ; but I did not then
know how happy I was."
" It is a very stupid story ! Don't you know
one about bacon and tallow candles ? Can't j^ou
tell any larder-stoi'ies ? "
" No," said the tree.
" Then good-by," said the Rats ; and they went
home.
At last the little Mice stayed away also ; and
the tree sighed : " After all, it was very pleasant
when the sleek little Mice sat round me and list-
ened to what I told them. Now that too is over.
But I will take good care to enjo}' myself when
I am brought out again."
But when was that to be? Why, one morning
there came a quantity of people and set to work
in the loft. The trunks were moved, the tree was
pulled out and thrown — rather hard, it is true —
down on the floor, but a man drew him towards
the stairs, where the daj'light shone.
" Now a merry life will begin again," thought
the tree. He felt the fresh air, the first sunbeam,
— and now he was out in the courtyard. All
passed so quickhs there was so much going on
around him, that the tree quite forgot to look to
himself. The court adjoined a garden, and all
was in flower ; the roses hung so fresh and odorous
over the balustrade, the lindens were in blossom,
the Swallows flew by, and said " Quirre-vit ! ray
husband is come ! " but it was not the Fir-tree that
they meant.
" Now, then, I shall really enjoy life," said he,
exultingly, and spread out his branches ; but, alas !
they were all withered and yellow. It was in a
172
STORIES FROM HANS CHRISTIAN ANDERSEN.
corner that he hiy, among weeds and nettles. The
golden star of tinsel was still on the top of the
tree, and glittered in the sunshine.
In the courtyard some of the merry children
were playing who had danced at Christmas round
the Fir-tree, and were so glad at the sight of him.
One of the youngest ran and tore off the golden
star.
" Only look what is still on the ugly old Christ-
mas-tree ! " said he, trampling on the branches, so
that they all cracked beneath his feet.
And the tree beheld all the beauty of the
flowers, and the freshness in the garden ; he be-
held himself, and wished he had remained in his
dark corner in the loft : he thought of his first
youth in the wood, of the merry Christmas Eve,
and of the little Mice who had listened with so
much pleasure to the story of Klumpy-Dumpy.
" 'T is over — 'tis past!" said the poor tree.
" Had I but rejoiced when I had reason to do so !
But now 't is past, 't is past ! "
And the gardener's boj' chopped the tree into
small pieces ; there was a whole heap lying there.
The wood flamed up splendidly under the large
brewing copper, and it sighed so deeply !
sigh was like a shot.
Each
The boys played about in the court, and the
youngest wore the gold star on his breast which
the tree had had on the happiest evening of his
life. However, that was over now, — the tree
gone, the story at an end. All, all was over ;
every tale must end at last.
THE FLAX.
The Flax stood in blossom ; it had pretty little
blue flowers, delicate as a moth's wings and even
more delicate. The sun shone on the Flax, and
the rain clouds moistened it, and this was just as
good for it as it is for little children when they
are washed, and afterward get a kiss from their
mother ; they become much prettier, and so did
the Flax.
" The people say that I stand uncommonly
well," said the Flax, " and that I 'm fine and long,
and shall make a capital piece of linen. How
happy I am ! I 'm certainly the happiest of be-
ings. How well I am off I And I may come to
something \ How the sunshine gladdens, and the
rain tastes good and refreshes me ! I 'm wonder-
fully happy ; I 'm the happiest of beings."
" Yes, yes, yes ! " said the Hedge-stake. " You
don't know the world, but we do, for we have
knots in us ; " and then it creaked out mourn-
fully, -
" Snip-snap-snurre,
Bassellurre !
The song is done."
" No, it is not done," said the Flax. " To-mor-
row the sun will shine, or the rain will refresh us.
I feel that I 'm growing, I feel that I 'm in blos-
som I I 'm the happiest of beings."
But one day the people came and took the Flax
by the head and pulled it up by the root. That
hurt; and it was laid in water as if they were
going to drown it, and then put on the fire
as if it was going to be roasted. It was quite
fearful !
" One can't alwavs have good times," said the
THE FLAX.
173
Fliix. " One must make one's experiences, and so
one gets to know something."
But bad times certainly came. The Flax -^vas
moistened, and roasted, and broken, and hackled.
Yes, it did not even know what the operations
were called that they did with it. It was put on
the spinning-wheel — whirr ! whirr ! whirr I — it
was not possible to collect one's thoughts.
" I have been uncommonly happy,"' it thought
in all its pain. " One must be content with the
good one has enjoyed. Contented! contented!
Oh ! " And it continued to say that when it was
put into the loom, and till it became a large, beau-
tiful piece of linen. All the Flax, to the last
stalk, was used in making one piece.
" But this is quite remarkable ! I should never
have believed it !
How favorable fort-
une is to me ! The
Hedge-stake is well
informed, truly,
with its —
" Snip-snap-snurre,
Bassellurre ! '
The song is not done
by any means. Now
it 's beginning in
earnest. That 's
quite remarkable !
If I 've suffered something, I "ve been made into
something ! I 'm the happiest of all ! How strong
and fine I am, how white and long ! That 's
something different from being a mere plant :
even if one bears flowers, one is not attended to,
and only gets watered when it rains. Xow I 'm
attended to and cherished : the maid turns me
over every morning, and I get a shower bath from
the watei-ing-pot every evening. Yes, the clergy-
man's wife has even made a speech about me, and
says I 'm the best piece in the whole parish. I
cannot possibly he happier ! "
Now the Linen was taken into the house, and
put under the scissors : how they cut and tore it,
and then pricked it with needles ! That was not
pleasant ; but twelve pieces of body linen of a
'^^SiS'^iSi*--
kind not often mentioned by name, but indispen-
sable to all people, were made of it — a whole
dozen !
" Just look ! Now something has really been
made of me ! So ; that was my destiny. That 's
a real blessing. Now I shall be of some use in the
world, and that 's right, that 's a true pleasure !
We "ve been made into twelve things, but yet
we 're all one and the same ; we "re just a dozen :
how charming that is ! "
Years rolled on, and now they would hold to-
gether no longer.
" It must be over one day," said each piece.
" I would gladly have held together a little longer,
but one must not expect impossibilities."
They were now torn into pieces and fragments.
Thej' thought it
was all over now,
for they were hacked
to shreds, and soft-
ened, and boiled ;
yes, they themselves
did not know all
that was done to
them ; and then they
became beautiful
white paper.
" Now, that is a
surprise, and a
glorious surprise ! " said the Paper. " Now I 'm
finer than before, and I shall be written on : that
is remarkable good fortune."
And really the most beautiful stories and verses
were written upon it, and only once there came a
blot ; that was certainly remarkable good fortune.
And the people heard what was upon it ; it was
sensible and good, and made people much more
sensible and better: there was a great blessing in
the words that were on this paper.
" That is more than I ever imagined when I
was a little blue flower in the fields. How could
I fanc}' that I should ever spread joy and knowl-
edge among men ? I can't yet understand it my-
self, but it really is so. I have done nothing my-
self but what I was obliged with my weak powers
174
STORIES FROM HANS CHRISTIAN ANDERSEN.
to do for my own preservation, and yet I have
been promoted from one joy and honor to another.
Each time when I think ' the song is done,' it be-
gins again in a higher and better way. Now I
shall certainly be sent about to journey through
the world, so that all people may read me. That
cannot be otherwise ; it 's the only jJrobable thing.
I have splendid thoughts, as many as I had pretty
flowers in the old times. I 'm the happiest of be-
ings."
But the Paper was not sent on its travels, — it
was sent to the printei', and everything that was
written upon it was set up in type for a book, or
rather for many hundreds of books, for in this
way a very far greater number could derive pleas-
ure and profit from the book than if the one paper
on which it was written had run about the world,
to be worn out before it had got half way.
" Yes, that is certainly the wisest way," thought
the Written Paper. " I really did not think of
that. I shall stay at home, and be held in honor,
just like an old grandfather; and I am really the
grandfather of all these books. Now something
can be effected ; I could not have wandered about
thus. He who wrote all this looked at me ; every
word flowed from his pen right into me. I am the
happiest of all."
Then the Paper was tied together in a bundle,
and thrown into a tub that stood in the wash-
house.
" It 's good resting after work," said the Paper.
" It 's very right that one should collect one's
thoughts. Now I 'm able for the first time to
think of what is in me, and to know one's self is
true progress. What will be done with me now ?
At any rate I shall go forward again : I 'm always
going forward ; I 've found that out."
Now, one daj' all the Paper was taken out and
laid by on the hearth ; it was to be burned, for it
might not be sold to hucksters to be used for cov-
ering for butter and sugar, they said. And all
the childi-en in the house stood round about, for
they wanted to see the Paper burn, that flamed so
prettily, and afterwards one could see many red
sparks among the ashes, careering here and there.
One after another faded out as quick as the wind,
and that they called "seeing the children come
out of school," and the last spark was the old
schoolmaster : one of them thought he had already
gone, but the next moment there came another
spark. " There goes the schoolmaster ! " thev
said. Yes, they knew all about it ; they should
have known who it was who went there : we shall
get to know it, but they did not. All the old
Paper, the whole bundle, was laid upon the fire,
and it was soon alight. " Ugh I " it said, and
burst out into bright flame. Ugh ! that was not
very agreeable, but when the whole was wrapped
in bright flames, these mounted up higher than
the Flax had ever been able to lift its little blue
flowers, and glittered as the white Linen had never
been able to glitter. All the written letters
turned for a moment quite red, and all the words
and thoughts turned to flame.
" Now I 'm mounting straight up to the sun,"
said a voice in the flame ; and it Avas as if a thou-
sand voices said this in unison ; and the flames
mounted up through the chimney and out at the
top, and more delicate than the flames, invisible
to human eyes, little tiny beings floated there, as
many as there had been blossoms on the Flax.
Thfy were lighter even than the flame from
which they were born ; and when the flame was
extinguished, and nothing remained of the Paper
but black ashes, they danced over it once more,
and where they touched the black mass the little
red sparks appeared. The children came out of
school, and the schoolmaster was the last of all.
That was fun I And the children sang over the
dead ashes, —
" Snip-snap-snurre,
Bassellurre !
The song is done."
But the little invisible beings all said, —
" The song is never done, that is the best of all.
We know it, and therefore we 're the happiest of
all."
But the children could neither hear that nor
understand it ; nor ought they, for children must
not know everything.
THE SWINEHERD.
175
THE SWINEHERD.
There was once a poor prince ; be had a king-
dom that was very small ; still it was quite large
enough to marry upon ; and he wished to marry.
It was certainly rather cool of him to say to the
Emperor's daughfer, " Will you have me ? " But
so he did ; for his name was renowned far and
wide ; and there were a hundred princesses who
would have answered, " Thank you." But see
what she said. Now we will hear.
By the grave of the prince's father there grew
a rose-tree, — a most beautiful rose-tree ; it blos-
somed only once in every five years, and even then
bore only one flower, but that was a rose that
smelt so sweet as to make one forget all cares and
sorrows.
And furthermore, the prince had a nightingale,
who could sing in such a manner that it seemed
as though all sweet melodies dwelt in her little
throat. So the princess was to have the rose and
the nightingale ; and they were accordingly put
into large silver caskets, and sent to her.
The emperor had them brought into a large
hall, where the princess was playing at " making
calls," with the ladies of the court ; they never
did anything else, and when she saw the caskets
with the presents, she clapped her hands for
joy-
" Ah, if it were but a little jnissy-cat ! " ex-
claimed she ; then out came the beautiful rose.
" Oh, how prettily it is made ! " said all the
court-ladies.
" It is more than pretty," said the emperor ;
" it is charming ! "
But the princess touched it, and was almost
ready to cry.
" Fie, papa ! " said she, " it is not made at all ;
it is natural I "
"Fie I" cried all the court-ladies; "it is' nat-
ural ! "
" Let us see what is in the other casket, before
we get into a bad humor, proposed the emperor.
So the nightingale came forth, and sang so de-
lightfully that at first no one could say anything
ill-humored of it.
^'- Superhe I cJiarment ! " exclaimed the ladies;
for they all used to chatter French, each one
worse than her neighbor.
" How much the bird reminds me of the musical
box that belonged to our blessed empress ! " re-
marked an old knight. " Ah yes ! it is the very
same tone, the same execution."
"Yes! yes!" said the emperor, and he wept
like a little child.
" I will still hope that it is not a real bird,"
said the princess.
" Yet it is a real bird," said those who had
brought it.
" Well, then let the bird fly," returned the
princess ; and she positively refused to see the
prince.
However, he was not to be discouraged ; he
daubed his face over brown and black, pulled his
cap over his ears, and knocked at the door.
" Good day, emperor ! " said he. " Can I have
employment at the palace ? "
" Oh, there are so many that want a place ! "
said the emperor ; " well let me see, I want some
one to take care of the pigs, for we have a great
many of them."
So the prince was appointed " Imperial Swine-
herd." He had a dirty little room close by the
pig-sty ; and there he sat the whole day, and
worked. By the evening he had made a pretty
little saucepan. Little bells were hung all around
it ; and when the pot was boiling, these bells tin-
kled in the most charming manner, and played the
old melody : —
" All ! tliou dearest Augustine !
All is gone, gone, gone ! "
But what was still more curious, whoever held
his finger in the smoke of this saucejian immedi-
ately smelt all the dishes that were cooking on
every hearth in the city : this, you see, was some-
thing quite different from the rose.
176
STORIES FROM HANS CHRISTIAN ANDERSEN.
Now the princess happened to walk that way :
and when she heard the tune, she stood quite still,
and seemed pleased ; for she could play " Dearest
Augustine ; " it was the only piece she knew, and
she played it with one finger.
" Why, there is my piece ! " said the princess ;
" that swineherd must certainly have been well
educated ! Here ! Go in and ask him the price
of the instrument.'.'
And so one of the court-ladies must run in ;
however, she drew on wooden slippers first.
" What will you take for the saucepan ? " in-
quired the lady.
" I will have ten kisses from the princess," said
the swineherd.
" Mercy on us ! " said the lady.
" Yes, I cannot sell it for less,"
said the swineherd.
" Well, what does he say ? " asked
the princess. '/^ \
"I cannot tell you, (''"-, -J'''.^'\'^^4r.
really," replied the lady; :' ; -;
" it is too bad ! "
" Then you can
whisper it ! " So the
lady whispered it.
" He is an impu-
dent fellow ! " said the
princess, and she
walked on ; but when
she had gone a little way, the bells tinkled so
prettily, —
" Ah ! thou dearest Augustine !
All is gone, goue, cone ! "
" Stay," said the princess. " Ask him if he will
have ten kisses from the ladies of my court."
" No, thank you ! " answered the swineherd :
" ten kisses from the princess, or I keep the sauce-
pan myself."
" That must not be, either ! " said the princess ;
"But do you all stand before me, that no one may
see us."
And the court-ladies placed themselves in front
of her, and spread out their dresses ; and so the
swineherd got ten kisses, and she got the saucepan.
It was delightful ! the saucepan was kept boil-
ing all the evening, and the whole of the following
day. Tliey knew perfectly well what was cook-
ing at every fire throughout the city, from the
chamberlain's to the cobbler's ; the court-ladies
danced, and clapped their hands.
" We know who has soup and who has pancakes
for dinner to-day, who has cutlets, and who has
eggs. How interesting ! "
And '' How interesting ! " said the lord stew-
ard's wife.
" Yes, but keep my secret, for I am an emper-
or's daughter."
" Mercy on us," said they all.
The swineherd —
that is to say the
prince, for no one
knew that he was
other than an ill-
favored swineherd —
let not a day pass
without working at
something ; he at last
constructed a rattle,
which, when it was
swung round, played
all the waltzes and
jig-tunes which have
ever been heard since
the creation of the
world.
"Ah, that is superhe!" said the princess when
she passed by ; "I have never heard jjrettier com-
positions ! Go in and ask him the price of the
instrument ; but I won't kiss him ! "
" He will have a hundred kisses from the prin-
cess ! " said the court-lady who had been in to
ask.
" I think he is crazy I " said the princess, and
walked on ; but when she had gone a little way,
she atojDped again. '• One must encourage art,"
said she ; " I am the emperor's daughter. Tell
him, he shall, as on yesterdaj', have ten kisses from
me, and may take the rest from the ladies of the
court."
THE SWINEHERD.
177
" Oh ! but we should not like that at all ! " said
the court-ladies.
" What are you muttering ? " asked the prin-
cess ; " if I can kiss him, sm-ely you can ! Re-
member, I give you your food and wages." So the
court-ladies were obliged to go to him again.
" A hundred kisses from the princess ! " said he,
" or else let every /one keep his own."
" Stand round ! "
said she ; and all the
ladies stood round
her whilst the kiss-
ing was going on.
" What can be
the reason for such
a crov^d close by the
pig-sty ? " said the
emjjeror, who hap-
pened just then to
step out on the bal-
cony. He rubbed
his eyes and put on
his spectacles.
" The}^ are the la-
dies of the court ;
there is some play
going on. I must
go down and see
"what they are
about I " So he
pulled up his slip-
pers at the heel, for
he had trodden them
down.
Heh there ! what
a hurry he is in.
As soon as he had got into the courtyard, he
moved very softly, and the ladies were so much
engrossed with counting the kisses, that all might
go on fairly, that they did not perceive the em-
peror. He rose on his tiptoes.
" What is all this ? " said he, when he saw what
was going on, and he boxed the princess's ears
23
with his slipper, just as the swineherd was taking
the eighty-sixth kiss.
" Off with you ! " cried the emperor, for he was
very angry : and both princess and swineherd
were thrust out of the city.
The princess now stood and wept, the swine-
herd scolded, and the rain poured down.
" Oh, how miserable I am ! " said the princess.
" If I had but mar-
ried the handsome
young prince!
Ah ! how unfortu-
nate I am ! "
And the swine-
herd went behind
a tree, washed
the black-and-brown
color from his face,
threw off his dirty
clothes, and stepped
forth in his princely
robes; he looked
so noble that the
princess could not
help bowing before
him.
"lam come to de-
spise thee," said he.
" Thou wouldst not
have an honorable
prince I thou couldst
not prize the rose
and the nightin-
gale, but thou wast
ready to kiss the
swineherd for the
sake of a trumpery plaything. Now thou hast
thy deserts ! "
He then went back to his own little kingdom,
and shut the door of his palace in her face. New-
she might well sing, —
"Ah ! thou dearest Augustine !
All is gone, gone, gone I "
178
STORIES FROM HANS CHRISTIAN ANDERSEN.
THE LOVERS.
A Top and a little Ball were together in a
drawer among some other toys ; and the Top said
to the Ball, —
" Shall we not be lovers, as we live together in
the same box ? "
But the Ball, which had a coat of morocco
leather, and was just as conceited as any fine lady,
would make no answer to such a proposal. The
next day came the little boy to whom the toys be-
longed : he painted the Top red and yellow, and
hammered a brass nail into it ; and it looked splen-
did when the Top turned round.
" Look at me ! "
he cried to the little
Ball. " What do you
say now? Shall we
not be engaged to ?
each other ? We suit
one another so well !
You jump and 1
dance ! No one could '-' J
be happier than we g[
two should be."
" Indeed ! Do j'ou
think so ? " replied ^
the little Ball. " Per- '
haps you do not
know that my papa and my mamma were morocco
slippers, and that I have a Spanish cork inside
me?"
" Yes, but I am made of mahogany," said the
Top; "and the mayor himself turned me. He
has a turning lathe of his own, and it amuses him
greatly."
" Can I depend on that ? " asked the little Ball.
" May I never be whipped again if it is not
true ! " rejjlied the Top.
" You can speak well for yourself," observed the
Ball, " but I cannot grant your request. I am as
good as engaged to a swallow : every time I leap
up into the air he puts his head out of the nest
and says, ' Will you ? ' And now I have silently
said ' Yes,' and that is as good as half engaged ;
but I promise I will never for'get you."
" Yes, that will be much good ! " said the Top.
And they spoke no more to each other.
Next day the Ball was taken out by the boy.
The Top saw how she flew high into the air, like
a bird ; at last one could no longer see her.
Each time she came back again, but gave a high
leap when she touched the earth, and that was
done either from her longing to mount up again,
or because she had a Spanish cork in her body.
But the ninth time the little Ball remained ab-
sent, and did not
come back again ;
and the boy sought
and sought, but she
was gone.
" I know very well
whei'e she is I " sighed
the Top. " She is in
the Swallow's nest,
and has married, the
Swallow ! "
The more the Top
thought of this, the
_ more it longed for
the Ball. Just be-
cause it could not get the Ball, its love increased ;
and the fact that the Ball had chosen another
formed a peculiar feature in the case. So the
Top danced round and hummed, but always
thought of the little Ball, which became more
and more beautiful in his fane3\ Thus several
years went b}', and now it was an old love.
And the Top was no longer j'oung I But one
day he was gilt all over ; never had he looked so
handsome ; he was now a golden Top, and sprang
till he hummed again. Yes, that was something
worth seeing ! But all at once he sj)rang too high,
and — he was gone !
They looked and looked, even in the cellar, but
he was not to be found. Where could he be ?
LITTLE CLAUS AND BIG CLAUS.
179
He had jumped into the dust-box, where all
kinds of things were lying : cabbage stalks, sweep-
ings, and dust that had fallen down from the
roof.
" Here 's a nice place to lie in I The gilding
will soon leave me here. Among what a rabble
have I alighted I "
And then he lo(;>ked sideways at a long leafless
cabbage stump, and at a curious round thing like
an old apple ; but it was not an apple — it was an
old Ball, which had lain for years in the roof-gut-
ter and was quite saturated with water.
" Thank goodness, here comes one of us, with
whom one can talk ! " said the little Ball, and
looked at the gilt Top. " I am really morocco,
worked by maidens' hands, and have a Spanish
cork within me ; but no one would think it, to look
at me. I was very near marrying a swallow, but I
fell into the gutter on the roof, and have lain there
full five years, and become quite wet through.
You maj'^ believe me, that "s a long time for a
young girl."
But the Top said nothing. He thought of his
old love ; and the more he heard, the clearer it be-
came to him that this was she. Then came the
servant-girl, and wanted to turn out the dust-box.
" Aha ! there 's a gilt top I " she cried. And so
the Top was brought again to notice and honor,
but nothing was heard of the little Ball. And the
Top spoke no more of his old love ; for that dies
away when the beloved object has lain for five
years in a roof-gutter and got wet through ; yes,
one does not know her again when one meets her
in the dust-box.
LITTLE CLAUS AND BIG CLAUS.
There lived in a village two men who both
had the same name ; they wei-e called Claus ; but
one of them had four horses, and the other had
only one horse ; so in order to tell one fi'om the
other, people called the owner of the four horses,
" Big Claus," and him who had only one, " Little
Claus." Now we shall hear what happened to the
two, for this is a true storj'.
The whole week through Little Claus was
obliged to plow for Big Claus, and lend him his
one horse ; and, in return. Big Claus lent him all
his four horses, but only on one day of the week,
and that was Sunday. Then how proudly Little
Claus would smack his whi23 over all five horses !
they were as good as his own on that one day.
The sun shone brightly, and all the bells in the
church tower were ringing merrily as the people
passed by, dressed in their best clothes, with their
prayer-books under their arms. They were going
to hear the clergyman preach, and they looked at
Little Claus plowing with his five horses, and he
was so proud that he smacked his whip, and said,
" G'up, all my horses I "
" You must not say that," said Big Claus ; " for
only one of them belongs to you." But when an-
other lot of jaeople went by to church, Little Claus
forgot what he ought to say, and called out,
" G"up, all my horses I "
" Now I tell you not to say that again," said
Big Claus; "for if you do, I shall hit your horse
180
STORIES FROM HANS CHRISTIAN ANDERSEN.
on the head, so that be will drop dead on the spot,
and that will be the end of him."
" I promise you I will not say it any more,"
said the other ; but as soon as people came by,
nodding to him, and wishing him " Good day,"
he became so pleased, and thought how grand
it looked to have five horses plowing in his
field, that he cried out again, " G'up, all my
horses ! "
" I '11 g'up your horses for you," said Big Glaus ;
and, seizing a carriage weight, he struck the one
horse of Little Clans on the head, and he fell
dead instantl}'.
" Ah ! now I have no horse at all," said Little
Glaus, and he began to weep. But after a while
he took off the dead horse's skin, and hung the
hide to dry in the
wind. Then he put
the dry skin into a
bag, and placing it
over his s h o u 1 d e r,
went out into the next
town to sell the horse's
hide.
He had a very long ■
way to go, and had to
pass through a dark,
gloomy forest. Presently a storm arose, and he
lost his way, and before he discovered the right
path, evening came on, and it was still a long way
to the town, and too far to return home before
night.
Near the road stood a large farm-house. The
shutters outside the windows were closed, but
lights shone through the crevices and at the top.
" I might get permission to stay here for the
night," thought Little Glaus ; so he went up to
the door and knocked.
The farmer's wife opened the door ; but when
she heard what he wanted, she told him to go
away, as her husband would not allow her to ad-
mit strangers.
" Then I shall be obliged to lie out here," said
Little Glaus to himself, and the farmer's wife
shut the door in his face.
Near to the farm-house stood a large hay-stack,
and between it and the house was a small shed,
with a thatched roof.
" I can lie up there," said Little Glaus, as he
saw the roof ; " it will make a famous bed, but I
hope the stork will not fly down and bite my
legs ; " for on it stood a living stork, whose nest
was in the roof.
So Little Glaus climbed to the roof of the shed,
and while he turned himself to get comfortable, he
discovered that the wooden shutters, which were
closed, did not reach to the tops of the windows
of the farm-house, so that he could see into a room
in which a large table was laid out, with wine,
roast meat, and a splendid fish. The farmer's wife
and the sexton were sitting at the table together ;
and she filled his glass,
and helped him plen-
teously to fish, for
that was something
he was fond of.
" If I could only get
some, too," thought
Little Glaus ; and he
stretched his neck
toward the window.
Oh, what a lovely pie
he could see there ! Oh, but that was a feast !
Now he heard some one riding down the road,
toward the farm-house. It was the woman's hus-
band coming home. He was a good man, but
still he had a very strange prejudice, — he could
not bear the sight of a sexton. If one appeared
before him, he would put himself in a terrible
rage. And so it was that the sexton had gone to
visit the farmer's wife during her husband's ab-
sence from home, and the good woman had placed
before him the best she had in the house to eat.
When she heard the farmer coming she was fi-ight-
ened, and begged the sexton to hide himself in a
large empty chest that stood in the room. He did
so, for he knew her husband could not endure the
sight of a sexton. The woman then quickly jjut
away the wine, and hid all the rest of the nice
things in the oven ; for if her husband had seen
LITTLE GLAUS AND BIG GLAUS.
181
them lie would have asked what they were brought
out for.
'^ Oh dear ! " sighed Little Claus from the top
of the shed, as he saw all the good things disap-
pear.
" Is any one up there ? " asked the farmer,
looking up and discovering Little Claus. " Why
are you lying up there ? Come down, and come
into the house with me." So Little Claus came
down and told the farmer how he had lost his
way, and begged for a night's lodging.
"All right," said the farmer; "but we must
have something to eat first."
The woman received them both very kindly,
laid the cloth on a large table, and placed before
them a dish of groats. The farmer was very
hungry, and ate his groats with a good appetite,
but Little Claus could not help thinking of the
nice roast meat, fish, and pies, which he knew
were in the oven. Under the table, at his feet,
lay the sack containing the horse's skin, which he
intended to sell at the next town. Now Little
Claus did not relish the groats at all, so he trod
with his foot on the sack under the table, and the
dry skin squeaked quite loud. " Hush ! " said
Little Claus to his sack, at the same time tread-
ing upon it again, till it squeaked louder than be-
fore.
" Hallo I what have you got in your sack ? "
asked the farmer.
" Oh, it is a conjurer," said Little Claus ; "and
he says we need not eat groats, for he has conjured
the oven full of roast meat, fish, and pie."
" Wonderful ! " cried the farmer, and he opened
the oven door ; and there lay all the nice things
hidden by the farmer's wife, but which he sup-
posed had been conjured there by the wizard un-
der the table. The woman dai'ed not say any-
thing ; so she placed the things before them, and
they both ate of the fish, the meat, and the
pastry.
Then Little Claus trod again upon his sack,
and it squeaked as before.
" What does he say now ? " asked the farmer.
" He says," replied Little Claus, " that there
are three bottles of wine for us, standing in the
corner, by the oven."
So the woman was obliged to bring out the wine
also, which she had hidden, and the farmer drank
it till he became quite merry. He would have
liked such a conjurer as Little Claus carried in
his sack. "Could he conjure up the devil?"
asked the farmer. " I should like to see him now,
while I am so merry."
" Oh, yes ! " replied Little Claus, " my conjurer
can, do anything I ask him, — can you not ? " he
asked, treading at the same time on the sack till
it squeaked. " Do you hear ? he answers ' Yes,'
but he fears that we shall not like to look at
him."
" Oh, I am not afraid. What will he be like ? "
" Well, he is very much like a sexton."
"Ha!" said the farmer; "then he must be
ugly. Do you know I cannot endure the sight of
a sexton. However, that does n't matter, I shall
know who it is ; so I shall not mind. Now then,
I have got up my courage, but don't let him come
too near me."
" Stop, I must ask the conjurer," said Little
Claus ; so he trod on the bag, and stooped his ear
down to listen.
" What does he say ? "
"He says that you must go and open that large
chest which stands in the corner, and you will see
the devil crouching down inside ; but you must
hold the lid firrah', that he may not slip out."
" Will you come and help me hold it ? " said
the farmer going toward the chest in which his
wife had hidden the sexton, who now lay inside,
very much frightened. The farmer lifted the lid
a very little waj% and peeped in.
" Eh ! " cried he, springing backwards. " Ah,
I saw him, and he is exactly like our sexton. How
dreadful it is ! " So after that he was obliged to
drink again, and they sat and drank till far into
the night.
" You must sell your conjurer to me," said the
farmer ; " ask as much as you like, I will pay it ;
indeed, I would give you directly a whole bushel
of gold."
182
STORIES FROM HAXS CHRISTIAN ANDERSEK
" No, indeetl, I cannot,"' said Little Claus ;
" only think how much profit I could make out of
this conjurer."
" But I should like to have him," said the
farmer, still continuing his entreaties.
" Well," said Little Claus at length, "you have
been so good as to give me a night's lodging, I
will not refuse you ; you shall have the conjurer
for a bushel of money, but I will liave quite full
measure."
"So you shall,"
said the farmer ; " but
you must take away
the chest as well. I
would not have it in
the house another
hour; there is no
knowing if he may
not be still there."
So Little Claus gavt'
the farmer the sack
containing the dried
horse's skin, and re-
ceived in exchange a
bushel of monej' —
full measure. The
Farmer also gave him
a wheel -barrow on
which to carry away
the chest a n d the
gold.
"Farewell," said
Little Claus, as he
went off with h i s
money and the great
chest, in which the
sexton lay still concealed
On one side of the
forest was a broad, deep river ; the water flowed
so rapidly that verj' few were able to swim against
the stream. A new bridge had lately been built
across it, and in the middle of this bridge Little
Claus stopped, and said, loud enough to be heard
by the sexton, —
" Now, what shall I do with this stupid chest ?
it is as heavy as if it were full of stones : I shall
be tired if I roll it any farther, so I may as well
throw it into the river ; if it swims after me to my
house, well and good, and if not, it will not much
matter."
So he seized the chest in his hand, and lifted it
up a little, as if he were going to throw it into
the water.
" No, leave it alone," cried the sexton from
within the chest ; " let me out first."
" Oh,"' exclaimed
Little Claus, pretend-
ing to be frightened,
" be is in there still,
is he ? I must throw
him into the river,
that he may be
di'owned."'
" Oh no ! Oh no ! "
cried the sexton ; " I
"will give you a whole
bushel full of money
if you will let me
go."
"Why, that is an-
other matter," said
Little Clans, opening
the chest. The sexton
crept out, pushed the
empty chest into the
water, and went to
his house ; then he
measured out a whole
bushel full of gold for
Little Claus, who had
already received one
from the farmer, so
that now he had a barrow full.
" I have been well paid for my horse," said he
to himself when he reached home, entered his own
room, and emptied all his money into a heap on
the floor. "How vexed Big Claus will be when
he finds how rich I have become all through my
one horse ; but I shall not tell him exactly how it
all happened." Then he sent a boy to Big Claus
to borrow a bushel measure.
LITTLE CLAVS AND BIG GLAUS.
183
"What can he want it for?" thought Big
Claus ; so he smeared the bottom of the measure
with tar, that some of whatever was put into it
might stick there and remain. And so it hap-
pened ; for when the measure returned three new
silver florins were sticking to it.
" What does tliis mean ? " said Big Claus ; so
he ran off directly to Little Claus, and asked,
" Where did you get so much money ? "
" Oh, for mj' horse's hide ; I sold it yesterday."
" It was certainly well paid for then," said Big
Claus ; and he ran home to his house, seized a
hatchet, and knocked all his four horses on the
head, flayed off their skins, and took them to the
town to sell. " Hides, hides! who'll buy hides? "
he cried, as he went through the streets. All the
shoemakers and tanners came running, and asked
liow much he wanted for them.
" A bushel of money for each," replied Big
Claus.
" Are you mad ? " they all cried ; " do you think
we have money to spend by the bushel ? "
"Hides, hides!" he cried again, "who'll buy
hides?" but to all who inquired the price his an-
swer was, " A bushel of money."
" He is making fools of us," said they all ; then
the shoemakers took their straps, and the tanners
their leather aprons, and began to beat Big Claus.
" Hides, hides ! " they cried, mocking him ;
" yes, we '11 mark your hide for you, till it is black
and blue."
" Out of the town with him," said they. And
Big Claus was obliged to run as fast as he could ;
he had never before been so thoroughly beaten.
"Ah," said he, as he came to his house, "Little
Claus shall pay me for this ; I will beat him to
death."
Now it happened that the old grandmother of
Little Claus died. She had been cross, unkind,
and really spiteful to him ; but he was very sorry,
and took the dead woman and laid her in his
warm bed to see if he could bring her to life again.
There he determined that she should lie the whole
night, wliile he seated liimself in a chair in a cor-
ner of the room, as he had often done before.
During the night, as he sat there, the door
opened, and in came Big Claus with a hatchet.
He knew well where Little Claus's bed stood ; so
he went right up to it, and struck the old grand-
mother on the head, thinking it must be Little
Claus.
" There," cried he, " now you cannot make a
fool of me again ; " and then he went home.
" That is a very wicked man," thought Little
Claus ; " he meant to kill me. It is a good thing
for my old grandmother that she was already dead,
or he would have taken her life."
Then he dressed his old grandmother in her best
clothes, borrowed a horse of his neighbor, and
harnessed it to a cart. Then he placed the old
woman on the back seat, so that she might not fall
out as he drove, and rode away through the wood.
By sunrise they reached a large inn, where Little
Claus stopped and went to get something to eat.
The landlord was a rich man, and a good man,
too ; but us passionate as if he had been made of
pepper and snuff.
" Good-morning," said he to Little Claus ; " you
are come betimes to-day."
" Yes," said Little Claus ; " I am going to the
town with my old grandmother ; she is sitting at
the back of the wagon, but I cannot bring her into
the room. Will you take her a glass of mead?
but you must speak very loud, for she cannot hear
well."
" Yes, certainly I will," replied the landlord ;
and, pouring out a glass of mead, he carried it out
to the dead grandmother, who sat upright in the
cart.
" Here is a glass of mead from your grandson,"
said the landlord. The dead woman did not an-
swer a word, but sat quite still.
"Do you not hear?" cried the landlord, as
loud as he could; "here is a glass of mead from
your grandson."
Again and again he bawled it out, but as she did
not stir he flew into a passion, and thi'ew the glass
of mead in her face ; it struck her on the nose, and
she fell backwards out of the cart, for she was only
seated there, not tied in.
184
STORIES FROM HANS CHRISTIAN ANDERSEN
" Mercy ! " cried Little Claus, and sprang out
of the door, and seized hold of the landlord by
the throat ; " you have killed my grandmother ;
see, here is a great hole in her forehead."
" Oh, how unfortunate," said the landlord,
wringing his hands. " This all comes of my fiery
temper. Dear Little Claus, I will give you a
whole bushel of monej', and will bury your grand-
mother as if she were my own ; only keep silent,
or else they will cut off my head, and that would
be disagreeable."
So it happened that Little Claus received nn-
other bushel of money, and the landlord bui-ied
his old grandmother as if she had been his own.
When now Little Claus reached home again, he
immediately sent a boy to Big Claus, requesting
him to lend him a bushel measure. " How is
this ? " thought Big Claus ; " did I not kill him?
I must go and see for mj'self." So he went to
Little Claus, and took the bushel measure with
him. " How did you get all this money?" asked
Big Claus, staring with wide open eyes at his
neighbor's treasures.
"You killed ni}' grandmother instead of me,"
said Little Claus, " so 1 have sold her for a bushel
of mone}'."
" That is a good price, any way," said Big Claus.
So he went home, took a hatchet, and killed his old
grandmother with one blow. Then he placed her
on a cart, and drove into the town to the apoth-
ecary, and asked him if he would buy a dead
body.
" Whose is it, and where did you get it ? " asked
the apothecary.
" It is my grandmother," he replied ; " I struck
her dead for a bushel of money."
" Heaven preserve us ! " cried the apothecary,
" you are out of your mind. Don't say such
things, or you will lose your head." And then
he talked to him seriously about the wicked deed
he had done, and told him that such a wicked man
would surelj' be punished. Big Claus got so
frightened that he rushed out of the apothecary
shop, jumped into the cart, whipped up his horses,
and drove home quickly. The apothecary and
all the people thought him mad, and let him drive
where he liked.
" You shall pay for this," said Big Claus, as
soon as he got into the high-road, — "that you
shall. Little Claus." So as soon as he reached
home he took the largest sack he could find, and
went over to Little Claus. " You have played me
another trick," said he. " First, I killed all my
horses, and then my old grandmother, and it is all
your fault ; but you shall not make a fool of me
any more." So he laid hold of Little Claus round
the body, and pushed him into the sack, which he
took on his shoulders, saying, " Now I 'm going to
drown you in the river."
He had a long way to go before he reached the
river, and Little Claus was not a very light weight
to carry. The road led by the church, and as they
passed he could hear the organ playing and the
people singing beautifully. Big Claus put down
the sack close to the church door, and thought he
might as well go in and hear a psalm before he
went any farther. Little Claus could not possibly
get out of the sack, and all the people were in
church ; so in he went.
" Oh dear, oh dear," sighed Little Claus in the
sack, as he turned and twisted about ; but he
found he could not loosen the string with which it
was tied. Presently an old cattle driver, with
snowy hair, passed by, carrying a large staff in his
hand, with which he drove a large herd of cows
and oxen before him. They stumbled against the
sack in which lay Little Claus, and turned it over.
"Oh dear," sighed Little Claus, "I am so young,
and going so soon to heaven."
" And I, poor fellow," said the drover, — " I,
who am so old already, cannot get there."
" Open the sack," cried Little Claus ; " creep
into it instead of me, and you will soon be
there."
" With all my heart," rejjlied the drover, open-
ing the sack, from which sprang Little Claus as
quickly as possible. " Will you take care of my
cattle ? " said the old man, as he crept into the
bag.
" Yes," said Little Claus, and he tied up the
LITTLE GLAUS AND BIG CLAUS.
185
sack, and then walked off with all the cows and
oxen.
When Big Clans came out of cburcb, he took up
the sack, and placed it on his shoulders. It ap-
peared to have become lighter, for the old drover
was not half so heavy as Little Clans.
" How light he seems now," said he. " Ah, it
is because I have been to a church." So he
walked on to theT river, which was deep and broad,
and threw the sack containing the old drover into
the water, believing it to be Little Claus. " There
you may lie ! " he exclaimed ; " you will play me
no more tricks now." Then he turned to go home,
but when he came to a place where two roads
crossed, there was Little Claus driving the cattle.
" How is this ? " said
Big Claus. " Did I
not drown you just
now ? "
"Yes," said Little
Claus ; " you threw
me into the river
about half an hour
ago."
" But wherever did
you get all these fine
beasts?" asked Big
Claus.
" These beasts are
sea-cattle," replied Little Claus. " I '11 tell you the
whole story, and thank you for drowning me ; I
am above you now ; I am really very rich. I was
frightened, to be sure, while I lay tied up in the
sack, and the wind whistled in my ears when you
threw me into the river from the bridge, and I
sank to the bottom immediately ; but I did not
hurt myself, for I fell upon beautifully soft grass
which grows down there ; and, in a moment, the
sack opened, and the sweetest little maiden came
towards me. She had snow-white robes, and a
wreath of green leaves on her wet hair. She took
me by the hand, and said, ' So you are come. Lit-
tle Claus, and here are some cattle for you to be-
gin with. About a mile farther on the road, there
is another herd for you.' Then I saw that the
24
river formed a great highway for the people who
live in the sea. They were walking and driving
here and there from the sea to the land at the
spot where the river terminates. The bed of the
river was covered with the loveliest flowers and
sweet, fresh grass. The fish swam past me as
rapidly as the birds do here in the air. How
handsome all the people were, and what fine cat-
tle were grazing on the hills and in the valleys ! "
"But why did you come up again," said Big
Claus, " if it was all so beautiful down there ? I
should not have done so."
" Well," said Little Claus, " it was good policy
on my part ; you heard me say just now that I
was told by the sea-maiden to go a mile farther on
the road, and I sliould
find a whole herd of
cattle. By the road
/^"X >s.r,b'S" -^ ^\-^ ste meant the river,
Vi tt^^r ij -^ for she could not travel
any other way ; but I
knew the winding of
the river, and how it
bends, sometimes to
the right and some-
times to the left, and
it seemed a long way,
so I chose a shorter
one ; and, by coming
up to the land, and then driving across the fields
back again to the river, I shall save half a mile,
and get all my cattle more quickly."
" What a lucky fellow you are ! " exclaimed
Big Claus. " Do you think I should get any sea-
cattle if I went down to the bottom of the river ? "
" Yes, I think so," said Little Claus; "but I
cannot cai-ry you there in a sack, you are too
heav)'. However, if you will go there first, and
then creep into a sack, I will throw you in with
the greatest pleasure."
" Thank you," said Big Claus ; " but remem-
ber, if I do not get any sea-cattle down there, I
shall come up again and give you a good thrash-
i»g-"
" No, now, don't be too fierce about it ! " said
186
STORIES FROM HANS CHRISTIAN ANDERSEN.
Little Claus, as they walked on towards tlie river.
When they approached it, the cattle, who were
very thirsty, saw the stream, and ran down to
drink.
" See what a hurry they are in," said Little
Clans, " they are longing to get down again."
" Come. Help me, make haste," said Big
Claus, " or you '11 get beaten." So he crept into
a large sack, which had been lying across the
back of one of the oxen.
" Put in a stone," said Big Claus, " or I may
not sink."
" Oh, there 's not much fear of that," he replied ;
still he put a large stone into the bag, and then
tied it tightly, and gave it a push.
" Plump ! " In went Big Claus, and immedi-
ately sank to the bottom of the river.
" I 'm afraid he will not find any cattle," said
Little Claus, and then he drove his own beasts
homeward.
THE DARNING-NEEDLE.
There was once a darning-needle, who thought
herself so fine, she imagined she was an embroider-
ing needle.
" Take care, and mind you hold me tight ! " she
said to the Fingers that took her out. " Don't
let me fall ! If I fall on the ground I shall cer-
tainly never be fovmd again, for I am so fine ! "
" That 's as it may be," said the Fingers ; and
they grasped her round the body.
" See, I 'm coming with a train ! " said the
Darning-needle, and she drew a long thread after
her, but there was no knot in the thread.
The Fingers pointed the needle just at the
cook's slipper, in which the upper leather had
burst, and was to be sewn together.
" That "s vulgar work," said the Darning-
needle. " I shall never get through. I 'm break
ing ! I 'm breaking ! " And she really broke.
" Did I not say so ? " said the Darning-needle ;
" I 'm too fine ! "
" Now it 's quite useless," said the Fingers ; but
they were obliged to hold her fast, all the same ;
for the cook dropped some sealing-wax upon the
needle, and pinned her handkerchief together with
it in front.
" So, now I 'm a breast-pin ! " said the Darning-
needle. " I knew very well that I should come to
honor : when one is something, one comes to some-
thing!"
And she laughed quieth' to herself — and one
can never see when a darning-needle laughs.
There she sat, as proud as if she was in a state
coach, and looked all about her.
" May I be permited to ask if you are of gold ? "
she inquired of the pin, her neighbor. " You have
a very pretty appearance, and a peculiar head, but
it is only little. You must take pains to grow, for
it 's not every one that has sealing-wax dropped
upon him."
And the Darning-needle drew herself up so
proudly that she fell out of the handkerchief right
into the sink, which the cook was rinsing out.
"Now we're going on a journej'," said the
Darning-needle. " If I only don't get lost I "
But she really was lost.
"I 'm too fine for this world," she observed, as
she lay in the gutter. '.' But I know who I am,
and there 's always something in that I "
So the Darning-needle kept her proud behavior,
and did not lose her good-humor. And things of
many kinds swam over her, chip and straws and
pieces of old newspapers.
" Only look how they sail ! " said the Darning-
needle. " They don't know what is under them !
I 'm here, I remain firmly here. See, there goes a
chip thinking of nothing in the world but of him-
self — of a chip I There 's a straw going by now.
How he turns I how he twirls about ! Don't think
only of yourself, you might easily run up against
a stone. There swims a bit of newspaper.
What "s written upon it has long been forgotten,
and yet it gives itself airs. I sit quietly and pa-
THE DARNING-NEEDLE.
187
tiently here. I know who I am, and I shall re-
main what I am."
One day something lay close beside her that
glittered splendidly ; then the Darning-needle be-
lieved that it was a diamond ; but it was a bit of
broken bottle ; and because it shone, the Darning-
needle spoke to it, introducing herself as a breast-
pin.
" I suppose you are a diamond ?" she observed.
" Why, yes, something of that kind."
And then each believed the other to be a very
valuable thing ; and they began speaking about
the world, and how very conceited it was.
" I have been in a lady's box," said the Darn-
ing-needle, " and this lady was a cook. She had
five fingers on each hand, and I never saw any-
thing so conceited as those five fingei's. And yet
they were only there that they miglit take me out
of the box and put me back into it."
" Were they of good birth ? " asked the Bit of
Bottle.
" No, indeed," replied the Darning-needle, " but
very haughty. There were five brothers, all of
the finger family. They kept very proudly to-
gether, though they were of different lengths : the
outermost, the thumbling, was shoit and fat ; he
walked out in front of the ranks, and only had
one joint in his back, and could onlj^ make a
single bow ; but he said that if he were hacked
off a man, that man was useless for service in war.
Daintymouth, the second finger, thrust himself
into sweet and sour, pointed to sun and moon, and
gave the impression when they wrote. Long-
man, the third, looked at all the othei's over his
shoulder. Goldborder, the fourth, went about
with a golden belt round his waist ; and little
Playman did nothing at all, and was proud of it.
There was nothing but bragging among them,
and therefore I went away."
" And now we sit here and glitter ! " said the
Bit of Bottle.
At that moment more water came into the
gutter, so that it overflowed, and the Bit of Bot-
tle was carried away.
" So he is disposed of," observed the Darning-
needle. " I remain here, I am too fine. But
that "s my pride, and my pride is honorable."
And proudly she sat there, and had many great
thoughts. " I could almost believe I had been
born of a sunbeam, I 'm so fine ! It really appears
as if the sunbeams were always seeking for me
under the water. Ah I I 'm so fine that my mother
cannot find me. If I had my old eye, which broke
off, I think I should cry ; but, no, I should not do
that : it "s not genteel to cry."
One day a couple of street boj^s lay grubbing
in the gutter, where they sometimes found old
Bails, farthings, and similar treasures. It was
dirty work, but they took great delight in it.
" Oh ! " cried one, who had pricked himself
with the Darning-needle, "there's a fellow for
you
188
STORIES FROM HANS CHRISTIAN ANDERSEN.
" I 'm not a fellow ; I "m a young lady ! " said
the Darning-needle.
But nobody listened to her. The sealing-wax
had come off, and she had turned black ; but black
makes one look slender, and she thought herself
finer even than before.
" Here comes an egg-shell sailing along ! " said
the boys ; and they stuck the Darning-needle fast
in the egg-shell.
" White walls, and black myself ! that looks
well," remarked the Darning-needle. " Now one
can see me. I only hope I shall not be sea-
sick ! " But she was not seasick at all. " It
is good against seasickness, if one has a steel
stomach, and does not forget that one is a little
more than an ordinary person I Now my seasick-
ness is over. The finer one is, the more one can
bear."
" Crack ! " went the egg-shell, for a wagon went
over her.
" Good heavens, how it crushes one I " said the
Darning-needle. " I 'm getting seasick now, —
I 'm quite sick."
But she was not really sick, though the wagon
went over her ; she lay there at full length, and
there she may lie.
THE RED SHOES.
There was once a little girl, — a very nice,
pretty little girl. But in summer she had to go
barefoot, because she was poor, and in winter she
wore thick wooden shoes, so that her little instep
became quite red, altogether red.
In the middle of the village lived an old shoe-
maker's wife ; she sat and sewed, as well as she
conld, a pair of little shoes, of old strips of red
cloth ; they were clumsy enough, but well meant,
and the little girl was to have them. The little
girl's name was Karen.
On the day when her mother was buried she
received the red shoes and wore them for the first
time. They were certainly not suited for mourn-
ing ; but she had no others, and therefore thrust
her little bare feet into them and walked behind
the plain deal coffin.
Suddenly a great carriage came by, and in the
carriage sat an old lady : she looked at the little
girl and felt pity for her, and said to the clergy-
man, —
" Give me the little girl, and I will provide for
her."
Karen thought this was for the sake of the
shoes ; but the old lady declared they were hid-
eous ; and they wei-e burned. But Karen her-
self was clothed neatly and properly : she was
taught to read and to sew, and the people saw
she was agreeable. But her mirror said, '* You are
much more than agreeable ; you are beautiful."
Once the queen traveled through the country,
and had her little daughter with her ; and the
daughter was a jirincess. And the peojjle flocked
toward the castle, and Karen too was among
them ; and the little princess stood in a fine white
dress at a window, and let herself be gazed at.
She had neither train nor golden crown, but she
wore splendid red morocco shoes ; thej' were cer-
tainly far handsomer than those the shoemaker's
wife had made for little Karen. Nothing in the
world can compare with red shoes I
Now Karen was old enough to be confii-med :
new clothes were made for her, and she was to
have new shoes. The rich shoemaker in the town
took the measure of her little feet ; this was done
in his own house, in his little room, and there
stood great glass cases with neat shoes and shining
boots. It had quite a charming appearance, but
the old lady could not see well, and therefoi-e took
no pleasure in it. Among the shoes stood a red
pair, just like those whicli the princess had worn.
How beautiful they were I The shoemaker also
said they had been made for a count's child, but
they had not fitted.
" That must be patent leather," observed the
old lady, "the shoes shine so ! "
THE RED SHOES.
189
" Yes, they shine ! " replied Karen ; and they
fitted her, and were bought. But the old lady
did not know that they were red ; for she would
never have allowed Karen to go to her Confirma-
tion in red shoes ; and that is what Karen did.
Every one was looking at her shoes. And when
she went across the church porch, toward the door
of the choir, it seemed to her as if the old pictures
on the tombstones, the portraits of clergymen and
clergymen's wives, in their stiff collars and long
black garments, fixed their eyes upon her red
shoes. And she thought of her shoes only, when
the priest laid his hand upon her head and spoke
holy words. And the organ pealed solemnly, the
children sang with their fresh sweet voices, and
the old precentor sang too ; but Karen thought
only of her red shoes.
In the afternoon the old lady was informed by
every one that the shoes were red ; and she said
it was naughty and unsuitable, and that when
Karen went to church in future, she should always
go in black shoes, even if they were old.
Next Sundaj'^ was Sacrament Sunday. And
Karen looked at the black shoes, and looked at the
red ones — looked at them again — and put on the
red ones.
The sun shone gloriously ; Karen and the old
lady went along the foot-path through the fields,
and it was rather dust}^
By the church door stood an old invalid soldier
with a crutch and a long beard ; the beard was
rather red than white, for it was I'ed altogether ;
and he bowed down almost to the ground, and
asked the old lady if he might dust her shoes.
And Karen also stretched out her little foot.
" Look, what pretty dancing shoes ! " said the
old soldier. "Fit so tightly when you dance ! "
And he tapped the soles with his hand. And
the old lady gave the soldier an alms, and went
into the church with Karen.
And every one in the church looked at Karen's
red shoes, and all the pictm'es looked at them.
And while Karen knelt in the church she only
thought of her red shoes , and she forgot to sing
her psalm, and forgot to say her prayer.
Now all the people went out of church, and the
old lady stepped into her carriage. Karen lifted
up her foot to step in too ; then tiie old soldier
said, —
" Look, what beautiful dancing shoes ! "
And Kai'en could not resist : she was obliged to
dance a few steps ; and when she once began, her
legs went on dancing. It was just as though
the shoes had obtained power over her. She
danced round the corner of the church — she
could not help it ; the coachman was obliged to
run behind her and seize her : he lifted her into
the carriage, but her feet went on dancing, so
that she kicked the good old ladj' violently. At
last they took off her shoes and her legs became
quiet.
At home the shoes were put awa}^ in a cup-
board ; but Karen could not resist looking at
them.
Now the old lady became very ill, and it was
said she would not recover. She had to be nursed
and waited on ; and this was no one's duty so
much as Karen's. But there was to be a great
ball in the town, and Karen was invited. She
looked at the old lady who could not recover ;
she looked at the red shoes, and thought there
would be no harm in it. She put on the shoes,
and that she might very well do ; but they went
to the ball and began to dance.
But when she wished to go to the right hand,
the shoes danced to the left, and when she wanted
to go up-stairs the shoes danced downward, down
into the street and out at the town gate. She
danced, and was obliged to dance, straight out into
the dark wood.
There was something glistening up among the
trees, and she thought it was the moon, for she
saw a face. But it was the old soldier with the
red beard : he sat and nodded, and said, —
"Look, what beautiful dancing shoes ! "
Then she was frightened, and wanted to throw
away the red shoes ; but they clung fast to her.
And she tore off her stockings : but the shoes had
grown fast to her feet. And she danced and vras
compelled to go dancing over field and meadow,
190
STORIES FROM HANS CHRISTIAN ANDERSEN.
in rain and sunshine, by night and by day ; but
it was most dreadful at niglit.
She danced out into the open church-yard ; but
the dead there do not dance ; they have far better
things to do. She wished to sit down on the poor
man's grave, where the bitter fern grows ; but
there was no peace nor rest for her. And when
she danced toward the open church door, she saw
there an angel in long white garments, with
wings that reached from his shoulders to his feet ;
his countenance was serious and stern, and in his
hand he held a sword that was broad and gleam-
ing.
" Thou shalt dance ! " he said — "dance on thy
red shoes, till thou art pale and cold, and till thy
body shrivels to a skeleton. Thou shalt dance
from door to door; and where proud, haughty
children dwell, shalt thou knock, that they may
hear thee, and be afraid of thee I Thou shalt
dance, dance I ""
" Mercy ! " cried Karen.
But she did not hear what the angel answered,
for the shoes carried her away — carried her
through the door on to the field, over stock and
stone, and she was always obliged to dance.
One morning she danced past a door which she
knew Avell. There was a sound of psalm-singing
within, and a coffin was carried out, adorned with
flowers. Then she knew that the old lady was
dead, and she felt that she was deserted by all,
and condemned by the angel of heaven.
She danced, and was compelled to dance — to
dance in the dark night. The shoes cai-ried her on
over thorn and brier ; she scratched herself till she
bled ; she danced away across the heath to a little
lonely house. Here she knew the executioner
dwelt ; and she tapped with her fingers on the
panes, and called, —
" Come out, come out I I cannot come in, for
I must dance I "
And tiie executioner said, —
" You probably don't know who I am ? I cut
off the bad people's heads with my axe, and mark
how my axe rings ! "
" Do not strike off my head," said Karen, " for
if you do I cannot repent of my sin. But strike
off my feet with the red shoes ! "
And then she confessed all her sin, and the exe-
cutioner cut off' her feet with the red shoes ; but
the shoes danced away with the little feet over the
fields and into the deep forest.
And he cut her a pair of wooden feet, with
crutches, and taught her a psalm, which the crimi-
nals always sing ; and she kissed the hand that
had held the axe, and went away across the heath.
" Now I have suffered pain enough for the red
shoes," said she. " Now I will go into the church,
that they may see me."
And she went quickly toward the church door ;
but when she came there the red shoes danced be-
fore her, so that she was frightened and turned
back.
The whole week through she was sorrowful,
and wept many bitter tears ; but when Sunday
came, she said, —
" Now I have suffered and striven enough ! I
think that I am just as good as many of those who
sit in the church and carry their heads high."
And then she went boldly on ; but she did not
get farther than the church-yard gate before she
saw the red shoes dancing along before her : then
she was seized with terror, and turned back, and
repented of her sin right heartil}'.
And she went to the parsonage, and begged to
be taken there as a servant. She promised to be
industrious, and to do all she could : she did not
care for wages, and onl}' wished to be under a roof
and with good jjeoj^le. The elei'gyman's wife pit-
ied her, and took her into her service. And she
was industrious and thoughtful. Silently she sat
and listened when in the evening the pastor read
the Bible aloud. All the little ones were very
fond of her; but when they spoke of dress and
splendor and beauty she would shake her head.
Next Sunday they all went to church, and she
was asked if she veished to go too ; hut she looked
sadly, with tears in her eyes, at her crutches.
And then the others went to hear God's word ; but
she went alone into her little room, which was only
large enough to contain her bed and a chair. And
THE NIGHTINGALE.
191
here she sat with her hymn-book ; and as she read
it with a pious mind, the wind bore the notes of
the organ over to her from the church ; and she
Hfted up her face, wet with tears, and said, —
" O Lord, help me ! "
Then the sun shone so brightly ; and before her
stood the angel in the white garments, the same
she had seen that night at the church door. But
he no longer grasped the sharp sword : he held a
green branch covered with roses ; and he touched
the ceiling, and it rose up high and wherever he
touched it a golden star gleamed, forth ; and he
touched the walls, and they spread forth widely,
and she saw the organ which was pealing its rich
sounds ; and she saw the old pictures of clergjnuen
and their wives ; and the congregation sat in the
decorated seats, and sang from their hymn-books.
The church had come to the poor girl in her nar-
row room, or her chamber had become a church.
She sat in the chair with the rest of the clei-gy-
man's people ; and when they had finished the
psalm, and looked up, they nodded and said, —
" That was right, that you came here, Karen."
" It was mercy ! " said she.
And the organ somrded its glorious notes ; and
the children's voices singing in chorus sounded
sweet and lovely ; the clear sunshine streamed so
^ ■
warm through the window upon the chair in which
Kai'en sat ; and her heart became so filled with
sunshine, peace, and joy that it broke. Her soul
flew on the sunbeams to heaven ; and there was
nobody who asked after the Red Shoes !
THE NIGHTINGALE.
In China, you must know, the emperor is a
Chinaman, and all whom he has about him are
Chinamen too. It happened a good many years
ago, but that's just why it's worth while to hear
the story, before it is forgotten. The emperor's
palace was the most splendid in the world ; it was
made entirely of porcelain, very costly, but so del-
icate and brittle that one had to take care how one
touched it. In the garden were to be seen the
most wonderful flowers, and to the costliest of
them silver bells were tied, which sounded, so that
nobod_y should pass by without noticing the flow-
ers. Yes, everything in the emperor's garden
was admirably arranged. And it extended so far,
that the gardener himself did not know where the
end was. If a man went on and on, he came into
a glorious forest with high trees and deep lakes.
The wood extended straight down to the sea.
which was blue and deep ; great ships could sail
to and fro beneath the branches of the trees ; and
in the trees lived a Nightingale, which sang so
splendidly that even the poor fisherman, who had
many other things to do, stopped still and listened,
when he had gone out at night to throw out his
nets, and heard the Nightingale.
" How beautiful that is ! " he said ; but he was
obliged to attend to his property, and thus forgot
the bird. But when in the next night the bird
sans asain, and the fisherman heard it, he ex-
claimed again, " How beautiful that is ! "
From all the countries of the world travelers
came to the city of the emperor and admired it,
and the palace, and the garden, but when they
heard the Nightingale, they said, " That is the
best of all ! "
And the travelers told of it when they came
192
STORIES FROM HANS CHRISTIAN ANDERSEN.
home ; and the learned men wrote many books
about the town, the palace, and the garden. But
they did not forget the Nightingale ; that was
placed highest of all ; and those who were poets
wrote most magnificent poems about the Nightin-
gale in the wood by the deep lake.
The books went through all the world, and a
few of them once came to the emperor. He sat
in his golden chair, and read, and read: every
moment he nodded his head, for it pleased him to
peruse the masterly descriptions of the city, the
palace, and the garden. " But the Nightingale is
the best of all ! " — it stood written there.
" What 's that ? " exclaimed the emperor. " I
don't know the
Nightingale at all !
Is there such a bird
in mj' enij)ire, and
even in my garden ?
I 've never heard of
that. To think that r-^,^
I should have to Xv^^V
learn such a thing '"^, '' ^
for the first time
from books ! "
A n d hereupon
he called his cava-
lier. This cavalier
was so grand that
if any one lower in rank than himself dared to
speak to him, or to ask him any question, he an-
swered nothing but "PI" — and that meant
nothing.
" There is said to be a wonderful bird here
called a Nightingale ! " said the emperor. " They
say it IS the best thing in all my great empire.
Why have I never heard anything about it ? "
" I have never heard him named," replied the
cavalier. " He has never been introduced at
court."
" I command that he shall appear this evening,
and sing before me," said the emperor. "All the
world knows what I possess, and I do not know it
myself ! "
" I have never heard him mentioned," said the
cavalier. " I will seek for him. I will find
him."
But where was he to be found ? The cavalier
ran up and down all the staircases, through halls
and passages, but no one among all those whom
he met had heard talk of the Nightingale. And the
cavalier ran back to the emjDcror, and said that it
must be a fable invented by the writers of books.
" Your imperial majesty cannot believe how
much is written that is fiction, besides something
that they call the black art."
" But the book in which I read this," said the
emperor, " was sent to me by the high and mighty
Emperor of Japan, and therefore it cannot be a
falsehood. I will
hear the Nightin-
gale ! It must be
here tliis evening !
It has my imperial
favor ; and if it
does not come, all
the court shall be
trampled upon
after the court has
snipped ! "
" Tsing-pe ! " said
tlie cavalier ; and
again he ran up and
down all the stair-
(■;isrs. aihl through all the halls and corridors ; and
half the court ran with him, for the courtiers did
not like being trampled upon.
" Then there was a great inquiry after the won-
derful Nightingale, which all the world knew ex-
cepting the people at court.
At last they met with a jjoor little girl in the
kitchen, who said, —
" The Nightingale ? I know it well ; yes, it
can sing gloriously. Every evening I get leave to
carry my poor sick mother the scraps from the ta-
ble. She lives down by the strand, and when I
get back and am tired, and rest in the wood, then
I hear the Nightingale sing. And then the water
comes into my eyes, and it is just as if my mother
kissed me ! "
THE NIGHTINGALE.
193
" Little kitchen girl," said the cavalier, " I will
get you a place in the kitchen, with permission
to see the emperor dine, if you will lead us to
the Nightingale, for it is announced for this even-
ing."
So they all went out into the wood where the
Nightingale was accustomed to sing; half the
court went forth. When they were in the midst of
their journey"a cow began to low.
" Oh I " cried the court pages, " now we have it !
That shows a wonderful power in so small a
creature I I have certainly heard it before."
" No, those are cows lowing ! " said the little
kitchen girl. " We are a long way from the
place yet."
Now the frogs began to croak in the marsli.
"Glorious!" said the Chinese court preacher.
" Now I hear it — it sounds just like little church
bells."
" No, those are frogs I " said the little kitchen-
maid. " But now I think we shall soon hear it."
And then the Nightingale began to sing.
" That is it ! " exclaimed the little girl. " List-
en, listen ! and yonder it sits."
And she pointed to a little gray bird up in the
boughs.
'* Is it possible ? " cried the cavalier. " I should
never have thouglit it looked like that ! How
simple it looks I It must certainly have lost its
color at seeing such grand people around."
" Little Nightingale I " called the little kitchen-
maid, quite loudly, " our gracious emperor wishes
you to sing before him."
" With the greatest pleasure ! " replied the
Nightingale, and began to sing most delightfully.
" It sounds just like glass bells ! " said the cav-
aher. " And look at its little throat, how it 's
working ! It 's wonderful that we should never
have heard it before. That bird will be a great
success at court."
" Shall I sing once more before the emperor ? "
asked the Nightingale, for it thought the emperor
was present.
" My excellent little Nightingale," said the cav-
alier, " I have great pleasui-e in inviting you to a
25
court festival this evening, when you shall charm
his imperial majesty with your beautiful singing.''
" My song sounds best in the greenwood I "
replied the Nightingale ; still it came willingly
when it heard what the emperor wished.
The palace was festively adorned. The walls
and the flooring, which were of porcelain, gleamed
in the rays of thousands of golden lamps. The
most glorious flowers, which could ring clearly,
had been placed in the passages. There was a
running to and fro, and a thorough draught, and
all the bells rang so loudly that one could not hear
one's self speak.
In the midst of the great hall, where the em-
peror sat, a golden perch had been placed, on
which the Nightingale was to sit. The whole
court was there, and the little cook-maid had got
leave to stand behind the door, as she had now re-
ceived the title of a real court cook. All were in
full dress, and all looked at the little gray bird, to
which the emperor nodded.
And the Nightingale sang so gloriously that
the tears came into the empei'or's eyes, and the
tears ran down over his cheeks ; and then the
Nightingale sang still more sweetly, that went
straight to the heart. The emperor was so much
pleased that he said the Nightingale should have
his golden slipper to wear round its neck. But
the Nightingale declined this witii thanks, saying
it had already received sufficient reward.
" I have seen tears in the emperor's eyes —
that is the real treasure to me. An emperor's
tears have a peculiar power. I am rewarded
enough ! " And then it sang again with a sweet,
glorious voice.
" That's the most amiable coquetry I ever saw ! "
said the ladies who stood round about, and then
they took water in their mouths to gurgle when
any one spoke to them. They thought they
should be nightingales too. And the lackeys
and chambermaids reported that they were sat-
isfied too ; and that was saying a good deal, for
they are the most difficult to please. In short,
the Nightingale achieved a real success.
It was now to remain at court, to have its own
194
STORIES FROM HANS CHRISTIAN ANDERSEN.
cage, with liberty to go out twice every day and
once at night. Twelve servants were appointed
when the Nightingale went out, each of whom had
a silken string fastened to the bird's leg, which
they held very tight. There was really no pleas-
ure in an excursion of that kind.
The whole city spoke of the wonderful bird,
and when two people met, one said nothing but
" Nightin," and the other said " gale ; " and then
they sighed, and understood one another. Eleven
peddlers' children were named after the bird, but
not one of them could sing a note.
One day the emperor received a large j^arcel,
on which was written " The Nightingale."
" There we have a new book about this cele-
brated bird," said the emperor.
But it was not a book, but a little work of art
contained in a box, an artificial nightingale, which
was to sing like a natural one, and was brilliantly
ornamented with diamonds, rubies, and sapphii-es.
So soon as the artificial bird was wound up, he
could sing one of the pieces that he really sang,
and then bis tail moved up and down, and shone
with silver and gold. Round his neck hung a
little ribbon, and on that was written, " The
Emperor of China's Nightingale is poor compared
to that of the Emperor of Japan."
"■ That is capital ! " said they all, and he
who had brought the artificial bird immediately
received the title, Imperial Head-Nightingale-
Bringer.
" Now they must sing together ; what a duet
that will be ! "
And so they had to sing together ; but it did
not sound very well, for the real Nightingale sang
in its own way, and the artificial bird sang waltzes.
"That's not his fault," said the play-master;
" he 's quite perfect, and very much in my style."
Now the artificial bird was to sing alone. He
had just as much success as the real one, and then
it was much handsomer to look at — it shone like
bracelets and breastjains.
Three-and-thirty times over did it sing the same
piece, and yet was not tired. The people would
gladly have heard it again, but the emperor said
that the living Nightingale ought to sing some,
thing now. But where was it ? No one had
noticed that it had flown away out of the open
window, back to the greenwood.
" But what is become of that ? " said the em-
peror.
And all the courtiers abused the Nightingale,
and declared that it was a very ungrateful creature.
" We have the best bird, after all," said thej'.
And so the artificial bird had to sing again,
and that was the thirty-fourth time that they list-
ened to the same piece. For all that they did not
know it quite by heart, for it was so very difficult.
And the play-master praised the bird particularly ;
yes, he declared that it was better than a nightin-
gale, not only with regard to its pluinage and the
many beautiful diamonds, but inside as well.
" For you see, ladies and gentlemen, and above
all, your imperial majesty, with a real nightingale
one can never calculate what is coming, but in
this artificial bird everything is settled. One can
explain it ; one can open it, and make people un-
derstand where the waltzes come from, how they
go, and how one follows up another."
" Those are quite our own ideas," they all said.
And the speaker received permission to show
the bird to the people on the next Sunday. The
peoj)le were to hear it sing too, the emperor com-
manded ; and they did hear it, and were as much
pleased as if they had all got tipsy upon tea, for
that 's quite the Chinese fashion ; and they all said,
" Oh ! " and held up their forefingers and nodded.
But the poor fisherman, who had heard the real
Nightingale, said, —
" It sounds pretty enough, and the melodies re-
semble each other, but there 's something wanting,
though I know not what ! "
The real Nightingale was banished from the
country and empire. The artificial bird had its
23lace on a silken cushion close to the emperor's
bed ; all the presents it had received, gold and
precious stones, were ranged about it ; in title it
had advanced to be the High Imperial After-Din-
ner-Singer, and in rank, to number one on the left
hand ; for the emperor considered that side the
THE NIGHTINGALE.
195
most important on wliicb the heart is placed, and
even in an emperor the heart is on the left side ;
and the play-master wrote a work of five-and-
twenty volumes about the artificial bird ; it was
very learned and very long, full of the most difR-
cult Chinese words ; but yet all the people de-
clared that they had read it, and understood
it, for fear o^ being /
considered stupid, and
having their bodies
trampled on.
So a whole year
went by. The em-
peror, the court, and
all the other Chinese
knew evei-y little twit-
ter in the artificial
bird's song by heart.
But just for that rea-
son it pleased them
best — they could sing
with it themselves,
and they did so. The
street boys sang,
" T s i - 1 s i - 1 s i - g 1 u g-
ghig ! " and the em-
peror himself sang it
too. Yes, that was
certainly famous.
But one evening,
when the artificial
bird was singing its
best, and the em-
peror laj' in bed list-
ening to it, something
inside the bird said,
" Whizz ! " something cracked. " Whir-r-r I "' All
the wheels ran round, and then the music stopped.
The emperor immediately sprang out of bed,
and caused his body physician to be called ; but
what could lie do ? Then they sent for a watch-
maker, and after a good deal of talking and inves-
tigation, the bird was put into something like
order ; but the watchmaker said that the bird
must be carefully treated, for the barrels were
worn, and it would be impossible to put new ones
in in such a manner that the music would go.
There was a great lamentation ; only once in a
year was it permitted to let the bird sing, and
that was almost too much. But then the play-
master made a little speech, full of heavy words,
and said this was just as good as before — and
so of com-se it was as
good as before.
Now five years had
gone by, and a real
grief came upon the
whole nation. The
Chinese were really
f o n d of their em-
peror, and now he
was ill, and could not,
it was said, live much
longer. Already a
new emperor had
been chosen, and the
people stood out in
the street and asked
the cavalier how their
old emperor did.
"PI" said he, and
shook his head.
Cold and pale lay
the emperor in his
great gorgeous bed ;
the whole court
thought him dead,
a n d each one ran
lo pay homage to
the new ruler. The
chamberlains ran out
to talk it over, and the ladies'-maids had a great
coffee party. All about in all the halls and pas-
sages cloth had been laid down so that no footstep
could be heard, and therefore it was quiet there,
quite quiet. But the emperor was not dead yet ;
stiff and pale he lay on the gorgeous bed with the
long velvet curtains and the heavy gold tassels ;
high up, a window stood open, and the moon
shone in upon the emperor and the artificial bird.
196
STORIES FROM HANS CHRISTIAN ANDERSEN.
The poor emperoi- could scarcely breathe ; it
■was just as if something lay upon his chest: he
opened his eyes, and then he saw that it was Death
who sat upon his chest, and had put on his golden
crown, and held in one hand the emperor's sword,
and in the other his beautiful banner. And all
around, from among the folds of the splendid vel-
vet curtains, strange heads peered forth ; a few
very ugly, the rest quite lovely and mild. These
were all the emperor's bad and good deeds, that
stood before him now that Death sat upon his
heart.
"Do you remember this?" whisjiered one to
the other. " Do you remember that ? " and then
they told him so much that the perspiration ran
from his forehead.
" I did not know that ! " said the emperor.
" Music ! music ! the great Chinese drum ! " he
cried, " so that I need not hear all they say ! "
And they continued speaking, and Death nod-
ded like a Chinaman to all they said.
" Music ! music ! " cried the emperor. " You
little precious golden bird, sing, sing ! I have
given you gold and costly presents ; I have even
hung my golden slipper around your neck — sing
now, sing I "
But the bird stood still ; no one was there to
wind him up, and he could not sing without that ;
but Death continued to stare at the emperor with
his great hollow eyes, and it was quiet, fearfully
quiet.
Then there sounded from the window, suddenly,
the most lovely song. It was the little live Night-
ingale, that sat outside on a spi-ay. It had heard
of the emperor's sad plight, and had come to sing
to him of comfort and hope. And as it sang the
spectres grew paler and paler ; the blood ran
quicker and more quickly through the emperor's
weak limbs ; and even Death listened, and said, —
" Go on, little Nightingale, go on ! "
" But will you give me that splendid golden
sword ? Will you give me that rich banner ?
Will you give me the emperor's crown ? "
And Death gave up each of these treasures for
a song. And the Nightingale sang on and on ;
and it sang of the quiet church-yard where the
white roses grow, where the elder-blossom smells
sweet, and where the fresh grass is moistened by
the tears of survivors. Then Death felt a longing
to see his garden, and floated out at the window
in the form of a cold, white mist.
" Thanks ! thanks ! " said the emperor. " You
heavenly little bird I I know you well. I ban-
ished you from my country and empire, and yet
you have charmed away the evil faces from my
couch, and banished Death from my heart ! How
can I reward you ? "
" You have rewarded me ! " replied the Night-
ingale. " I have drawn tears from j'our eyes,
when I sang the first time — I shall never forget
that. Those are the jewels that rejoice a singer's
heart. But now deep and grow fresh and strong
again. I will sing you something."
And it sang, and the emperor fell into a sweet
slumber. Ah ! how mild and refreshing that
sleep was ! The sun shone ujDon him through the
windows, when he awoke refreshed and restored ;
not one of his servants had yet returned, for they
all thought he was dead ; only the Nightingale
still sat beside him and sang.
" You must always stay with me," said the em-
peror. " You shall sing as you jjlease ; and I'll
break the artificial bird into a thousand pieces."
" Not so," replied the Nightingale. " It did.
well as long as it could ; keep it as you have done
till now. I cannot build my nest in the palace to
dwell in it, but let me come when I feel the wish ;
then I will sit in the evening on the sjjray yonder
by the window, and sing you something, so that
you may be glad and thoughtful at once. I will
sing of those who are happy and of those who
suffer. I will sing of good and of evil that remain
hidden round about you. The little singing bird
flies far around, to the poor fisherman, to the
peasant's roof, to every one who dwells far away
from you and from your court. I love your heart
more than your crown, and yet the crown has an
air of sanctity about it. I will come and sing to
you — but one thing you must promise me."
" Everything ! " said the emperor ; and he
THE PRINCESS ON THE PEA.
stood there in bis imperial robes, which he had
put on himself, and pressed the sword which was
heavy with gold to his heart.
" One thing I beg of you : tell no one that you
have a little bird who tells you everything. Then
197
it will go all the better." And the Nightingale
flew away.
The servants came in to look to their dead em-
peror, and — yes, there he stood, and the emperor
said " Good-morning ! "
THE PRINCESS ON THE PEA.
There was once a prince who wanted to marry
a princess ; but she was to be a real piincess. So
he traveled about, all through the world, to find
a real one, but everywhere thei-e was something
in the way. There were princesses enough, but
whether they were real princesses he could not
quite make out: there was always something that
did not seem quite right. So he came home again,
and was quite sad : for he wished so invich to have
a real princess.
One evening a terrible storia came on. It light-
ened and thundered, the raiv streamed down ; it was
quite fearful ! Then there was a knocking at the
town gate, and the old king went out to open it.
It was a princess who stood outside the gate.
But, mercy! how she looked, from the rain and
the rough weather I The water ran down from
her hair and her clothes ; it ran in at the points
of her shoes, and out at the heels ; and yet she
declared that she was a real princess.
" Yes, we will soon find that out," thought the
old queen. But she said nothing, only went into
the bedchamber, took all the bedding off, and put
a pea on the flooring of the bedstead ; then she
took twenty mattresses and laid them upon
the pea, and then twenty eider-down beds
upon the mattresses. On this the princess
had to lie all night. In the morning she was
asked how she had slept.
" Oh, miserably ! " said the princess. " I
scarcely closed my eyes all night long. Good-
ness knows what was in my bed. I lay upon
something hard, so that I am black and blue
all over. It is quite dreadful ! "
Now they saw that she was a real prin-
cess, for through the twenty mattresses and
the twenty eider-down beds she had felt the
pea. No one but a real jjrincess could be so
delicate.
So the prince took her for his wife, for now he
knew that he had a true princess ; and the pea
was put in the museum, and it is there now, un-
less somebody has carried it off.
Look you, this is a true story.
198
STORIES FROM HANS CHRISTIAN ANDERSEN.
HOLGER DANSKE.
In Denmark there lies a castle named Kron-
borg. It lies close by the Ore Sound, where the
ships pass through by hundreds every day —
English, Russian, and likewise Prussian ships.
And they salute the old castle with cannons —
" Boom ! " And the castle answers with a
" Boom ! " for that 's what the cannons say in-
stead of "Good-day" and "Thank you!" In
winter no ships sail there, for the whole sea is
covered with ice quite across to the Swedish coast ;
but it has quite the look of a high-road. There
wave the Danish flag and the Swedish flag, and
Danes and Swedes say
"Good-day" and
"Thank you!" to
each other, not with
cannons, but with a
friendly grasp of the
hand ; and one gets
white bread and bis-
cuits from the other
— for strange fare
tastes best. But the
most beautiful of all
is the old Kronborg;
and here it is that
Holger Danske sits in the deep dark cellar, whei'e
nobody goes. He is clad in iron and steel, and leans
his head on his strong arm ; his long beard hangs
down over the marble table, and has grown into
it. He sleeps and dreams, but in his dreams he
sees everything that happens up here in Den-
mark. Every Christmas Eve comes an angel, and
tells him that what he has dreamed is right, and
that he may go to sleep in quiet, for that Den-
mark is not yet in any real danger ; but when once
such a danger comes, then old Holger Danske will
rouse himself, so that the table shall burst when
he draws out his beard ! Then he will come forth
and strike, so that it shall be heard in all the
countries in the world."
An old grandfather sat and told his little grand-
son all this about Holger Danske ; and the little
boy knew that what his grandfather told him was
true. And while the old man sat and told his
story, he carved an image which was to represent
Holger Danske, and to be fastened to the -provr
of a ship ; for the old grandfather was a carver
of figure-heads, that is, one who cuts out the
figures fastened to the front of ships, and from
which every ship is named. And here he had cut
out Holger Danske, who stood there proudly with
his long beard, and held the broad battle-sword
in one hand, while with the other he leaned upon
the Danish arms.
And the old grand-
father told so much
about distinguished
men and women, that
it appeared at last to
the little grandson as
if he knew as much
as Holger Danske him-
self, who, after all,
could on])- dream ; and
when the little fellow
was in his bed, he
thought so much of it,
that he actually pressed his chin against the cover-
let, and fancied he had a long beard that had
grown fast to it.
But the old grandfather remained sitting at
bis work, and carved away at the last part of it ;
and this was the Danish coat of arms. When he
had done, he looked at the whole, and thought of
all he had read and heard, and that he had told
this evening to the little boy ; and he nodded, and
wiped his spectacles, and put them on again, and
said, —
" Yes, in my time Holger Danske will probably
not come ; but the boy in the bed yonder may
get to see him, and be there when the push really
comes."
And the old grandfather nodded again ; and
HOLGER DANSKE.
199
the more be looked at Holger Danske the more
plain did it become to him that it was a good
image he had carved. It seemed really to gain
color, and the armor appeared to gleam like iron
and steel ; the hearts in the Danish arms became
redder and redder, and the lions with the golden
crowns on their heads leaped up.^
"Thafs tl^e most beautifnl coat of arms there
is in the world ! " said the old man. " The lions
are strength, and the heart is gentleness and
love ! "
And he looked at the uppermost lion, and
thought of King Canute, who bound great Eng-
land to the throne of Denmark ; and he looked
at the second lion, and thought of Waldemar,
who united Denmark and conquered the Wendish
lands ; and he glanced at the third lion, and
remembered Margaret, who united Denmark,
Sweden, and Norway. But while he looked at the
red hearts, they gleamed more brightly than be-
fore; they became flames, and his heart followed
each of them.
The first heart led him into a dark, narrow
prison ; there sat a prisoner, a beautiful woman,
the daughter of King Christian IV., Eleanor Ul-
feld ; ^ and the flame, which was shaped like a
rose, attached itself to her bosom and blossomed,
so that it became one with the heart of her, the
noblest and best of all Danish women.
And his spirit followed the second flame, which
led him out upon the sea, where the cannons thun-
dered and the ships lay shrouded in smoke ; and
the flame fastened itself in the shape of a ribbon
of honor on the breast of Hvitfeld, as he blew
himself and his ship into the uir, that he might
save the fleet.-^
And the third flame led him to the wretched
huts of Greenland, where preacher Hans Egede*
wrought, with love in every word and deed : the
flame was a star on his breast, another heart in
the Danish arms.
And the spirit of the old grandfather flew on
before the waving flames, for his spirit knew
whither the flames desired to go. In the humble
room of the peasant woman stood Frederick VI.,
writing his name with chalk on the beam.^ The
flame trembled on his breast, and trembled in his
heart ; in the peasant's lowly room his heart, too,
became a heart in the Danish arms. And the old
grandfather dried his eyes, for he had known
King Frederick with the silvery locks and the
honest blue eyes, and had lived for him : he folded
his hands, and looked in silence straight before
him. Then came the daughter-in-law of the old
grandfather, and said it was late, he ought now to
rest ; and the supper table was spread.
" But it is beautiful, what you have done,
grandfather ! " said she. " Holger Danske, and all
our old coat of arms ! It seems to me just as if I
had seen that face before ! "
" No, that can scarcely be," replied the old
grandfather ; " but I have seen it, and I have
tried to carve it in wood as I have kept it in my
memoi-y. It was when the English lay in front of
the wharf, on the Danish second of April,® when
we showed that we were old Danes. In the Den-
mark on board which I was, in Steen Bille's
squadron, I had a man at my side — it seemed as
' The Danish arms consist of three lions between nine hearts.
2 This highly gifted princess was the wife of Corfitz Ulfeld,
who was accused of high treason. Her only crime was the most
faithful love to her unhappy consort ; but she was compelled to
pass twenty-two years in a Iiorrible dungeon, until her persecutor,
Queen Sophia Amelia, was dead.
^ In the naval battle in Kjiige Bay between the Danes and
the Swedes, in 1710, Hvitf eld's ship, the Dannebrog, took fire. To
save the town of Kjiige, and the Danish fleet which was being
driven by the wind toward his vessel, he blew himself and his
whole crew into the air.
* Hans Egede went to Greenland in 1721 and toiled there dur-
ing fifteen years among incredibk hardships and privations.
Not only did he spread Christianity, but exhibited in himself a
remarkable example of a Christian man.
^ On a journey on the west coast of Jutland, the king visited
an old woman. When he had already quitted her house, the
woman ran after him and begged him, as a remembrance, to
write his name upon a beam ; the king turned back, and com-
plied. During his whole life-time he felt and worked for the
peasant class ; therefore the Danish peasants begged to be al-
lowed to carry his coffin to the roy.al vault at Roeskikle, four
Danish miles from Copenhagen.
" On the 2d of April, 1801, occurred the sanguinary naval bat-
tle between the Danes and the English under Sir Hyde Parker
and Nelson,
200
STORIES FROM HANS CHRISTIAN ANDERSEN.
if the bullets were afraid of him ! Merrily he
sang old songs, and shot and fought as if he were
something more than a man. I remember bis
face yet; but whence he came, and whither he
went, I know not — nobody knows. I have often
thought he might have been old Holger Danske
himself, who had swum down from the Kronborg,
and aided us in the hour of danger : that was my
idea, and there stands his picture."
And the statue threw its great show up against
the wall, and even over part of the ceiling ; it hjoked
as though the real Holger Danske were standing
behind it, for the shadow moved; but this might
have been because the flame of the candle did not
burn steadily. And the daughter-in-law kissed
the old grandfather, and led him to the great arm-
chair by the table ; and she and her husband, who
was the son of the old man, and father of the little
boy in the bed, sat and ate their supper ; and the
grandfather spoke of the Danish lions and of the
Danish hearts, of strength and of gentleness ; and
quite clearly did he explain that there was another
strength besides the power that lies in the sword ;
and he pointed to the shelf on which were the old
books, where stood the plays of Holberg, which
had been read so often, for they were very amus-
ing ; one could almost fancy one recognized the
people of by-gone days in them.
" See, he knew how to strike, too," said the grand-
father : "he scourged the foolishness and preju-
dice of the people so long as he could " — and
the grandfather nodded at the mirror, above which
stood the calendar, with the " Round Tower " ^
on it, and said, " Tj'cho Brahe was also one who
used the sword, not to cut into flesh and bone,
but to build up a plainer way among all the stars
of heaven. And then /«/ whose father belonged to
my calling, the son of the old figure-head carver,
he whom we have ourselves seen with his silver
hairs and his broad shoulders, he whose name is
1 The astronomical observatory at Copenhagen.
spoken of in all lands ! Yes, he was a sculptor : I
am only a carver. Yes, Holger Danske may come
in many forms, so that one hears in every country
in the world of Denmark's strength. Shall we
now drink the health of Bertel ? " ^
But the little lad in the bed saw plainly the old
Kronborg with the Ore Sound, the real Holger
Danske, who sat deep below, with his beard grown
through the marble table, dreaming of all that
happens up here. Holger Danske also dreamed of
the little humble room where the carver sat ; he
heard all that passed, and nodded in his sleep, and
said, —
" Yes, I'emember me, ye Danish folk ; remem-
ber me. I shall come in the hour of need."
And without by the Kronborg shone the bi'ight
day, and the wind carried the notes of the hunt-
ing-horn over from the neighboring land ; the
ships sailed past, and saluted — " Boom ! boom ! "
and from the Kronborg came the reply, " Boom !
boom ! " But Holger Danske did not awake,
however loudly they shot, for it was only " Good-
day " and " Thank you I " There must be another
kind of shooting befoi-e he awakes ; but he will
awake, for there is faith in Holger Danske.
- Bertel Thorwaldseu.
THE SHEPHERDESS AND THE CHIMNET-SWEEP.
201
THE SHEPHERDESS AND THE CHIMNEY-SWEEP.
Have you ever seen & very, very old clothes-
press, quite black with age, on which all sorts of
flourishes and foliage were carved ? Just such a
one stood in a certain room. It was a legacy from
a grandmother, and it was carved from top to
bottom with roses and tulips ; the most curious
flourishes were to be seen on it, and between
them little stags popped out their heads with zig-
zag antlers. But on the top a whole man was
carved. True, he was laughable to look at ; for
he showed his teeth, — laughing one could not call
it, — had goat's legs, little horns on his head, and
a long beard. The
children in the room
always called him
General-clothes-press-
inspector- head - super-
intendent Goatslegs,
for this was a name
difficult to pronounce,
and there are very few
who get the title ; but
to cut him out in wood
— that was no trifle.
However, there lie
was. He looked down
upon the table and
toward the mirror, for there a charming little por-
celain shepherdess was standing. Her shoes were
gilded, her gown was tastefully looped up with a
red rose, and she had a golden hat and cloak ; in
short, she was most exquisite. Close by stood a
little chimnej'-sweep, as black as a coal, but of
porcelain too. He was just as clean and pretty as
another ; as to his being a sweep, that was only
what he represented ; and the porcelain manu-
facturer could just as well have made a prince of
him as a chimney-sweep, if he had chosen ; one
was as easy as the other.
There he stood so prettily with his ladder, and
with a little round face as fair and as rosy as that
of the shepherdess. In reality this was a fault ;
26
for a little black he certainly ought to have been,
He was quite close to the shepherdess ; both stood
where they had been placed ; and as soon as they
were put there, they had mutually promised each
other eternal fidelity ; for they suited each other
exactly — they were young, they were of the same
porcelain, and both equally fragile.
Close to them stood another figure three times
as large as they were. It was an old Chinese,
that could nod his head. He was of porcelain too,
and said that he was grandfather of the little
shepherdess; but this he could not prove. He as-
serted, moreover, that
he had authority over
her, and that was the
reason he had nodd-
ed his assent to the
General-clothes - press-
i nspector - head - super-
intendent Goatslegs,
who paid his ad-
dresses to the shep-
herdess.
" In him," said the
old Chinese, " you will
have a husband who,
I verily believe, is of
mahogany. You will be Mrs. Goatslegs, the wife
of a General-clothes-press-inspector-head-superin-
tendent, who has his shelves full of plate, be-
sides what is hidden in secret drawers and re-
cesses."
" I will not go into the dark cupboard," said
the little shepherdess ; " I have heard say that he
has eleven wives of porcelain in there already."
" Then you may be the twelfth," said the Chi-
nese. " To-night, as soon as the old clothes-press
cracks, as sure as I am a Chinese, we will keep
the wedding." And then he nodded his liead, and
fell asleep.
But the little shepherdess wept, and looked at
her beloved — at the porcelain chimney-sweep.
202
STORIES FROM HANS CHRISTIAN ANDERSEN.
" I implore you," said she, " fly hence with me ;
for here it is impossible for us to remain."
" I will do all you ask," said the little chim-
ney-sweep. " Let us leave this place. I think
my trade will enable me to support you."
" If we were only down from the table," said
she. " I shall not be happy till we are far from
here, and free."
He consoled her, and showed her how she was
to set her little foot on the carved border and on
the gilded foliage which twined around the leg of
the table, brought his ladder to her assistance, and
at last both were on the floor ; but when they
looked toward the old clothes-press, they observed
a great stii-. All the carved stags stretched their
heads out farther, raised their antlers, and turned
round their heads. The General-clothes-press-in-
spector-head-superintendent gave a jump, and
called to the old Chinese, " They are eloping, they
are eloping ! "
At this she grew a little frightened, and jumped
quickly over the ridge into the drawer.
Here lay three or four packs of cards, which
were not complete, and a little puppet-show, which
was set up as well as it was possible to do. A
play was being performed, and all the ladies. Di-
amonds as well as Hearts, Clubs, and Spades, sat
in the front row, and fanned themselves with
the tulips they held in their hands, while behind
them stood the varlets. The play was about
two persons who could not have each other, at
which the shepherdess wept, for it was her own
history.
" I cannot bear it longer," said she ; " I must
get out of the drawer."
But when she had got down on the floor, and
looked up to the table, she saw that the old Chi-
nese was awake, and that liis whole body was rock-
ing.
" The old Chinese is coming ! " cried the little
shepherdess ; and down she fell on her porcelain
knee, so frightened was she.
" A thought has struck me," said the chimney-
sweep ; " let us creep into the great pot-pourri
jar that stands in the corner ; there we can lie on
roses and lavender, and if he comes after us, throw
dust in his eyes."
" 'Tis of no use," said she. " Besides, I know
that the old Chinese and the Pot-pourri Jar were
once betrothed ; and when one has been once on
such terms, a little regard always lingers behind.
No ; for us there is nothing left but to wander
forth into the wide world."
" Have you really courage to go forth with me
into the wide world ? " asked the chimney-sweep
tenderly. " Have you considered how large it is,
and that we can never come back here again ! "
" I have," said she.
And the sweep gazed fixedly upon her, and then
said, " Mj' way lies up the chimney. Have you
really courage to go with me through the stove,
and to creep through all the flues ? We shall then
get into the main flue, after which I am not at a
loss what to do. Up we mount, then, so high,
that they can never reach us ; and at the toj3 is an
opening that leads out into the world."
And he led her toward the door of the stove.
" It looks quite black," said she ; but still she
went with him, and on through all the intricacies
of the interior, and through the flues, where a
pitchy darkness reigned.
" We are now in the chimney," said she; "and
behold, behold, above us is shinning the loveliest
star!"
It was a real star in the sky that shone straight
down upon them, as if to show them the way.
They climbed and they crept higher and higher.
It was a frightful way ; but he lifted her up, he
held hei', and showed her the best places on which
to put her little porcelain feet; and thus they
reached the top of the chimney, and seated them-
selves on the edge of it ; for they were tired, which
is not to be wondered at.
The heaven and all its stars were above them,
and all the roofs of the town below them ; they
could see far around, far away into the world.
The poor shephei'dess had never pictured it to
herself thus ; she leaned her little head on her
sweep, and wept so bitterly that all the gilding of
her girdle came o£f.
'WHAT THE GOOD-MAN DOES IS SURE TO BE RIGHT!"
203
" Oh, this is too much ! " said she ; " I cannot
bear it. The world is too large. Oh, were I but
again on the little table under the looking-glass !
I shall never be happy till I am there again. I
have followed you into the wide world ; now, if
you really love me, you may follow me home
again."
And the chimney-sweep spoke sensibly to her,
spoke to her about the old Chinese and the Gen-
eral-clothes-press-inspector - head - superintendent ;
but she sobbed so violently, and kissed her little
sweep so passionately, that he was obliged to give
way, although it was
not right to do so.
So now do\vii they
climbed again with
great difficulty, crept
through the flue, and
into the stove, where
they listened behind
the door, to discover
if anybody was in the
room. It was quite
still ; they peeped, and
there, on the floor, in
the middle of the room,
lay the old Chinese. He had fallen fi'om the table
in trying to follow the fugitives, and was broken
in three pieces ; his whole back was but a stump,
and his head had rolled into a corner, while Gen-
eral-clothes-press-inspector-head-superintendent
Goatslegs was standing where he had ever stood,
absorbed in thought.
" How dreadful ! " said the little shepherdess.
" My old grandfather is dashed to pieces, and we
are the cause. I never can survive the accident."
And she wrung her little hands in agony.
" He can be mended," said the chimney-sweep ;
" he can easily be mended. Only do not be so
hasty. If we glue his back together, and rivet his
neck well, he will be as good as new, and will
be able to say enough disagreeable things to us
yet."
" Do you think so ? " said she ; and then they
clambered up again to the table on which they
had stood before.
"You see," said the sweep, "we might have
spared ourselves these disagreeables, after all."
" If we had but mended my old grandfather ! "
said the shepherdess.
" Does it cost much ? "
And mended he
was. The family had
his back glued, and his
neck riveted, so that
he was as good as new,
except that he could
not nod.
"Me seems, you
have grown haughty
since you were dashed
to pieces," said Gen-
eral - clothes - press-in-
spector-head-superintendent Goatslegs. " How-
ever, I think there is not so very much to be proud
of. Am I to have her, or am I not? "
The chimney-sweep and the little shepherdess
looked so touchingly at the old Chinese ; they
feared he would nod, but he could not, and it was
disagreeable to him to tell a stranger that he had
constantly a rivet in his neck. So the little porce-
lain personages remained together. They blessed
the old grandfather's rivet, and loved each other
till they fell to pieces.
"WHAT THE GOOD-MAN DOES IS SURE TO BE RIGHT!"
I AM going to tell you a story that was told to
me when I was a little one, and which I like bet-
ter and better the oftener I think of it. For it is
with stories as with some men and women, the
older they grow the pleasanter they grow, and
that is delightful !
Of course you have been into the country?
Well, then, you must have seen a regularly poor
•204
STORIES FROM HANS CHRISTIAN ANDERSEN.
old cottage. Moss and weeds spring up amid the
thatch of the roof, a stoi-k's nest decorates the chim-
ney (the stork can never be dispensed with), the
walls are aslant, the windows low (in fact, onlj' one
of them can be shut), the baking-oven projects
forward, and an elder-bush leans over the gate,
where you will see a tiny pond with a duck and
ducklings in it, close under a knotted old willow-
tree. Yes, and then there is a watch-dog that
barks at every passer-by.
•lust such a poor little cottage as this was the
one 111 rnj' story, and in it dwelt a husband and
wife. Few as their possessions were, one of them
they could do without, and that was a horse, that
used to graze in the ditch beside the high-road.
The good-man rode on it to town, he lent it to
his neighbors, and received slight services from
them in return, but still it would be more profita-
ble to sell the horse, or else exchange it for some-
thing they could make of more frequent use. But
which should they do? sell, or exchange?
" Why, you will find out what is best, good-
man," said the wife. "Isn't this market-day?
Come, ride off to the town — get money, or what
you can for the horse — whatever you do is sure
to be right. Make haste for the market ! "
So she tied on his neckerchief — for that was a
matter she understood better than he — she tied it
with a double knot, and made him look quite
spruce ; she dusted his hat with the palm of her
hand ; and she kissed him and sent him off, rid-
ing the horse that was to be either sold or bar-
tered. Of course, he would know what to do.
The sun was hot, and not a cloud in the sky.
The road was dusty, and such a ci'owd of folk
passed on their way to market. Some in wagons,
some on horseback, some on their own legs. A
fierce sun and no shade all the way.
A man came driving a cow — as pretty a cow
as could be. " That creature must give beautiful
milk," thought the peasant ; " it would not be a
bad bargain if I got that. I say, you fellow with
the cow ! " he began aloud ; " let 's have some talk
together. Look you, a horse, I believe, costs more
than a cow, but it is all the same to me, as I
have more use for a cow — shall we make an ex-
change ? "
" To be sure ! " was the answer, and the bar-
gain was made.
The good-man might just as well now turn back
homeward — he had finished his business. But
he had made up his mind to go to market, so to
market he must go, if only to look on, so, with
his cow, he continued on his way. He trudged
fast, so did the cow, and soon they overtook a
man who was leading a sheep — a sheeji in good
condition, well clothed with wool.
" I should very much like to have that I "
thought the peasant. " It would find pasture
enough by our road-side, and in winter we might
take it into our own room. And really it would
be more reasonable for us to be keeping a sheep
than a cow. Shall we exchange ? "
Yes, the man who owned the sheep was quite
willing ; so the exchange was made, and the good-
man now went on with bis sheep. Presently there
passed him a man with a big goose under his
arm.
'• Well, you have got a heavj' fellow there I "
quoth the peasant. " Feathers and fat in plenty!
How nicely we could tie her up near our little
pond, and it would be something for the good-
wife to gather up the scraps for. She has often
said : ' If we had but a goose ! ' Now she can
have one — and she shall, too ! Will j'ou ex-
change ? I will give you my sheep for your goose,
and say ' thank you ' besides."
The otiier had no objection, so the peasant had
his will and his goose. He was now close to the
town ; he was wearied with the heat and the
crowd, folk and cattle pushing past him, throng-
ing on the road, in the ditch, and close up to the
turnpike-man's cabbage-garden, where his one hen
was tied up, lest in her fright she should lose her
way and be carried off. It was a short-backed
hen : she winked with one eye, crying, " Cluck,
cluck ! " What she was thinking of I can't say,
but what the peasant thought on seeing her, was
this : " That is the prettiest hen I have ever seen
— much prettier than any of our parson's chickens.
WHAT THE GOOD-MAN DOES IS SURE TO BE RIGHT!
205
I should very much like to have her. A hen can
always pick up a grain here and there — can pro-
vide for herself. I almost think it would be a
good plan to take her instead of the goose. Shall
we exchange ? " he asked. " Exchange ? '" re-
peated the owner ; '• not a bad idea ! " So it was
done ; the tnrnpike-man got the goose, the peas-
ant the hen.
He had transacted a deal of business since first
starting on liis way to the town ; hot was he, and
wearied too : he must have a dram and a bit of
bread. He was on the point of entering an inn,
when the innkeeper met him in the doorway
swinging a sack chock-full of something.
" What have you there ? " asked the peas-
ant.
" Mellow apples," was the answer, " a whole
sackful for swine."
" What a quantity ! would n't my wife like to
see so many ! Why, the last year we liad only
one single apple on the whole tree at home. Ah !
I wish my wife could see them ! "
" Well, what will you give me for them ? "
" Give for them ? why, I will give you my hen."
So he gave the hen, took the apples, and entered
the inn, and going straight up to the bar, set his
sack npright against the stove without consider-
ing that there was a fire lighted inside. A good
many strangers were present, among them two
Englishmen, both with their pockets full of gold
and fond of laying wagers, as Englishmen in
stories are wont to do.
Presently there came a sound from the stove,
"Suss — suss — suss I" the apjales were roasting.
" What is that ? " folk asked, and soon heard the
whole history of the horse that had been ex-
changed, first for a cow, and lastly for a sack of
rotten apples.
" Well ! won't you get a good sound cuff from
your wife, when you go home ? " said one of the
Englishmen. " Something heavy enough to fell
an ox, I warn you I "
" I shall get kisses, not cuffs," replied the peas-
ant. " My wife will say, ' Whatever the good-
man does is right.' "
" A wager I " cried the Englishmen, " for a
hundred pounds ? "
" Say rather a bushelful," quoth the peasant,
and I can only lay my bushel of apples with my-
self and the good-wife, but that will be more than
full measure, I trow."
" Done ! " cried they. And the innkeeper's
cart was brought out forthwith, tJie Englishmen
got into it, the peasant got into it, the rotten ap-
ples got into it, and away they sped to the peas-
ant's cottage.
" Good evening, wife."
" Same to you, good-man."
" Well, I have exchanged tlie horse, not sold it."
" Of course," said the wife, taking his hand,
and in her eagerness to listen noticing neither the
sack nor the strangers.
" I exchanged the horse for a cow."
" Oh I how delightful ! now we can have milk,
butter, and cheese on our table. What a capital
idea I "
" Yes, but I exchanged the cow for a sheep."
" Better and better I " cried the wife. " You
are always so thoughtful ; we have only just grass
enough for a sheep. But now we shall have ewe's
milk, and ewe's cheese, and woolen stockings, nay,
woolen jackets too ; and a cow would not give us
that ; she loses all her hairs. But you are always
such a clever fellow."
" But the ewe I exchanged again for a goose."
"What I shall we really keep Michaelmas this
year, good-man? You are always thinking of what
will please me, and that was a beautiful thought.
The ffoose can be tethered to the willow-tree and
o
grow fat for Michaelmas Day."
" But I gave the goose away for a hen," said the
peasant.
"A hen? well, that was a good exchange," said
his wife. " A hen will lay eggs, sit upon them,
and we shall have chickens. Fancy ! a hen-yard !
that is just the thing I have always wished for
most."
" Ah, but I exchanged the hen for a sack of
mellow apples."
" Then I must give thee a kiss," cried the wife.
206
STORIES FROM HANS CHRISTIAN ANDERSEN.
" Thanks, my own husband. And now I have
something to tell. When you were gone I thought
how I could get a right good dinner ready for
you : omelets with parsley. Now I had the eggs,
but not the parsley. So I went over to the school-
master's ; they have parsley, I know, but the
woman is so crabbed, she wanted something for it.
Now what could I give her ? nothing grows in our
garden, not even a rotten apple, not even that had
I for her ; but now I can give her ten, nay, a
whole sackful. That is famous, good-man ! " and
she kissed him again.
" Well done ! " cried the Englishmen. " Al-
ways down hill, and always happy ! Such a sight
is worth the money ! " And so quite contentedly
they paid the bushelful of gold pieces to the peas-
ant, who had got kisses, not cuffs, by liis bar-
gains.
Certainly virtue is her own reward, when the
wife is sure that her husband is the wisest man in
the world, and that whatever he does is right.
So now you have heard this old story that was
once told to me, and I hope have learnt the
moral.
THE LITTLE MATCH GIRL.
It was terribly cold ; it snowed and was al-
ready almost dark, and evening came on, the last
evening of the year. In the cold and gloom a poor
little girl, bare-headed
and barefoot, was walk-
i n g through the
streets. When she
left her own house she
certainly had had slip-
pers on ; but of what
use were they ? They
were very big slippers,
and her mother had
used them till then, so
big were they. The
little maid lost them as
she slipped across the road, where two carriages
were rattling by terribly fast. One slipper was
not to be found again, and a boy had seized the
other, and run away with it. He thought he
could use it very well as a cradle, some day when
he had children of his own. So now the little
girl went with her little naked feet, which were
quite red and blue with the cold. In an old apron
she carried a number of matches, and a bundle
of them in her hand. No one had bought any-
thing of her all day, and no one had given her a
farthing.
Shivering with cold and hunger she crept
along, a picture of misery, poor little girl I The
snow-flakes covered her long fair hair, which fell
in pretty curls over her neck ; but she did not.
think of that now. In
all the windows lights
were shining and there
was a gloiious smell of
roast goose, for it was
New Year's Eve. Yes,
she thought of that !
In a coiner formed
by two houses, one of
which projected be-
yond the other, she sat
down, cowering. She
had drawn up her lit-
tle feet, but she was still colder, and she did not
dare to go home, for she had sold no matches, and
did not bring a farthing of money. From her
father she would certainly receive a beating, and
besides, it was cold at home, for they had nothing
over them but a roof through which the wind
whistled, though the largest rents had been stojjped
with straw and rags.
Her little hands were almost benumbed with
the cold. Ah I a match might do her good, if she
could only draw one from a bundle, and rub it
against the wall, and warm her hands at it. She
drew one out. R-r-atch ! how it sputtered and
THE LITTLE MATCH GIRL.
207
burned ! It was a warm bright flame, like a little
candle, when she held her hands over it ; it was a
wonderful little light ! It really seemed to the
little girl as if she sat before a great polished
■ stove, with bright brass feet and a brass cover.
How the fire burned ! how comfortable it was !
but the little flame went out, the stove vanished,
and she had only the remains of the burned match
in her hand.
A second was rubbed against the wall. It
burned uj), and when the light fell upon the wall
it became transparent like a thin veil, and she
could see through it into the room. On the table
a snow-white cloth was spread ; upon it stood a
shining dinner service ; the roast goose smoked
gloriously, stuffed witli apples and dried jDlums.
And what was still more splendid to behold, the
goose hopped down from the dish, and waddled
along the floor, with a knife and fork in its breast,
to the little girl. Then the match went out, and
only the thick, damp, cold wall was before her.
She lighted another match. Then she was sitting
under a beautiful Christmas-tree ; it was greater
and more ornamented than the one she had seen
through the glass door at the rich merchant's.
Thousands of candles burned upon the green
branches, and colored pictures like those in the
print shops looked down upon them. The little
girl stretched forth her hand toward them ; then
the match went out. The Christmas lights
mounted higher. She saw them now as stars in
the sky : one of them fell down, forming a long
line of fire.
" Now some one is dying," thought the little
girl, for her old grandmother, the only person who
had loved her, and who was now dead, had told
her that when a star fell down a soul mounted up
to God.
She rubbed another match against the wall ; it
became bright again, and in the brightness the old
grandmother stood clear and shining, mild and
lovely.
"Grandmother!" cried the child, " Oh I take
me with you ! I know you will go when the
match is burned out. You will vanish like the
warm fire, the warm food, and the great, glorious
Christmas-tree ! "
And she hastily rubbed the whole bundle of
matches, for she wished to hold her gi-andmother
fast. And the matches burned with such a glow
that it became brighter than in the middle of the
day ; grandmother had never been so large or so
beautiful. She took the little girl in her arms, and
both flew in briglitness and joy above the earth,
very, very high, and up there was neither cold,
nor hunger, nor care, — they were with God.
But in the corner, leaning against the wall, sat
the poor girl with red cheeks and smiraig mouth,
frozen to death on the last evening of the Old
Year. The New Year's sun rose upon a little
corpse I The child sat there, stiff and cold, with
the matches, of which one bundle was burned.
" She wanted to warm herself," the people said.
No one imagined what a beautiful thing she had
seen, and in what glory she had gone in with her
grandmother to the New Year's Day.
208
STORIES FROM HANS CHRISTIAN ANDERSEN.
THE BELL.
People said, " The evening-bell is sounding,
the sun is setting." A strange wondrous tone was
heard in the narrow streets of a large town. It
was like the sound of a church-bell : but it was
only heard for a moment, for the rolling of the car-
riages, and the voices of the multitude made too
great a noise.
Those persons who were walking without the
town, where the houses were farther apart, with
gardens or little fields between them, could see the
evening sky still better, and heard th.e sound of the
bell much more distinctly. It was as if the tones
came from a church ^ ^' ^ ^■^^ i <-
in the still forest ;
people looked thith-
e r w a r d, a n d felt
their minds attuned
most solemnly.
A long time
passed, and people
said to each other,
— "I wonder if
there is a church out
in the wood ? The
bell has a tone that
is wondrous sweet ; — — -^-^ ~"
let us stroll thither, and examine the matter
nearer." And tlie rich people drove out, and
the poor walked, but the way seemed strangely
long to them ; and when they came to a clump of
willows which grew on the skirts of the forest,
they sat down, and looked up at the long branches,
and fancied they were now in the depth of the
green wood. The confectioner of the town came
out, and set up his booth there ; and soon after
came another confectioner, who hung a bell over
his stand, as a sign or ornament, but it had no
clapjDer, and it was tarred over to preserve it from
the rain. When all the people returned home,
they said it had been very romantic, and that it
was quite a different sort of thing to a picnic or
tea-party. There were three persons who asserted
they had penetrated to the end of the forest, and
that they had always heard the wonderful sounds
of the bell, but it had seemed to them as if it had
come from the town. One wrote a whole poem
about it, and said the bell sounded like the voice
of a mother to a good dear child, and that no
melody was sweeter than the tones of the bell.
The king of the country was also observant of it,
and vowed that he who could discover whence the
sounds proceeded should have the title of " Uni-
versal Bell-ringer," even if it were not really a
beU.
Many persons
now went to the
wood, for the sake
of getting the place,
but one only re-
turned with a sort
of explanation ; for
nobody went far
enough, that one
not farther than the
others. However,
he said that the
s 0 u n d proceeded
from a very lai-ge
owl, in a hollow tree; a sort of learned owl, that
continually knocked its head against the branches.
But whether the sound came from his head or from
the hollow tree, that no one could say with cer-
tainty. So now he got the place of " Universal
Bell-ringer," and wrote yearly a short treatise
" On the Owl ; " but everybody was just as wise
as before.
It was the day of Confirmation. The clergyman
had spoken so touchingly, the children who were
confirmed had been greatly moved ; it was an
eventful day for them ; from children they be-
came all at once grown-up persons ; it was as if
their infant souls were now to fly all at once into
pei-sons with more understanding. The sun was
shining gloriously ; the children that had been
-*4i*y
THE BELL.
209
confirmed went out of the town, and from the
wood was borne toward them the sounds of the
unknown bell with wonderful distinctness. They
all immediately felt a wish to go thither ; all ex-
cept three. One of them had to go home to try
on a ball-dress, for it was just the dress and the
ball which had caused her to be confirmed this
time, for otherwise she would not have come ; the
other was a poor boy, who had borrowed his coat
and boots to be confirmed in from the innkeeper's
son, and he was to give them back by a certain
hour ; the third said that he never went to a
strange place if his parents were not with him ;
that he had always been a good boj' hitherto, and
would still be so now that he was confirmed, and
that one ought not to laugh at him for it : the
others, however, did make fun of him, after all.
There were three, therefore, that did not go ;
the others hastened on. The sun shone, the birds
sang, and the children sang too, and each held the
other by the hand ; for as yet they had none of
them any high office, and were all of equal rank
in the eye of God.
But two of the youngest soon grew tired, and
both returned to town ; two little girls sat down,
and twined garlands, so they did not go either ;
and when the others reached the willow-tree, where
the confectioner was, they said, " Now we are
there ! In reality the bell does not exist ; it is only
a fancy that people have taken into their heads ! "
At the same moment the bell sounded deep in
the wood, so clear and solemnly that five or six
determined to penetrate somewhat farther. It
was so thick, and the foliage so dense that it was
quite fatiguing to proceed. Woodroof and anem-
ones grew almost too high ; blooming convolvu-
luses and blackberry-bushes hung in long garlands
from tree to tree, where the nightingale sang and
the sunbeams were playing : it was very beautiful,
but it was no place for girls to go ; their clothes
would get so torn. Large blocks of stone lay
there, overgrown with moss of every color ; the
fresh spring bubbled forth, and made a strange
gurgling sound.
" That surely cannot be the bell," said one of
27
the children, lying down and listening ; " this
must be looked to." So he remained, and let the
others go on without him.
They afterwards came to a little house, made
of branches and the bark of trees ; a large wild
apple-tree bent over it, as if it would shower down
all its blessings on the roof, where roses were
blooming. The long stems twined round the ga-
ble, on which there hung a small bell.
Was it that which people had heard ? Yes :
everybody was unanimous on the subject, except
one, who said that the bell was too small and too
fine to be heard at so great a distance, and besides,
it had very different tones from those that could
move a human heart in such a manner. It was
a king's son who spoke ; whereon the others said,
" Such people always want to be wiser than every-
body else."
They now let him go on alone ; and as he went,
his breast was filled more and more with the for-
est solitude ; but he still heard the little bell with
which the others were so satisfied, and now and
then, when the wind blew, he could also hear the
people singing who were sitting at tea where the
confectioner had his tent ; but the deep sound of
the bell rose louder ; it was almost as if an oi'san
were accompanying it, and the tones came from
the left hand, the side where the heart is placed.
A rustling was heard in the bushes, and a little
boy stood before the king's son ; a boy in wooden
shoes, and with so short a jacket that one could
see what long wrists he had. Both knew each
other ; the boy was that one among the children
who could not come because he had to go home
and return his jacket and boots to the innkeeper's
son. This he had done, and was now going on in
wooden shoes and in his humbler dress, for the
bell sounded with so deep a tone, and with such
strange power, that proceed he must.
" Why, then, we can go together," said the
king's son. But the poor child that had been
confirmed was quite ashamed ; he looked at his-
wooden shoes, pulled at the short sleeves of his-
jacket, and said, "He was afraid he could not
walk so fast ; besides, he thought that the beU
210
STORIES FROM HANS CHRISTIAN ANDERSEN.
must be looked for to the right ; for that was the
place where all sorts of beautiful things were to
be found."
" But there we shall not meet," said the king's
son, nodding at the same time to the poor boy, who
went into the darkest, thickest part of the wood,
where thorns tore his humble dress, and scratched
his face, and hands, and feet, till they bled. The
king's son got some scratches, too ; but the sun
shone on his path, and it is him that we will fol-
low, for he was an excellent and resolute youth.
" I must and will find the bell," said he, " even
if I am obliged to go to the end of the world."
The ugly apes sat upon the trees, and grinned.
"Shall we thrash him?" said they; "shall we
thrash him ? He is the son of a king ! "
But on he went, without being disheartened,
deeper and deeper into the wood, where the most
wonderful flowers were growing. There stood
white lilies with blood-red stamens ; sky-blue tu-
lips, which shone as they waved in the winds ;
and apple-trees, the apples of which looked exactly
like large soap-bubbles : so only think how the
trees must have sparkled in the sunshine ! Around
the nicest green meads, where the deer were play-
ing in the grass, grew magnificent oaks and
beeches ; and if the bark of one of the trees was
cracked, there grass and long creeping plants
grew in the crevices. And there were large, calm
lakes there too, in which white swans were swim-
ming, and beat the air with their wings. The
kino's son often stood still and listened. He
thought the bell sounded from the depths of these
still lakes ; but then he remarked again that the
tone proceeded not from there, but farther oif,
from out the depths of the forest.
The sun now set ; the atmosphere glowed like
fire. It was still in the woods, so very still ; and
he fell on his knees, sung his evening hymn, and
said : " I cannot find what I seek ; the sun is go-
ing down, and night is coming — the dark, dark
night. Yet perhaps I may be able once more to
see the round, red sun before he entirely disap-
pears. I will climb up yonder rock."
And he seized hold of the creeping-plants, and
the roots of trees, — climbed up the moist stones
where the water-snakes were writhing and the
toads were croaking- — and he gained the summit
before the sun had quite gone down. How mag-
nificent was the sight from this height ! The sea
— the great, the glorious sea, that dashed its long
waves against the coast — was stretched out be-
fore him. And yonder, where sea and sky meet,
stood the sun, like a large, shining altar, all
melted together in the most glowing colors. And
the wood and the sea sang a song of rejoicing,
and his heart sang with the rest : all nature was a
vast, holy church, in which the trees and the
buoyant clouds were the jjillars, flowers and grass
the velvet carpeting, and heaven itself the large
cupola. The red colors above faded awaj^ as the
sun vanished, but a million stars were lighted, a
million lamps shone ; and the king's son spread
out his arms toward heaven, and wood, and sea ;
when at the same moment, coming by a path to
the right, appeared, in his wooden shoes and
jacket, the poor boy who had been confirmed
with him. He had followed his own path, and
had reached the spot just as soon as the son of
the king had done. They ran toward each other,
and stood together, hand in hand, in the vast
church of nature and of poetry, while over them
sounded the invisible, holy bell ; blessed spirits
floated around them, and lifted up their voices in
a rejoicing hallelujah !
TALES
FROM TUB
ARABIAN NIGHTS' ENTERTAINMENTS.
I. INTRODUCTION.
It is written in the chronicles of the Sassanian
monarchs, that there once lived an illustrious
prince, beloved by his own subjects for his wisdom
and prudence, and feared by his enemies for his
courage, and for the hardy and well-disciplined
army of which he was the leader. This prince
hadtwo sons, the elder called Schah-riar, and the
younger Schah-zenan, both equally good and de-
serving of praise.
The old king died at the end of a long and glo-
rious reign, and Schah-riar, his eldest son, as-
cended the throne and reigned in his stead. A
friendly contest quickly arose between the two
brothers as to which could best promote the happi-
ness of the other. The younger, Schah-zenan, did
all he could to show his loyalty and affection,
while the new sultan loaded his brother with all
possible honors, and, in order that he might in
some degree share his own power and wealth, be-
stowed on him the kingdom of Great Tartary.
Schah-zenan went immediately and took possession
of the empire allotted him, and fixed his residence
at Samarcand, the chief city.
After a separation of ten years, Schah-riar ar-
dently desired to see his brother, and sent his first
vizier, with a splendid embassy, to invite him to
revisit his court. Schah-zenan, being informed of
the approach of the vizier, went out to meet him,
with all his ministers, most magnificently dressed
for the occasion, and urgently inquired after the
health of the sultan, his brother. Having replied
to these affectionate inquiries, the vizier unfolded
the more especial purpose of his coming. Schah-
zenan, who was much affected at the kindness and
recollection of his brother, then addressed the viz-
ier in these words : " Sage vizier, the sultan, my
brother, does me too much honor. It is impossible
that his wish to see me can exceed my anxious de-
sire of again beholding him. You have come at
an opportune moment. My kingdom is tranquil,
and in ten days' time I will be ready to depart
witli you. In the mean while pitch your tents on
this spot ; I will take care and order ever}^ refresh-
ment and accommodation for you and your whole
train."
At the end of ten days everything was ready.
Schah-zenan took a tender leave of the queen, his
consort, and, accompanied by such officers as he
had apjDointed to attend him, left Samarcand in
the evening, to be near the tents of his brother's
ambassador, with the intention of proceeding on
his journey early on the following morning.
Wishing, however, once more to see his queen,
whom he tenderly loved, and whom he believed to
return his love with an equal affection, he re-
turned privately to the palace, and went directly
to her apartment, when, to his extreme grief, he
found that she loved another man, and he a slave,
better than himself. The unfortunate monarch,
yielding to the first outburst of his indignation,
drew his scimitar, and with one rapid stiroke
changed their sleep into death. After that he
212
TALES FROM THE ARABIAN NIGHTS' ENTERTAINMENTS.
threw their dead bodies into the fosse or great
ditch that surrounded the palace.
Having thus satisfied his revenge, he went from
the city as privately as he entered it, and returned
to his pavilion. On his arrival, he did not men-
tion to any one what had liappened, but ordered
the tents to be struck, and began his journey. It
was scarcely daylight when they commenced their
march to the sound of drums and other instru-
ments. The whole train was filled with joy, ex-
cept the king, who could think of nothing but his
queen's misconduct, and he became a prey to the
deepest grief and melancholy during the whole
journey.
When he approached the capital of Persia, he
perceived the Sultan Schah-riar and all his court
coming out to greet him. What joyful sensations
arose in their breasts at this fraternal meeting !
They alighted and embraced each other ; and after
a thousand expressions of regard, they remounted,
and entered the city amidst the acclamations of
the multitude. The sultan conducted the king,
his brother, to a palace which had been prepared
for him. It communicated by a garden with his
own ; and was even more magnificent, as it was
the spot where all the fetes and splendid enter-
tainments of the court were given.
Schah-riar immediately left the King of Tar-
tary, in order that he might have time to bathe
and change his dress ; on his return from the bath
he went immediately to him again. They seated
themselves on a sofa, and conversed with each
other at their ease, after so long an absence ; and
seemed even more united by affection than blood.
They ate together at supper, and after their re-
past they again conversed, till Schah-riar, per-
ceiving the night far advanced, left his brother to
repose.
The unfortunate Schah-zenan retired to his
couch ; but if the presence of the sultan had for a
while suspended his grief, it now returned with re-
doubled force. Every circumstance of the queen's
misconduct arose to his mind and kept him awake,
and impressed such a look of sorrow on his coun-
tenance that the sultan could not fail to remark
it. Conscious that he had done all in his power
to testify the sincerity of his continued love and
affection, he sought diligently to amuse his
brother ; but the most splendid entertainments
and tne gayest /efcs only served to increase Ms
melancholy.
Schah-riar having one morning given orders for
a grand hunting part}', at the distance of two
days' journey from the citj^, Schah-zenan reqviested
permission to remain in his palace, excusing him-
self on account of a slight indisposition. The sul-
tan wishing to please him, gave him his choice,
and went with all his court to partake of the
sport.
The King of Tartary was no sooner alone than
be shut himself up in his apartment, and gave way
to a sorrowful recollection on the calamity which
had befallen him. As, however, he sat thus griev-
ing at the open window, looking out upon the
beautiful garden of the palace, he suddenly saw
tlie sultana, the loved wife of his brother, meet in
the garden and hold secret conversation with an-
other man beside her husband. Upon witnessing
this interview, Schali-zenan determined within
himself that he would no longer give way to such
inconsolable grief for a misfortune which came to
other husbands as well as to himself. He ordered
supper to be brought, and ate with a better appe-
tite than he had before done since his departure
from Samarcand, and even enjoyed the fine con-
cert performed while he sat at table.
Schah-riar, on his return from hunting at the
close of the second day, Avas delighted at the
change which he soon found had taken place in
his brother, and urgently pressed him to explain
both the cause of his former deep depression, and
of its sudden change to his present joy. The
King of Tartary being thus pressed, and feeling it
his duty to obey his suzerain lord, related to his
brother the whole narrative of his wife's miscon-
duct, and of the severe punishment with which he
had visited it on the offenders. Schah-riar ex-
pressed his full approval of his conduct. " I own,"
he said, " had I been in your place, I should, per-
haps, have been less easily satisfied. I should not
INTRODUCTION.
213
have been contented with taking away the life of
one woman, but should have sacrificed a thousand
to my resentment. Your fate, surely, is most sin-
gular, nor can have happened to any one besides.
Since, however, it has pleased God to afford you
consolation, and as I am sure it is equally well
founded as the cause of your grief, inform me, I
beg, of that also, and make me acquainted with
the whole."
The reluctance of Schah-zenan to relate what
he had seen yielded at last to the urgent com-
mands and entreaties of his brother, and he re-
vealed to him the secret of his disgrace in the
faithlessness of his own queen. On hearing these
dreadful and unexpected tidings, the rage and
grief of Schah-riar knew no bounds. He far ex-
ceeded his brother in his invectives and indigna-
tion. He immediately sentenced to death his un-
happy sultana and the unworthy accomplice of
her guilt ; and not content with this, in all the
power of an Eastern despot, he bound himself by a
solemn vow that, to prevent the possibility of such
misconduct in future, he would marry a new wife
every night, and command her to be strangled in
the morning. Having imposed this cruel law
upon himself, he swore to observe it immediately
on the departure of the king his brother, who
soon after had a solemn audience of leave, and re-
turned to his own kingdom, laden with the most
magnificent presents.
When Schah-zenan was gone, the sultan began
to put into execution his unhappy oath. He mar-
ried every night the daughter of some one of his
subjects, who, the next morning, was ordered out
to execution, and thus every day was a maiden
married, and every day a wife sacrificed. How-
ever repugnant these commands were to the be-
nevolent grand vizier, he was obliged to submit at
the peril of the loss of his own head. The report
of this unexampled inhumanity sjjread a panic of
universal consternation through the city. In one
place a wretched father was in tears for the loss of
his daughter ; in another, the air resounded with
the groans of tender mothers, who dreaded lest the
same fate should attend their offspring. In this
manner, instead of the praises and blessings with
which, till now, they loaded their monarch, all
his subjects poured out imprecations on his head.
The grand vizier, who, as has been mentioned,
was the unwilling agent of this horrid injustice,
had two daughtei's ; the elder was called Schehera-
zade, and the youngest Dinar-zaae. Schehera-
zade was possessed of a degree of courage beyond
her sex. She had read much, and was possessed
of so great a memor)^ that she never forgot anj'-
thing once learned ; her beauty was only equaled
by her virtuous disposition.
The vizier was passionately fond of so deserving
a daughter.
As they were conversing together one day, she
made a request to her father, to his very great
astonishment, that she might have the honor of
becoming the sultan's bride. The grand vizier
endeavored to dissuade his daughter from her in-
tention by pointing out the fearful penalty of an
immediate death attached to the favor which she
sought. Schehei'a-zade, however, persisted in her
request, intimating to her father that she had in
her mind a plan which she thought might be suc-
cessful in making a change in the intention of the
sultan, and in putting a stop to the dreadful cru-
elty exercised towai'ds the inhabitants of the city.
"Yes, my father," replied this heroic woman, "I
am aware of the danger I run, but it does not de-
ter me from my purpose. If I die, my death will
be glorious ; and if I succeed, I shall render my
country an imjjortant service." The vizier was
most reluctant to allow his beloved child to enter
on so dangerous an enterprise, and endeavored to
dissuade her from her purpose, but at length,
overcome by his daughter's firmness, yielded to
her entreaties ; and although he was very sorry at
not being able to conquer her resolution, he imme-
diately went to Schah-riar, and announced to him
that Schehera-zade herself would be his bride on
the following night.
The sultan was much astonished at the sacrifice
of the grand vizier. " Is it possible," said he, " that
you can give up your own child ? " " Sire," re-
plied the vizier, " she has herself made the offer.
214
TALES FROM THE ARABIAN NIGHTS' ENTERTAINMENTS.
K;=^i!y^;»s^-V
The dreadful fate that hangs over lier does not
alarm her ; and she resigns her hfe for the honor
of being the consort of j'our majesty, though it be
but for one night." "Vizier," said the sultan,
" do not deceive yourself with any hopes ; for be
assured that, in delivering Schehera-zade into your
chai'ge to-morrow, it
will be with an order
for her death ; and if
you disobey, your
own head will be
the forfeit." " Al-
t ho ugh."' answered
the vizier, " I am her
father, I will answer
for the fidelity of this
arm in fulfilling your
commands."
When the grand
vizier returned to
Schehera-zade, she
thanked her father ;
and observing him to
be much afflicted, con-
soled him by saying
that she hoped he
would be so far from
repenting her mar-
riage with the sultan,
that it would become
a subject of joy to him
for the remainder of
his life.
Before Schehera-
zade went to the pal-
ace, she called her sis-
ter, Dinar-zade, aside.
and said, " As soon as
I shall have presented myself before the sultan, I
shall entreat him to suffer you to sleep in the
bridal chamber, that I may enjoy for the last time
your company. If I obtain this favor, as I expect,
remember to awaken me to-morrow morning an
hour befoi'e daybreak, and say, ' If you are not
asleep, my sister, I beg of you, till the morning
appears, to recount to me one of those delightful
stories you know.' I will immediately begin to
tell one ; and I flatter myself that bj' these means
I shall free the kingdom from the consternation
in which it is." Dinar-zade promised to do with
pleasure what she required.
Within a short
time Schehera-zade
was conducted by
her father to the
palace, and was ad-
mitted to the pres-
' nee of the sultan.
They were no sooner
alone than the sultan
I irdered her to take off
li e r veil. He was
!• harmed with her
beauty ; but perceiv-
ing her tears, he de-
manded the cause of
them. " Sire," an-
s w e r e d Schehera-
zade, " I have a sister
whom I tenderly love ;
I earnestly wish that
she might be per-
mitted to pass the
night in this apart-
ment, that we may
again see each other,
and once more take
a tender farewell.
Will you allow me
the consolation of giv-
ing her this last proof
of my affection ? "
Schah-riar having
agreed to it, they sent for Dinar-zade, who came
directly. The sultan passed the night with Sche-
hera-zade on an elevated couch, as was the custom
among the Eastern monarchs, and Dinar-zade
slept at the foot of it on a mattress, prepared for
the purpose.
Dinar-zade, having awoke about an hour before
INTRODUCTION.
215
day, did what her sister had ordered her. " My
dear sister," she said, " if you are not asleep, I en-
treat you, as it will soon be light, to relate to me
one of those delightful tales you know. It will,
alas ! be the last time I shall receive that pleas-
ure."
Instead of returning any answer to her sister,
Schehera-zade addressed these words to the sul-
tan : " Will your majesty permit me to indulge
my sister in her request?" "Freely," replied he.
Schehera-zade then desired her sister to attend,
and, addressing herself to the sultan, began as fol-
lows : —
THE STOEY OF THE MERCHAIJT AND THE
GENIE.
There was formerly, sire, a merchant, who was
possessed of great wealth, in land, merchandise,
and ready money. Having one day an affair of
great importance to settle at a considerable dis-
tance from home, he mounted his horse, and with
only a sort of cloak-bag behind him, in which he
had put a few biscuits and dates, he began his
journey. He arrived without any accident at the
place of his destination ; and having finished his
business, set out on his return.
On the fourth day of his journey, he felt him-
self so incommoded by the heat of the sun, that he
turned out of his road, in order to rest under some
trees, by which there was a fountain. He alighted,
and tying his horse to a branch of the tree, sat
down on its bank to eat some biscuits and dates
from his little store. When he had satisfied his
hunger, he amused himself with throwing about
the stones of the fruit with considerable velocity.
When he had finished his frugal repast, he washed
his hands, his face, and his feet, and repeated a
prayer, like a good Mussulman.
He was still on his knees, when he saw a genie,
white with age, and of an enormous stature, ad-
vancing towards him, with a scimitar in his hand.
As soon as he was close to him, he said in a most
terrible tone, " Get up, that I may kill thee with
this scimitar, as thou hast caused the death of my
son." He accompanied these words with a dread-
ful yell. The merchant, alarmed by the horrible
figure of this giant, as well as the words he heard,
replied in terrible accents, " How can I have slain
him ? I do not know him, nor have I ever seen
him." " Didst thou not," replied the giant, " on
thine arrival here, sit down, and take some dates
from thy wallet; and after eating them, didst thou
not throw the stones about on all sides ? " " This
is all true," replied the merchant ; " I do not deny
it." " Well, then," said the other, " I tell thee
thou hast killed my son ; for while thou wast
throwing about the stones, my son passed by ; one
of them struck him in the eye, and caused his
death, and thus hast thou slain my son." " Ah,
sire, forgive me," cried the merchant. " I have
neither foi-giveness nor mercy," added the giant ;
"and is it not just that he who has inflicted death
should suffer it?" "I grant this; yet surely I
have not done so ; and even if I have, I have done
so innocently, and therefore I entreat you to par-
don me, and suffer me to live." " No, no," cried
the genie, still persisting in his resolution, " I must
destroy thee, as thou hast done my son." At these
words, he took the merchant in his arms, and hav-
ing thrown him with his face on the ground, he
lifted up his sabre, in order to strike off his head.
Schehera-zade, at this instant, perceiving it was
day, and knowing that the sultan rose early to his
prayers, and then to hold a council, broke off.
" What a wonderf id story," said Dinar-zade, " have
you chosen I " " The conclusion," answered Sche-
hera-zade, "is still more surprising, as you would
confess, if the sultan would suffer me to live an-
other day, and in the morning permit me to con-
tinue the I'elation." Schah-riar, who had listened
with much pleasure to the narration, determined
to wait till to-morrow, intending to order her ex-
ecution after she had finished her story. He arose,
and having prayed, went to the council.
The grand vizier, in the mean time, was in a
state of cruel suspense. Unable to sleep, he passed
the night in lamenting the approaching fate of his
daughter, whose executioner he was compelletl to
be. Dreading, therefore, in this melancholy situ-
ation, to meet the sultan, how great was his sur-
216
TALES FROM THE ARABIAN NIGHTS ENTERTAINMENTS.
prise in seeing liim enter the council-chamber
without giving him tlie liorrible order he expected !
The sultan spent the day, as usual, in regulating
the affairs of his kingdom, and on the approach of
iiio-ht retired with Schehera-zade to his apartment.
On the next morning the sultan did not wait for
Schehera-zade to ask permission to continue her
story, but said, " Finish the tale of the genie and
the merchant; I am curious to hear the end of it."
Schehera-zade immediately went on as follows : —
When the merchant, sire, perceived that the
genie was about to execute his purpose, he cried
aloud, " One word more, I entreat you ; have the
goodness to grant me a little delay ; give me only
one year to go and take leave of my dear wife
and children, and I promise to return to this spot,
and submit myself entirely to your pleasure."
" Take Allah to witness of tlie promise thou hast
made me," said the other. " Again I swear,"
replied he, "and you may rely on my oath." On
this the genie left him near the fountain, and im-
mediately disappeared.
The merchant, on his reaching home, related
faithfully all that had happened to him. On
hearing the sad news, his wife uttered the most
lamentable groans, tearing her hair, and beating
her breast ; and his children made the house re-
sound with their grief ; while the father, overcome
by affection, mingled his tears with theirs. The
year quickly passed awaj'. The good merchant,
having settled his affairs, paid his just debts, given
alms to the poor, and made provision to the best of
his ability for his wife and family, tore himself away
amidst the most frantic expressions of grief, and,
mindful of his oath, arrived at the destined spot
on the very day he had promised. While he was
waiting for the arrival of the genie, there suddenly
appeared an old man leading a hind, who, after a
respectful salutation, inquired what brought him
to that desert place. The merchant satisfied the
old man's curiosity, and related his adventure, on
which he expressed a wish to witness his interview
with the genie. He had scarcely finished his
speech when another okl man, accompanied with
two black dogs, came in sight, and having heard
the tale of the merchant, determined also to re-
main to see the event.
Soon tliey perceived, towards the plain, a tliieli
vapor or smoke, like a column of dust raised by
the wind. This vapor approached them, and then
suddenly disappearing, the}' saw the genie, who,
without noticing them, went towards the mer-
chant, with his scimitar in his hand ; and taking
him by the arm, " Get up," said he, " that I may
kill thee, as thou hast slain my son." Both the
merchant and the two old men, struck with terror,
began to weep and fill the air with their lamenta-
tions. When the old man who conducted the hind
saw the genie lay hold of the merchant, and about
to murder him without mercy, he threw himself
at the monster's feet, and, kissing them, said,
" Lord genie, I humbly entreat you to suspend
your rage, and hear my history, and that of the
hind which you see ; and if you find it more won-
derful and surprising than the adventure of this
merchant, whose life you wish to take, may I not
hope that you will at least grant me one half part
of the blood of this unfortunate man ? " After
meditating some time, the genie answered, '" Well
then, I agree to it."
THE HISTOKY OF THE FIEST OLD MAN AXD
THE HIND.
The hind, whom you. lord genie, see here, is
my wife. I married her when she was twelve
years old. and we lived together thirty years with-
out having any children. At the end of that time
I adopted into my family a sou whom a slave had
borne. This act of mine excited against the
mother and her child the hatred and jealousy of
my wife. She availed herself, during my absence
on a journey, of her knowledge of magic, to change
the slave and my adopted son into a cow and a
calf, and sent them to my farm to be fed and
taken care of by the steward.
Immediately on my return, I inquired after my
child and his mother. •• Your slave is dead," said
she, " and it is now more than two months since
I have beheld your son ; nor do I know what is
become of him." I was sensibly affected at the
INTRODUCTION.
217
death of the slave ; but as my son h;id only disap-
peared, I flattered myself that he would soon be
found. Eight months, howevei', passed, and he
did not return ; nor could I learn any tidings of
him. In order to celebrate the festival of the
great Bairam, which was approaching, I ordered
my bailiff to bring me the fattest cow I possessed
for a sacrifice. He obeyed my commands. Having
bound the cow, I was about to make the sacrifice,
when, at the very instant, she lowed most sorrow-
fully, and the tears even fell from her eyes. This
seemed to me so extraordinary that I could not
but feel compassion for her, and was unable to
give the fatal blow. I therefore ordered her to
be taken away and another brought.
My wife, who was present, seemed very angry at
my compassion, and opposed my order.
I then said to mj' steward, " ]Make the sacrifice
yourself ; the lamentations and tears of the animal
have overcome me."
The steward was less compassionate, and sacri-
ficed her. On taking off the skin we found hardly
anything but bones, though she appeared very fat.
" Take her away," said I to the steward, truly
chagrined ; " and if you have another very fat calf,
bring it in her place." He returned with a re-
markably fine calf, who, as soon as he perceived
me, made so great an effort to come to me, that he
broke his cord. He lay down at my feet, with his
head on the ground, as if lie endeavored to excite
my compassion, and to entreat me not to have the
cruelty to take away his life.
" Wife," answered I, " I will not sacrifice this
calf; I wish to favor him ; do not j'ou, therefore,
oppose it." She, however, did not agree to my
proposal ; and continued to demand his sacrifice
so obstinately that I was compelled to yield. I
bound the calf, and took the fatal knife to bury it
in his throat, when he turned his eyes, filled with
tears, so persuasively upon me, that I had no
power to execute my intention. The knife fell
from my hand, and I told my wife I was deter-
mined to have another calf. She tried every
means to induce me to alter my mind ; I contin-
ued firm, however, in my resolution, in spite of
28
all she could say ; promising, for the sake of ap-
peasing her, to sacrifice this calf at the feast of
Bairam on the following year.
The next morning my steward desired to speak
with me in private. He informed me that his
daughter, who had some knowledge of magic,
wished to speak with me. On being admitted
to my presence, she informed me that, during my
absence, my wife had turned the slave and my son
into a cow and a calf ; that I had already sacrificed
the cow, but that she could restore my son to life,
if I would give him to her for her husband, and
allow her to visit my wife with the punishment her
cruelty had deserved. To these proposals I gave
my consent.
The damsel then took a vessel full of water,
and pronouncing over it some words I did not un-
derstand, she threw the water over the calf, and
he instantly regained his own form.
" My son I my son I " I exclaimed, and em-
braced him with transport ; " this damsel has de-
stroyed the horrible charm with which you were
surrounded. I am sure your gratitude will induce
you to marry her, as I have already promised
for you." He joyfully consented ; but before they
were united, the damsel changed my wife into this
hind, which you see here.
Since this, mj' son has become a widower, and
is now traveling. Many years have passed since
I have heard anything of him ; I have, therefore,
now set out with a view to gain some informa-
tion ; and as I did not like to trust my wife to the
care of any one during my search, I thought
jDroper to carry her along with me. This is the
history of myself and this hind ; can anything be
more wonderful ? "I agree with you," said the
genie, " and in consequence, I grant to you a half
of the blood of this merchant."
As soon as the first old man had finished, the
second, who led the two black dogs, made the
same request to the genie for a half of the mer-
chant's blood, on the condition that his tale ex-
ceeded in interest the one that had been just re-
lated. On the genie signifying his assent, the
old man besan.
218
TALES FROM THE ARABIAN NIGHTS' ENTERTAINMENTS.
THE HISTORY OF THE SECOMD OLD MAN AND THE
TWO BLACK DOGS.
Great prince of the genies, you must know that
these two black dogs, which you see here, and my-
self are three brothers. Our fathei", when he
died, left us one thousand sequins each. With
this sum we all embarked in business as mer-
chants. My two brothers determined to travel,
that they might trade in foreign parts. They
were both unfortunate, and returned at the end of
two years in a state of abject poverty, having lost
their all. I had in the mean while prospered, and
I gladly received them, and gave them one thou-
sand sequins each, and again set them up as mer-
chants. My brothers frequently proposed to me
that I should make a voj'age with them for the
purpose of traffic. Knowing their former want of
success, I refused to join them, until at the end of
five years I at length yielded to their repeated so-
licitations. On consulting on the merchandise to
be bought for the voyage, I discovered that noth-
ing remained of the thousand sequins I had given
to each. I did not reproach them ; on the con-
traiy, as my capital was increased to six thousand
sequins, I gave them each one thousand sequins,
and kept a like sum myself, and concealed the
other three thousand in a corner of my house, in
order that if our voj'age proved unsuccessful, we
might be able to console ourselves, and begin our
former profession. We purchased our goods, em-
barked in a vessel, which we ourselves freighted,
and set sail with a favorable wind. After sailing
about a month, we arrived, without any accident,
at a port, where we landed, and had a most advan-
tageous sale for our merchandise. I, in particu-
lar, sold mine so well that I gained ten for one.
About the time that we wei-e ready to embark
on our return, I accidentally met on the sea-shore
a female of great beauty, but very poorly dressed.
She accosted me by kissing my hand, and en-
treated me most earnestlj^ to permit her to be my
wife. I started many difficulties to such a plan ;
but at length she said so much to persuade me
that I ought not to regard her poverty, and that I
should be well satisfied with her conduct, I was
quite overcome. I directly procured proper
dresses for her, and after marrying her in due
form, she embarked with me, and we set sail.
During our voyage, I found my wife possessed
of so many good qualities that I loved her every
day more and more. In the mean time my two
brothers, who had not traded so advantageously as
myself, and who were jealous of my prosperity,
began to feel exceedingl}^ envious. Thej'' even
went so far as to conspire against \ny life ; for
one night, while my wife and I were asleep, they
threw us into the sea. I had hardly, however,
fallei:!finto the water, before my wife took me up
and transported me into an island. As soon as it
was day, she thus addressed me: " You must know
that I am a fairy, and being upon the shore when
you were about to sail, I wished to try the good-
ness of your heart, and for this purpose I pre-
sented myself before you in the disguise you saw-
You acted most generously, and I am therefore
delighted in finding an occasion of showing my
gratitude ; and I trust, my husband, that in sav-
ing your life, I have not ill rewarded the good you
have done me; but I am enraged against your
brothers, nor shall I be satisfied till I have taken
their lives."
I listened with astonishment to the discourse of
the fairy, and thanked her, as well as I was able,
for the great obligation she had conferred on me.
" But, madam," said I to her, " I must entreat you
to pardon my brothers." I related to her what I
had done for each of them, but my account only
increased her anger. " I must instantly fly after
these ungrateful wretches," cried she, " and bring "
them to a just punishment ; I will sink their ves-
sel, and precipitate them to the bottom of the
sea." " No, beautiful lady," replied I ; " for Heav-
en's sake, moderate your indignation, and do not
execute so dreadfid an intention ; remember they
are still my brothers, and that we are bound to re-
turn good for evil."
No sooner had I pronounced these words, than
I was transported in an instant from the island
where we were to the top of my own house. I de-
THE HISTORY OF THE FISHERMAN.
219
scended, opened the doors, and dug up the three
thousand sequins which I had hidden. I after-
wards repaired to my shop, opened it, and re-
ceived the congratulations of the merchants in the
neighborhood on ray arrival. When I returned
home, I perceived these two black dogs, which
came towards me with a submissive air. I could
not imagine what this meant, but the fairy, who
soon appeared, satisfied my curiosity. " My dear
husband," said she, " be not surpi-ised at seeing
these two dogs in your house ; they are your broth-
ers." My blood ran cold on hearing this, and I
inquired by what power they had been trans-
formed into that state. " It is I," replied the
fairy, " who have done it, and I have sunk their
ship ; for the loss of the merchandise it contained
I shall recompense you. As to your brothers, I
have condemned them to remain under this form
for ten years, as a punishment for their perfidy."
Then informing me where I might hear of her,
she disappeared.
The ten years are now completed, and I am
traveling in search of her. " This, O lord genie,
is my history ; does it not appear to you of a most
extraordinary nature '? " " Yes," replied the genie,
" I confess it is most wonderful, and therefore
I grant you the other half of this merchant's
blood ; " and having said this, the genie disap-
peared, to the great joy of the merchant and of the
two old men.
The merchant did not omit to bestow many
thanks upon his liberators, who, bidding him
adieu, proceeded on their travels. He remounted
his horse, and returned home to his wife and
children, and spent the remainder of his days
with them in tranquillity.
II. THE HISTORY OF THE FISHERMAN.
There was formerly an aged fisherman, so poor
that he could barely obtain food for himself, his
wife, and his three children. He went out early
every morning to his employment ; and he had
imposed a rule upon himself never to cast his nets
above four times a day.
On one occasion he set out before the morn had
disappeared. When he reached the sea-shore, he
undressed himself, and cast his nets. In drawing
them to land three times in succession, he felt
sure, from their resistance and weight, that he
had secured an excellent draught of fish. Instead
of which he only found on the first haul the car-
cass of an ass; on the second, a large pannier
filled with sand and mud ; and on the third, a
large quantity of heavy stones, shells, and filth.
It is impossible to describe his disappointment
and despair. The day now began to break, and
having, like a good Mussulman, finished his
prayer, he threw his nets for the fourth time.
Again he supposed he had caught a great quantity
of fish, as he drew them with as much difficulty as
before. He nevertheless found none ; but discov-
ered a heavy vase of yellow coppei-, shut up and
fastened with lead, on which there was the im-
pression of a seal. " I will sell this to a founder,"
said he, with joy, " and with the money I shall
get for it I will purchase a measure of corn."
He examined the vase on all sides ; he shook
it, but could hear nothing ; and this, together with
the impression of the seal on the lead, made him
think it was filled with something valuable. In
order to find this out, he took his knife, and got it
open. He directly turned the top downwards, and
was much surprised to find nothing come out ; he
then set it down before him, and while he was at-
tentively observing it, there issued from it so thick
a smoke that he was obliged to step back a few
paces. This smoke, by degrees, rose almost to the
clouds, and spread itself over both the water and
the shore, appearing like a thick fog. The fisher-
man, as may easily be imagined, was a good deal
surprised at this sight. When the smoke had all
come out from the vase, it again collected itself,
and became a solid body, and then took the shape
of a genie of a gigantic size. The genie, looking
220
TALES FROM THE ARABIAN NIGHTS' ENTERTAINMENTS.
at the fisherman, exclaimed, '• Humble thyself be-
fore me, or I will kill thee." " And for what
reason, pray, will you kill me ? " answered the
fisherman ; " have you already forgotten that I
have set you at liberty ? " "I remember it very
well," returned he ; " but that shall not prevent
my destroying thee; and I will only grant thee
one favor." " And pray what is that? " said the
fisherman. " It is," replied the genie, " to permit
thee to choose the manner of thy death. I can
THE HISTORY OF THE FISHERMAN.
221
treat thee no otherwise ; and to convince thee of
it, hear my history : —
" I am one of those spirits who rebelled against
the sovereignty of God. Solomon, the son of
David, the prophet of God, commanded me to ac-
knowledge his authority, and submit to his laws.
I haughtily refused. In order, therefore, to pun-
ish me, he inclosed me in this copper vase ; and
to prevent me forcing my way out, he put upon
the leaden cover the impression of his seal, on
which the great name of God is engraven. This
done, he gave the vase to one of those genies v^ho
obeyed him, and ordered him to cast me into the sea.
" During the first century of my ca^jtivity, I
swore that if any one delivered me before the first
hundred years were passed, I would make him
rich. During the second century, I swore that if
any released me, I would discover to him all the
treasures of the earth. During the third, I prom-
ised to make my deliverer a most powerful mon-
arch, and to grant him every day any three re-
quests he chose. These centuries passed away
without any deliverance. Enraged, at last, to be
so long a prisoner, I swore that I would, without
mercy, kill whoever should in future release me,
and that the only favor I would grant him should
be to choose what manner of death he jjleased.
Since, therefore, thou hast come here to-day, and
hast delivered me, fix upon whatever kind of death
thou wilt."'
The fisherman was in great distress at finding
him thus resolved on his death, not so much on
his own account as for his three children, whose
means of subsistence would be greatly reduced by
his death. " Alas ! " he cried, " have pity on me ;
remember what I have done for thee."
" Let us lose no time," cried the genie ; " your
arguments avail not. Make haste, tell me how
you wish to die."
Necessity is the mother of invention ; and the
fisherman thought of a stratagem. " Since, then,"
said he, " I cannot escape death, I submit to the
will of God ; but before I choose the sort of death,
I conjure you, by the great name of God, which
is graven upon the seal of the prophet Solomon,
the son of David, answer me truly to a question I
am going to put to you." The genie trembled at
this adjuration, and said to the fisherman, " Ask
what thou wilt, and make haste."
" Dare you, then, to swear by the great name
of God that you really were in that vase ? This
vase cannot contain one of your feet ; how, then,
can it hold your whole body ? " " I swear to thee,
notwithstanding," replied he, " that I was there
just as thou seest me. Wilt thou not believe me
after the solemn oath I have taken ? " " No, truly,"
added the fisherman ; " I shall not believe you,
unless I were to see it." -
Immediately the form of the genie began to
change into smoke, and extended itself, as befoi-e,
over both the shore and the sea ; and then, collect-
ing itself, began to enter the vase, and continued
to do so, in a slow and equal manner, till nothing
remained without. The fisherman immediately
took the leaden cover, and put it on the vase.
" Genie," he cried, " it is now your turn to ask
pardon. I shall throw you again into the sea,
and I will build, opposite the very spot where you
are cast, a house upon the shore, in which I will
live, to warn all fishermen that shall come and
throw their nets, not to fish up so evil a genie as
thou art, who makest an oath to kill the man who
shall set thee at liberty."
The genie tried every argument to move the
fisherman's pity but in vain. " You are too
treacherous for me to trust you," returned the
fisherman ; " I should deserve to lose my life, if I
put myself in your power a second time."
222
TALES FROM THE ARABIAN NIGHTS' ENTERTAINMENTS.
III. THE STORY OF THE ENCHANTED HORSE.
The Nooroze, or the new day, which is the
first of the year and spring, is observed as a solemn
festival throughout all Persia.
On one of these festival days, just as the Sul-
tan of Shiraz was concluding his public audience,
which had been conducted with unusual splendoi',
a Hindu appeared at the foot of the throne, with
an artificial horse richly caparisoned, and so spirit-
edly modeled, that at first sight he was taken for
a living animal.
The Hindu prostrated himself before the throne,
and pointing to the horse, said to the sultan,
" This horse is a great wonder ; whenever I mount
him, be it where it may, if I wish to transport
myself through the air to the most distant part of
the world, I can do it in a very short time. This
is a wonder which nobody ever heard speak of,
and which I offer to show your majesty if you
command me."
The Emperor of Persia, who was fond of every-
thing that was curious, and who, notwithstanding
the many prodigies of art he had seen, had never
beheld or heard of anything that came up to this,
told the Hindu that he was ready to see him per-
form what he had promised.
The Hindu instantly put his foot into the stir-
rup, mounted his horse with admirable agility,
and when he had fixed himself in the saddle,
asked the emperor whither he pleased to com-
mand him.
" Do you see that mountain ? " said the em-
peror, pointing to it; " ride your horse there, and
bring me a branch of a palm-tree that grows at
the bottom of the hill."
The Emperor of Pei-sia had no sooner declared
his will than the Hindu turned a peg, which was
in the hollow of the horse's neck, just by the pom-
mel of the saddle ; and in an instant the horse
rose ofl; the ground and carried his rider into the
air with the rapidity of lightning to a great height,
to the admiration of the emperor and all the spec-
tators. Within less than a quarter of an hour
they saw him returning with the palm branch in
his hand ; but before he descended, he took two
or three turns in the air over the sj)ot, amid the
acclamations of all the people, then alighted on
the spot whence he had set off. He dismounted,
and going up to the throne, prostrated himself,
and laid the branch of the palm-tree at the feet of
the emperor.
The emperor, who had viewed with no less ad-
miration than astonishment this unheard-of sight
which the Hindu had exhibited, conceived a great
desire to have the horse, and said to the Hindu,
" I will jDurohase him of jou, if he is to be sold."
" Sire," replied the Hindu, " there is only one
condition on which I can part with my horse, and
that is the gift of the hand of the princess your
daughter as my wife ; this is the only bargain I
can make."
The courtiers about the Emperor of Persia could
not forbear laughing aloud at this extravagant
proposal of the Hindu ; but the Prince Feroze-
shah. the eldest son of the emperor and presump-
tive-heir to the crown, could not hear it without
indignation. " Sire," he said, " I hope you will
not hesitate to refuse so insolent a demand, or al-
low this insignificant juggler to flatter himself
for a moment with the idea of being allied to one
of the most powerful monarchs in the world. 1
beg of you to consider wliat you owe to yourself,
to your own blood, and the high rank of your an-
cestors."
" Son," replied the Emperor of Persia, " I will
not grant him what he asked — and perhaps he
does not seriously make the proposal ; and put-
ting my daughter the princess out of the question,
I may make another agreement with him. But
before I bargain with him, I should be glad that
you would examine the horse, try him yourself,
and give me your opinion." On hearing this, the
Hindu expressed much joy, and ran before the
prince, to help him to mount, and showed him
how to guide and manage the horse.
THE STORY OF THE ENCHANTED HORSE.
223
The prince mounted without the Hindu's assist-
ing him : and, as soon as he had got his feet in the
stirrups, without staying for the artist's advice, he
turned the peg he had seen him use, when in-
stantly the horse darted into the air, quick as an
arrow shot out of a bow by the most adroit archer ;
and in a few moments neitlier horse nor prince
were to be seen. Tlie Hindu, alarmed at what had
happened, prostrated himself before the throne,
and deprecated the anger of the sultan. The sul-
tan replied to him, and asked, in a passion, why
he did not call him the moment he ascended.
" Sire," answered the Hindu, " your majesty
saw as well as I with what rapidity the horse flew
away. The surprise I was then and still am in
deprived me of the use of my speech ; but if
I could have spoken, he was got too far to hear
me. If he had heard me, he knew not the secret
to bring him back, which through his impatience
he would not stay to learn. But, sire," added he,
" there is room to hope that the prince, when he
finds himself at a loss, will perceive another peg,
and as soon as he turns that the horse will cease
to rise, and descend to the ground, when he may
turn him to what place he pleases by guiding him
with the bridle."
Notwithstanding all these arguments of the
Hindu, which carried great appearance of proba-
bilit}', the Emperor of Persia was much alarmed
at the evident danger of his son. " I suppose,"
replied he, '" it is very uncertain whether my son
may perceive the other peg, and make a right use
of it. May not the horse, instead of lighting on
the ground, fall upon some rock, or tumble into
the sea with him ? "
" Sire," replied the Hindu, " I can deliver you
from this apprehension, by assuring you that the
horse crosses seas without ever falling into them,
and always carries his rider wherever he may wish
to go. And your majesty may assure yourself
that if the prince does but find out the other peg
I mentioned, the horse will carr}^ him where he
pleases. It is not to be sujjposed that he will stop
anywhere but where he can find assistance, and
make himself known"
" Your head shall answer for my son's life, if he
does not return safe in three days' time, or I should
hear that he is alive." He then ordered his of-
ficers to secure the Hindu, and keep him close
prisoner ; after which he retired to his palace, in
affliction that the festival of Nooroze should have
proved so inauspicious.
In the mean time the prince was carried through
the air with prodigious velocity. In less than an
hour's time he ascended so high that he could not
distinguish anything on the earth, but mountains
and plains seemed confounded together. It was
then he began to think of returning, and conceived
he m ight do this by turning the same peg the con-
trary way, and pulling the bridle at the same time.
But when he found that the horse still continued
to ascend, his alarm was great. He turned the
peg several times in different ways, but all in vain.
It was then he saw his fault, and apprehended the
great danger he was in, from not having leanit the
necessary precautions to guide the horse before he
mounted. He examined the horse's head and neck
with attention, and perceived behind the right ear
another peg, smaller than the other. He turned
that peg, and presently perceived that he de-
scended in the same oblique manner as he had
mounted, but not so swiftly.
Night had overshadowed that part of the earth
over which the prince was when he found out and
turned the small peg ; and as the horse descended,
he by degrees lost sight of the sun, till it grew
quite dark ; insomuch that, instead of choosing
what place he would go to, he was forced to let
the bridle lie upon the horse's neck, and wait
patiently till he alighted, though not without the
dread lest it should be in the desert, a river, or
the sea.
At last the horse stopped upon some solid sub-
stance about midnight, and the prince dismounted
very faint and hungry, having eaten nothing since
the morning, when he came out of the palace with
his father to assist at the festival. He found him-
self to be on the terrace of a magnificent palace,
surrounded with a balustrade of white marble,
breast-high ; and groping about reached a stair-
22-4
TALES FROM THE ARABIAN NIGHTS' ENTERTAINMENTS.
case, which led down into an apartment, the door
of which was half open.
The prince stopped at the door, and, listening,
heard no other noise than the breathing of some
people who were fast asleep. He advanced a lit-
tle into the room, and by the light of a lamp saw
that those persons were black mutes, with naked
sabres laid by them ; whicli was enough to inform
him that this was the cruard-ehamber of some sul-
tan or princess. Prince Feroze-shah advanced on
tiptoe, without waking the attendants. He drew
aside the curtain, went in, and saw a magnificent
chamber containing many beds, one alone being
on a raised dais, and the others on the floor. The
princess slejDt ifi the first and her women in the
others. He crept softly towards the dais without
waking either the princess or her women, and
beheld a beauty so extraordinary^ that he was
charmed at the first sight. He fell on his knees,
and twitching genth' the princess's sleeve, kneeling
beside her, pulled it towards him. The princess
opened her eyes, and seeing a handsome young
man, was in great surprise, yet showed no sign of
fear.
The prince availed himself of this favorable mo-
ment, bowed his head to the ground, and rising,
said, " Beautiful princess, by the most extraordi-
naiy and wonderful adventure, you see at your
feet a suppliant prince, son of the Emperor of
Persia ; pray afford him your assistance and pro-
tection."
The personage to whom Prince Feroze-shah so
liappily addressed himself was the Princess of
Bengal, eldest daughter of the rajah of that king-
dom, who had built this palace at a small distance
from his capital, for the sake of the country air.
She thus replied : " Prince, you are not in a bar-
barous country — take courage; hospitality, hu-
manity, and politeness are to be met with in the
kingdom of Bengal, as well as in that of Persia.
I grant you the protection you ask — you may de-
pend on what I say."
The Prince of Persia would have thanked the
princess, but she would not give him leave to
speak. " Notwithstanding, I desire," said she,
" to know by what miracle you have come hither
from the capital of Persia in so short a time, and
by what enchantment you have evaded the vigi-
lance of my guards ; yet as you must want some
refreshment, I will postpone my curiosity, and give
orders to my attendants to show you an aj)artment,
that you may rest yourself after your fatigue, and
be better able to answer my inquiries." The
princess's attendants were much surprised to see
the prince in the princess's chamber, but they at
once prepared to obey her commands. They each
took a wax candle, of which thei"e were great num-
bers lighted up in the room ; and after the prince
had respectfully taken leave of the princess, went
before and conducted him into a handsome hall ;
where, while some were preparing the bed, others
went into the kitchen and prepared a supper ; and
when he had eaten as much as he chose, they re-
moved the trays, and left him to taste the sweets
of repose.
The next day the princess prepared to give the
prince another interview, and in expectation of
seeing him, she took more pains in dressing and
adjusting herself at the glass than she had ever
done before. She tired her women's patience, and
made them do and undo the same thing several
times. She adorned her head, neck, arms, and
waist with the finest and largest diamonds she pos-
sessed. The habit she put on was one of the
richest stuffs of the Indies, of a most beautiful ■
color, and made only for kings, princes, and prin-
cesses. After she had consulted her glass, and
asked her women, one after another, if anything
was wanting to complete her attire, she sent to
tell the Prince of Persia that she would make
him a visit.
The Prince of Persia, who by the night's rest
had recovered the fatigue he had undergone the
day before, had just dressed himself when he re-
ceived notice of the intention of the princess, and
expressed himself to be fully sensible of the honor
conferred on him. As soon as the princess under-
stood that the Prince of Persia waited for her, she
immediately went to pay him a visit. After mut-
ual compliments, the prince related to her the
THE STORY OF THE ENCHANTED HORSE.
225
wonders of the magic horse, of his journey through
the air, and of the means by which he had found
an entrance into her chamber ; and then having
thanked her for her kind reception, expressed a
wisli to return and relieve the anxiety of tlie sul-
tan his father. When the prince had finished,
the princess replied, " I cannot approve, prince, of
your going so soon ; grant me at least the favor I
ask of a little longer acquaintance ; and since I
have had the happiness to have you alight in the
kingdom of Bengal, I desire you will stay long
enough to enable you to give a better account of
what you may see here at the court of Persia."
The Prince of Persia could not well refuse the
princess this favor, after the kindness she had
shown him, and therefore politely complied with
her request ; and the princess's thoughts were di-
rected to render his stay agreeable by all the
amusements she could devise.
Nothing went forward for several days but con-
certs of music, accompanied with magnificent
feasts and collations in the gardens, or hunting
parties in the vicinity of the palace, which
abounded with all sorts of game, — stags, hinds,
and fallow-deer, and otiier beasts peculiar to the
kingdom of Bengal, which the princess could pur-
sue without danger. After the chase, the prince
and princess met in some beautiful spot, where
a carpet was spread, and cushions laid for their ac-
commodation. There resting themselves, they
conversed on various subjects.
Two whole months the Prince of Persia aban-
doned himself entirely to the will of the Princess
of Bengal, yielding to all the amusements she con-
trived for him, for she neglected nothing to divert
him, as if she thought he had nothing else to do
but to pass his whole life with her in this manner.
But he now declared seriously he could not stay
longer, and begged of her to give him leave to re-
turn to his father.
" And, princess," observed the Prince of Persia,
" that you may not doubt the truth of my affection,
I would presume, were I not afraid you would be
offended at my request, to ask the favor of taking
you along with me."
29
The princess returned no answer to this address
of the Prince of Persia ; but her silence, and eyes
cast down, were sufficient to inform him that she
had no reluctance to accompany him into Persia.
The only difficulty she felt was, that the prince
knew not well enough how to govern the horse,
and she was apprehensive of being involved with
him in the same difficulty as when he first made
the experiment. But the prince soon removed her
fear, by assuring her she might trust herself with
him, for that after the experience he had acquired
he defied the Hindu himself to manage him better.
She thought, therefore, only of concerting meas-
ures to get off with him so secretly that nobody
belonging to the palace should have the least sus-
picion of their design.
The next morning, a little before daybreak,
when all the attendants were asleep, they went
upon the terrace of the palace. The prince turned
the horse towards Persia, and placed him where
the princess could easily get up behind him, which
she had no sooner done, and was well settled with
her arms about his waist, for her better security,
than he turned the peg, when the horse mounted
into the air, and making his usual haste, under
the guidance of the prince, in two hours' time the
prince discovered the capital of Persia.
The prince would not alight in the palace of
his father, but directed his course towards a kiosk
at a little distance from the capital. He led the
princess into a handsome apartment, where he
told her, that, to do her all the honor that was due
to her, he would gO and inform his father of their
arrival, and return to her immediately. He or-
dered the attendants of the palace, whom he sum-
moned, to provide the princess with whatever she
had occasion for.
After the prince had taken his leave of the
princess, he ordered a horse to be brought, which
he mounted, and set out for the palace. As he
passed through the streets he was received with
acclamations by the people, who were overjoyed to
see him again. The emperor his father was hold-
ing his divan when he appeared before him in the
midst of his council. He received him with tears
226
TALES FROM THE ARABIAN NIGHTS' ENTERTAINMENTS.
of joy and tenderness, and asked bim what was
become of the Hindu's horse.
This question gave the prince an opportunity of
describiug the embarrassment and danger he was
in when the horse ascended into the air, and how
he had arrived at last at the Princess of Bengal's
palace, the kind reception he had met with there,
and that the motive which had induced him to
stay so long with her was the mutual affection
tiey entertained for each other ; also, that after
promising to marry her, he had persuaded her to
accompany him into Persia. " But, sire," added
the prince, " I felt assured that you would not re-
fuse your consent, and have brought her with me
on the enchanted horse to your summer-palace ;
and liave left her there, till I could return and as-
sure her that my promise was not in vain."
After these words, the prince prostrated himself
before the emperor to obtain his consent, when his
father raised him up, embraced him a second time,
and said to him, " Son, I not only consent to your
marriage with the Princess of Bengal, but will go
myself and bring her to my palace, and celebrate
your nuptials this day."
The emperor now ordered that the Hindu
should be fetched out of prison and brought be-
fore him. When the Hindu was admitted to his
presence, he said to him, " I secured thy person,
that thy life might answer for that of the prince
my son. Thanks be to God, he is returned again :
go, take your horse, and never let me see your
face more."
As the Hindu had learned of those who brought
him out of prison that Prince Feroze-shah was re-
tui-ned with a princess, and was also informed of
the place where he had alighted and left her, and
that the emperor was making p)i"eparations to go
and bring her to his palace, as soon as he got out
of the presence, he bethought himself of being re-
venged upon the emperor and the prince. He
mounted his horse, and without losing any time,
went dii'ectly to the palace, and addressing him-
self to the captain of the guard, told him he came
from the Prince of Persia for the Princess of Ben-
gal, and to conduct her behind him through the
air to the emperor, who waited in the great square
of his palace to gratify the whole court and city
of Shiraz with that wonderful sight.
The captain of the guard, who knew the Hindu,
and that the emperor had imprisoned him, gave
the more credit to what he said, because he saw
that he was at liberty. He presented him to the
Princess of Bengal, who no sooner understood
that he came from the Prince of Persia than she
consented to what the prince, as she thought, had
desired of her.
The Hindu, overjoyed at his success and the
ease with which he had accomplished his villainy,
mounted his horse, took the princess behind him,
with the assistance of the captain of the guard,
turned the peg, and instantly the horse mounted
into the air.
At the same time the Emperor of Persia, at-
tended by his court, was on the road to the palace
where the Princess of Bengal had been left, and
the Prince of Persia was advanced before, to pre-
pare the princess to receive his father ; when the
Hindu, to brave them both, and revenge himself
for the ill-treatment he had received, appeared
over their heads with his prize.
When the Emperor of Persia saw the Hindu,
he stopped. His surprise and affliction were the
more sensible, because it was not in his power to
punish so high an affront. He loaded him with a
thousand imprecations, as did also all the courtiers,
who were witnesses of so signal a piece of inso-
lence and unparalleled artifice and treachery.
The Hindu, little moved with their impreca-
tions, which just reached his ears, continued his
way, while the emperor, extremely^ mortified at so
great an insult, but more so that he could not pun-
ish the author, returned to his jjalace in rage and
vexation.
But what was Prince Feroze-shah's grief at be-
holding the Hindu hurrying away with the Prin-
cess of Bengal, whom he loved so passionately!
He returned to the summer-palace, where he had
last seen the princess, melancholy and broken-
hearted. When he arrived, the captain of the
guard, who had learnt his fatal credulity in believ-
THE STORT OF THE ENCHANTED HORSE.
227
ing the artful Hindu, threw himself at his feet
with tears in his eyes, accused himself of the
crime which unintentionally he had committed, and
condemned himself to die by his hand. " Rise,"
said the prince to him ; " I do not impute the
loss of my princess to thee, but to my own want
of precaution. But not to lose time, fetch me a
dervis's habit, and take care you do not give the
least hint that it is for me."
Not far from this palace there stood a convent
of dervises, the superior of which was the captain
of the guard's particular friend. From him he
readily obtained a complete dervis's habit, and
carried it to Prince Feroze-shah. The prince im-
mediately pulled off his own dress, put it on, and
being so disguised, and provided with a box of jew-
els which he had brougiit as a present to the prin-
cess, left the palace, uncertain which way to go,
but resolved not to return till he had found out
his princess, and brought her back again, or per-
ished in the attempt.
In the mean while, the Hindu, mounted on his
enchanted horse, with the princess behind him,
arrived early next morning at the capital of the
kingdom of Cashmere. He did not enter the city,
but alighted in a wood, and left the princess on a
grassy spot, close to a rivulet of fresh water, while
he went to seek for food. On his return, and
after he and the princess had partaken of refresh-
ment, he began to maltreat the princess, because
she refused to become his wife. As the princess
cried out for help, the Sultan of Cashmere and his
court passed through the wood on their return
from hunting, and hearing a woman's voice calling
for help, went to her rescue.
The sultan, addressing himself to the Hindu,
demanded who he was, and wherefore he ill-
treated the lady. The Hindu, with great impu-
dence, replied that she was his wife, and what had
any one to do with his quarrel with her?
The princess, who neither knew the rank nor
quality of the person who came so seasonably to
her relief, exclaimed, " My lord, whoever you are
whom Heaven has sent to my assistance, have
compassion on me. I am a princess. This Hindu
is a wicked magician, who has forced me away
from the Prince of Persia, to whom I was going
to be married, and has brought me hither on the
enchanted horse j'ou behold there."
The Princess of Bengal had no occasion to say
more. Her beauty, majestic air, and tears de-
clared that she spoke the truth. Justly enraged at
the insolence of the Hindu, the sultan ordered his
guards to surround him, and strike oS. his head,
which sentence was immediately executed.
The sultan then conducted the princess to his
palace, where he lodged her in the most magnifi-
cent apartment, next his own, and commanded a
great number of women slaves to attend her.
The Princess of Bengal's joy was inexpressible
at finding herself delivered from the Hindu, of
whom she could not think without horror. She
flattered herself that the Sultan of Cashmere
would complete his genei'osity by sending her
back to the Prince of Persia when she would have
told him her story, and asked that favor of him ;
but she was much deceived in these hopes ; for her
deliverer had resolved to mai'ry her himself the
next day ; and for that end had issued a procla-
mation, commanding the general rejoicing of the
inhabitants of the capital. At the break of day
the drums were beaten, the trumpets sounded,
and sounds of joys echoed throughout the palace.
The Princess of Bengal was awakened by these
tumultuous concerts, but attributed them to a
very different cause from the true one. When the
Sultan of Cashmere came to wait upon her, after
he had inquired after her health, he acquainted
her that all those rejoicings were to render her
nuptials the more solemn, and at the same time
desired her assent to the union. This declaration
put her into such a state of agitation that she
fainted away.
The women slaves who were present ran to her
assistance, though it was a long time before they
succeeded in bringing her to herself. But when
she recovered, rather than break the promise she
had made to Prince Feroze-shah, by consenting to
marry the Sultan of Cashmere, who had pro-
claimed their nuptials before he had asked her
228
TALES FROM THE ARABIAN NIGHTS' ENTERTAINMENTS.
consent, she resolved to feign madness. She be-
gan to utter the most extravagant expressions be-
fore the sultan, and even rose off her seat as if to
attack him, insomuch that he was greatly alarmed
and aiBicted that he had made such a proposal so
unseasonablj'.
When he found that her frenzy rather increased
than abated, he left her with her women, charging
them never to leave her alone, but to take great
care of her. He sent often that day to inquii-e
how she did, but received no other answer than
that she was rather worse than better.
The Princess of Bengal continued to talk
wildly, and showed other marks of a disordered
mind next day and the following, so that the sul-
tan was induced to send for all the physicians be-
longing to his court, to consult them upon her
disease, and to ask if they could cure her.
When the Sultan of Cashmere saw that his
court physicians could not cure her, he called in
the most celebrated and experienced of the city,
who had no better success. He then sent for the
most famous in the kingdom, who prescribed with-
out effect. Afterwards he dispatched to the courts
of neighboring sultans, with promises of munifi-
cent rewards to any who should devise a cure for
her malady.
Various physicians ai-rived from all parts, and
tried their skill ; but none could boast of suc-
cess.
During this interval, Feroze-shah, disguised in
the habit of a dervis, traveled through many prov-
inces and towns, involved in grief, and making
diligent inquiry after his lost princess at every
place he came to. At last, passing through a city
of Hindostan, he heard the people talk much of a
Princess of Bengal, who had become mad on the
day of the intended celebration of her nuptials
with the Sultan of Cashmere. At the name of the
Princess of Bengal, and supposing that there could
exist no other Princess of Bengal than her upon
whose account he had undertaken his travels, he
hastened towards the kingdom of Cashmere, and,
upon his arrival at the capital, took up his lodg-
ing at a khan, where, the same day, he was in-
formed of the story of the princess and the fate of
the Hindu magician. The prince was convinced,
that he had at last found the beloved object he
had sought so long.
Being informed of all these particulars, he pro-
vided himself with a physician's habit, and his
beard having grown long during his travels, he
passed the more easily for the character he as-
sumed. He went boldly to the palace, and an-
nounced his wish to be allowed to undertake the
cure of the princess to the chief of the officers.
Some time had elapsed since any physician had
offered himself ; and the Sultan of Cashmere with
great grief had begun to lose all hope of ever see^
ing the princess restored to health, though he still
wished to marry her. He at once ordered tlia
officer to introduce the physician he had an-
nounced. The Prince of Persia being admitted
to an audience, the sultan told him the Princesa
of Bengal could not bear the sight of a physi-
cian without falling into most violent transports,
which increased her malady ; and conducted him
into a closet, from whence, through a lattice, he
might see her without being observed. There
Feroze-shah beheld his lovely princess sitting mel-
ancholily, with tears in her eyes, and singing an
air in which she deplored her unhappy fate, which
had deprived her, perhaps forever, of the object
she loved so tenderly : and the sight made him
more resolute in his hope of effecting her cure.
On his leaving the closet, he told the sultan that
he had discovered the nature of the princess's
complaint, and that she was not incurable ; but
added withal, that he must speak with her in
private and alone, as, notwithstanding her violent
agitation at the sight of physicians, he hoped she
would hear and receive him favorably.
The sultan ordered the princess's chamber door
to be opened, and Feroze-shah went in. As soon
as the princess saw him (taking him by his habit
to be a physician), she resorted to her old prac-
tice of meeting her physicians, with threats and
indications of attacking them. He made directly
towards her, and when he was nigh enough for
her to hear him, and no one else, said to her, in
THE STORY OF THE ENCHANTED HORSE.
229
a low voice, " Princess, I am not a physician, but
the Prince of Persia, and am come to procure you
your liberty."
The princess, who knew the sound of the voice,
and recognized his face, notwithstanding he had
let his beard grow so long, grew calm at once,
and felt a secret joy in seeing so unexpectedly the
prince she loved. Feroze-shah told her as briefly
as possible his own travels and adventures, and his
determination to find her at all risks. He then
desired the princess to inform him of all that
happened to her, from the time she was taken
away till that happy moment, telling her that it
was of the greatest importance to know this, that
he might take the most proper measui-es to deliver
her from the tyranny of the Sultan of Cashmere.
The princess informed him of all that had hap-
pened, and that she had feigned to be mad that
she might so preserve herself for a prince to whom
she had given her heart and faith and not marry
the sultan, whom she neither loved nor could ever
love.
The Prince of Persia then asked her if she
knew what became of the horse, after the death
of the Hindu magician. To which she answered
that she knew not what orders the sultan had
given ; but supposed, after the account she had
given him of it, he would take care of it as a curi-
osity. As Feroze-shah never doubted but that
the sultan had the horse, he communicated to the
princess his design of making use of it to convey
them both into Persia ; and after they had con-
sulted together on the measures they should take,
they agreed that the princess should next day re-
ceive the sultan. The Sultan of Cashmere was
overjoyed when the Prince of Persia stated to him
what effect his first visit had had towards the cure
of the princess. On the following day, when the
princess received him in such a manner as per-
suaded him her cure was far advanced, he regarded
the prince as the greatest physician in the world,
and exhorted the princess carefully to follow the
directions of so skillful a physician, and then re-
tired. The Prince of Persia, who attended the
Sultan of Cashmere on his visit to the princess,
inquired of him how the Princess of Bengal came
into the dominions of Cashmere thus alone, since
her own country was far distant.
The sidtan at once informed him of what the
princess had related, when he had delivered her
from the Hindu magician ; adding, that he had
ordered the enchanted horse to be kept safe in
his treasury as a great curiosity, though he knew
not the use of it.
" Sire," replied the f»retended physician, " the
information which your majesty has given your
devoted slave affords me a means of curing the
princess. As she was brought hither on this horse,
and the horse is enchanted, she hath contracted
something of the enchantment, which can be dis-
sipated only by a certain incense which I am ac-
quainted with. If your majesty would entertain
yourself, your court, and the people of your cap-
ital, with the most surprising sight that ever was
beheld, let the horse be brought to-morrow into
the great square before the palace, and leave the
rest to me. I promise to show you, and all that
assembly, in a few moments' time, the Princess of
Bengal completely restored in body and mind.
But the better to effect what I propose, it will be
requisite that the princess should be dressed as
magnificently as possible, and adorned with the
most valuable jewels in your treasury." The sul-
tan would have undertaken much more difficult
things to have secured his marriage with the prin-
cess, which he expected soon to accomplish.
The next day the enchanted horse was, by his
order, taken out of the treasury, and placed early
in the great square before the palace. A report
was spread through the town that there was some-
thins extraordinarv to be seen, and crowds of
people flocked hither from all parts, insomuch
that the sultan's guards were placed to prevent
disorder, and to keep space enough round the
horse.
The Sultan of Cashmere, surrounded by all his
nobles and ministers of state, was placed in a
gallery erected on purpose. The Princess of Ben-
gal, attended by a number of ladies whom the
sultan had assigned her, went up to the enchanted
230
TALES FROM THE ARABIAN NIGHTS' ENTERTAINMENTS.
horse, and the women helped her to mount. When
she was fixed in the saddle, and had the bridle in
her hand, the pretended physician placed round
the horse at a proper distance many vessels full
of lighted chai-coal, which he had ordered to be
brought, and going round them with a solemn
pace, cast in handfuls of incense, then, with down-
cast eyes, and his hands upon his breast, he ran
three times about the horse, making as if he pro-
nounced some mystical words. The moment the
pots sent forth a dark cloud of smoke, — accom-
panied with a pleasant smell, which so surrounded
the princess that neither she nor the horse could
be discerned, — watching his opportunity, the prince
jumped nimbly up behind her, and reaching his
hand to the peg, turned it ; and just as the horse
rose with them into the air, he pronounced these
words, which the sultan heard distinctly : " Sul-
tan of Cashmere, when you would marry prin-
cesses who implore your protection, learn first to
obtain their consent."
Thus the prince delivered the Princess of Ben-
gal, and carried her the same day to the capital
of Persia, where he alighted in the square of the
palace, before the emperor his father's apartment,
who deferred the solemnization of the marriasre no
longer than till he could make the preparations
necessary to render the ceremony pompous and
magnificent, and evince the interest he took in it.
After the days appointed for the rejoicings
were over, the Emperor of Persia's first care was
to name and appoint an ambassador to go to the
Rajah of Bengal with an account of what had
passed, and to demand his approbation and rati-
fication of the alliance contracted by this mar-
riage ; which the Rajah of Bengal took as an
honor, and granted with great pleasure and satis-
faction.
IV. THE STORY OF ALADDIN; OR, THE WONDERFUL LAMP.
In one of the large and rich cities of China,
there once lived a tailor, named Mustapha. He
was vei-y poor. He could hardly, by his daily la-
bor, maintain himself and his family, which con-
sisted only of his wife and a son.
His son, who was called Aladdin, was a very
careless and idle fellow. He was disobedient to
his father and mother, and would go out early in
the morning, and stay out all day, playing in the
streets and public places with idle children of his
own age.
When he was old enough to learn a trade, his
father took him into his own shop, and taught him
how to use his needle ; but all his father's endeav-
ors to keep him to his work were vain, for no
sooner was his back turned than he was gone for
that day. Mustapha chastised him, but Aladdin
was incorrigible, and his father, to his great grief,
was forced to abandon him to his idleness, and
was so much ti-oubled about him that he fell sick
and died in a few months.
Aladdin, who was now no longer restrained by
the fear of a father, gave himself entirely over to
his idle habits, and was never out of the streets
from his companions. This course he followed till
he was fifteen years old, without giving his mind
to any useful pursuit, or the least reflection on
what would become of him. As he was one day
playing, according to custom, in the street, with
his evil associates, a stranger passing by stood to
observe him.
This stranger was a sorcerer, known as the Af-
rican magician, as he had been but two daj'S ar-
rived from Africa, his native country.
The African magician, observing in Aladdin's
countenance something which assured him that he
was a fit boy for his purpose, inquired his name
and history of some of his companions, and when
he had learnt all he desired to know, went up to
him, and taking him aside from his comrades,
said, " Child, was not your father called Mustapha
the tailor? " " Yes, sir," answered the boy : " but
he has been dead a long time."
At these words the African magician threw his
THE STORY OF ALADDIN; OR, THE WONDERFUL LAMP.
231
ai-ms about Aladdin's
neck, and kissed him
several times, with tears
in his eyes, and said,
" I am your uncle. Your
worthy father was my
own brother. I knew
you at first sight you
are so like him." Then
he gave Aladdin a hand-
ful of small money, say-
ing, " Go, my son, to
your mother ; give my
love to her, and tell her
that I will visit her to-
morrow, that I may see
where my good brother lived so long and ended
his days."
Aladdin ran to his mother, overjoyed at the
money his uncle had given him. "Mother," said
he, " have I an uncle ? " " No, child," replied his
mother ; " you have no uncle by your father's
side or mine." " I am just now come," said Alad-
din, "from a man who says he
is my uncle and my father's
l>rother. He cried and kissed
me when I told him my father
was dead, and gave me money,
sending his love to you, and
promising to come and pay you
a visit, that he may see the
house my father lived and died
in." " Indeed, child," replied
the mother, " your father had no
brother, nor have j'ou an uncle.''
The next day the magician
found Aladdin playing in an-
r i other part of the town, and em-
bracing him as before, put two
pieces of gold into his hand, and
said to him, " Carry this, child,
to your mother ; tell her that I will come and see
her to-night, and bid her get us something for
supper ; but first show me the house where you
live."
Aladdin showed the African magician the
house, and carried the two pieces of gold to his
mother, who went out and bought provisions ; and
considering she wanted various utensils, borrowed
them of her neighbors. She spent the whole day
in preparing the supper ; and at night, when it
was ready, said to her son, " Perhaps the stranger
knows not how to find our house ; go and bring
him, if you meet him."
Aladdin was just ready to go, when the magi-
cian knocked at the door, and came in loaded
with wine and all sorts of fruits, which he brought
for a dessert. After he had given what he brought
into Aladdin's hands, he saluted his mother, and
desired her to show him the place where his
brother Mustapha used to sit on the sofa ; and
when she had so done, he fell down and kissed it
several times, crying out, with tears in his eyes,
" My poor brother ! how unhappy am I not to
have come soon enough to give you one last em-
brace." Aladdin's mother desired him to sit down
in the same place, but he declined. " No," said
he, " I shall not do that ; but give me leave to sit
232
TALES FROM THE ARABIAN NIGHTS' ENTERTAINMENTS.
opposite to it, that although I see not the master
of a family so dear to me, I may at least behold
the place where he used to sit."
When the magician had made choice of a place,
and sat down, he began to enter into discourse
with Aladdin's mother. " My good sister," said
he, "do not be surprised at your never having
seen me all the time you have been married to my
brother Mustapha of happy memory. I have
been forty years absent from this country, which
is my native place, as well as my late brother's ;
and during that time have traveled into the In-
dies, Persia, Arabia, Syria, and Egypt, and after-
wards crossed over into Africa, where I took up
my abode. At last, as it is natural for a man, I
was desirous to see my native country again and
to embrace my dear brother ; and finding I had
strength enough to undertake so long a journey,
I made the necessary preparations, and set out.
Nothing ever afflicted me so much as hearing of
my brother's death. But God be praised for all
things ! It is a comfort for me to find, as it were,
my brother in a son, who has his most remarkable
features."
The African magician, perceiving that the
widow wept at the remembrance of her husband,
changed the conversation, and turning towards
her son, asked him, " What business do you fol-
low ? Are you of any trade ? "
At this question the youth hung down his head,
and was not a little abashed when his mother an-
swered, " Aladdin is an idle fellow. His father,
when alive, strove all he could to teach him his
trade, but could not succeed ; and since his death,
notwithstanding all I can say to him, he does
nothing but idle away his time in the streets, as
you saw him, without considering he is no longer
a child ; and if j'ou do not make him ashamed of
it, I despair of his ever coming to any good. For
my part, I am resolved, one of these days, to turn
him out of doors, and let him provide for himself."
After these words, Aladdin's mother burst into
tears ; and the magician said : " This is not well,
nephew ; you must think of helping yourself, and
getting your livelihood. There are many sorts of
trades ; perhaps you do not like your father's, and
would prefer another ; I will endeavor to help
you. If you have no mind to learn any handi-
craft, I will take a sliop for you, furnish it with
all sorts of fine stuffs and linens ; and then with
the money you make of them yovi can lay in fresh
goods, and live in an honorable way. Tell me
freely what you think of my proposal ; you shall
always find me ready to keep my word."
This plan just suited Aladdin, who hated work.
He told the magician he had a greater inclination
to that business than to any other, and that he
should be much obliged to him for his kindness.
" Well, then," said the African magician, " I will
carry you with me to morrow, clothe you as hand-
somely as the best merchants in the citj', and aft-
erwards we will open a shop as I mentioned."
The widow, after his promises of kindness to
her son, no longer doubted that the magician was
her husband's brother. She thanked him for his
good intentions ; and after having exhorted Alad-
din to render himself worthy of his uncle's favor,
served up supper, at which they talked of several
indifferent matters ; and then the magician took
his leave and retired.
He came again the next day, as he had prom-
ised, and took Aladdin with him to a merchant,
who sold all sorts of clothes for different ages and
ranks, ready made, and a variety of fine stuffs, and
bade Aladdin choose those he preferred, which he
paid for.
When Aladdin found himself so handsomely
equipped, he returned his uncle thanks, who thus
addressed him : " As you are soon to be a mer-
chant, it is proper you should frequent these
shops, and be acquainted with them." He then
showed him the largest and finest mosques, carried
him to the khans or inns where the merchants and
travelers lodged, and afterwards to the sultan's
palace, where he had free access ; and at last
brought him to his own khan, where, meeting
with some merchants he had become acquainted
with since his arrival, he gave them a treat, to
bring them and his pretended nephew acquainted.
This entertainment lasted till night, when Alad-
THE STORY OF ALADDIN; OR. THE WONDERFUL LAMP.
233
din would have taken leave of his uncle to go
home ; the magician would not let him go by him-
self, but conducted him to his mother, who, as
soon as she saw him so well dressed, was trans-
ported with joy, and bestowed a thousand blessings
upon the magician.
Early the next morning the magician called
again for Aladdin, and said he would take him
to spend that day in the country, and on the next
he would purchase the shop. He then led him
out at one of the gates of the city, to some mag-
nificent palaces, to each of which belonged beautiful
gardens, into which anybody might enter. At
every building he came to, he asked Aladdin if
he did not think it fine ; and the youth was ready
to answer when any one presented itself, crying out,
" Here is a finer house, uncle, than any we have
yet seen." By this artifice the cunning magician
led Aladdin some way into the country ; and as he
meant to carry him farther, to execute his design,
he took an opportunity to sit down in one of the
gardens, on the brink of a fountain of clear water,
which discharged itself by a lion's mouth of bronze
into a basin, pretending to be tired. " Come,
nephew," said be, " you must be weary as well as
I ; let us rest ourselves, and we shall be better
able to pursue our walk."
The magician next pulled from his gii'dle a
handkerchief with cakes and fruit, and during this
short repast he exhorted his nephew to leave off
bad company, and to seek that of wise and pru-
dent men, to improve by their conversation ; " for,"
said he, " you will soon be at man's estate, and 5'ou
cannot too early begin to imitate their example."
When they had eaten as much as they liked, they
got up, and pursued their walk through gardens
separated from one another only by small ditches,
which marked out the limits without interrupting
the communication ; so great was the confidence
the inhabitants reposed in each other. By this
means the African magician drew Aladdin insen-
sibly beyond the gardens, and crossed the coun-
try, till they nearly reached the mountains.
At last they arrived between two mountains of
moderate height, and equal size, divided by a nar-
30
row vallej^ which was the place where the magi-
cian intended to execute the design that had
brought him from Africa to China. " We will go
no farther now," said he to Aladdin ; " I will show
you here some extraordinary things, which, when
you have seen, you will thank me for ; but while
I strike a light, gather up all the loose dry sticks
you can see, to kindle a fire with."
Aladdin found so many di-ied sticks, that he
soon collected a great heap. .The magician pres-
ently set them on fire ; and when they were in a
blaze, threw in some incense, pronouncing several
magical words which Aladdin did not understand.
He had scarcely done so when the earth opened
just before the magician, and discovered a stone
with a brass ring fixed in it. Aladdin was so fright-
ened that he would have run away, but the magi-
cian caught hold of him, and gave him such a box
on the ear that he knocked him down. Aladdin
got up trembling, and with tears in his eyes said
to the magician, " What have I done, uncle, to be
treated in this severe manner ? " "I am your
uncle," answered the magician ; " I supply the
place of your father, and you ought to make no
reply. But, child," added he, softening, " do not
be afraid ; for I shall not ask anything of you but
that you obey me punctually, if you would reap
the advantages which I intend you. Know, then,
that under this stone there is hidden a treasure
destined to be yours, and which will make you
richer than the greatest monarch in the world.
No person but yourself is permitted to lift this
stone or enter the cave ; so you must punctually
execute what I may command, for it is a matter
of great consequence both to you and me."
Aladdin, amazed at all he saw and heard, for-
got what was past, and rising, said, " Well, uncle,
what is to be done ? Command me ; I am ready
to obey." " I am overjoyed, child," said the Afri-
can magician, embracing him. " Take hold of
the ring, and lift up that stone." " Indeed, uncle,"
replied Aladdin, " I am not strong enough ; you
must help me." " You have no occasion for my
assistance," answered the magician ; '.' if I help
you, we shall be able to do nothing. Take hold of
234
TALES FROM THE ARABIAN NIGHTS' ENTERTAINMENTS.
the ring, and lift it up ; j'ou will find it will come
easily." Aladdin did as the magician bade him,
raised the stone with ease, and laid it on one side.
When the sbone was pulled up, there appeared
a staircase about three or four feet deep, leading
to a door. " Descend, my son," said the African
magician, " those steps, and open that door. It
will lead you into a palace, divided into three great
halls. In each of these you will see four large
brass cisterns placed jjn each side, full of gold and
silver ; but take care you do not meddle with
them. Before you enter the first hall, be sure to
tuck up your robe, wrap it about you, and then
pass through the second into the third, without
stopping. Above all things, have a care that you
do not touch the walls, so much as with your
clothes; for if you do, you will die instantly. At
the end of the third hall you will find a door which
opens into a garden, planted with fine trees loaded
with fruit. Walk directly across the garden to a
terrace, where you will see a niche before you,
and in that niche a lighted lamp. Take the lamp
down, and put it out. When j'ou have thrown
away the wick and poured out the liquor, put it
in j^our waistband and bring it to me. Do not be
afraid that the liquor will spoil your clothes, for
it is not oil, and the lamp will be dry as soon as it
is thrown out."
After these words the magician drew a ring off
his finger, and put it on one of Aladdin's, saying,
" It is a talisman against all evil, so long as you
obey me. Go, therefore, boldlj^ and we shall both
be rich all our lives."
Aladdin descended the steps, and, opening the
door, found the three halls just as the African
magician had described. He went through them
with all the precaution the fear of death could in-
spire, crossed the garden without stopping, took
down the lamp from the niche, threw out the wick
and the liquor, and, as the magician had desired,
put it in his waistband. But as he came down
from the terrace, seeing it was perfectly dry, he
stopped in the garden to observe the trees, which
were loaded with extraordinary fruit, of different
colors on each tree. Some bore fruit entirely
white, and some clear and transparent as crystal ;
some pale red, and others deeper ; some green,
blue, and purple, and others yellow ; in short,
there was fruit of all colors. The white were
pearls ; the clear and transparent, diamonds ; the
deep red, rubies ; the paler, ballas rubies ; the
green, emeralds ; the blue, turquoises ; the purple,
amethysts ; and the yellow, sapphires. Aladdin,
ignorant of their value, would have preferred figs,
or grapes, or pomegranates ; but as he had his
uncle's permission, he resolved to gather some of
every sort. Having filled the two new purses his
uncle had bought for him with his clothes, he
wrapped some up in the skirts of his vest, and
crammed his bosom as full as it could hold.
Aladdin, having thus loaded himself with riches
of which he knew not the value, returned through
the three halls with the utmost precaution, and
soon arrived at the mouth of the cave, where the
African magician awaited him with the utmost
impatience. As soon as Aladdin saw him, he
cried out, " Pray, uncle, lend me your hand, to
help me out." " Give me the lamp first," replied
the magician ; " it will be troublesome to you."
" Indeed, uncle," answered Aladdin, " I cannot
now, but I will as soon as I am up." The Afri-
can magician was determined that he would have
the lamp before he would help him up ; and Alad-
din, who had incumbered himself so much with
his fruit that he could not well get at it, refused
to give it to him till he was out of the cave. The
African magician, provoked at this obstinate re-
fusal, flew into a passion, threw a little of his in-
cense into the fire, and pronounced two magical
words, when the stone which had closed the
mouth of the staircase moved into its place, with
the earth over it in the same manner as it lay at
the arrival of the magician and Aladdin.
This action of the magician plainly revealed to
Aladdin that he was no uncle of his, but one who
designed him evil. The truth was that he had
learnt from his magic books the secret and the
value of this wonderful lamp, the owner of which
would be made richer than any earthly ruler, and
hence his journey to China. His art had also told
THE STORY OF ALADDIN; OR, THE WONDERFUL LAMP
235
him that he was not permitted to take it himself,
but, must receive it as a voluntary gift from the
hands of another person. Hence he employed
young Aladdin, and hoped by a mixture of kind-
ness and authority to make him obedient to his
word and will. When he found that his attempt
had failed, he set out to return to Africa, but
avoided the town, lest any person who had seen
him leave in company with Aladdin should make
inquiries after tlie youth. Aladdin, being sud-
denly enveloped in darkness, cried, and called out
to his uncle to tell him he was ready to give him
the lamp ; but in vain, since his cries could not
be heard. He descended to the bottom of the
steps, with a design to get into the palace, but the
door, which was opened before by enchantment,
■was now shut by the same means. He then re-
doubled his cries and tears, sat down on the steps
without any hopes of ever seeing light again, and
in an expectation of passing from the present
darkness to a speedy death. In this great emer-
gency he said, " There is no strength or power
but in the great and high God ; " and in joining
his hands to pray he rubbed the ring which the
magician had put on his finger. Immediately a
genie of frightful aspect appeared and said :
"What wouldst thou have ? I am ready to obey
thee. I serve him who possesses the ring on thy
finger, — I and the other slaves of that ring."
At another time Aladdin would have been fright-
ened at the sight of so extraordinary a figure ;
but the danger he was in made him answer with-
out hesitation, " Whoever thou art, deliver me
from this place." He had no sooner spoken these
words, than he found himself on the very spot
where the magician had last left him, and no sign
of cave or opening, nor disturbance of the earth.
Returning God thanks to find himself once more
in the world, he made the best of his way home.
When he got within his mother's door, the joy to
see her and his weakness for want of sustenance
made him so faint that he remained for a long
time as dead. As soon as he recovered, he related
to his mother all that had happened to him, and
they were both very vehement in their complaints
of the cruel magician. Aladdin slept very soundly
till late the next morning, when the first thing he
said to his mother was that he wanted something
to eat, and wished she would give him his break-
fast. " Alas ! child," said she, " I have not a bit
of bread to give you ; you ate up all the provisions
I had in the house yesterday ; but I have a little
cotton, which I have spun , I will go and sell it,
and buy bread, and something for our dinner."
" Mother," replied Aladdin, " keep your cotton
for another time, and give me the lamp I brought
home with me yesterday ; I will go and sell it, and
the money I shall get for it will serve both for
breakfast and dinner, and perhaps supper too."
Aladdin's mother took the lamp, and said to
her son, " Here it is, but it is very dirty ; if it
was a little cleaner I believe it would bring some-
thing more." She took some fine sand and water
to clean it ; but had no sooner begun to rub it,
than in an instant a hideous genie of gigantic
size appeared before her, and said to her in a
voice of thunder: "What wouldst thou have?
I am ready to obey thee as thy slave, and the
slave of all those who have that lamp in their
hands, — I and the other slaves of the lamp."
Aladdin's mother, terrified at the sight of the
genie, fainted; when Aladdin, who had seen such
a phantom in the cavern, snatched the lamp out
of his mother's hand, said to the genie boldlj',
" I am hungry ; bring me something to eat." The
genie disappeared immediately, and in an instant
returned with a large silver tray, holding twelve
covei'ed dishes of the same metal, which contained
the most delicious viands ; six large white bread
cakes on two plates, two flagons of wine, and two
silver cups. All these he placed upon a carpet,
and disappeared ; this was done before Aladdin's
mother recovered from her swoon.
Aladdin had fetched some water, and sprinkled
it in her face, to recover her. Whether that or
the smell of the meat effected her cure, it was not
long before she came to herself. " Mother," said
Aladdin, "be not afraid; get up and eat; here is
what will put you in heart, and at the same time
satisfy my extreme hunger."
236
TALES FROM THE ARABIAN NIGHTS ENTERTAINMENTS.
His mother was inucli surprised to see the great
tray, twelve dishes, six loaves, the two flagons
and cups, and to smell the savory odor which ex-
haled from the dishes. " Child," said she, "■ to
whom are we obliged for this great plenty and
liberality ? Has the sultan been made acquainted
with our poverty, and had comjjassion on us ? "
" It is no matter, mother," said Aladdin ; " let us
sit down and eat ; for you have almost as much
need of a good breakfast as myself ; when we have
done, I will tell you." Accoi-dingly, both mother
and son sat down, and ate with the better relish
as the table was so well furnished. But all the
time Aladdin's mother could not forbear looking
at and admiring the tray and dishes, though she
could not judge whether they were silver or any
other metal, and the novelty more than the value
atti-acted her attention.
The mother and son sat at breakfast till it was
dinner-time, and then they thought it would be
best to put the two meals together ; yet after this
they found they should have enough left for sup-
pei-, and two meals for the next day.
When Aladdin's mother had taken away and
set by what was left, she went and sat down by
her son on the sofa, saying, " I expect now that
you should satisfy my impatience, and tell me ex-
actly what passed between the genie and you while
I was in a swoon ; " which he readily complied
with.
She was in as great amazement at what her son
told her, as at the appearance of the genie ; and
said to him, " But, son, what have we to do with
genies ? I never heard that any of my acquain-
tance had ever seen one. How came that vile
genie to address himself to me, and not to you, to
whom he had appeared before in the cave ? "
" Mother," answered Aladdin, " the genie you
saw is not the one who appeared to me. If you
remembei-, he that I first saw called himself the
slave of the ring on my finger ; and this you saw
called himself the slave of the lamp you had in
your hand ; but I believe you did not hear him,
for I think you fainted as soon as he began to
speak."
" What ! " cried the mother, " was your lamp
then the occasion of that cursed genie's address-
ing himself rather to me than to you ? Ah ! my
son, take it out of my sight, and put it where you
please. I had rather you would sell it than run
the hazard of being frightened to death again by
touching it ; and if you would take my advice,
you would part also with the ring, and not have
anything to do with genies, who, as our prophet
has told us, are only devils."
" With your leave, mother," replied Aladdin,
" I shall now take care how I sell a lamp which
may be so serviceable both to you and me. That
false and wicked magician would not have under-
taken so long a journey to secure this wonderful
lamp if he had not known its value to exceed
that of gold and silver. And since we have
honestly come by it, let us make a profitable use
of it, without making any great show, and excit-
ing the envy and jealousy of our neighbors. How-
ever, since the genies frighten you so much, I will
take it out of your sight, and put it where I may
find it when I want it. The ring I cannot resolve
to part with ; for without that you had never seen
me again ; and though I am alive now, perhaps, if
it was gone, I might not be so some moments
hence ; therefore, I hope you will give me leave
to keep it, and to wear it always on my finger."
Aladdin's mother replied that he might do what
he pleased ; for her part, she would have nothing
to do with genies, and never say anything more
about them.
By the next night they had eaten all the pro-
visions the genie had brought ; and the next day
Aladdin, who could not bear the thoughts of hun-
ger, putting one of the silver dishes under his
vest, went out early to sell it, and addressing him-
self to a Jew whom he met in the streets, took
him aside, and pulling out the plate, asked him if
he would buy it. The cunning Jew took the dish,
examined it, and as soon as he found that it was
good silver, asked Aladdin at how much he valued
it. Aladdin, who had never been used to such
traffic, told him he would trust to his judgment
and honor. The Jew was somewhat confounded
THE STORY OF ALADDIN; OR, THE WONDERFUL LAMP.
237
at this plain dealing ; and doubting whether Alad-
din understood the material or the full value of
what he offered to sell, took a piece of gold out of
his purse and gave it him, though it was but the
sixtieth part of the worth of the plate. Aladdin,
taking tlie money very eagerl)', retired with so
much haste that the Jew, not content with the
exorbitancy of his profit, was vexed he had not
penetrated into his ignorance, and was going to
run after him, to endeavor to get some change out
of the piece of gold ; but he ran so fast, and had
got so far, that it would have been impossible for
him to overtake him.
Before Aladdin went home, he called at a
baker's, bought some cakes of bread, changed his
money, and on his return gave the rest to his
mother, who went and purchased provisions enough
to last them some time. After this manner they
lived, till Aladdin had sold the twelve dishes
singly, as necessity pressed, to the Jew, for the
same money ; who, after the first time, durst not
offer him less, for fear of losing so good a bargain.
When he had sold the last dish, he had recourse
to the tray, which weighed ten times as much as
the dishes, and would have carried it to his old
purchaser, but that it was too large and cumber-
some ; therefore he was obliged to bring hiui home
with him to his mother's, where, after the Jew
had examined the weight of the tray, he laid down
ten pieces of gold, with which Aladdin was very
well satisfied.
When all the money was spent, Aladdin had
recourse again to the lamp. He took it in his
hand, looked for the part where his mother had
rubbed it with the sand, rubbed it also, when the
genie immediately ajjpeared, and said : " What
wouldst thou have ? I am readj^ to obey thee as
thy slave, and the slave of all those who have that
lamp in their hands, — land the other slaves of
the lamp." "lam hungry," said Aladdin ; " bring
me something to eat." The genie disappeared,
and presently returned with a tray, the same
number of covered dishes as before, set them
down, and vanished.
As soon as Aladdin found that their provisions
were again expended, he took one of the dishes
and went to look for his Jew chapman ; but pass-
ing by a goldsmith's shop, the goldsmith perceiv-
ing him, called to him, and said: "My lad, I im-
agine that you have something to sell to the Jew,
whom I often see you visit ; but perhaps you do
not know that he is the greatest rogue even among
the Jews. I will give you the full worth of what
you have to sell, or I will direct you to other mer-
chants who will not cheat you."
This offer induced Aladdin to pull his plate
from under his vest and show it to the goldsmith,
who at first sight saw that it was made of the fin-
est silver, and asked hira if he had sold such as
that to the Jew ; when Aladdin told him that he
had sold him twelve such, for a piece of gold
each.
" What a villain I " cried the goldsmith.
" But," added he, " raj' son, what is past cannot
be recalled. By showing you the value of this
plate, which is of the finest silver we use in our
shops, I will let you see how much the Jew has
cheated you."
The goldsmith took a pair of scales, weighed
the dish, and assured him that his plate would
fetch by weight sixty pieces of gold, which he of-
ered to pay down immediately.
Aladdin thanked him for his fair dealing, and
never after went to any other person.
Though Aladdin and his mother had an inex-
haustible treasure in their lamp, and might have
had whatever they wished for, yet they lived with
the same frugality as before ; and it may easily be
supposed that the money for which Aladdin had
sold the dishes and tray was sufficient to maintain
them some time.
During this interval, Aladdin frequented the
shops of the principal merchants, where they sold
cloth of gold and silver, linens, silk stuffs, and
jewelry ; and oftentimes joining in their conver-
sation, acquired a knowledge of the world, and a
desire to improve himself. By his acquaintance
among the jewelers, he came to know that the
fruits which he had gathered when he took the
lamp were, instead of colored glass, stones of ines-
238
TALES FROM THE ARABIAN NIGHTS' ENTERTAINMENTS.
timable value;
but he had the
prudence not to
mention this to
any one, not even
to his mother.
One day as he
was walking about
the town, Aladdin
heard an order
proclaimed, com-
manding the peo-
ple to shut up their
shops and houses,
and keep within
doors, while the
Princess Buddir al
Buddoor, the sul-
tan's daughter,
went to the bath
and returned.
This proclamation inspired Aladdin with eager
desire to see the princess's face, which he deter-
mined to gratify, by placing himself behind the
door of the bath, so that he could not fail to see
her face.
Aladdin had not long concealed himself before
the princess came. She was attended by a great
crowd of ladies, slaves, and mutes,
who walked on each side and be-
hind her. When she came within
three or four paces of the door of
the bath, she took off her veil,
and gave Aladdin an oj^portu-
nity of a full view of her face.
The princess was a noted
beauty : her eyes were large,
lively, and sparkling ; her smile
betwitching ; her nose faultless ;
her mouth small ; her \i]i% ver-
milion. It is not therefore sur-
prising that Aladdin, who had
never before seen such a blaze of
=_i , charms, was dazzled and en-
chanted.
After the princess had j^assed by, and entered
the bath, Aladdin quitted his hiding-place and
went home. His mother perceived him to be
more thoughtful and melancholy than usual ; and
asked what had happened to make him so, or if he
was ill. He then told his mother all his advent-
ure, and concluded by declaring, '" I love the prin-
cess more than I can express, and am resolved that
I will ask her in marriage of the sultan."
Aladdin's mother listened with surprise to what
her son told her ; but when he talked of asking the
princess in marriage, she laughed aloud. "Alas !
child," said she, " what are you thinking of ? You
must be mad to talk thus."
" I assure you, mother," replied Aladdin, " that
I am not mad, but in my right senses. I foresaw
tliat you would i-eproach me w'ith folly and ex-
travagance ; but I must tell you once more that
I am resolved to demand the princess of the sultan
in marriage ; nor do I despair of success. I have
the slaves of the lamp and of the ring to help me,
and you know how powerful their aid is. And I
have another secret to tell you : those pieces of
glass, wi ich I got from the trees in the garden of
the subterranean palace, are jewels of inestimable
value, and fit for the greatest monarchs. All the
precious stones the jewelers have in Bagdad are
not to be compared to mine for size or beauty ;
THE STORT OF ALADDIN; OR, THE WONDERFUL LAMP.
239
and I am sure that the offer of them will secure
the favor of the sultan. You have a large porce-
lain dish fit to hold them ; fetch it, and let us see
how they will look, when we have arranged them
according to their different colors."
Aladdin's mother brought the china dish, when
he took the jewels out of the two purses in which
he had kept them, and placed them in order, ac-
cording to his fancy. But the brightness and lus-
tre they emitted in the daytime, and the variety
of the colors, so dazzled the eyes both of mother
and son that they were astonished beyond meas-
ure. Aladdin's mother, emboldened by the sight
of these rich jewels, and fearful lest her son should
be guilty of greater extravagance, complied with
his request, and promised to go early in the next
morning to the palace of the sultan. Aladdin rose
before daybreak, awakened his mother, pressing
her to go to the sultan's palace, and to get ad-
mittance, if possible, before the grand vizier, the
other viziers, and the great officers of state went
in to take their seats in the divan, where the sul-
tan always attended in person.
Aladdin's mother took the china dish, in which
they had put the jewels the day before, wrapped
it in two fine napkins, and set forward for the
sultan's palace. When she came to the gates, the
grand vizier, the other viziers, aruTTnost distin-
guished lords of the court were just gone in ; but
notwithstanding the crowd of people was great,
she got into the divan, — a spacious hall, the en-
trance into which was very magnificent. She
placed herself just before the sultan, grand vizier,
and the great lords, who sat in council, on his right
and left hand. Several causes were called, accord-
ing to their order, pleaded and adjudged, until
the time the divan generally broke up, when the
sultan, rising, returned to his apartment, attended
by the grand vizier ; the other viziers and minis-
ters of state then retired, as also did all those
whose business had called them thither.
Aladdin's mother, seeing the sultan retire, and
all the people depart, judged rightly that he would
not sit again that day, and resolved to go home ;
and on her arrival said, with much simplicity :
" Son, I have seen the sultan, and am very well
persuaded he has seen me too, for I placed myself
just before him ; but he was so much taken up
with those who attended on all sides of him that
I pitied him, and wondered at his patience. * At
last I believe he was heartily tired, for he rose up
suddenly, and would not hear a great many who
were ready prepared to speak to him, but went
away, at which I was well pleased ; for, indeed, I
began to lose all patience, and was extremely fa-
tigued with staying so long. But there is no
harm done : I will go again to-morrow ; perhaps
the sultan may not be so busy."
The next morning she repaired to the sultan's
palace with the present, as early as the day be-
fore ; but when she came there, she found the
gates of the divan shut. She went six times aft-
erwards on the daj's appointed, placed herself al-
waj's directly before the sultan, but with as little
success as the first morning.
On the sixth da}', however, after the divan was
broken up, when the sultan returned to his own
apartment, he said to his grand vizier : " I have for
some time observed a certain woman, who attends
constantl}' every da}' that I give audience, with
something wrapped up in a napkin ; she always
stands up from the beginning to the breaking up
of the audience, and effects to place herself just be-
fore me. If this woman comes to our next audi-
ence, do not fail to call her, that I may hear what
she has to say." The grand vizier made answer
by lowering his hand, and then lifting it up above
his head, signifying his willingness to lose it if he
failed.
On the next audience day, when Aladdin's
mother went to the divan, and placed herself in
front of the sultan as usual, the grand vizier im-
mediately called the chief of the mace-bearers, and
pointing to her, bade him bring her before the
sultan. The old woman at once followed the
mace-bearer, and when she reached the sultan,
bowed her head down to the carpet which covered
the platform of the throne, and remained in that
posture till he bade her rise, which she had no
sooner done, than he said to her : " Good woman,
240
TALES FROM THE ARABIAN NIGHTS' ENTERTAINMENTS.
I have observed you to stand many days, from the
beginning to the rising of the divan ; what busi-
ness brings you here ? "
After these words, Aladdin's mother prostrat-
ed herself a second time, and when she arose,
said : " Monarch of monarchs, I beg of you to par-
don the boldness of my petition, and to assure
me of your pardon and forgiveness." " Well,"
replied the sultan, " I will forgive you, be it what
it may, and no hurt shall come to you ; speak
boldly."
When Aladdin's mother had taken all these
precautions, for fear of the sultan's anger, she
told him faithfully the errand on which her son
had sent her, and the event which led to his
making so bold a request in spite of all her re-
monstrances.
The sultan hearkened to this discourse without
showing the least anger ; but before he gave her
any answer, asked her what she had brought tied
up in the napkin. She took the china dish, which
she had set down at the foot of the throne, untied
it, and presented it to the sultan.
The sultan's amazement and surprise were in-
expressible, when he saw so many large, beautiful
and valuable jewels collected in the dish. He re-
mained for some time lost in admiration. At last,
when he had recovered himself, he received the pres-
ent from Aladdin's mother's hand, saying, " How
rich ! how beautiful ! " After he had admired and
handled all the jewels, one after another, he turned
to his grand vizier, and showing him the dish, said,
" Behold, admire, wonder ! and confess that your
eyes never beheld jewels so rich and beautiful be-
fore." The vizier was charmed. " Well,", con-
tinued the sultan, " what sayest thou to such a
present? Is it not worthy of the princess my
daughter ? And ought I not to bestow her on one
who values her at so great a price?" " I cannot
but own," replied the grand vizier, " that the
present is worthy of the princess ; but I beg of
your majesty to grant me three months before you
come to a final i-esolution. I hope, before that
time, my son, whom you have regarded with your
favor, will be able to make a nobler present than
this Aladdin, who is an entire stranger to your
majesty."
The sultan granted his request, and he said to
the old woman, " Good woman, go home, and tell
your son that I agree to the proposal you have
made me : but I cannot marry the princess my
daughter for three months ; at the expiration of
that time come again."
Aladdin's mother returned home much more
gratified than she had expected, and told her son
with much joy the condescending answer she had
received from the sultan's own mouth ; and that
she was to come to the divan again that day three
months.
Aladdin thought himself the most happy of all
men at hearing this news, and thanked his mother
for the pains she had taken in the affair, the good
success of which was of so great importance to his
peace, that he counted every day, week, and even
hour as it passed. When two of the three months
were passed, his mother one evening having no oil
in the house, went out to buy some, and found a
general rejoicing — the houses dressed with foli-
age, silks, and carpeting, and every one striving to
show their joy according to their ability. The
streets were crowded with officers in habits of cer-
emony, mounted on horses richly caparisoned, each
attended by a great many footmen. Aladdin's
mother asked the oil merchant what was the mean-,
ing of all this preparation of public festivity.
"Whence came you, good woman," said he, "that
you don't know that the grand vizier's son is to
marry the princess Buddir al Buddoor, the sultan's
daughter, to-night? She will presentlj' return
from the bath ; and these officers whom you see
are to assist at the cavalcade to the palace, where
the ceremony is to be solemnized."
Aladdin's mother, on hearing this news, ran
home very quickly. "Cliild," cried she, "you are
undone I the sultan's fine promises will come to
naught. This night the grand vizier's son is to
marry the Princess Buddir al Buddoor."
At this account Aladdin was thunderstruck,
and he bethought himself of the lamp, and of the
genie who had promised to obey him ; and without
THE STORT OF ALADDIN; OR, THE WONDERFUL LAMP.
241
indulging in idle words against the sultan, the viz-
ier, or his son, he determined, if possible, to pre-
vent the marriage.
When Aladdin had got into his chamber, he
took the lamp, rubbed it in the same place as be-
fore, when immediately the genie appeared, and
said to him : " What wouldst thou have ? I am
ready to obey thee as thy slave, — I and the other
slaves of the lamp." " Hear me," said Aladdin ;
" thou hast hitherto obeyed me, but now I am
about to impose on thee a harder task. The sul-
tan's daughter, who was promised me as my bride,
is this night married to the son of the grand vizier.
Bring them both hither to me immediately they
retire to their bed-chamber."
" Master," replied the genie, " I obey you."
Aladdin supped with his mother, as was their
wont, and then went to his own apartment, and
sat up to await the return of the genie, according
to his commands.
In the mean time the festivities in honor of the
princess's marriage were conducted in the sultan's
palace with great magnificence. The ceremonies
were at last brought to a conclusion, and the prin-
cess and the son of the vizier retired to the bed-
chamber prepared for them. No sooner had they
entered it, and dismissed their attendants, than the
genie, the faithful slave of the lamp, to the great
amazement and alarm of the bride and bride-
groom, took up tiie bed, and by an agency invisi-
ble to them, transported it in an instant into Alad-
din's chambei-, where he set it down. " Remove
the bridegroom," said Aladdin to the genie, "and
keep him a prisoner till to-morrow dawn, and then
return with him here." On Aladdin being left alone
with the princess, he endeavored to assuage her
fears, and explained to her the treachery practiced
upon him by the sultan her father. He then laid
himself down beside her, putting a drawn scimitar
between them, to show that he was determined to
secure her safety, and to treat her with the utmost
possible respect. At break of day the genie ap-
peared at the appointed hour, bringing back the
bridegroom, whom by breathing upon he had left
motionless and entranced at the door of Aladdin's
31
chamber during the night, and at Aladdin's com-
mand transported the couch with the bride and
bridegroom on it, by the same invisible agency,
into the palace of the sultan.
At the instant that the genie had set down the
couch with the bride and bridegroom in their own
chamber, the sultan came to the door, to offer his
good wishes to his daughter. The grand vizier's
son, who was almost perished with cold, by stand-
ing in his thin under-garment all night, no sooner
heard the knocking at the door than he got out of
bed, and ran into the robing-chamber, where he
had undressed himself the night before.
The sultan, having opened the door, went to the
bedside, kissed the princess on the forehead, but
was extremely surprised to see her look so melan-
choly. She only cast at him a sorrowful look, ex-
pressive of great affliction. He suspected there
was something extraordinary in this silence, and
thereupon went immediately to the sultaness's
apartment, told her in what a state he found the
princess, and how she had received him. " Sire,"
said the sultaness, " I will go and see her ; she
will not receive me in the same manner."
The princess received her mother with sighs and
tears, and signs of deep dejection. At last, upon
her pressing on her the duty of telling her all her
thoughts, she gave to the sultaness a precise de-
scription of all that happened to her during the
night ; on which the sultaness enjoined on her the
necessity of silence and discretion, as no one would
give credence to so strange a tale. The grand
vizier's son, elated with the honor of being the sul-
tan's son-in-law, kept silence on his part ; and the
events of the night wei'e not allowed to cast the
least gloom on the festivities on the following day,
in continued celebration of the royal marriage.
When night came, the bride and bridegroom
were again attended to their chamber with the
same ceremonies as on the preceding evening.
Aladdin, knowing that this would be so, had al-
ready given commands to the genie of the lamp ;
and no sooner were they alone than their bed was
removed in the same mysterious manner as on the
preceding evening; and having passed the night
242
TALES FROM THE ARABIAN NIGHTS' ENTERTAINMENTS.
in the same unpleasant way, they were in the
morning conveyed to the palace of the sultan.
Scarcely had they been replaced in their apart-
ment, when the sultan came to make his compli-
ments to his daughter, when the princess could no
longer conceal from him the unhappy treatment
she had been subject to, and told him all that
had happened, as she liad already related it to her
mother. The sultan, ou hearing these strange tid-
ings, consulted with the grand vi^er ; and finding
from him that his son had been subjected to even
worse treatment by an invisible agency, he deter-
mined to declare the marriage to be canceled, and
all the festivities, which were yet to last for sev-
eral days, to be countermanded and terminated.
This sudden change in the mind of the sultan
gave rise to various speculations and reports. No-
body but Aladdin knew the secret, and he kept
it with the most scrupulous silence ; and neither
the sultan nor the grand vizier, who had forgotten
Aladdin and his request, had the least thought that
he had any hand in the strange adventures that
befell the bride and bridegroom.
On the very day that the three months con-
tained in the sultan's promise expii'ed, the mother
of Aladdin again went to the palace, and stood in
the same place in the divan. Tlie sultan knew
her again, and directed his vizier to have her
brought before him.
After having prostrated herself, she made an-
swer, in reply to the sultan : " Sire, I come at the
end of three months to ask of you the fulfillment
of the promise you made to my son." The sultan
little thought the request of Aladdin's mother was
made to him in earnest, or that he would hear any
more of the matter. He therefore took counsel
with his vizier, who suggested that the sultan
should attach such conditions to the marriage that
no one in the humble condition of Aladdin could
possibly fulfill. In accordance with this sugges-
tion of the vizier, the sultan replied to the mother
of Aladdin : " Good woman, it is true sultans
ought to abide by their word ; and I am ready to
keep mine, by making your son happy in marriage
with the princess my daughter. But as I cannot
marry her without some further proof of your son
being able to support her in royal state, you may
tell him, I will fulfill my promise as soon as he
shall send me forty trays of massy gold, full of the
same sort of jewels you have already made me a
present of, and carried by the like number of
black slaves, who shall be led by as many young
and handsome white slaves, all dressed magnifi-
cently. On these conditions, I am ready to be-
stow the princess my daughter upon him ; there-
fore, good woman, go and tell him so, and I will
wait till you bring me his answer."
Aladdin's mother pi-ostrated herself a second
time before the sultan's throne, and retired. On
her way home, she laughed within herself at her
son's foolish imagination. " Where," said she,
"can he get so many large gold trays, and such
precious stones to fill them? It is altogether out
of his power, and I believe he will not be much
pleased with my embassy this time." When she
came home, full of these thoughts, she told Alad-
din all the circumstances of her interview with the
sultan, and the conditions on which he consented
to the marriage. " The sultan expects your an-
swer immediately," said she; and then added,
laughing, " I believe he may wait long enough ! "
"Not so long, mother, as you imagine," replied
Aladdin. " This demand is a mere trifle, and will
prove no bar to my marriage with the princess.
I will prepare at once to satisfy his request."
Aladdin retired to his own apartment, and sum-
moned the genie of the lamp, and required him
to immediately prepare and present the gift, be-
fore the sultan closed his morning audience, ac-
cording to the terms in which it had been pre-
scribed. The genie professed his obedience to the
owner of the lamp, and disappeared. Within a
. very short time, a train of forty black slaves, led
by the same number of white slaves, appeared op-
posite the house in which Aladdin lived. Each
black slave carried on his head a basin of massy
gold, full of pearls, diamonds, rubies, and emeralds.
Aladdin then addressed his mother : " Madam,
pray lose no time ; before the sultan and the
divan rise, I would have you return to the palace
THE STORY OF ALADDIN; OR, THE WONDERFUL LAMP.
243
with this present as the dowry demanded for the
princess, that he may judge by my diligence and
exactness of the ardent and sincere desire I have
to procure myself the honor of this alliance."
As soon as this magnificent procession, with
Aladdin's mother at its head, had begun to march
from Aladdin's house, the whole city was filled
with the crowds of people desirous to see so grand
a sight. The graceful bearing, elegant form, and
wonderful likeness of each slave ; their grave walk
at an equal distance from each other, the lustre of
their jeweled girdles, and the brilliancy of the
aigrettes of precious stones in their turbans, ex-
cited the greatest admiration in the spectators.
As they had to pass through several streets to the
palace, the whole length of the way was lined
with files of spectators. Nothing, indeed, was ever
seen so beautiful and brilliant in the sultan's pal-
ace ; and the richest robes of the emirs of his
court were not to be compared to the costly dresses
of these slaves, whom they supposed to be kings.
As the sultan, who had been informed of their
approach, had given orders for them to be ad-
mitted, they met with no obstacle, but went into
the divan in regular order, one part turning to
the right, and the other to the left. After they
were all entered, and had formed a semicircle be-
fore the sultan's throne, the black slaves laid the
golden trays on the carpet, prostrated themselves,
touching the carpet with their foreheads, and at
the same time the white slaves did the same.
When they rose the black slaves uncovered the
trays, and then all stood with their arms crossed
over their breasts.
In the mean time Aladdin's mother advanced
to the foot of the throne, and having prostrated
herself, said to the sultan : " Sire, my son knows
this present is much below the notice of Princess
Buddir al Buddoor ; but hopes, nevertheless, that
your majesty will accept of it, and make it agree-
able to the princess, and with the greater confi-
dence since he has endeavored to conform to the
conditions you were pleased to impose."
The sultan, overpowered at the sight of such
more than royal magnificence, replied without
hesitation to the words of Aladdin's mother, —
" Go and tell your son that I wait with open arms
to embrace him ; and the more haste he makes to
come and receive the princess my daughter from
my hands, the greater pleasure he will do me."
As soon as Aladdin's mother had retired, the sul-
tan put an end to the audience ; and rising from
his throne, ordered that the princess's attendants
should come and carry the trays into their mis-
tress's apartment, whither he went himself to ex-
amine them with her at his leisure. The fourscore
slaves were conducted into the palace ; and the
sultan, telling the princess of their magnificent
apparel, ordered them to be brought before her
apartment, that she might see through the lattices
he had not exaggerated in his account of them.
In the mean time Aladdin's mother reached
home, and showed in her air and countenance the
good news she brought her son. " My son," said
she, " you may rejoice you are arrived at the
height of your desires. The sultan has declared
that you shall marry the Princess Buddir al Bud-
door. He waits for you with impatience."
Aladdin, enraptured with this news, made his
mother very little reply, but retired to his cham-
ber. There he rubbed his lamp, and the obedi-
ent genie appeared. " Genie," said Aladdin, " con-
vey me at once to a bath, and supply me with the
richest and most magnificent robe ever worn by
a monarch." No sooner were the words out of
his mouth than the genie rendered him, as well
as himself, invisible, and transported him into a
hummum of the finest marble of all sorts of colors ;
where he was undressed, without seeing by whom,
in a magnificent and spacious hall. He was then
well rubbed and washed with various scented
waters. After he had passed through several de-
grees of heat, he came out quite a different man
from what he was before. His skin was clear as
that of a child, his body lightsome and free ; and
when he returned into the hall, he found, instead
of his own poor raiment, a robe, the magnificence
of which astonished him. The genie helped him
to dress, and when he had done, transported him
back to his own chamber, where he asked him if
244
TALES FROM THE ARABIAN NIGHTS' ENTERTAINMENTS.
he had any other commands. " Yes," answered
Aladdin ; " bring me a charger that surpasses in
beauty and goodness the best in the sultan's sta-
bles : with a saddle, bridle, and other caparisons
to correspond with his value. Furnish also twenty
slaves, as richly clothed as those who carried the
present to the sultan, to walk by my side and fol-
low me, and twenty more to go before me in two
ranks. Besides these, bring my mother six women
slaves to attend her, as richly dressed at least as
any of the Princess Buddir al Buddoor's, each
carrying a complete dress fit for any sultaness. I
want also ten thousand pieces of gold in ten
purses; go, and make haste."
As soon as Aladdin had given these orders, the
genie disappeared, but presently returned with the
horse, the forty slaves, ten of whom carried each
a purse containing ten thousand pieces of gold,
and six women slaves, each carrying on her head
a different dress for Aladdin's mother, wrapped
up in a piece of silver tissue, and presented them
all to Aladdin.
He presented the six women slaves to his mother,
telling her they were her slaves, and that the
dresses they had brought were for her use. Of
the ten purses Aladdin took four, which he gave
to his mother, telling her those were to supply her
with necessaries ; the other six he left in the
hands of the slaves who brought them, with an
order to throw them by handfuls among the peo-
ple as they went to the sultan's palace. The six
slaves who carried the purses he ordered likewise
to march before him, three on the right hand and
three on the left.
When Aladdin had thus prepared himself for
his first interview with the sultan, he dismissed
the genie, and immediately mounting his charger,
began his march, and though he never was on
horseback before, appeared with a grace the most
experienced horseman might envy. The innu-
merable concourse of people through whom he
passed made the air echo with their acclamations,
especially every time the six slaves who carried
the purses threw handfuls of gold among the pop-
ulace.
On Aladdin's arrival at the palace, the sultan.
was surprised to find him more richly and magnif-
icently robed than he had ever been himself, and
was impressed with his good looks and dignity of
manner, which were so different from what he
expected in the son of one so humble as Aladdin's
mother. He embraced him with all the demon-
strations of joy, and when he would have fallen
at his feet, held him by the hand, and made him
sit near his throne. He shortly after led him,
amidst the sounds of trumpets, hautboys, and all
kinds of music, to a magnificent entertainment, at
which the sultan and Aladdin ate by themselves,
and the great loi"ds of the court, according to their
rank and dignitj', sat at different tables. After
the feast, the sultan sent for the chief cadi, and
commanded him to draw up a contract of marriage
between the Princess Buddir al Buddoorand Alad-
din. When the contract had been drawn, the
sultan asked Aladdin if he would stay in the pal-
ace and complete the ceremonies of the marriage
that day. " Sire," said Aladdin, " though great
is my impatience to enter on the honor granted
me hy your majesty, yet I beg you to permit me
first to build a palace worthy to receive the prin-
cess your daughter. I pray you to grant me suf-
ficient ground near your palace, and I will have it
completed with tlie utmost expedition." The sul-
tan granted Aladdin his request, and again emr
braced him. After which, he took his leave with
as much politeness as if he had been bred up and
had always lived at court.
Aladdin returned home in the order he had
come, amidst the acclamations of the people, who
v/ished him all happiness and prosperity. As soon
as he dismounted, he retired to his own chamber,
took the lamp, and summoned the genie as usual,
who professed his allegiance. " Genie," said Alad-
din, " build me a palace fit to receive the Princess
Buddir al Buddoor. Let its materials be made of
nothing less than porphyry, jasper, agate, lapis
lazuli, and the finest marble. Let its walls be
massive gold and silver bricks laid alternately.
Let each front contain six windows, and let the
lattices of these (except one, which must be left
THE STORT OF ALADDIN; OR, THE WONDERFUL LAMP.
245
unfinished) be enriched with diamonds, rabies,
and emeralds, so that they shall exceed every-
thing of the kind ever seen in the world. Let
there be an inner and outer court in front of the
palace, and a spacious garden ; but above all
things, pi'ovide a safe treasure-house, and fill it
with gold and silver. Let there be also kitchens
and storehouses ; stables full of the finest horses,
with their equerries and grooms, and hunting
equipage ; officers, attendants, and slaves, both
men and women, to form a retinue for the prin-
cess and myself. Go and execute my wishes."
When Aladdin gave these commands to the
genie, the sun was set. The next morning at day-
break the genie presenting himself, and having ob-
tained Aladdin's consent, transported him in a
moment to the palace he had made. The genie led
him through all the apartments, where he found
officers and slaves, habited according to their rank
and the services to which they were appointed.
The genie then showed him the treasury, which
was opened by a treasurer, where Aladdin saw
large vases of different sizes, piled up to the top
with money, ranged all round the chamber. The
genie thence led him to the stables, where were
some of the finest horses in the world, and the
grooms busy in dressing them ; from thence they
went to the storehouses, which were filled with all
things necessary, both for food and ornament.
When ALiddin had examined every portion of
the palace, and particularly the hall with the four-
and-twenty windows, and found it far to exceed
his fondest expectations, he said, " Genie, there is
one thing wanting, — a fine carpet for the princess
to walk upon from the sultan's palace to mine.
Lay one down immediately." The genie disap-
peared, and Aladdin saw what he desired executed
in an instant. The genie then returned, and car-
ried him to his own home.
When the sultan's porters came to open the
gates, they were amazed to find what had been an
unoccupied garden filled up with a magnificent
palace, and a splendid carpet extending to it all
the way from the sultan's palace. They told the
strange tidings to the grand vizier, who informed
the sultan, who exclaimed, " It must be Aladdin's
palace, which I gave him leave to build for my
daughter. He has wished to surprise us, and let
us see what wonders can be done in only one
night."
Aladdin, on his being conveyed by the genie to
his own home, requested his mother to go to the
Princess Buddir al Buddoor, and tell her that the
palace would be ready for her reception in the
evening. She went, attended by her women
slaves, in the same order as on the preceding day.
Shortly after her arrival at the princess's apart-
ment, the sultan himself came in, and was sur-
prised to find her, whom he knew as his suppliant
at his divan in such humble guise, to be now more
richly and sumptuously attired than his own
daughter. Tliis gave him a higher opinion of
Aladdin, who took such care of his mother, and
made her share his wealth and honors. Shortly
after her departure, Aladdin, mounting his horse,
and attended by his retinue of magnificent at-
tendants, left his paternal home forever, and went
to the palace in the same pomp as on the day
before. Nor did he forget to take with him the
wonderful lamp to which he owed all his good
fortune, nor to wear the ring which was given him
as a talisman. The sultan entertained Aladdin
with the utmost magnificence, and at night, on the
conclusion of the marriage ceremonies, the prin-
cess took leave of the sultan her father. Bands
of music led the procession, followed by a hun-
dred state ushers, and the like number of black
mutes, in two files, with their officers at their
head. Four hundred of the sultan's young pages
carried flambeaux on each side, which, together
with the illuminations of the sultan's and Alad-
din's palaces, made it as light as day. In this or-
der the princess, conveyed in her litter, and ac-
companied also by Aladdin's mother, carried in a
superb litter and attended by her women slaves,
proceeded on the carpet which was spread from
the sultan's palace to that of Aladdin. On her ar-
rival Aladdin was ready to receive her at the en-
trance, and led her into a large hall, illuminated
with an infinite number of wax candles, where a
246
TALES FROM THE ARABIAN NIGHTS' ENTERTAINMENTS.
noble feast was served up. The dishes were of
massy gold, and contained the most delicate vi-
ands. The vases, basins, and goblets were gold
also, and of exquisite workmanship, and all the
other ornaments and embellishments of the hall
were answerable to this display. The princess,
dazzled to see so much
riches collected in one
place, said to Alad-
din, "I thought,
pi'ince, that nothing
in the world was so
beautiful as the sul-
tan ray father's pal-
ace, but the sight of
this hall alone is suf-
ficient to show I was
deceived."
When the supper
was ended, there en-
tered a company of
female dancers, who
performed, according
to the custom of the
coantrv, singinji; at
the same time verses
in praise of the bride
and bridegroom.
About midnight Alad-
din's mother con-
ducted the bride to
the nuptial apart-
ment and he soon
after retired.
The next morning
the attendants of
Aladdin presented
themselves to dress
him, and brought him another habit, as rich and
magnificent as that worn the day before. He then
ordered one of the horses to be got ready, mounted
him, and went in the midst of a lai-ge troop of
slaves to the sultan's palace, to entreat him to take
a repast in the princess's palace, attended by his
grand vizier and all the lords of his court. The
sultan consented with pleasure, rose up immedi.
ately, and, preceded by the principal officers of his
palace, and followed by all the great lords of his
court, accompanied Aladdin.
The nearer the sultan appi-oached Aladdin's
palace, the more he was struck with its beauty •
but when he entered
it, came into the hall,
and saw the windows,
enriched with dia-
monds, rubies, emer-
alds, all large perfect
stones, he was com-
pletely surprised, and
said to his son-in-
law ; " This palace is
one of the wonders of
the world : for where
in all the world be-
sides shall we find
walls built of massy
gold and silver, and
diamonds, rubies, and
emeralds composing
the windows ? But
what most surprises
me is, that a hall of
this magnificence
should be left with one
of its windows incom-
plete and unfinished."
"Sire," answered
Aladdin, "the omis-
sion was by design,
since I wished that
you should have the
glory of finishing this
hall." " I take your
intention kindly," said the sultan, "and will give
orders about it immediately."
After the sultan had finished this magnificent
entertainment provided for him and for his court
by Aladdin, he was informed that tlie jewelers
and goldsmiths attended ; upon which he returned
to the hall, and showed them the window which
THE STORY OF ALADDIN; OR, THE WONDERFUL LAMP.
247
was unfinished. " I sent for you," said he, " to
fit up this window in as great perfection as the
rest. Examine them well, and make all the dis-
patch you can."
The jewelers and goldsmiths examined the
three-and-twenty windows with great attention,
and after they had consulted together, to know
what each could furnish, they returned and pre-
sented themselves before the sultan, whose princi-
pal jeweler, undertaking to speak for the rest,
said: " Sire, we are all willing to exert our ut-
most care and industry to obey you ; but among
us all we cannot funiish jewels enough for so
great a work." " I have more than are necessary,"
said the sultan ; " come to my palace, and you
shall choose what may answer your purpose."
When the sultan returned to his palace, he or-
dered his jewels to be brought out, and the jewel-
ers took a great quantity, particularly those Alad-
din had made him a present of, which they soon
used, without making any great advance in their
work. They came again several times for more,
and in a month's time had not finished half their
work. In short, they used all the jewels the sul-
tan had, and borrowed of the vizier, but yet the
work was not half done.
Aladdin, who knew that all the sultan's endeav-
ors to make this window like the rest were in vain,
sent for the jewelers and goldsmiths, and not only
commanded them to desist from their work, but
ordered them to undo what they had begun, and
to carry all their jewels back to the sultan and to
the vizier. They undid in a few hours what they
had been six weeks about, and retired, leaving
Aladdin alone in the hall. He took the lamp,
which he carried about him, rubbed it, and pres-
ently the genie appeared. " Genie," said Aladdin,
" I ordered thee to leave one of the four-and-
twenty windows of this hall imperfect, and thou
hast executed my commands punctually ; now I
would have thee make it like the rest." The genie
immediately disappeared. Aladdin went out of
the hall, and returning soon after, found the win-
dow, as he wished it to be, like the others.
In the mean time the jewelers and goldsmiths
repaired to the palace, and were introduced into
the sultan's presence, where the chief jeweler pre-
sented the precious stones which he had brought
back. The sultan asked them if Aladdin had
given them any reason for so doing, and they an-
swering that he had given them none, he ordered
a horse to be brought, which he mounted, and
rode to his son-in-law's palace, with some few at-
tendants on foot, to inquire why he had ordered
the completion of the window to be stopped.
Aladdin met him at the gate, and without giving
any reply to his inquiries conducted him to the
grand saloon, where the sultan, to his great sur-
prise, found the window which was left imperfect
to correspond exactly with the others. He fancied
at first that he was mistaken, and examined the
two windows on each side, and afterwards all the
four-and-twenty ; but when he was convinced that
the window which several workmen had been so
long about was finished in so short a time, he em-
braced Aladdin and kissed him between his eyes.
" M}' son," said he, " what a man you are, to do
such surprising things always in the twinkling of
an eye ! there is not your fellow in the world ; the
more I know, the more I admire you."
The sultan returned to the palace, and after this
went frequently to the window to contemplate
and admire the wonderful palace of his son-in-
law.
Aladdin did not confine himself in his palace,
but went with much state, sometimes to one
mosque, and sometimes to another, to prayers, or
to visit the grand vizier, or the principal lords of
the court. Every time he went out, he caused
two slaves, who walked by the side of his horse, to
throw handfuls of money among the people as he
passed through the streets and squares. This gen-
erosity gained him the love and ble^ings of the
people, and it was common for them to swear by
his head. Thus Aladdin, while he paid all respect
to the sultan, won by his affable behavior and lib-
erality the affections of the people.
Aladdin had conducted himself in this manner
several years, when the African magician, who
had for some years dismissed him from his recol-
248
TALES FROM THE ARABIAN NIGHTS' ENTERTAINMENTS.
lection, determined to inform himself witli cer-
tainty whether he perished, as he supposed, in the
subterranean cave or not. After he had resorted
to a long course of magic ceremonies, and had
formed a horoscope by which to ascertain Alad-
din's fate, what was his surprise to find the ap-
pearances to declare that Aladdin, instead of dying
in the cave, had made his escape, and was living
in royal splendor, by the aid of the genie of the
wonderful lamp !
On the very next day the magician set out and
traveled with the utmost haste to the cajjital of
China, where, on his arrival, he took up his lodg-
ing in a khan.
He then quickly learnt about the wealth, chari-
ties, happiness, and splendid palace of Prince
Aladdin. Directly he saw the wonderful fabric,
he knew that none but the genies, the slaves of
the lamp, could have performed such wondei-s ;
and piqued to the quick at Aladdin's high estate,
he returned to the khan.
On his return he had recourse to an operation
of geomancy to find out where the lamp was, —
whether Aladdin carried it about with him, or
where he left it. The result of his consultation
informed him, to his great joy, that the lamp was
in the palace. " Well," said he, rubbing his hands
in glee, " I shall have the lamp, and I shall make
Aladdin return to his original mean condition."
The next day the magician learnt, from the
chief superintendent of the khan where he lodged,
that Aladdin had gone on a hunting expedition,
which was to last for eight days, of which only
three had expired. Tiie magician wanted to know
no more. He resolved at once on his plans. He
went to a coppersmith, and asked for a dozen
copper lamps ; the master of the shop told him
he had not so many by him, but if he would have
patience till the next day, he would have them
ready. The magician appointed his time, and de-
sired him to take care that they should be hand-
some and well polished.
The next day the magician called for the twelve
lamps, paid the man his full price, put them into
a basket hanging on his arm, and went directly to
Aladdin's palace. As he approached, he began
crying, " Who will change old lamps for new
ones ? " As he went along, a crowd of children
collected, who hooted, and thought him, as did
all who chanced to be passing by, a madman or a
fool, to offer to change new lamps for old ones.
The African magician regarded not their scoffs,
hootings, or all they could say to him, but still
continued crying, " Who will change old lamps for
new ones?" He repeated this so often, walking
backwards and forwards in front of the palace,
that the princess, who was then in the hall with
the four-and-twenty windows, hearing a man cry
something, and seeing a great mob crowding about
him, sent one of her women slaves to know what
he cried.
The slave returned laughing so heartily that
the princess rebuked her. " Madam," answered
the slave, laughing still, " who can forbear laugh-
ing, to see an old man with a basket on his arm,
full of fine new lamps, asking to change them for
old ones ? the children and mob crowding about
him so that he can hardly stir, make all the noise
they can in derision of him."
Another female slave, hearing this, said, "Now
you speak of lamps, I know not whether the prin-
cess may have observed it, but there is an old one
upon a shelf of the Prince Aladdin's robing-room,
and whoever owns it will not be sorry to find a
new one in its stead. If the princess chooses, she
may have the pleasure of trying if this old man
is so silh" as to give a new lamp for an old one,
without taking anything for the exchange."
The princess, who knew not the value of this
lamp, and the interest that Aladdin had to keep
it safe, entered into the pleasantry, and com-
manded a slave to take it and make the ex-
chano-e. The slave obeved, went out of the hall,
and no sooner got to the palace gates than he saw
the African magician, called to him, and showing
him the old lamp, said, " Give me a new lamp
for this."
The magician never doubted but this was the
lamp he wanted. There could be no other such
in this palace, where every utensil was gold or
THE STORT OF ALADDIN; OR, THE WONDERFUL LAMP.
249
silver. He snatched it eagerly out of the slave's
hand, and thrusting it as far as he could into his
breast, offered him his basket, and bade him choose
which he liked best. The slave picked out one,
and carried it to the princess ; but the change was
no sooner made than the place rung with the
shouts of the children, deriding the magician's
folly.
The African magician stayed no longer near
the palace, nor cried any more, " New lamps for
old ones," but made the best of his way to his
khan. His end was answered, and by his silence
he got rid of the children and the mob.
As soon as he was out of sight of the two pal-
aces, he hastened down the least-frequented streets ;
and having no more occasion for his lamps or
basket, set all down in a spot where nobody saw
him ; then going down another street or two, he
walked till he came to one of the cit}' gates, and
pursuing his way through the suburbs, which
were very extensive, at length reached a lonely
spot, where he stopped till the darkness of the
night, as the most suitable time for the design he
had in contemplation. When it became quite
dark, he pulled the lamp one of his breast, and
rubbed it. At that summons the genie appeai-ed,
and said, " What wouldst thou have ? I am ready
to obey thee as thy slave, and the slave of all
those who have that lamp in their hands, — both I
and the other slaves of the lamp." " I command
thee," replied the magician, " to transport me im-
mediately, and the palace which thou and the
other slaves of the lamp have built in this city,
with all the people in it, to Africa." The genie
made no reply, but with the assistance of the
other genies, the slaves of the lamp, immediately
transported him and the palace entire, to the spot
whither he had been desired to convey it.
Early the next morning, when the sultan, ac-
cording to custom, went to contemplate and ad-
mire Aladdin's palace, his amazement was un-
bounded to find that it could nowhere be seen.
He could not comprehend how so large a palace,
which he had seen plainly every day for some
years, should vanish so soon, and not leave the
32
least remains behind. In his perplexity he or-
dered the grand vizier to be sent for with expedi-
tion.
The grand vizier, who, in secret, boi-e no good-
will to Aladdin, intimated his suspicion that the
palace was built by magic, and that Aladdin had
made his hunting excursion an excuse for the
removal of his palace with the same suddenness
with wliich it had been erected. He induced the
sultan to send a detachment of his guards, and to
have Aladdin seized as a prisoner of state. On
his son-in-law being brought before him, he would
not hear a word from him, but ordered him to be
put to death. The decree caused so much dis-
content among the people, whose affection Alad-
din had secured by his largesses and charities,
that the sultan, fearful of an insurrection, was
obliged to grant him his life. When Aladdin
found himself at liberty, he again addressed the
sultan: "Sire, I pray you to let me know the
crime by which I have thus lost the favor of thy
countenance." " Your crime ! " answered the sul-
tan ; " wretched man ! do you not know it ? Fol-
low me, and I will show you." The sultan then
took Aladdin into the apartment from wlience he
was wont to look at and admire his palace, and
said, " You ought to know where your palace
stood ; look, mind, and tell me what has become
of it." Aladdin did so, and, being utterly amazed
at the loss of his palace, was speechless. At last
recovering himself, he said : " It is true, I do not
see the palace. It is vanished ; but I had no con-
cern in its removal. I beg you to give me forty
days, and if in that time I cannot restore it, I will
offer my head to be disposed of at your pleasure."
" I give you the time you ask, but at the end of
the forty days, forget not to present yourself be-
fore me."
Aladdin went out of the sultan's palace in a
condition of exceeding humiliation. The lords
who had courted him in the days of his splendor,
now declined to have any communication with
him. For three days he wandered about the city,
exciting the wonder and compassion of the multi-
tude by asking everybody he met if they had seen
250
TALES FROM THE ARABTAN NIGHTS' ENTERTAINMENTS.
his palace, or could tell him anything of it. On
the third day he wandered in the country, and as
he was approaching a river, he fell down the bank
with so much violence, that he rubbed the ring
which the magician had given him so hard, by
holding on the rock to save himself, that immedi-
ately the same genie appeared whom he had seen
in the cave where the magician had left him.
" What wouldst thou have ? " said the genie. " I
am ready to obey thee as thy slave, and the slave
of all those that have that ring on their finger, —
both I and the other slaves of the ring."
Aladdin, agreeably surjDrised at an offer of help
so little expected, replied, " Genie, show me where
the palace I caused to be built now stands, or
transport it back where it first stood." " Your com-
mand," answered the genie, " is not wholly in my
power ; I am only the slave of the ring, and not
of the lamp." " I command thee, then," replied
Aladdin, " by the power of the ring, to transport
me to the spot where my palace stands, in wliat
part of the world soever it may be." These words
were no sooner out of his mouth, than the genie
transported him into Africa, to the midst of a
large plain, where his palace stood, at no great
distance from a city, and placing him exactly un-
der the window of the princess's apartment, left
him.
Now it so happened that shortly after Aladdin
had been transported by the slave of the ring to
the neighborhood of his palace, that one of the
attendants of the Princess Buddir al Buddoor,
looking through the window, perceived him, and
instantly told her mistress. The princess, who
could not believe the joyful tidings, hastened hei--
self to the window, and seeing Aladdin, immedi-
ately opened it. The noise of opening the win-
dow made Aladdin turn his head that way, and
perceiving the princess, he saluted her with an air
that expressed his J03'. " To lose no time," said
she to him, " I have sent to have the private door
opened for you ; enter and come up."
The private door, which was just under the
princess's apartment, was soon opened, and Alad-
din conducted up into the chamber. It is impos-
sible to express the joy of both at seeing each
other, after so cruel a separation. After embrac-
ing and shedding tears of joy, they sat down, and
Aladdin said, " I beg of you, princess, to tell me
what is become of an old lamp which stood upon a
shelf in my robing-chamber."
" Alas ! " answered the princess, " I was afraid
our misfortune might be owing to that lamp : and
what grieves me most is, that I have been the
cause of it. I was foolish enough to change the
old lamp for a new one, and the next morning
I found myself in this unknown country, which I
am told is Africa."
" Princess," said Aladdin, interrupting her,
" you have explained all by telling me we are in
Africa. I desire you only to tell me if you know
where the old lamp now is." " The African magi-
cian carries it carefully wrapped up in his bosom,"
said the princess ; " and this I can assure you, be-
cause he pulled it out before me, and showed it to
me in triumph."
" Princess," said Aladdin, " I think I have
found the means to deliver you, and to regain pos-
session of the lamp, on which all mj^ prosperity
depends ; to execute this design, it is necessary
for me to go to the town. I shall return by noon,
and will then tell you what must be done by you
to insure success. In the mean time, I shall dis-
guise myself, and I beg that the private door may
be opened at the first knock."
When Aladdin was out of the palace, he looked
round him on all sides, and perceiving a peasant
going into the country, hastened after him ; and
when he had overtaken him, made a proposal to
him to change clothes, which the man agreed to.
When they had made the exchange, the coun-
tryman went about his business, and Aladdin
entered the neighboring city. After traversing
several streets, he came to that part of the town
where the merchants and artisans had their par-
ticular streets, according to their trades. He went
into that of the druggists ; and entei'ing one of
the largest and best furnished shops, asked the
druggist if he had a certain powder which he
named.
THE STORY OF ALADDIN; OR, THE WONDERFUL LAMP.
251
The druggist, judging Aladdin by his habit to
be very poor, told him he had it, but that it was
very dear ; upon which Aladdin, penetrating his
thoughts, pulled out his purse, and showing him
some gold, asked for half a dram of the powder ;
which the druggist weighed and gave him, telling
him the price was a piece of gold. Aladdin put
the money into his hand, and hastened to the pal-
ace, which he entered at once bj' the private door.
When he came into the princess's apartment, he
said to her : " Princess, you must take your part
in the scheme which I propose for our deliverance.
You must overcome your aversion to the magi-
cian, and assume a most friendly manner towards
him, and ask him to oblige you by partaking of
an entertainment in your apartments. Before he
leaves, ask him to exchange cups with j'ou, which
he, gratified at the honor you do him, will gladly
do, when you must give him the cup containing
this powder. On drinking it he will instantly fall
asleep, and we will obtain the lamp, whose slaves
will do all our bidding, and restore us and the pal-
ace to the capital of China."
The princess obeyed to the utmost her hus-
band's instructions. She assumed a look of pleas-
ure on the next visit of the magician, and asked
him to an entertainment, which he most willingly
accepted. At the close of the evening, during
which the princess had tried all she could to please
him, she asked him to exchange cups with her,
and giving the signal, had the drugged cup brought
to her, which she gave to the magician. He
drank it out of compliment to the princess to the
very last drop, when he fell backwards lifeless on
the sofa.
The princess, in anticipation of the success of
her scheme, had so placed her women from the
great hall to the foot of the staircase, that the
word was no sooner given that the African magi-
cian was fallen backwards, than the door was
opened, and Aladdin admitted to the hall. The
princess rose from her seat, and ran overjoyed to
embrace him ; but he stopped her, and said :
" Princess, retire to your apartment ; and let me
be left alone, while I endeavor to transport you
back to China as speedily as you were brought
from thence."
When the princess, her women, and slaves were
gone out of the hall, Aladdin shut the door, and
going directly to the dead body of the magician,
opened his vest, took out the lamp which was
carefully wrapped up, and rubbing it, the genie
immediately appeared. " Genie," said Aladdin,
" I command thee to transport this palace instantly
to the place from whence it was brought hither."
The genie bowed his head in token of obedience,
and disappeared. Immediately the palace was
transported into China, and its removal was only
felt by two little shocks, the one when it was
lifted UJ3, the other when it was set down, and
both in a very short interval of time.
On the mominof after the restoration of Alad-
din's palace, the sultan was looking out of his
window, and mourning over the fate of his daugh-
ter, when he thought that he saw the vacancy
created by the disappearance of the palace to be
again filled up. On looking more attentivelj^ he
was convinced beyond the power of doubt that it
was his son-in law's palace. Joy and gladness
succeeded to sorrow and grief. He at once or-
dered a horse to be saddled, which he mounted
that instant, thinking he could not make haste
enough to the place.
Aladdin rose that morning by daybreak, put on
one of the most magnificent habits his wardrobe
afforded, and went up into the hall of twenty-four
windows, from whence he perceived the sultan ap-
proaching, and I'eceived him at the foot of the
great staircase, helping him to dismount.
He led the sultan into the princess's apartment.
The happy father embraced her with tears of
joy ; and the princess, on her side, afforded simi-
lar testimonies of her extreme pleasure. After a
short interval, devoted to mutual explanations of
all that had happened, the sultan restored Aladdin
to his favor, and expressed his regret for the ap-
parent harshness with which he had treated him.
" My son," said he, " be not displeased at my pro-
ceedings against you ; they arose from my pater-
nal love, and therefore you ought to forgive the
252
TALES FROM THE ARABIAN NIGHTS' ENTERTAINMENTS.
excesses to which it humed me."' " Sire," replied
Aladdin, " I have not the least reason to complain
of your conduct, since you did nothing but what
your duty required. This infamous magician, the
basest of men, was the sole cause of my misfort-
une.
The African magician, who was thus twice foiled
in his endeavor to ruin Aladdin, had a younger
brother who was as skillful a magician as himself,
and exceeded him in wickedness and hatred of
mankind. By mutual agreement they communi-
cated with each other once a year, however widely
separated might be their place of residence from
each other. The younger brother, not having
received as usual his annual communication, pre-
pared to take a horoscope and ascertain his broth-
er's proceedings. He, as well as his brothei-, always
carried a geomantic square instrument about him ;
he prepared the sand, cast the points, and drew
the figures. On examining the planetary crystal,
he found that his brother was no longer living, but
had been poisoned , and by another observation,
that he was in the capital of the kingdom of
China ; also that the person who had poisoned
him was of mean birth, though married to a prin-
cess, a sultan's daughter.
When the magician had informed himself of
his brother's fate he resolved immediately to re-
venge his death, and at once departed for China ;
where, after crossing plains, rivers, mountains,
deserts, and a long tract of country without delay,
he arrived after incredible fatigues. When he
came to the capital of China, he took a lodging at
a khan. His magic art soon revealed to him that
Aladdin was the iDerson who had been the cause of
the death of his brother. He had heard, too, all
the persons of repute in the city talking of a
woman called Fatima, who was retired from the
world, and of the mii'acles she wrought. As he
fancied that this woman might be serviceable to
him in the project he had conceived, he made
more minute inquiries, and requested to be in-
formed more particularly who that holj' woman
was, and what sort of miracles she performed.
" What ! " said the person whom he addressed,
" have you never seen or heard of her ? She is
the admiration of the whole town, for her fasting,
her austerities, and her exemplaiy life. Except
Mondays and Fridays, she never stirs out of her
little cell ; and on those days on which she comes
into the town she does an infinite deal of good ;
for there is not a person who is diseased but she
puts her hand on them and cures them."
Having ascertained the place where the hermit-
age of this holy woman was, the magician went at
night, and plunged a poniard into her heart, —
killed this good woman. In the morning he dyed
his face of the same hue as hers, and arraying
himself in her gai'b, taking her veil, the large
necklace she wore round her waist, and her stick,
went straight to the palace of Aladdin.
As soon as the jieople saw the holy woman, as
they imagined him to be, they presently gathered
about him in a great crowd. Some begged his
blessing, others kissed his hand, and others, more
reserved, only the hem of his garment ; while oth-
ers, suffering from disease, stooped for him to lay
his hands upon them which he did, muttering
some words in form of prayei-, and, in short, coun-
terfeiting so well that everybody took him for the
holy woman. He came at last to the square before
Aladdin's palace. The crowd and the noise were
so great that the princess, who was in the hall of
four-and-twenty windows, heard it, and asked
what was the matter. One of her women told her
it was a great crowd of people, collected about the
holy woman to be cured of diseases by the imposi-
tion of her hands.
The princess, who had long heard of this holy
woman, but had never seen her, was very desirous
to have some conversation with her ; which the
chief officer perceiving, told her it was an easy
matter to bring her to her, if she desired and com-
manded it ; and the princess expressing her wishes,
he immediately sent four slaves for the pretended
holy woman.
As soon as the crowd saw the attendants from
the palace, they made way ; and the magician,
perceiving also that they were coming for him,
advanced to meet them, overjoyed to find his plot
THE STORY OF ALADDIN ; OS, THE WONDERFUL LAMP.
253
succeed so well. " Holy woman," said one of the
slaves, " the princess wants to see you, and has
sent us for you." " The princess does me too great
an honor," replied the false Fatima ; " I am ready
to obey her command," and at the same time fol-
lowed the slaves to the palace.
When the pretended Fatima had made her
obeisance, the princess said : " My good mother,
I have one thing to request, which you must not
refuse me ; it is, to stay with me, that you may
edify me with j'our way of living, and that I may
learn from your good example." " Princess," said
the counterfeit Fatima, " I beg of you not to ask
what I cannot consent to without neglecting my
prayers and devotion." " That shall be no hin-
drance to you," answered the princess; "I have
a great many apartments unoccupied ; you shall
choose which you like best, and have as much
liberty to perform your devotions as if you were
in your own cell."
The magician, who really desired nothing more
than to introduce himself into the palace, where
it would be a much easier matter for him to
execute liis designs, did not long excuse him-
self from accepting the obliging offer which the
princess made him. " Princess," said he, " what-
ever resolution a poor wretched woman as I am
may have made to renounce the pomp and gran-
deur of this world, I dare not presume to oppose
the will and commands of so pious and charitable
a princess."
Upon this the princess, rising up, said : '■ Come
with me ; I will show you what vacant apartments
I have, that you may make choice of that you like
best." The magician followed the princess, and
of all the apartments she showed him, made
choice of that which was the worst, saying that it
was too good for him, and that he only accej)ted
it to please her.
Afterwards the princess would have brought him
back again into the great hall to make him dine
with her ; but he, considering that he should then
be obliged to show his face, which he had always
taken care to conceal with Fatima's veil, and fear-
ing that the princess should find out that he was
not Fatima, begged of her earnestly to excuse
him, telling her that he never ate anything but
bread and dried fruits, and desiring to eat that
slight repast in his own apartment. The princess
granted his request, saying, " You may be as free
here, good mother, as if you were in your own
cell : I will order you a dinner, but remember I
expect you as soon as you have finished your re-
past."
After the princess had dined, and the false
Fatima had been sent for by one of the attendants,
he again waited upon her. " My good mother,"
said the princess, "I am overjoyed to see so holy
a woman as yourself, who will confer a blessing
upon this palace. Bat now I am speaking of the
palace, pray how do you like it ? And before I
show it all to you, tell me first what you think of
this hall."
Upon this question, the counterfeit Fatima sur-
vej'ed the hall from one end to the other. When
he had examined it well, he said to the princess :
" As far as such a solitary being as I am, who am
unacquainted with what the world calls beautiful,
can judge, this hall is truly admirable ; there iVants
but one thing." "■ What is that, good mother? "
demanded the princess; " tell me, I conjure you.
For my part, I always believed, and have heard
say, it wanted nothing ; but if it does, it shall be
supplied."
" Princess," said the false Fatima, with great
dissimulation, "forgive me the liberty I have
taken ; but ray opinion is, if it can be of any im-
portance, that if a roc's egg were hung up in the
middle of the dome, this hall would have no par-
allel in the four quarters of the world, and your
palace Avould be the wonder of the universe."
" My good mother," said the princess, " what
is a roc, and where may one get an egg? " " Prin-
cess," replied the pretended Fatima, " it is a bird
of prodigious size, which inhabits the summit of
Mount Caucasus ; the architect who built your
palace can get you one.
After the princess had thanked the false Fatima
for what she believed her good advice, she con-
versed witli her upon other matters ; but could not
25i
TALES FROM THE ARABIAN NIGHTS' ENTERTAINMENTS.
forget the roc's egg, which she resolved to request
of Aladdin -when next he should visit his apart-
ments. He did so in the course of that evening,
and shortly after he entered, the princess thus ad-
dressed him : " I always believed that our palace
was the most superb, magnificent, and complete
in the world: but I will tell you now what it
wants, and that is a roc's egg hung up in the
midst of the dome." " Princess," replied Aladdin,
"it is enough that you thinii it wants such an
ornament ; you shall see by the diligence which
I use in obtaining it, that there is nothing which
I could not do for your sake."
Aladdin left the Princess Buddir al Buddoor
that moment, and went up into the hall of four-
and-twenty windows, where, pulling out of his
bosom the lamp, which, after the danger he had
been exposed to, he always carried about him, he
rubbed it ; upon which the genie immediately ap-
peared. " Genie," said Aladdin, " I command thee
in the name of this lamp, bring a roc's egg to be
hung up in the middle of the dome of the hall of
the palace." Aladdin had no sooner pronounced
these words than the hall shook as if ready to
fall ; and the genie said in a loud and terrible
voice : " Is it not enough that I and the other
slaves of the lamp have done everything for you,
but you, by an unheard-of ingratitude, must com-
mand me to bring my master, and hang him up
in the midst of this dome? This attempt deserves
that you, the princess, and the palace, should be
immediately reduced to ashes : but you are spared
because this request does not come from yourself.
Its true author is the brother of the African ma-
gician, your enemy, whom j'ou have destroyed.
He is now in your palace, disguised in the habit
of the holy woman Fatima, whom he has mur-
dered ; at his suggestion your wife makes this per-
nicious demand. His design is to kill you, there-
fore take care of yourself." After these words
the genie disappeared.
Aladdin resolved at once what to do. He re-
turned to the princess's apartment, and without
mentioning a word of what had happened, sat
down, and complained of a great pain which had
suddenly seized his head. On hearing this, the
princess told him how she had invited the holy
Fatima to stay with her and that she was now in
the palace ; and at the request of the prince, or-
dered her to be summoned to her at once.
When the pretended Fatima came, Aladdin
said : " Come hither, good mother , I am glad to
see you here at so fortunate a time. I am tor-
mented with a violent pain in my head, and re-
quest your assistance, and hope you will not refuse
me that cure which you impart to afflicted per-
sons." So saying, he arose, but held down his
head. The counterfeit Fatima advanced towards
him, with his hand all the time on a dagger con-
cealed in his girdle under his gown ; which Alad
din observing, he snatched the weapon from his
hand, pierced him to the heart with his own dag-
ger, and then pushed him down on the floor.
" My dear prince, what have you done ? " cried
the princess, in surprise. " You have killed the
holy woman ! " " No, my princess," answered
Aladdin, with emotion, " I have not killed Fatima,
but a villain, who would have assassinated me, if
I had not prevented him. This wicked man,"
added he, uncovering his face, " is the brother of
the magician who attempted our ruin. He has
strangled the true Fatima, and disguised himself
in her clothes with intent to murder me." Alad-
din then informed her how the genie had told him
these facts, and how narrowly she and the palace
had escaped destruction through his treacherous
suggestion which had led to her request.
Tluis was Aladdin delivered from the persecu-
tion of the two brothers, who were magicians.
Within a few years afterwards, the sultan died in
a good old age, and, as he left no male children,
the Princess Buddir al Buddoor succeeded him,
and she and Aladdin reigned together many years,
and left a numerous and illustrious posterity.
THE ADVENTURES OF THE CALIPH HAROUN AL-RASCHID.
255
V. THE ADVENTURES OF THE CALIPH HAROUN AL-RASCHID.
The Caliph Haroun Al-Raschid, was accus-
tomed to visit the city of Bagdad in disguise, that
he might see, himself, into the condition of the
peojjle, and hear their
reports of his court
and government. On
one occasion, he and
his grand vizier Giafar
disguised themselves
as foreign merchants,
and went their way
through the different
parts of the city. As
they entered on a
bridge which connect-
ed together the two
parts of the city of
Bagdad, divided by
the river Euphrates,
they met an old blind
man, who asked alms.
The caliph put a piece
of gold into his hand,
on which the blind
man caught hold of
his hand, and stopped
him, saying: "Sir,
pray forgive me ; I de-
sire you would either
give me a box on the
ear, or take your alms
back again, for I can-
not receive it but on
that condition, with-
out breaking a sol-
emn oath which I have sworn to God ; and if you
knew the reason, you would agree with me that
the punishment is ver}' slight."
The caliph, unwilling to be detained any longer,
yielded to the importunity of the blind man, and
gave him a very slight blow : whereupon he im-
mediately let him go, thanked and blessed him.
When they came into the town, they found in a
square a great crowd of spectators, looking at a
young man who was mounted on a mare, which
he drove and urged
full speed round the
place, spurring and
whipping the poor
creature so barbar-
ously that she was all
over sweat and blood.
The caliph, amazed
at the inhumanity of
the rider, stopped to
ask the people if they
knew why he used the
mare so ill, but could
learn nothing, except
that for some time
past he had everj'
day, at the same hour,
treated her in the
same manner.
The caliph, on his
way to his palace, ob-
served in a street,
which he had not
passed through for a
long time, an edifice
newly built, which
seemed to him to be
the palace of some one
of the great lords of
the court. He asked
the grand vizier if he
knew to whom it be-
longed ; who answered he did not, but would in-
quire ; and thereupon asked a neighbor, who told
him that the house belonged to one Cogia Hassan,
surnamed Alhabbal, on account of his original
trade of rope-making, which he had seen him work
at himself, when poor ; that without knowing how
fortune had favored him, he supposed he must
256
TALES FROM THE ARABIAN NIGHTS' ENTERTAINMENTS.
have acquired great wealth, as be defrayed hon-
orably and splendidly the expenses he bad been at
in building.
The grand vizier rejoined the caliph, and gave
him a full account of what he bad beard. "I must
see this fortunate rope-maker,"' said the caliph,
" and also this blind beggar, and the young man
who treated the mare so cruelly ; therefore go and
tell them to come to my palace." Accordingly
the vizier obeyed.
The next day, after afternoon prayers, the grand
vizier introduced the three persons we have been
speaking of, and presented them to the caliph.
They all three prostrated themselves before the
throne, and when they rose up, the caliph asked
the blind man his name, who answered, it was
Baba Abdalla.
" Baba Abdalla," replied the caliph, " I or-
dered you to come hither, to know from yourself
why you made the indiscreet oath you told me of.
Tell nie freely, for I will know the truth."
Baba Abdalla cast himself a second time at the
foot of the caliph's throne, with his face to the
ground, and when he rose up, said : " Commander
of the Faithful, I most humbly ask your pardon
for my presumption in requiring you to box my
ear. As to the extravagance of my action, I own
that it must seem strange to mankind ; but in the
eye of God it is a slight penance for an enormous
crime of which I have been guilty, and for which,
if all the people in the world were each to give
me a box on the ear, it would not be a sufficient
atonement."
THE STORY OF BABA ABDALLA.
Commander of the Faithful, continued Baba
Abdalla, I was born at Bagdad. My father and
mother died while I was yet a youth, and I in-
herited from them an ample estate. Although so
young, I neglected no opportunity to increase it
by my industry. I soon became rich enough to
purchase fourscore camels, which I let out to mer-
j chants, who hired them at a considerable profit to
me, to carry their merchandise from one country
to another.
As I was returning one day with my unloaded
camels from Bussorah, whither I had carried some
bales that were to be embarked for the Indies, I
met a dervis, who was walking to Bussorah. I
asked him whence he came, and where he was go-
ing : he put the same questions to me ; and when
we had satisfied each other's curiosity, we pro-
duced our provisions and ate together.
During our repast, the dervis told me of a spot
not far from where we sat, in which such im-
mense riches were collected that if all my four-
score camels were loaded with the gold and jewels
that might be taken from it, they would not be
missed.
I was overjoyed at this intelligence.
" You say," continued the dervis, '' that you
have fourscore camels : I am ready to conduct
you to the jjlace W'here the treasure lies, and we
will load them with as much jewels and gold as
they can carry, on condition that when they are
so loaded, you will let me have one half, and you
be contented with the other ; after which we will
separate, and take our camels where we may think
fit. You see thei-e is nothing but what is strictly
equitable in this division ; for if you give me fort}^
camels, you will procure by my means where-
withal to purchase thousands."
I assented, thougli with some reluctance, to his
proposal. I at once collected all my camels, and
set out with the dervis. After we had traveled
some time, we came to a pass, which was so nar-
row tliat two camels could not go abreast. The
two mountains which bounded this valley were so
high and steep that there was no fear of our be-
ing seen by anybody.
When we came into the valley between these
two mountains, the dervis bade me stop the cam-
els. He proceeded to gather some sticks, and to
light a fire : he then cast some incense into it,
pronouncing certain words which I did not under-
stand, when presently a thick cloud arose. This
soon dispersed, when the rock forming the side of
the valley opened, and exposed to view a magnifi-
cent palace in the hollow of the mountain.
So eager was I for the treasures which displayed
THE ADVENTURES OF THE CALIPH HAROUN AL-RASGHID.
257
themselves to my view, that, like an eagle seizing
her prey, I fell upon the first heap of golden coin
that was near me. My sacks were all large, and
I would have filled them all, but I was obliged to
proportion my burden to the strength of my cam-
els. The dervis paid more attention to the jewels
than the gold, and I soon followed his example, so
that we took away much more jewels than gold.
When we had filled our sacks, and loaded our
camels, the dervis used the same incantations to
shut the treasui-y as he had done to open it, when
the doors closed, and the rock seemed as solid and
entire as it was before. I observed, however, that
the dervis, before he went away, took a small ves-
sel out of the cave and put it into his breast, first
showing me that it contained only a glutinous sort
of ointment.
We now divided our camels. I put myself at
the head of the forty which I had reserved for
myself, and the dervis placed himself at the head
of those which I had given him. We came out
of the valley by the way we had entered, and
traveled together till we came to the great road,
where we were to part, — the dervis to go to Bus-
sorah, and I to Bagdad. To thank him for so
great a kindness, I made use of the most expres-
sive terms, testifying my gratitude for the pref-
erence he had given me before all other men in
letting me have a share of such riches. We em-
braced each other with great joy, and, taking our
leave, pursued our different routes.
I had not gone far, following my camels, which
paced quietly on in the track I had put them into,
before the demon of ingratitude and envy took
possession of my heart, and I deplored th*e loss of
my other forty, but much more the riches where-
with they were loaded. " The dervis," said I to
myself, " has no occasion for all this wealth, since
he is master of the treasure, and may have as much
as he pleases ; " so I determined immediately to
take the camels with their loading from him.
To execute this design, I first stopped my own
camels, then ran after the dervis, and called to
him as loud as I could, and made a sign to him to
stop, which he accordingly did.
When I came up to him, I said : " Brother, I
had no sooner parted from you, but a thought
came into my head, which neither of us had re-
flected on before. You are a recluse dervis, used
to live in tranquillity, disengaged from all the
cares of the world, and intent only upon serving
God. You know not, perhaps, what trouble you
have taken upon yourself to take care of so many
camels. If you would take my advice, you would
keep but thirty ; you will find them sufficiently
troublesome to manage. Take my word ; I have
had experience."
" I believe you ai-e right," replied the dervis ;
" choose which ten you please, and take them,
and go on in God's keeping."
I set ten apart, and after I had driven them off,
I put them in the road to follow my others. I
could not have imagined that the dervis would be
so easily persuaded to part with his camels, which
increased my covetousness, and made me think
that it would be no hard matter to get ten more ;
wherefore, instead of thanking him, I said to him
again : " Brother, I cannot part from you without
desiring you to consider once more how difficult a
thing it is to govern thirty loaded camels, espe-
cially for you, who are not used to such work ;
you will find it much better to return me as
many more back as you have done already."
The dervis gave me, without any hesitation, the
other ten camels ; so that he had but twenty left,
and I was master of sixty, and might boast of
greater riches than any sovereign prince. Any
one would have thought I should now have been
content ; but the more we have, the more we want ;
and I became, from my success, more greedy and
desirous of the other twenty camels.
I redoubled my solicitations and importunities
to make the dervis grant me ten of the twenty,
which he did with a good grace : and as to the
other ten he had left, I embraced him, kissed his
feet, caressed and entreated him, so that he gave
me these also. " Make a good use of them,
brother," said the dervis; "and remember that
God can take away riches as well as give them,
if we do not assist the poor, whom He suffers to
258
TALES FROM THE ARABIAN NIGHTS' ENTERTAINMENTS.
be in want on purpose that the rich may do them
good."
I was not yet content, though I had my forty
camels again, and knew they were loaded with an
inestimable treasure. A thought came into my
head, that the little box of ointment which the
dervis showed me contained some treasure of in-
estimable value, and I determined to obtain it.
I had just embraced him and bade him adieu,
when I again returned, and said : " That little
box of ointment seems such a trifle, it is not worth
your carrying away. I entreat you to make me
a present of it. What occasion has a dervis, who
has renounced the vanities of the world, for per-
fumes, or scented unguents ? "
The dervis pulled it out of his bosom, and pre-
senting it to me, said : " Here, take it, brother,
and be content ; if I could do more for you, you
needed but to have asked me — I should have
been ready to satisfy you."
When I had the box in my hand, I opened it,
and looking at the unguent, said : " Since you are
so good, I am sure you will not refuse to tell me
the use of this ointment."
" The use is very surprising and wonderful,"
replied the dervis. " If you apply a little of it
upon the lid of the left eye, you will see all the
treasures contained in the bosom of the earth ;
but if you apply it to the right eyelid, it will make
you blind."
" Take the box," said I to the dervis, " and ap-
ply some to my left eyelid ; you understand how
to do it better than I." The dervis had no sooner
done so, than I saw immense treasures, and such
prodigious riches, that it is impossible for me to
give an account of them ; but as I was obliged to
keep my right eye shut with my hand, I desired
the dervis to apply some of the pomatum to that
eye.
" I am ready to do it," said the dervis ; " but
you must remember what I told you, that if you
put any of it upon your right eye, jou would im-
mediately be blind ; such is the virtue of the oint-
ment."
Far from being persuaded of the truth of what
the dervis said, I imagined, on the contrary, that
there was some new mystery, which he meant to
hide from me. " Brother," replied I, smiling, " I
see plainly you wish to mislead me ; it is not nat-
ural that this ointment should have two such
contrary effects."
" The matter is as I tell you," replied the der-
vis. " You ought to believe me, for I cannot dis-
guise the truth."
The dervis made all the resistance possible ;
but seeing that I woidd take no refusal, he took
a little of the ointment, and applied it to my right
eyelid. But, alas ! I ceased at once to distinguish
anything with either eye, and became blind, as
you see me now.
" Ah, dervis ! " I exclaimed, in agony, " what
you forewarned me of has proved but too true.
I am now sensible what a misfortune I have
brought upon myself by my fatal curiosity and
insatiable desire of riches ; but you, dear brother,"
cried I, addressing myself to the dervis, " who are
so charitable and good, among the many wonder-
ful secrets you are acquainted with, have you not
one to restore to me my sight again ? "
"Miserable man ! " answered the dervis, "you
might have avoided this misfortune, but you have
j'our deserts. The blindness of your mind was the
cause of the loss of your eyes. I have no power
to restore to you your sight. Pray to God, there-
fore ; it is He alone that can restore it to you.
He gave you riches, of which you were unworthy ;
and on that account He takes them from you
again, and will by my hands give them to a man
not so ungrateful as yom-self."
The dervis said no more, but left me to myself,
overwhelmed with confusion and grief. He then
collected my camels, and drove them away to Bus-
sorah.
I cried out loudly as he was departing, and en-
treated him not to leave me in that miserable
condition, but to conduct me at least to the first
caravanserai ; but he was deaf to my prayers and
entreaties. Thus deprived of sight, and of all I
had in the world, I should have died with afflic-
tion and hunger, if the next day a caravan return-
THE ADVENTURES OF THE CALIPH HAROUN AL-RASOHID.
259
ing from Bussorah had not received me charita-
bly, and brought me back to Bagdad.
After this manner was I reduced, without rem-
edy, from a condition of great wealth to a state
of poverty. I had no other way to subsist but
by asking charity, which I have done till now.
But to expiate my offense against God, I enjoined
on myself, by way of penance, a box on the ear
from every charitable person who shall commis-
erate my condition and give me alms.
This, Commander of the Faithful, is the motive
which caused me to make so strange a request to
you. I ask your pardon once more as j'our slave,
and submit to receive the chastisement I deserve.
" Baba Abdalla," the caliph said, " your sin
has been great ; but, God be praised, your self-
inflicted penance proves your sorrow. But that
you may forego your daily asking of alms, I give
you henceforth four silver dirhems a day, which
my grand vizier shall give you daily with the pen-
ance you have imposed on yourself."
At these words, Baba Abdalla prostrated him-
self before the caliph's throne, returned him
thanks, and wished him all happiness and pros-
perity.
THE STOEY OP SIDI NOTJMAN.
The caliph next addressed himself to the young
man who used bis mare so ill, and demanded of
him the reason of his cruel conduct.
Commander of the Faithful, he replied, my
name is Sidi Nouman, and I inherited a fair es-
tate from my parents. Having the means to sup-
port a wife, I married when quite young a woman
named Amine. The first time I saw my wife
without her veil was according to our custom, after
our marriage, and I was rejoiced to find that I
had not been deceived in the account which I had
heard of her beauty. I was, on the contrarj^ very
much pleased with her. The day after our mar-
riage we had a dinner of several dishes, but of none
would she partake, save of a little rice, which she
ate grain by grain, conveying them to her mouth
with a silver bodkin. The same thing happened
again at supper. The next day, and every time
we ate together, she behaved after the same fash-
ion. I saw clearly that no woman could live on
the little she ate, and that there must be some
mystery about her. One night, when my wife
thought me fast asleep, she got up very quietly,
and dressed herself, and left the chamber without
the least noise. The instant she closed the door
I dressed in the utmost haste, and followed her.
Favored by the light of the moon, I caught sight
of her, and traced her to a burial-ground near our
house, where I perceived that she was joined by a
female ghoul, and supposed that she would join
her in her dreadful orgies. I immediately re-
turned to my house without having attracted her
observation, and lay down again. After a short
interval she came back as noiselessly as she had
gone out. On the next day, as she still persisted
at dinner to eat her rice grain by grain, " Amine,"
said I, " I have often complained to you of your
eating your rice grain by grain. Tell me, are
not the dishes served at my table as delicate as
the dreadful repast of a ghoul?" I had scarcely
said these words, when Amine, who thoroughly
understood what I meant, fell into a fearful fit of
passion, and taking a glass of water, threw it in
my face, and said, " Foolish man ! take the form
of a dog."
I had not, previously to this, known that Amine
was a sorceress. But no sooner was her incan-
tation said than I lost the human form, and
found myself a dog. I was so surprised that I
did not bark, nor bite, nor run away. I did not
know what to do. She then took up a stick and
beat me, and half opened the door, with the in-
tention, I believe, of crushing me against the door-
post as I ran out. I fortunately escaped without
further injury than the loss of a part of my tail.
The pain I felt made me cry and howl, as I ran
along the street. This occasioned other dogs to
run after and worry me. To avoid their pursuit,
I ran into the shop of a man who dressed and sold
sheeps' heads, tongues, and feet ; and there I
got shelter. I soon saw a great many dogs of the
neighborhood, drawn thither by the smell of the
meat, collected round the shop of my host, wait-
260
TALES FROM THE ARABIAN NIGHTS' ENTERTAINMENTS.
ing till he threw them something ; these I joined,
and so got something to eat. The next day I found
shelter with a baker, who treated me kindly.
Here I stayed some months. One day, as a woman
was buying some bread, she gave some bad money
to my master. He asked her to change it for an-
other piece. The woman refused, and maintained
it was good money. The baker asserted the con-
trary, and said, " The piece of money is so bad,
that I am sure my dog would distinguish it. Come
here," said he, calling me, and throwing down the
pieces of monej'. " See if there is a bad piece of
money among these." I looked over all the pieces,
and putting my foot upon the bad one, I sepa-
rated it fi'om the rest, looking in my master's face,
as if to show it him.
The baker was extremely surprised, and when
the woman was gone told his neighbors what had
happened. They quickly came to test my talent,
and I never failed to pick out from the silver or
gold pieces those which were bad, and to separate
them with my foot. The report of me procured
my master so much custom, he could scarcely get
through it. One day a woman came to buy bread,
and to test my knowledge put down six pieces of
good and six pieces of bad money, and told me to
separate them ; I did so with my foot. On her
leaving the shop she made me a sign to follow her,
which I understood and obeyed.
I followed her at a distance, and reached her as
she stopped at her house. I entered with her, and
she presented me to her daughter. " Daughter,"
she said, " I have brought you the baker's famous
dog, who so well knows how to distinguish false
money from good. On the first report that was
spread about him, you know I told you my idea of
his being a man, changed into a dog by some
wicked enchantment. What say you, — am I de-
ceived, in my conjecture ? " " You are not de-
ceived mother," replied the daughter, " as I shall
soon convince you."
The young lady rose from her seat, took a vessel
full of water, into which she dipped her hand, and
throwing some of the water on me, she said : "If
you were born a dog, remain a dog ; but if you
were born a man, resume the figure of a man, by
virtue of this water." At that moment the en-
chantment was broken ; I lost the form of a dog,
and saw myself once more a man. I immediately
expressed my deep gratitude to this fair lady, and
told her by what means I lost my human shape.
" Sidi Nouraan," said the young woman, " I try to
do all the good I can with the knowledge of
magic which I possess ; I will yet further help
you. Return to your home : and when you see
Amine, your wife, in the first moment of her as-
tonishment at the sight of you, throw over her
some of this water, which I now give you, pro-
nouncing these words, — ' Receive the just reward
of thy cruelty.' " I did exactly according to the
direction given me ; and on ray saying the ap-
pointed words, my wife was turned into the mare
on which I rode yesterday. I punish her very
often in the way you saw, to make her sensible of
the cruelty of which she was guilty. I have thus,
according to your command, related my history.
" Your wife's conduct deserves punishment, but
I would have you henceforth forego the chastise-
ment which I have witnessed. The degradation
to her present state is a sufficient retribution. I
would even wish you to seek the disenchantment of
Amine, if you could be sm-e that she would forego
her cruelties, and cease to use magical arts."
The caliph then turned to Cogia Hassan, and
demanded of him a narrative of his good fortune.
HISTOKY OF COGIA HASSAN ALHABBAL.
Commander of the Faithful, my name is Has-
san, but from my trade I am commonly known by
the name of Hassan Alhabbal. I owe the good
fortune I now enjoy to two dear friends, whose
names are Saad and Saadi. Saadi is very rich.
He ever maintained the opinion that wealth was
essential to happiness, as without it no one could
be independent. He declared further his belief
that poverty is in most cases owing to a want of
suflicient money to commence with ; and if a man
once had enough to start with, and made a right
use of it, he would, in time, infallibly grow rich.
Saad disputed the truth of these sentiments. He
THE ADVENTURES OF THE CALIPH HAEOUN AL-RASCHID.
261
maintained that a poor man may become rich by
other means as well as money, and that some have
become rich by mere chance, as others have done
by the possession of sufficient money to commence
vrith.
Saadi replied : " Well, we will not dispute any
more, but test our different theories by an experi-
ment. I will give a sufficient sum of money to
some honest but poor artisan, and see if he does
not obtain with it wealth and ease. If I fail, then
you shall try if yon can succeed better by the
means you may employ."
Some few days after this dispute, Saad and
Saadi passed by my house as I was engaged in my
trade of rope-making. They expressed their sur-
prise that, with all my industry, I could not con-
trive to extend my trade and gradually to save
money. I told them that, work as hard as I
would, I could with difficulty keep my wife and
five children (none of whom could render me the
least help) with rice and pulse, and that I could
not find money for the first outlay of hemp and
materials. After some further conversation, Saadi
pulled a purse out of his bosom, and putting it
into my hands, said : " Here, take this purse ; it
contains two hundred pieces of gold : God bless
you and give you grace to make the good use of
them I desire ; and, believe me, my friend Saad
and I shall both have great pleasure if they con-
tribute towards making you more prosj)erous than
you now are."
Commander of the Faithful, continued Hassan,
when I had got the purse my joy was so great
that my speech failed me, and I could only thank
my benefactor by laying hold of the hem of his
garment and kissing it ; but he drew it from me
hastily, and he and his friend pursued their walk.
As soon as they were gone, I returned to my
work, and my first thought was, what I should do
with my purse to keep it safe. I had in my poor
house neither box nor cupboard to lock it up, nor
any other place where I could be sure it would
not be discovered if I concealed it.
In this perplexity, I laid aside ten pieces of
gold for present necessaries, and wrapped the rest
up in the folds of the linen which went about my
cap. Out of my ten pieces I bought a good stock
of hemp, and afterwards, as my family had eaten
no meat a long time, I purchased some for sup-
per.
As I was carrying the meat home, a famished
vulture flew upon me, and would have taken it
away, if I had not held it very fast ; but the faster
I held my meat, the more the bird struggled to
get it, till unfortunately in my efforts my turban
fell on the ground.
The vulture immediately let go his hold of the
meat, but seizing my turban, flew away with it.
I cried out so loud that I alarmed all the men,
women, and children in the neighborhood, who
joined their shouts and cries to make the vulture
quit his hold ; but our cries did not avail, he car-
ried off my turban, and we soon lost sight of
him.
I went home very melancholy at the loss of my
money. I was obliged to buy a new turban, which
diminished the small remainder of the ten pieces.
The little that was left was not sufficient to give
me any hope of improving my condition, but I
most regretted the disappointment I should occa-
sion ray benefactor.
While the remainder of the ten pieces lasted,
my little family and I lived better than usual ;
but I soon relapsed into the same poverty, and the
same inability to extricate myself from wretched-
ness. However, I never murmured nor repined ;
"God," said I, "was pleased to give me riches
when I least expected them ; He has thought fit
to take them from me again almost at the same
time, because it so pleased Him, and they were at
his disposal ; yet I will praise his name for all the
benefits I have received, as it was his good pleas-
ure, and submit myself, as I have ever done hith-
erto, to his will."
These were my sentiments, while my wife, from
whom I could not keep secret the loss I had sus-
tained, was inconsolable. In my trouble I had
told my neighbors that when I lost my turban
I lost a hundred and ninety pieces of gold ; but
as they knew my poverty, and could not compre-
262
TALES FROM THE ARABIAN NIGHTS' ENTERTAINMENTS.
hend how I should have got so great a sum by my
■work, they only laughed at me.
About six months after this misfortune, the two
friends, walking through that part of the town
where I lived, called to inquire after me. " Well,"
said Saad, " we do not ask you how affairs go since
we saw you last ; without doubt they are in a bet-
ter train."
" Gentlemen," replied I, " I deeply grieve to
tell you that your good wishes, and my hopes,
have not had the success you had reason to ex-
pect, and I had promised myself. You will
scarcely believe the extraordinary adventure that
has befallen me, when I tell you, on the word of
an honest man, that a vulture flew away with my
turban, in which for safety I had wrapped my
money."
Saadi rejected my assertion, and said : " Has-
san, you joke, and would deceive me. What have
vultures to do with turbans ; they only search for
something to satisfy their hunger ? " " Sir," I re-
plied, " the thing is so publicly known in this part
of the town, that there is nobody but can satisfy
you of the truth of my assertions." Saad took
my part, and told Saadi a great many as surpris-
ing stories of vultures, some of which he affirmed
he knew to be true ; who, after bidding me be
more careful, at last pulled his purse out of his
vestband, and counted out two hundred pieces of
gold into my hand, which I put into my bosom
for want of a purse. I told him that the obliga-
tion of this his second kindness was much greater
than I deserved, after what had happened, and
that I should be sure to make good use of his ad-
vice. I would have said a great deal more, but he
did not give me time, for he went away, and con-
tinued his walk with his friend.
As soon as they were gone, I left off work, and
went home, but finding neither my wife nor chil-
dren within, I pulled out my money, put ten pieces
on one side for present use, and wrapped u.p the
rest in a clean linen cloth, tying it fast with a knot,
and placing it for safety in an earthen vessel full
of bran, which stood in a corner, which I imagined
neither my wife nor children would look into. My
wife came home soon after, and as I had but little
hemp in the house, I told her I should go out to
buy some, without saying anything to her about
the second present from Saadi.
While I was absent, a sandman, who sells wash-
ing-balls, which women use in the baths, passed
through our street. My wife, who had no money,
asked him if he would exchange his washing-balls
for some bran. The sandman consented to do so
and the bargain was made.
Not long after, I came home with as much
hemp as I could carry, and followed by five por-
ters loaded also with hemp. After I had satisfied
them for their trouble, I looked about me, and
could not see the pot of bran. I asked my wife,
in great trepidation, what was become of it ; when
she told me the bargain she had made with the
sandman.
" Ah, unfortunate woman ! " cried I, " yovi
know not what you have done. You thought you
only sold the bran, but with the bran you have
given the sandman a hundred and ninety pieces of
gold, which Saadi this day made me a second
present of."
My wife was like one distracted when she knew
what she bad done. She cried, beat her breast,
and tore her hair and clothes. " Unhappy woman
that I am," cried she, " where shall I find this
sandman ? I know him not, — I never saw him
before. Oh, husband," added she, " you were much
to blame in not communicating the secret to me."
" Wife," said I, " moderate your grief ; by your
cries j^ou will alarm the neighbors, and they will
only laugh at, instead of pitying us. We had
best bear our loss patiently, and submit ourselves
to the will of God. It is true we live but poorly ;
but what have the rich which we have not ? Do
not we breathe the same air, enjoy the same light,
and the same warmth of the sun? Therefore
what conveniences have they more than we, that
we should envy their happiness ? They die as
well as we. In short, while we live in the fear of
God, as we should always do, the advantage they
have over us is so very inconsiderable that we
ought not to covet it."
THE ADVENTURES OF THE CALIPH HAROUN AL-RASOHW.
263
My wife and I comforted ourselves with these
reflections, and I pursued my trade with as much
alacrity as before these two mortifying losses
which followed one another so quickly. The only
thing that troubled me sometimes was, how I
should look Saadi in the face when he should
come and ask me how I had improved his two
hundred pieces of gold.
After some time, Saad and Saadi again called to
inquire of my progress. Each still entertained
their former differing opinons as to the result of
Saadi's repeated liberality. I saw them at a dis-
tance, but made as if I had not seen them. I ap-
plied very earnestly to my work, and never lifted
up my eyes till they were close to me, and had
saluted me. I told them at once my last misfort-
une, and that I was as poor as when they first saw
me. After that, I said : " Could I guess that a
sandman would come by that very day, and my
wife give him in exchange a pot of bran which had
stood there for many years ? " You may indeed
allege that I ought to have told my wife of it ; but
I will never believe that such prudent persons, as I
am persuaded you are, would have given me that
advice ; and if I had put my money anywhere else,
what certainty could I have had that it would be
more secure ? "
" I see, sir," said I, addressing mj'self to Saadi,
" that it has pleased God, whose ways are secret
and impenetrable, that I should not be enriched by
your liberality, but that I must remain poor ;
however, the obligation is the same as if it had
wrought the desired effect."
After these words I was silent ; and Saadi re-
plied : " I do not regret the four hundred pieces
of gold I gave you to raise you in the world. I
did it in duty to God, without expecting any rec-
ompense but the pleasure of doing good, and for
the sake of an experiment I wished to make."
Then turning about to his friend, " Saad," con-
tinued he, " you may now make your experiment,
and let me see that there are ways, besides giving
money, to make a poor man's fortune. Let Has-
san be the man. I dare say, whatever you may
give him he will not be richer than he was with
four hundred pieces of gold." Saad had a piece
of lead in his hand, which he showed Saadi.
" You saw me," said he, " take up this piece of
lead, which I found on the ground ; I will give it
Hassan, and you shall see what it comes to be
worth."
Saadi burst out a laughing at Saad. " What is
that bit of lead worth ? " said he ; "a farthing !
What can Hassan do with that ? " Saad presented
it to me, and said : " Take it, Hassan ; let Saadi
laugh, you will tell us some news of the good
luck it has brought you one time or another." I
thought Saad was in jest, and had a mind to
divert himself; however, I took the lead, and
thanked him. The two friends pursued their
walk, and I fell to work again.
At night, when I pulled off my clothes to go to
bed, the piece of lead, which I had never thought
of from the time he gave it me, tumbled out of my
pocket. I took it up, and laid it on the place that
was nearest me. The same night it happened that
a fisherman, a neighbor, mending his nets, found
a piece of lead wanting; and it being too late
to buy any, as the shops were shut, and he must
either fish that night, or his family go without
bread the next day, he called to his wife and bade
her inquire among the neighbors for a piece. She
went from door to door on both sides of the street,
but could not get any, and returned to tell her
husband her ill success. He asked if she had
been to several of their neighbors, naming them,
and, among the rest, my house. " No, indeed,"
said the wife, "I have not been there ; I know by
experience they never have anything when one
wants it." "No matter," said the fisherman,
" you must go there ; for though you have been
there a hundred times before without getting any-
thing, you may chance to obtain what we want
now."
The fisherman's wife came and knocked at my
door. I asked her what she wanted ? " Hassan,"
said she, " my husband wants a bit of lead to load
his nets with ; and if you have a piece, desires
you to give it him."
The piece of lead which Saad had given me was
264
TALES FROM THE ARABIAN NIGHTS' ENTERTAINMENTS.
so fresh in my memory, that I could not forget it.
I told my neighbor I had some ; and if she would
stay a moment my wife should give it to her.
Accordingly my wife, who was wakened by the
noise as well as myself, got up, and groping about
where I directed her, found the lead, opened the
door, and gave it to the fisherman's wife, who was
so overjoyed that she promised my wife, that, in
return for the kindness she did her and her hus-
band, she would answer for him we should have the
first cast of the nets.
The fisherman was so much rejoiced to see the
lead, which he so little expected, that he much
approved his wife's promise. He finished mend-
ing his nets, and went a-fishing two hours before
day, according to custom. At the first flirow he
caught but one fish, about a yard long, and pro-
portionable in thickness ; but afterwards had a
great many successful casts.
When the fisherman had done fishing, he went
home, where his first care was to think of me. I
was extremely surprised, when at my work, to see
him come to me with a large fish in his hand.
" Neighbor," said he, " my wife promised you last
night, in return for your kindness, whatever fish
I should catch at my first thi-ow ; and I approved
her promise. It pleased God to send me no
more than this one for you, which, such as it is, I
desire you to accept. Had He sent me my net
full, they should all have been youi-s."
" Neighbor," said I, " the bit of lead which I
sent you was such a trifle, that it ought not to be
valued at so high a rate ; neighbors should assist
each other in their little wants. I have done no
more for you than I should have expected from
you had I been in your situation ; therefore I would
refuse your present, if I were not persuaded you
gave it me freely, and that I should offend you ;
and since you will have it so, I take it, and return
you my hearty thanks."
After these civilities, I took the fish, and carried
it home to my wife. My wife was much startled
to see so large a fish. " What would you have me
do with it ? " said she. " Our gridiron is only fit
to broil small fish ; and we have not a pot big
enough to boil it." " That is your business," an-
swered I. " Dress it as you will, I shall like it
either way." I then went to my work again.
In gutting the fish, my wife found a hard, clear
substance which she took for a piece of glass. She
gave it to the youngest of our children for a play-
thing, and his brothers and sisters handed it about
from one to another, to admire its brightness and
beauty.
At night when the lamp was lighted, and the
children were still playing with the clear substance
taken from the fish, they perceived that it gave a
light when my wife, who was getting them their
supper, stood between them and the lamp, upon
which they snatched it from one another to try it;
and the younger children fell a-crying, that the
elder would not let them have it long enough in
the dark.
I then called to the eldest, to know what was the
matter, who told me it was about a piece of glass,
which gave a light. Upon hearing this, I bade
my wife put out the lamp, and we found that the
piece of glass gave so great a light, that we might
see to go to bed without the lamp. I placed
the bit of glass upon the chimney to light us.
" Look," said I, " this is a great advantage that
Saad's piece of lead procures us ; it will spare us
the expense of oil."
When the children saw the lamp was put out,
and the bit of glass supplied the place, they cried
out so loud, and made so great a noise from aston-
ishment, that it alarmed the neighboi'hood.
Now thei-e was but a very slight partition-wall
between my house and my next neighbor's, who
was a very rich Jew and a jeweler; and the cham-
ber that he and his wife lay in joined to ours.
They were both in bed, and the noise my children
made awakened them.
The next morning the jeweler's wife came to
mine, to complain of being disturbed out of their
first sleep. " Good neighbor Rachel " (which was
the Jew's wife's name), said my wife, " I am very
sorry for what happened, and hope you will ex-
cuse it, you know the children will laugh and cry
for a trifle. See here ; it was this piece of glass
THE ADVENTURES OF THE CALIPH HAROUN AI^RASCHID.
265
which I took out of the fish that caused all the
noise."
" Indeed, Ayesha " (which was my wife's name),
said the jewelei-'s wife, "I believe as you do it
is a piece of glass ; but as it is more beautiful
than common glass, and I have just such another
piece at home, I will buy it, if you will sell it."
The children, who heard them talking of sell-
ing their plaything, presently interrupted their
conversation, crying and begging their mother not
to part with it, who, to quiet them, promised she
would not.
The Jewess being thus prevented from obtain-
ing the supposed piece of glass by my children,
went away ; but first whispered to my wife, who
followed her to the door, if she had a mind to sell
it, not to show it to anybody without acquainting
her. Rachel could not rest satisfied till she had
made her husband acquainted with what she had
seen in my house, and immediately went to his
stall in the bezetzein to acquaint the Jew with her
discovery. On her return home, she came again
privately, and asked her if she would take twenty
pieces of gold for the piece of glass she had shown
her.
My wife, thinking the suni too considerable for
a mere piece of glass as she had thought it, would
not make any bargain ; but told her she could not
part with it till she had spoken to me. In the
mean time I came from my work to dinner. As
they were talking at the door, my wife stopped
me, and asked if I would sell the piece of glass
she had found in the fish's belly for twenty pieces
of gold which our neighbor offered her. I i-e-
turned no answer; but called to mind the confi-
dence with which Saad, in giving me the piece of
lead, told me it would make my fortune. The
Jewess, fancying that the low price she had offered
was the reason I made no reply, said, " I will give
you fifty, neighbor, if that will do."
As soon as I found that she rose so suddenly
from twenty to fifty, I told her that I expected a
great deal more. " Well, neighbor," said she, " I
will give you a hundred, and that is so much I
know not whether my husband will approve my
u
offering it." At this new advance, I told her I
would have a hundred thousand pieces of gold for
it ; that I saw plainly that the diamond, for such
I now guessed it must be, was worth a great deal
more ; but to oblige her and her husband, as they
were neighbors, I would limit myself to that price,
which I was determined to have ; and if they re-
fused to give it, other jewelers should have it,
who would give a great deal more.
The Jewess confirmed me in this resolution, by
her eagerness to conclude a bargain, and by com-
ing up at several biddings to fifty thousand pieces
of gold, which I refused. " I can offer you no
more," said she, " without my husband's consent.
He will be at home at night, and I would beg the
favor of you to let him see it ; " which I prom-
ised.
At night the Jew himself came home. " Neigh-
bor Hassan," said he, " I desire you would show
me the diamond your wife showed to mine." I
brought him in, and showed it to him. He looked
at and admired it a long time. "Well, neighbor,"
said he, " my wife tells me she offered you fifty
thousand pieces of gold ; I will give you twenty
thousand more."
'' Neighbor," said I, " your wife can tell you
that I value my diamond at a hundred thousand
pieces, and I will take nothing less." He haggled
a long time with me, in hopes that I would make
some abatement ; but finding that I was positive,
and for fear that I should show it to other jew-
elers, he at last concluded the bargain on my own
terms, and fetched two bags of a thousand pieces
each, as an earnest. The next day he brought me
the sum we had agreed for at the time appointed,
and I delivered to him the diamond.
Having thus sold my diamond, and being rich
infinitely beyond my hopes, I thanked God for his
bounty ; and would have gone and thrown mj'self
at Saad's feet to express my gratitude, if I had
known where he lived ; as also at Saadi's, to whom
I was first obliged, though his good intention had
not the same success.
Afterwards I thought of the use I ought to
make of so considerable a sum. My wife proposed
266
TALES FROM THE ARABIAN NIGHTS ENTERTAINMENTS.
immediately to buy rich clothes for herself and
children ; to purchase a house and furnish it hand-
somely. I told her we ought not to begin with
such expenses ; " for," said I, " money should only
be spent so that it may produce a fund from which
we may draw without its failing. This I intend,
and shall begin to-morrow."
I spent all that day and the next in going to
the people of my own trade, who worked as hard
every day for their bread as I had done; and
giving them money beforehand, engaged them to
work for me in different sorts of rope-making, ac-
cording to their skill and ability, with a promise
not to make them wait for their money, but to
pay them as soon as their work was done.
By this means I engrossed almost all the busi-
ness of Bagdad and everybody was pleased with
my exactness and punctual payment.
As so great a number of workmen produced a
large quantity of work, I hired warehouses in
several parts of the town to hold my goods, and
appointed over each a clerk, to sell both wholesale
and retail, and by this economy received consider-
able profit and income. Afterwards, to concen-
trate my business, I bought ground, and built the
house you saw yesterday, which, though it makes
so great an appearance, consists, for the most part,
of warehouses for my business, with apartments
for myself and family.
Some time after I had removed to this house,
Saad and Saadi, who had scarcely thought of me
from the last time they had been with me, called
on me in my former habitation, and learnt, to their
great surprise, that I was become a great manu-
facturer, and was no longer called plain Hassan,
but Cogia Hassan Alhabbal.
They immediately set out to visit me in my new
abode. I saw my two friends as they approached
my gate. I rose from my seat, ran to them, and
would have kissed the hem of their garments ;
but they would not suffer it, and embraced me.
I assured them I had not forgotten that I was poor
Hassan the rope-maker, nor the obligations I had
to them ; but were this not the case, I knew the
respect due to them, and begged them to sit down
in the place of honor, and I seated myself opposite
to them.
Then Saadi, addressing himself to me, said :
" Cogia Hassan, I cannot express my joy to see
you. I am persuaded that those four hundred
pieces I gave you have made this wonderful change
in your fortune."
Saad did not at all agree with this speech of
Saadi's. When he had done, he said to him :
" Saadi, I am vexed that j^ou still persist in not
believing the statements Hassan has already made
you. I believe those two accidents which befell
him are true ; but let him speak himself, and say
to which of us he most owes his present good fort-
une."
After this discourse of the two friends, I said,
addressing myself to them both, " Gentlemen, I
Mall declare to you the whole truth with the same
sincerity as before." I then told them every cir-
cumstance of the history which I have now related
to you. Commander of the Faithful.
All my protestations had no effect on Saadi,
" Cogia Hassan," replied he, " the adventure of
the fish and of the diamond found in his stomach
appears to me as incredible as the vulture's flying
away with your turban, and the exchange made
by your wife with the sandman. Be it as it may,
I am equalljr convinced that you are no longer
poor, but rich, as I intended you should be by my.
means ; and I rejoice sincerely."
As it grew late, they arose to depart ; when I
stopped them, and said : " There is one favor I
have to ask. I beg of you to stay with me to-
night, and to-morrow I will carry you by water
to a small country-house, which I have bought,
and we will return in the evening."
" If Saad has no business that calls him else
where," said Saadi, "I consent." Saad told him
that nothing should prevent him enjoying his
company.
While supper was being prepared, I showed my
benefactors my house and all my offices. I call
them both benefactors, without distinction ; be-
cause without Saadi, Saad would never have given
me the piece of lead ; and without Saad, Saadi
THE ADVENTURES OF THE CALIPH HAROUN AI^RASCHID.
267
would not have given me the four hundred pieces
of gold. Then I brought them back again into
the hall, where they asked me several questions
about my concerns ; and I gave them such an-
swers as satisfied them.
During this conversation, my servants came to
tell me that supper was served up. I led them
into another hall, where they admired the manner
in which it was lighted, the fui'niture, and the
entertainment I had provided. I regaled them
also with a concert of vocal and instrumental
music during the repast, and afterwards with a
company of dancers, and other entertainments,
endeavoring as much as possible to show them
my gratitude.
The next morning, as we had agreed to set out
early to enjoy the fresh air, we repaired to the
river-side by sunrise, and went on board a pleas-
ure-boat, well carpeted, that waited for us ; and
in less than an hour and a half, with six good
rowers and the stream, we arrived at my country-
house.
Afterwards we walked in the gardens, where
was a grove of orange and lemon-trees, loaded
with fruit and flowers, which were planted at
equal distances, and watered by channels cut
from a neighboring stream. The pleasant shade,
the fragrant smell which perfumed the air, the
soft murmurings of the water, the harmonious
notes of an infinite number of birds, were so
delightful, that they frequently stopped to express
how much they were obliged to me for bringing
them to so exquisite a place, and to offer me their
congi-atulations. I led them to the end of the
grove, which was very long and broad, where I
showed them a wood of large trees, which termi-
nated my garden.
Two of my boys, whom I had sent into the covui-
try, with a tutor, for the air, had gone just then
into the wood ; and seeing a nest, which was built
in the branches of a lofty tree, they bade a slave
climb the tree for it. The slave, when he came to
to it, was much surprised to find it composed of a
turban. He took it, brought it down, and as he
thought that I might like to see a nest that was
so uncommon, he gave it to the eldest boy to
bring to me.
The two friends and I were very much surprised
at the novelty ; but I much more, when I recognized
the turban to be that which the vulture had flown
away with. After I had examined it well, and
turned it about, I said to my guests : " Gentle-
men, can you remember the turban I had on the
day j'ou did me the honor first to speak to me ? "
" I do not think," said Saad, " that either my
friend or I gave any attention to it ; but if the
hundred and ninety pieces of gold are in it, we can-
not doubt of it."
" Sir," replied I, " there is no doubt but it is the
same turban ; for, besides that I know it perfectly
well, I feel by the weight it is too heavy to be any
other, and you will perceive this if you give your-
self the trouble to take it in your hand." Then
after taking out the young birds, I put it into his
hands, and he gave it to Saadi.
" Now, sir," added I, taking the turban again,
" observe well before I unwrap it, that it is of no
very fresh date in the tree ; and the state in which
you see it, and the nest so neatly made in it, are
sufficient proofs that the vulture di'opped or laid it
in the tree upon the day it was seized."
While I was speaking, I pulled off the linen
cloth which was wrapped about the cap of the tur-
ban, and took out the purse, which Saadi knew to
be the same he had given me. I emptied it before
them, and said, " There, gentlemen, there is the
money ; count it, and see if it be right ; " which
Saad did, and found it to be one hundred and
ninety pieces of gold. Then Saadi, who could not
deny so manifest a truth, addressing himself to
me, said : " I agree, Cogia Hassan, that this money
could not serve to enrich you, but the other hun-
dred and ninety pieces, which you would make be-
lieve you hid in a pot of bran, might." " Sir,"
answered I, " I have told you the truth in regard
to both sums, and I shall hope yet to prove it to
your satisfaction."
After this we returned, and entered the house,
just as dinner was being served. After dinner I
left my guests to take their siesta during the heat
268
TALES FROM THE ARABIA!^ NIGHTS' ENTERTAINMENTS.
of the day, while I went to give orders to my
gardener. Afterwards I returned to them again,
and we talked of indifferent matters till it grew a
little cooler ; when we returned into the garden
for fresh air, and stayed till sunset. We then
mounted our horses, and after a ride of two hours
reached Bagdad by moonlight.
It happened, by some negligence of my grooms,
that we were then out of grain for the horses, and
the storehouses were all shut up ; when one of my
slaves, seeking about the neighborhood, met with
a pot of bran in a shop ; bought the bran, and
brought the pot along with him, promising to
carry it back again the next day. The slave emp-
tied the bran, and dividing it among the horses,
felt a linen cloth tied up, and very heavy ; he
brought the cloth to me in the condition that he
found it, and presented it to me. I at once knew
what it was, and said to my two benefactors :
" Gentlemen, it has pleased God that you should
not part from me without being fully convinced of
the truth of what I have assured you. There are
the other hundred and ninety pieces of gold which
you gave me," continued I, addressing myself to
Saadi ; " I know it well by the cloth, which I tied
up with my own hands ; " and then I told out the
money before them. I ordered the pot to be
brought to me, knew it to be the same ; and sent
to my wife to ask if she recognized it. She sent
me word that it was the same pot she had ex-
changed full of bran for the scouring-earth.
Saadi readily submitted, renounced his incredu-
lity, and said to Saad, " I yield to you, and ac-
knowledge that money is not always the means of
becoming rich."
When Saadi had spoken, I said to him : " I dare
not propose to return you the three hundred and
eight}'' pieces of gold which it hath pleased God
should be found, to undeceive you as to the opin-
ion of my honestj'. I am persuaded that you did
not give them to me with an intention that I should
return them ; and if you approve of my proposal,
to-morrow I will give them to the pool", that God
may bless us both."
The two friends lay at my house that night
also ; and next day, after embracing me, returned
home. I thanked them both, and regarded the
permission they gave me to cultivate their friend-
ship, and to visit them, as a great honor.
The caliph, at the conclusion of this story, said ;
" Cogia Hassan, I have not for a long time heard
anything that has given me so much pleasure, as
having been informed of the wonderful ways by
which God gave thee thy riches. Thou oughtest
to continue to return Him thanks, and to use
well his blessings. That same diamond which
made thy fortune is now in my treasury ; and I
am happy to learn how it came there ; but because
there may remain in Saadi some doubts on the
singularity of this diamond, which I esteem the
most precious and valuable jewel I possess, I would
have you carry him and Saad to my treasurer, who
will show it them."
After these words, the caliph signified to Cogia
Hassan, Sidi Nouman, and Baba Abdalla, by a
bow of his head, that he was satisfied with them;
they all prostrated themselves at the throne, and
retired.
THE STORY OF ABOU HASSAN ; OR, THE SLEEPER
AWAKENED.
In the reign of the Caliph Haronn Al-Raschid,
there lived at Bagdad a very rich merchant. He
had one only child, a son, whom he named Abou
Hassan, and whom he educated with great strict-
ness. When his son was thirty years old, he be-
came his father's sole heir and the owner of im-
mense wealth, amassed together by the paternal
frugality and application.
Abou Hassan, whose views and inclinations were
very different from those of his father, determined
to make another use of his Avealth. His father
had never allowed him any money but what was
just necessary for subsistence, and as he had al-
ways envied his rich companions, who wanted for
nothing, and who debarred themselves from none
of those pleasures to which their wealth entitled
them, he resolved to distinguish himself by ex-
travagances proportionable to his fortune. To
this end he divided his riches into two parts ; with
THE ADVENTURES OF THE CALIPH HAROUN AL-RASCHID.
269
one half he bought houses in the city and farms
in the country, with a resokxtion never to touch
the income arising from them, which was very
large, but to lay it all by as he received it. With
the other half, which consisted of ready money,
he designed to make himself amends for the time
he had lost by the severe restraint in which his
father had always kept him.
With this intent, Abou Hassan made the ac-
quaintance of wealthy youths of his own age and
rank, who thought of nothing but how to make
their time pass agreeably. Every day he gave
them splendid entertainments, at which the most
delicate viands were served up, and the most ex-
quisite wines flowed in profusion, while concerts
of the best vocal and instrumental music by per-
formers of both sexes heightened their pleasures.
These entertainments, renewed every day, were
so expensive to Abou Hassan, that he could not
support the extravagance above one year. As
soon as he discontinued his feasts, and pleaded
poverty as the excuse, his friends forsook him ;
whenever they saw him they avoided him, and if
by chance he met any of them, and tried to stop
them, they always excused themselves on some
pretense or other.
Abou Hassan was more affected by this be-
havior of his friends who had forsaken him so
basely and ungratefully, after all the protestations
they had made him of inviolable attachment,
than by the loss of the money he had so foolishly
squandered. He went melancholy and thought-
ful into his mother's apartment, and sat down on
the end of a sofa at a distance from her. " What
is the matter with you, son ? " said his mother,
seeing him thus depressed. " Why are you so de-
jected? You could not certainly be more con-
cerned, if you had lost all you had. You have
still, however, a good estate. I do not, therefore,
see why you should plunge yourself into this
deep melancholy."
At these words Abou Hassan melted into tears ;
and in the midst of his sighs exclaimed : " Ah !
mother, how insupportable poverty must be ; it
deprives us of joy, as the setting of the sun does
of light. A poor man is looked upon, both by
friends and relations, as a stranger. You know,
mother, how I have treated my friends for this
year past, and now they have left me when they
suppose I can treat them no longer. Bismillah !
praise be to God ! I have yet my lands and farms,
and I shall now know how to use what is left.
But I am resolved to try how far my friends, who
deserve not that I should call them so, will carry
their ingratitude. I will go to them one after an-
other, and when I have represented to tliem what
I have done on their account, ask them to make
up a sum of money to relieve me, merelj^ to try
if I can find any sentiment of gratitude remaining
in them." Abou Hassan went immediately to his
friends, whom he found at home ; represented to
them the great need he was in, and begged of
them to assist him. He promised to give bonds
to pay them the money they might lend him ;
giving them to understand at the same time, that
it was in a great measure on their account that he
was so distressed. That he might the more power-
fully excite their generosity, he forgot not to al-
lure them with the hopes of being once again en-
tertained in the same manner as before.
Not one of his companions was affected with
the arguments which the afflicted Abou Hassan
used to persuade them ; and he had the mortifica-
tion to find that many of them told him plainly
they did not know him.
He returned home full of indignation ; and
going into his mother's apartment, said : " Ah !
madam, I have found none of my late compan-
ions who deserve my friendship ; I renounce them,
and promise you I will never see them more."
He resolved to be as good as his word, taking an
oath never to give an inhabitant of Bagdad any
entertainment while he lived. He further vowed
that he would not put in his purse more money
than was sufficient to ask a single person to sup
with him, who, according to the oath he had
taken, was not of Bagdad, but a stranger arrived
in the city the same day, and who must take his
leave of him the following morning.
Conformably to this plan, Abou Hassan took
270
TALES FROM THE ARABIAN NIGHTS' ENTERTAINMENTS.
care every morning to provide whatever was nec-
essary for a repast for two persons, and towards
the close of the evening went and sat at the end of
Bagdad bridge ; and as soon as he saw a stranger,
accosted him civilly, invited him to sup and lodge
with him that night ; and after having informed
him of the law he had imposed upon himself, con-
ducted him to his house. The supper to which
Abou Hassan invited his guests was not costly,
but well dressed, with plenty of good wine, and
generally lasted till the night was pretty far ad-
vanced : instead of entertaining his guests with
the affairs of state, his family, or business, as is
too frequent, he conversed on general subjects.
He was naturally of a gay and pleasant temper,
and made the most melancholy persons merry.
When he sent away his guest the next morning,
he always said : " God preserve you from all sor-
row wherever you go ; when I invited you yestei'-
day to come and sup with me, I informed you of
the law I have imposed on myself ; therefore do
not take it ill if I tell you that we must never see
one another again, nor drink together, either at
home or anywhere else, for reasons best known to
myself ; so God conduct you."
Abou Hassan was very exact in the observance
of this oath, and never looked upon or spoke to the
strangers he had once entertained. If he met
them afterwards in the streets, the squares, or
any public assemblies, he turned away to avoid
them, that they might not speak to him, or he
have any communication with them. He had
acted for a long time in this manner, when, one
afternoon, a little before sunset, as he sat upon
the bridge according to custom, the Caliph Ha-
roun Al-Raschid came by, but so disguised that
it was impossible to know him; he was dressed
like a merchant of Moussul, and was followed by
a tall stout slave.
Abou Hassan, who was looking out for a guest,
rose up as he approached, and, after having saluted
him with a graceful air, said to him, " Sir, I con-
gratulate you on your happy arrival in Bagdad ;
I beg you to do me the honor to sup with me, and
repose yourself at my house for this night, after
the fatigue of your journey ; " he then told him
his custom of entertaining the first stranger he
met with. The calipli found something so odd
and singular in Abou Hassan's whim, that he was
very desirous to know the cause ; and told him
that he could not better merit a civility, which
he did not expect as a stranger, than by accept-
ing the obliging offer made him : that he had only
to lead the way, and he was ready to follow him.
Abou Hassan treated the caliph as his equal,
conducted him home, and led him into a room
very neatly furnished, where he set him on a sofa,
in the most honorable place. Supper was ready,
and the cloth laid.
Abou Hassan sat down opposite his guest, and
he and the caliph began to eat heartily of what
they liked best, without speaking or drinking,
according to the custom of the country. When
they had done eating, the caliph's slave brought
them water to wash their hands ; and in the mean
time Abou Hassan's mother cleared the table, and
bi'ought up a dessert of all the various sorts of
fruits then in season, — as grapes, peaches, ap-
ples, pears, and various pastes of dried almonds,
etc. As soon as it grew dark, wax-candles were
lighted, and Abou Hassan, after requesting his
mother to take care of the caliph's slave, set down
bottles and glasses.
Abou Hassan filled a glass of wine, and holding
it in his hand, said to the caliph, " Now, taste this
wine, sir ; I will warrant you find it good." " I
am well persuaded of that," replied the caliph,
laughing ; " you know how to choose the best."
" Oh ! " replied Abou Hassan, " one need only
look in your face to be assured that you have
seen the world, and know what good living is.
If," added he in Arabic verse, "my house could
think and express its joy, how happy would it
be to possess you, and bowing before you, would
exclaim, ' How overjoyed am I to see mj'self hon-
ored with the company of so accomplished and
polite a personage, and for meeting with a man
of your merit ! ' "
The caliph and Abou Hassan remained together,
drinking and talking of indifferent subjects, till
THE ADVENTURES OF THE CALIPH HAROUN AL-RASCHID.
271
the night was pretty far advanced, when the cahph
said, — "I beg of you to let me understand how I
may serve you, and you shall see I will not be
ungrateful. Speak freely and open your mind,
for though I am but a merchant, it may be in my
power to oblige you myself, or by some friend."
To these offers Abou Hassan replied : "I can
only thank you for your obliging offers, and the
honor you have done me in partaking of my frugal
fare. Yet I must tell you there is one thing gives
me uneasiness. The imaun of the mosque situated
in the district in which I live, is the greatest of
hypocrites. He and four of his friends try to
lord it over me and the whole neighborhood. I
should like to be caliph but for one day, in the
stead of our sovereign lord and master, Haroun
Al-Raschid, Commander of the Faithful. I would
punish the imaun and his four friends with a hun-
dred strokes each on the soles of their feet, to
teach them not to disturb and abuse their neigh-
bors in future."
The caliph was extremely pleased with this
thought of Abou Hassan's ; and while Abou Has-
san was talking, he took the bottle and two glasses,
and filling his own first, saying, " Here is a cup
of thanks to you," and then filling the other, put
into it artfully a little opiate powder which he had
about him, and giving it to Abou Hassan, said, —
" You have taken the pains to fill for me all night,
and it is the least I can do to save you the trouble
once ; I beg you to take this glass ; drink it off
for my sake."
Abou Hassan took the glass, and to show his
guest with how much pleasure he received the
honor, drank it off at once. Scarcely had he set
the glass upon the table, when the powder began
to operate, and he fell into a sound sleep. The
caliph commanded the slave who waited for him
to take Abou Hassan and carry him directly to
the palace, and to undress him and put him into
his own state bed. This was immediately per-
formed.
The caliph next sent for the grand vizier. " Gia-
far," said he, " I have sent for you to instruct you,
and to prevent your being surprised to-morrow
when you come to audience, at seeing this man
seated* on my throne in the royal robes ; accost
him with the same reverence and respect as you
pay to myself; observe and punctually execute
whatever he bids you do, the same as if I com-
manded you. He will exercise great liberality,
and commission you with the distribution of it.
Do all he commands, even if his liberality should
extend so far as to empty all the coffers in my
treasury ; and remember to acquaint all my emirs,
and officers within the palace, to pay him the
same honor at audience as to myself, and to carry
on the matter so well that he may not perceive
the least thing that may interrupt the diversion
which I design myself. Above all, fail not to
awaken me before Abou Hassan, because I wish
to be present when he awakes."
The vizier failed not to do as the caliph had
commanded, and as soon as the caliph had dressed,
he went into the room where Abou Hassan lay,
and placed himself in a little raised closet, from
whence he could see all that passed. All the
officers and ladies who were to attend Abou Has-
san's levee went in at the same time, and took
their posts according to their rank, ready to acquit
themselves of their respective duties, as if the
caliph himself had been going to rise.
As it was just daybreak, and time to prepare
for the morning prayer before sunrise, the officer
who stood nearest to the head of the bed put a
sponge steeped in vinegar to Abou Hassan's nose,
who immediately awoke. When Abou Hassan
opened his eyes, he saw by the dawning light a
large room, magnificently furnished, with a finely
painted ceiling, adorned with vases of gold and
silver, and the floor covered with a rich silk
tapestry, and many slaves richly clothed, all stand-
ing with great modesty and respect. After cast-
ing his eyes on the covering of the bed, he per-
ceived it was cloth of gold richly embossed with
pearl and diamonds ; and near the bed lay, on a
cushion, a habit of tissue embroidered with jewels,
with a caliph's turban.
At the sight of this splendor, Abou Hassan was
in the most inexpressible amazement. He looked
272
TALES FROM THE ARABIAN NIGHTS' ENTERTAINMENTS.
upon all he saw as a dream ; yet a dream he
wished it not to be. "So," said he to Mmself,
" I am caliph ! But," added he, recollecting him-
self, "it is only a dream, the effect of the wish I
entertained my guest with last night ; " and then
he turned himself about and shut his eyes to sleep.
At the same time the
vizier said, with a
prostration to the
ground, — " Co m-
mander of the Faith-
ful, it is time for your
majesty to rise to
prayers
the morning
begins to advance."
These words very
much surprised Abou
Hassan. He clapped
his hands before his
eyes, and lowering his
head, said to himself :
" What m e a n s all
this ? Where am I ?
and to whom does this
palace belong? What
can these viziers,
emirs, officers, and
musicians mean?
How is it possible
for me to distinguish
whether I am in my
right senses or in a
dream ? "
When he took his
hands from his ej'es,
opened them, and
lifted up his head,
the sun .shone full
in at the chamber window ; and at that instant
Mesrour, the chief of the officers, came in, pros-
trated himself before Abou Hassan, and said :
" Commander of the Faithful, your majesty will
excuse me for representing to you, that you used
not to rise so late, and that the time of prayer is
over. It is time to ascend your throne and hold
a council as usual ; all the great officers of state
wait your presence in the council-hall."
At this discourse, Abou Hassan was persuaded
that he was neither asleep nor in a dream ; but at
the same time was not less embarrassed and con-
fused under his uncertainty what steps to take;
at last, looking ear-
nestly at Mesrour, he
said to him in a seri-
ous tone, — " Whom
is it you speak to,
and call the Com-
mander of the Faith-
ful ? I do not know
you, and you must
mistake me for some-
body else."
" My imperial lord
and master," said he,
" is not your majesty
the Commander of
the Faithful, Mon-
arch of the world
from east to west,
and Vicar on earth
to the Prophet sent
of God ? Mesrour
your poor slave has
not forgotten y o u,
after so many years
that he has had the
honor and happiness
to serve and pay his
respects to your maj-
esty."
Abou Hassan burst
out a-laughing at
these ~ words, and fell
backwards upon the bolster, which pleased the
caliph so much that he would have laughed as
loud himself, if he had not been afraid of putting
a stop too soon to the pleasant scene he had prom-
ised himself.
Abou Hassan, when he had tired himself with
laughing, sat up again, and suddenly calling the
THE ADVENTURES OF THE CALIPH HAROUN AL-RASGHID.
273
officer that stood nearest to him, — " Come hither,"
said he, holding out his hand ; " bite the end of
my finger, that I may feel whether I am asleep or
awake."
The slave, who knew the caliph saw all that
passed, and being anxious to please him, went
with a grave countenance, and putting his finger
between his teeth, bit it so hard that he put him
to great pain. Snatching his hand quickly back
again, he said, " I find I am awake ; I feel, and
hear, and see, and thus know that I am not asleep.
But by what miracle am I become caliph in a
night's time ! "
Abou Hassan now beginning to rise, the chief
of the officers offered him his hand, and helped
him to get out of bed. No sooner were his feet
set on the floor, than the chamber rang with the re-
peated salutations of those present, who cried out
all together, " Commander of the Faithful, God
give your majesty a good day." " O Heaven ! "
cried Abou Hassan, " what a strange thing this
is ! Last night I was Abou Hassan, and this morn-
ing I am the Commander of the true Believers !
I cannot comprehend this sudden and surprising
change." Presently some of the officers began to
dress him ; and when they had done, led him
through all the attendants, who were ranged on
both sides, quite to the council-chamber door,
which was opened by one of the officers. Mesrour
walked before him to the foot of the throne, where
he stopped, and putting one hand under one arm,
while another officer who followed did the same
by the other, they helped him to ascend the throne.
Abou Hassan sat down amidst the acclamations of
the officers, who wished him all happiness and
prosperity, and turning to the right and left, he
saw the royal guards ranged in order.
The caliph in the mean time came out of the
closet, and went into another, which looked into
the hall, from whence he could see and hear all
that passed in council, where his grand vizier pre-
sided in his place. What pleased him highly was
to see Abou Hassan fill his throne with almost as
much gravity as himself.
As soon as Abou Hassan had seated himself,
35
the grand vizier prostrated himself at the foot of
the throne, and rising, said : " Commander of the
Faithful, God shower down blessings on your maj-
esty in this life, receive you into His paradise in
the other world, and confound your enemies."
Abou Hassan, after all that had happened that
morning, at these words of the grand vizier, never
doubted but that he was caliph, as he wished to
be ; and without examining any farther, how or
by what adventure, or sudden change of fortune,
he had become so, immediately began to exercise
his power, and looking very gravely at the vizier,
asked him what he had to say. " Commander of
the Faithful," replied the grand vizier, " the emirs,
viziers, and other officers of your council wait
without till your majesty gives them leave to pay
their accustomed respects." Abou Hassan or-
dered the door to be opened, on which the viziers,
emirs, and principal officers of the court, all dressed
magnificently in their habits of ceremony, went
in their order to the foot of the throne, paid their
respects to Abou Hassan ; and bowing their heads
down to the carpet, saluted him with the title of
Commander of the Faithful, according to the in-
structions of the grand vizier, and afterwards took
their seats.
When this ceremony was over, there was a
profound silence. The grand vizier standing be-
fore the throne, began to make his report of af-
fairs. The caliph could not but admire how Abou
Hassan acquitted himself in his exalted station,
without the least hesitation and embarrassment,
and decided well in all matters, as his own good
sense suggested. But before the grand vizier had
finished his report, Abou Hassan perceived the
cadi, whom he knew by sight, sitting in his place :
" Stop," said he to the grand vizier, interrupting
him ; " I have an order of consequence to give to
the cadi." The cadi perceiving that Abou Hassan
looked at him, and hearing his name mentioned,
arose from his seat, and went gravely to the foot
of the throne, where he prostrated himself with
his face to the ground. " Go immediately," said
Abou Hassan, " to such a quarter, where you will
find a mosque ; seize the imaun and four old men,
274
TALES FROM THE ARABIAN NIGHTS' ENTERTAINMENTS.
bis fi'iends, iind give each of tliem a hundred bas-
tinadoes. After that, mount them all five, clothed
in rags, on camels, with their faces to the tails,
and lead them through the whole city, with a
crier before them, who shall proclaim with a loud
voice, — ' This is the punishment of all those who
interfere in other people's affairs.' Make them
also leave that quarter, and never set foot on it
more. And M'hile your lieutenant is conducting
them through the town, return and give me an ac-
count of the execution of my orders." The judge
of the police laid his hand upon his head, to show
his obedience, and prostrating himself a second
time, retired to execute the mandate.
Abou Hassan then, addressing himself to the
grand vizier, said : " Go to the high treasurer for
a purse of a thousand pieces of gold, and carry it
to the mother of one Abou Hassan ; she lives in
the same quarter to which I sent the judge of the
police. Go, and return immediately."
The grand viziei', after laying his hand upon
his head, and prostrating himself before the
throne, went to the high treasurer, who gave him
the money, which he ordered a slave to take, and
to follow him to Abou Hassan's mother, to whom
he gave it, saying only, " The caliph makes you
this present." She received it with the greatest
surprise imaginable.
During the grand vizier's absence, the judge of
the police made the usual report of his office,
which lasted till the vizier returned. As soon as
he came into the council-chamber, and had assured
Abou Hassan that he had executed his orders, he
made a sign to the viziers, the emirs, and other
officers, that the council was over, and that they
might all retire ; which they did, by making the
same prostration at the foot of the throne as when
they entered.
Abou Hassan descended from the caliph's
throne, and was conducted with much ceremony
into a magnificent hall. In this hall was a table
covered with massy gold plates and dishes, which
scented the apartment with the spices and amber
wherewith the meat was seasoned ; and seven
young and most beautiful ladies, dressed in the
richest habits, stood round his table, each with a
fan in her hand, to fan Abou Hassan when at
dinner.
If ever mortal was charmed, Abou Hassan was
when he entered this stately hall. At every step
he took he could not help stopping to contemplate
at leisure all the wonders that regaled his eyes,
and tui-ned first to one side and then to the other ;
which gave the caliph, who viewed him with at-
tention, very great pleasure. At last he sat down
at the table, and presently all the ladies began to
fan the new caliph. He looked first at one, then
at another, and admired the grace with which
they acquitted themselves. He told them with a
smile that he believed one of them was enough to
give him all the air he wanted, and would have
six of the ladies sit at table with him, three on
his right hand and three on his left.
The six ladies obeyed ; and Abou Hassan, taking
notice that out of respect they did not eat, heljied
them himself, and invited them to eat in the most
pressing and obliging terms. Afterwards he asked
their names, which the}' told him were Alabaster
Neck, Coral Lips, Moon Face, Sunshine, Ej-e's
Delight, Heart's Delight, and she who fanned him
was Sugar Cane. The many soft things he said
upon their names showed him to be a man of
sprightly wit, and it is not to be conceived how
much it increased the esteem which the calijah
(who saw everything) had already conceived for
him.
When the ladies observed that Abou Hassan
had done eating, one of them said to the slaves
who waited, " The Commander of the Faithful
will go into the hall where the dessert is laid ;
bring some water ; " upon which they all rose
from the table, and taking from the slaves, one a
gold basin, another a ewer of the same metal, and
a third a towel, knelt before Abou Hassan, and
presented them to him to wash his hands. As
soon as he had done, he got up and went, preceded
by the chief officer, who never left him, into an-
other hall, as large as the former, adorned with
paintings bj' the best artists, and furnished with
gold and silver vessels, carpets, and other rich fur-
THE ADVENTURES OF THE CALIPH HAROUN AL-RASCHID.
215
niture. There the sultan's musicians began a sere-
nade as soon as Abou Hassan appeared. In this
hall there were seven large lustres, a table in
the middle covered with dried sweetmeats, the
choicest and most exquisite fruits of the season,
raised in pyramids, in seven gold basins ; and
seven other beautiful ladies standing round it,
each with a fan in her hand.
These new objects raised still greater admira-
tion in Abou Hassan, who, after he had made a
full stop, and given the most sensible marks of
surprise and astonishment, went directly to the
table, where, sitting down, he gazed a considera-
ble time at the seven ladies, with an embarrass-
ment that plainly showed he knew not to which
to give the preference. At last he ordered them
all to lay aside their fans, and sit down, and eat
with him, telling them that it was not so hot but
he could spare them that trouble.
When the ladies were all placed about him, the
first thing he did was to ask their names, which
were different from the other seven, and expressed
some perfection of mind or body which distin-
guished them from one another ; upon which he
took an opportunity, when he presented them
with fruit, etc., to say something gallant. By
these sallies Abou Hassan more and more amused
the caliph, who was delighted with his words and
actions, and pleased to think he had found in him
a man who diverted him so agreeabl}^
By this time, the day beginning to close, Abou
Hassan was conducted into a fourth hall, much
more superb and magnificently furnished, and
lighted with wax in seven gold lusti-es, which gave
a splendid light. Abou Hassan found there what
he had not observed in any of the other halls, a
beaufet, set out with seven large silver flagons,
full of the choicest wines, and by them seven crys-
tal glasses of the finest workmanship.
Hitherto, in the first three halls, Abou Hassan
had drunk nothing but water, according to the
custom observed at Bagdad, from the highest to
the lowest, at the caliph's court, never to drink
wine till the evening.
As soon as Abou Hassan entered the fourth
hall, he went to the table, sat down, and was a
long time in a kind of ecstasy at the sight which
surrounded him, and which was much more beau-
tiful than anything he had beheld in the other
halls. He was desirous to continue his conversa-
tion with the ladies, his fair attendants, and he
clapped his hands for the musicians to cease. A
profound silence ensued. Taking by the hand the
lady who stood on the right next to him, he made
her sit down by him, and presenting her with a
cake, asked her name. " Commander of the
Faithful," said the lady, " I am called Cluster of
Pearls." " No name," replied Abou Hassan,
" could have more properly expressed your worth ;
and indeed your teeth exceed the finest pearls.
Cluster of Pearls," added he, " since that is your
name, oblige me with a glass of wine from your
fair hand." The lady went to the beaufet, and
brought him a glass of wine, which she presented
to him with a pleasant air. Abou Hassan took
the glass with a smile, and said, " Cluster of
Pearls, I drink your health."
After Abou Hassan had drunk, he made an-
other lady sit down by him, and presenting her
with what she chose in the basins, asked her
name, which she told him was Morning Star.
" Your bright eyes," said he, " shine with greater
lustre than that star whose name you bear. Do
me the pleasure to bring me some wine." Which
she did with the best grace in tlie world. Then
turning to the third lady, whose name was Day-
light, he ordered her to do the same, and so on to
the seventh, to the extreme satisfaction of the ca-
liph.
When they had all filled him a glass round.
Cluster of Pearls, whom he had first addressed,
went to the beaufet, poured out a glass of wine,
and putting in a pinch of the same powder the
caliph had used the night before, presented it to
Abou Hassan. " Commander of the Faithful,"
said she, " I beg of your majesty to take this glass
of wine, and before you drink it, do me the favor
to hear a song I have composed to-day, and which,
I flatter myself, will not displease you."
When the lady had concluded, Abou Hassan
276
TALES FROM THE ARABIAN NIGHTS' ENTERTAINMENTS.
drauk ofE his glass, and turned his head towards
her, to give her those praises which he thought
she merited, but was jjrevented by the opiate :
for, in a moment, dropping his head on the cusli-
ions, he slept as profoundly as the day before,
when the caliph had given him the powder. One
of the ladies stood ready to catch the glass, which
fell out of his hand ; and then the caliph, who en-
joyed gi-eater satisfaction in this scene than he had
promised himself, and was all along a spectator of
what had passed, came into the hall to them,
overjoyed at the success of his plan. He ordered
Abou Hassan to be dressed in his own clothes,
and carried back to his house, and to be replaced
in his usual bed.
Abou Hassan slept till very late the next morn-
ing. When the powder was worked off, he awoke,
opened his ej'es, and finding himself at home, was
in the utmost surprise. " Cluster of Pearls,
Morning Star, Coral Lips, Moon Face," cried he,
calling the ladies of the palace by their names, as
he remembered them, " where are you ? Come
hither."
Abou Hassan called so loud that his mother,
who -was in her own apartment, heard him, and
running to him upon the noise he made, said,
" What ails you, son ? what has happened to
you ? " At these words Abou Hassan lifted up his
head, and looking haughtily at his mother, said,
" Good woman, who is it you call son ? " " Why,
you," answered his mother, very mildly ; " are not
you Abou Hassan, my son ? It is strange that 3'ou
have forgotten yourself so soon." •' I your son ! "
replied Abou Hassan. " You know not what you
say. I am not Abou Hassan, I tell you, but the
Commander of the Faithful ; and you shall never
persuade me to the contrary ! " " Pray, son," said
the mother, " let us leave off this discourse. Let
us talk of something else. I will tell you what
happened yesterday in our quarter to the imaun of
the mosque, and the four sheiks, our neighbors.
The cadi came and seized them, and gave each of
them I know not how many strokes with a basti-
nado, Avhile a crier proclaimed that such was the
punishment of all those who troubled themselves
about other people's business. He afterwards led
them through all the streets, and ordered them
never to come into our quarter again."
Abou Hassan no sooner heard this relation, but
he cried out, " Know then that it was hy my order
the imaun and the four sheiks were punished ; and
I tell you I am the Commander of the Faithful,
and all thy arguments shall not convince me of
the contrary."
The mother, who could not imagine why her
son so positively maintained himself to be caliph,
no longer doubted but that he had lost his senses,
and in this thought said : '■ I pray God, son, to have
mercy ujjon you, and to give you grace to talk
more reasonably. What would the world say to
hear you rave in this manner? "
These remonstrances only enraged Abou Has-
san the more and he was so provoked that he lost
all the resjDect due from a son to his mother.
Getting up hastily, and laying hold of a cane, he
ran to his mother in great fury, and said, "Tell me
directly who I am." '" I do not believe, son," re-
plied she, looking at him tenderly and without fear,
"that you are so abandoned by God as not to know
jour mother, who brought you into the woi-ld, and
to mistake yourself. You are indeed my son Abou
Hassan, and are much in the wrong to arrogate to
yourself the title which belongs onlj' to our sover-
eign lord the Caliph Haroun Al-Raschid, especially
after the noble and generous present of a thousand
pieces of gold that he sent us yesterday I "
At these words Abou Hassan grew quite mad.
" Well," cried he, " will you be convinced when I
tell you that I sent you those thousand pieces of
gold, as I was Commander of the Faithful ? Why
then do you maintain with such obstinacy that I
am your son ? But you shall not go unpunished."
After these words, in the height of his frenzy he
beat her with his cane.
The poor mother, who could not understand her
son, called out for help so loud that the neighbors
ran in to her assistance. Abou Hassan continued to
beat her, at every stroke asking her if he was the
Commander of the Faithful ; to which she always
answered tenderly that he was her son.
THE ADVENTURES OF THE CALIPH HAROUN AL-RASCHW.
277
On hearing her cries for help, the neighbors
came in and remonstrated witli Abou Hassan on
his conduct, and claimed acquaintance with him.
He said to them : " Begone I I neither know her
nor you. I am not Abou Hassan ; I am the Com-
mander of the Faithful, and will make you feel it
to your cost."
At this speech, the neighbors, no longer doubt-
ing that he was mad, seized him, bound him hand
and foot, and conducted him to the hos2:iital for
mad people, where he was lodged in a grated cell
and beaten with fifty strokes of the bastinado on
his shoulders. This punishment was repeated
every day, and each time the executioner bade
him remember tliat he was not the Commander of
the Faithful.
Abou Hassan's mother went eveiy day to visit
her son, and could not forbear weeping at the
hardshijjs he endured. These practical proofs
that he was not the caliph began to have their
effect on Abou Hassan. Sometimes he would say
to himself, " If I was caliph and Commander of
the Faithful, why should the grand vizier, and all
those emirs and governors of provinces, who pros-
trated themselves at my feet, forsake me ? How
came I at home dressed in my own robes ? Cer-
tainly I ought to look upon all as a dream. But
yet there are so many things about it that I can-
not compreliend, that I will put my trust in God,
who knows all things."
Abou Hassan was taken up with these thoughts
and reflections when his mother came to see him.
" Well, my son," said she, wiping her tears, "how
do you do, and how do you find yourself ? " " In-
deed, mother," replied Abou Hassan, very ration-
ally and calmly, " I acknowledge my error. I have
been deceived by a dream ; but by so extraordi-
nary a one, and so like to truth, that while I am
speaking I can hardly persuade myself but that
what befell me was matter of fact. But whatever
it was, I am convinced that I am not the caliph
and Commander of the Faitliful, but Abou Hassan
your son." " My son ! " cried she, transported
with pleasure, " to hear you talk so reasonably
gives me as much joy as if I had brought you into
the world a second time ; but I must tell you my
opinion of that adventure. I fear the stranger
whom you brought home the evening before your
illness to sup with you threw you into the horrible
illusion you have been in; therefore, my son, you
ought to return God thanks for your deliverance,
and beseech Him to keep you from falling again
under the enchantments of magic." Upon this his
mother went immediately to the keeper, who came,
examined, and released him in her presence.
When Abou Hassan came home, he recovered
his strength, and within a few days resumed the
same plan he had before pursued, of regaling a
stranger at night. On the first day on which Abou
Hassan renewed his former custom, he had not been
long arrived at the bridge, when he perceived the
Mussulman merchant, followed by the same slave.
Persuaded that all his misfortunes were owing to
the merchant, he shuddered at the sight of him.
" God preserve me ! " said he to himself ; " if I am
not deceived there is again the magician who en-
chanted me ! " He trembled with agitation, and
resolved not to see him till he was past.
The caliph had taken care to inform himself of
all that had happened to Abou Hassan, and was
glad to learn that he had returned to his usual
manner of living. He perceived Abou Hassan at
the same time that he saw him, and when he came
nigh him, he looked him in the face. " Ho,
brother Abou Hassan," said he, " is it you ? — I
greet you ! Give me leave to embrace you ? "
" Not I," replied Abou Hassan, " I do not greet
you ; I will have neither your greeting nor your
embraces. Go, I say, about your business."
The caliph was not to be diverted from his
purpose by this rude behavior. He knew well
the law Abou Hassan had imposed on himself,
never to have commerce again wnth a stranger he
had once entertained, but pretended to be igno-
rant of it.
" Ah ! brother Abou Hassan," replied the caliph,
embracing him, " I do not intend to part with you
thus, since I have had the good fortune to meet
with you a second time ; you must exercise the
same hospitality towards me again that you showed
278
TALES FROM THE ARABIAN NIGHTS' ENTERTAINMENTS.
me a montJi ago, when I had the honor to drink
with you."
Abou Hassan, notwithstanding his resolution
never to admit the same stranger a second time,
could not resist the caresses of the calipli, whom
he still took for a merchant of Moussul. " I will
consent," said he, " on one condition, that you dis-
pense with your good wishes, and that you prom-
ise to form none for me. All the mischief that
has hitherto befallen me arose from those you
expressed for me." " Well," replied the caliph,
" since you will have it so, I promise you I will
form none." " You give me pleasure by speaking
so," said Abou Hassan ; " I desire no more ; I
shall be more than satisfied provided you keep
your word, and I shall forgive you all the rest."
As soon as Abon Hassan entei-ed his bouse, he
called for his mother and for candles, desired his
guest to sit down upon a sofa, and then placed
himself by him. A little time after, supper was
brought up, and they both began to eat without
ceremonj^ When they had done, Abou Hassan's
mother cleared the table, set on a small dessert of
fruit, wine, and glasses by her son, then withdrew,
and appeared no more. Abou Hassan first filled
out his own glass and then the caliph's ; and after
they had drunk some time, and talked of indiffer-
ent matters, " It is a great pity," said the caliph,
" that so gallant a man as you, who owns himself
not insensible of love, should lead so solitary a
life." " I prefer the easy quiet life I live," replied
Abou Hassan, "before the company of a wife, who
might not please me. I should require beauty,
accomplishments, the art of pleasing, and wit in
conversation ; but where is such a woman to be
found except in the caliph's palace?" " Let me
alone," said the disguised merchant in reply ;
" since you have the same good taste as every
other honest man, I warrant you I will find you
a wife that shall please you." Then taking Abou
Hassan's glass, and putting a pinch of the same
powder into it, he filled him up a bumper, and
presenting it to him, said, " Come, let us drink be-
forehand the fair lady's health, who is to make
you happy. I am sure you will like her."
Abou Hassan took the glass laughing, and shak-
ing his head, said, " Be it so, since you desire it ;
I cannot be guilty of so great a piece of incivility,
nor disoblige a guest of so much merit in such a
trifling matter. I will drink the health of the
lady you promise me, though I am very well con-
tented as I am, and do not rely on your keeping
your word." No sooner had Abou Hassan drank
off his bumper than he fell into as deep a sleep as
before ; and the caliph ordered the same slave to
take him and carry him to the palace.
When they arrived at the palace, the caliph or-
dered Abou Hassan to be dressed in the same
robes in which he had acted as caliph, and to be
laid on a sofa in the fourth hall, from whence he
had been carried home fast asleejD a month before.
He then charged all the viziers, officers, ladies,
and musicians who were in the hall when he drank
the last glass of wine which had put him to sleep,
to be there by daybreak, and to take care to act
their parts well when he should awake. He then
retired to rest, charging Mesrour to awake him
first, that he might conceal himself in the closet
as before.
Things being thus disposed, and the caliph's
powder having had its effect, Abou Hassan began
to awake. At that instant the hautboys, fifes,
flutes, and other instruments commenced a very
agreeable concert. Abou Hassan was in great,
surprise to hear the delightful harmony ; but
when he opened his eyes, and saw the ladies and
officers about him, and the gorgeous chamber
which he had visited in his first dream, his amaze-
ment increased.
When the concert ceased, and all the oflBcers of
the chamber waited, in profound and respectful
silence, Abou Hassan bit his finger, and cried loud
enough for the caliph to hear him : " Alas I I am
fallen again into the same dream that happened to
me a month ago, and must expect again the basti-
nado and frrated cell at the mad-house. He was a
wicked man that I entertained at my house last
night, who has been the cause of this illusion, and
the hardships I must again undergo. Great God !
I commit myself into thy hands ; preserve me from
THE ADVENTURES OF THE CALIPH HAROUN AL-RASCHID.
279
the temptation of Satan." On saying this he re-
solved to go to sleep again, and to regard all he
saw as a dream. They did not give him time to
do this, for one of the officers taking him by one
arm, and a second by the other, they lifted him
up, and carried him into the middle of the hall,
where they seated him, and all taking hands,
danced and skipped round him while the music
played, and sounded loudly in his ears.
Abou Hassan, having commanded silence, fell
into a great perplexity, and inquired whether he
were indeed the caliph. On being informed that
he had never been out of that hall since the time
he fell asleep in it, he then uncovered his shoul-
ders, and showed the ladies the livid weals of the
blows he had received. " Look," said he, " and
judge whether these strokes could come to me in
a dream or when I was asleep. For my part, I
can affirm that they were real blows ; I feel the
smart of them yet, and that is a sure testimony.
Now, if I received these sti'okes in my sleep, in
this hall, it is the most extraordinary thing in the
■world, and surpasses my comprehension."
In this uncertainty, Abou Hassan called to one
of the officers that stood near him. " Come
hither," said he, " and bite the tip of my ear, that
I may know whether I am asleep or awake." The
officer obeyed, and bit so hard that he made him
crj' out loudly with the pain ; the music struck up
at the same time, and the officers and ladies all
began to sing, dance, and skip about Abou Has-
san, and made such a noise that he was the more
convinced that he was the subject of a pleasantry;
and joining in the joke, he threw off: his caliph's
habit and his turban, jumped up in his shirt and
drawers, danced with the rest, jumping and cut-
ting capers, so that the caliph could not contain
himself, but burst into violent laughter ; and put-
ting his head into the room, cried, " Abou Hassan,
Abou Hassan, have you a mind to kill me with
laughing ? "
As soon as the caliph's voice was heard every-
body was silent, and Abou Hassan, turning his
head to see from whence the voice came, recog-
nized the Moussul merchant, and knew him to be
the caliph. He was not in the least daunted. On
the contrary, he saw at once all that had hap-
pened to him, and entered into the caliph's hu-
mor. " Ha ! ha ! " said he, looking at him with
good assurance, " you pretend to be a merchant
of Moussul, and complain that I would kill you.
You have made me beat my another, and to lose
my senses, and have been the occasion of all
my misfortunes. I beg of you to tell me what
you did to disturb my brain in this manner ; I
would know, that I may perfectly recover my
senses."
" You will remember," said the caliph, " the
evening that you invited me to supper, in our con-
versation you told me that the only thing you
wished for was to be caliph for four-and-twenty
hours. I saw in this desire of yours a fruitful
source of diversion to me and to my court, and I
determined to procure for you the fulfillment of
your wish. By means of a strong opiate which I
put, without your knowledge, in the last glass I
presented to you, I had you conveyed to my pal-
ace. You know the rest. I am sorry that my
pastime should have caused you so much suffering,
but I will do all I can to make you amends. Thou
art my brother ; ask what thou wilt and thou
shaft have it."
"Commander of the Faithfuh" replied Abou
Hassan, " how great soever my tortures may have
been, they are all blotted out of my remembrance,
since my sovereign lord and master had a share in
them. The only boon I would beg is that I may
have access to your person, to enjoy the happiness
of admiring, all my lifetime, your virtues."
Upon leaving, the caliph ordered a rich robe to
be brought, and assigned him an office in the jjal-
ace, and directed the treasurer to give him a purse
of a thousand gold pieces, and to allow him at all
times access to his person.
Abou Hassan made a low prostration, and the
caliph left him to go to his divan.
Abou Hassan i-eturned home, and informed his
mother of his good fortvine, and that his story was
not all a dream ; for that he had actually been ca-
liph, had acted as such, and received all the hon.
280
TALES FROM THE ARABIAN NIGHTS' ENTERTAINMENTS.
ors ; and that lliis had been confirmed by the ca-
liph himself.
Abou Hassan was, as we have seen, a man of a
pleasant temper and ready wit, and the caliph
often had him at court, and took him to visit his
Queen Zobeide, to whom he had related his story.
Now Zobeide soon observed that every time he
came witli the caliph, he had his eyes always fixed
upon one of her attendants, called Nouzhatoul-
aouadat. " Commander of the Faithful," said she
one day, " you do not observe that every time
Abou Hassan attends you in your visits to me, he
never keeps his ej'es off Nouzhatoul-aouadat, and
pays her great attention. If you approve of it, we
will make a match between them."
" Madam," replied the caliph, " I have already
promised Abou Hassan a wife ; but it is better
that he should choose for himself."
Abou Hassan threw himself at the caliph's and
Zobeide's feet, and rising up, said : " I cannot re-
ceive a wife from better hands ; but dare not hope
that NoLizhatoul-aoviadat will give her consent."
At these words he looked at the princess's slave,
who showed by her respectful silence, and the sud-
den blush that arose in her cheeks, that she was
disposed to obey the calijih and her mistress.
The nuptials were celebrated in the palace, with
great rejoicings, which lasted several days. Zo-
beide made her slave considerable presents, and
the caliph did the same to Abou Hassan. The
bride was conducted to the apartment the caliph
had assigned Abou Hassan, who received her with
the sound of all sorts of instruments, and musi-
cians of both sexes, who made the air echo with
their concert.
Abou Hassan and his spouse were charmed with
each other. Indeed, Nouzhatoul-aouadat was just
such a wife as he had described to the caliph.
After their marriage, they gave costly entertain-
ments, and each vied with the other in sparing no
expense for the amusement of tlieir friends, until,
at the end of the first year of their marriage, they
Lad expended all the presents given by the sultan
and Zobeide, as well as the patrimony inherited
by Abou Hassan.
Being in gieat straits, and willing neither to
forego their manner of life nor to ask the sultan
or Zobeide for further presents, they took secret
counsel together, when Abou Hassan resolved
both to put a pleasant trick on the caliph and on
Zobeide, and to obtain from them the means of
carrying on his usual mode of living. " I will tell
you what I propose," said he to Nouzhatoul-
aouadat. " I will feign myself to be dead, and
3'ou shall place me in the middle of my chamber,
with my turban upon my face, my feet towards
Mecca, as if ready to be carried out to burial.
When you have done this, you must weep, tear
your clothes and hair, and go all in tears, with
your locks dishevelled, to Zobeide. The princess
will of course inquire the cause of your grief ; and
when you have told her, she will pity you, give
you money to defraj^ the expense of my funeral,
and a piece of good brocade, in the room of that
you will have torn. As soon as j^ou return with
the money and the brocade, I will rise, lay you in
my place, and go and act the same part with the
caliph, who, I dare say, will be as generous to me
as Zobeide will have been to you."
Nouzhatoul-aouadat highlj' approved the proj-
ect, and having acted upon her husband's sug-
gestion and placed him as he desired, she pulled
off her head-dress, and with a dismal ci-y and lam-
entation, beating her face and breast with all the
marks of the most lively grief, ran across the court
to Zobeide's apartments.
The princess, amazed to see her slave in such
extraordinary affliction, asked what had hap-
pened ; but, instead of answering, she continued
her sobs ; and at last feigning to strive to check
them, said, with words interrupted with sighs :
" Alas ! my most honored mistress, what greater
misfortune could have befallen me. Abou Has-
san ! poor Abou Hassan ! whom you honored with
your esteem, and gave me for a husband, is no
morel
t "
Zobeide was extremely concerned at this news,
and after having expressed her sorrow, commanded
her women to fetch a hundred pieces of gold and
a rich cloth of gold, and to give them to Nouzha-
THE ADVENTURES OF THE CALIPH HAROUN AL-RASCHID.
281
toul-aouadat, who threw herself again at the prin-
cess's feet, and thanked her with great self-satis-
faction at finding she had succeeded so well.
As soon as Nouzhatoul-aouadat got out of the
princess's presence, she dried up her tears, and re-
turned with joy to Abou Hassan. Unable to con-
tain herself at the success of her artifice, " Come,
husband," said she, laughing, "now do you hasten
and see if you can manage the caliph as well as I
have done Zobeide."
" That is the temper of all women," replied
Abou Hassan, '' who, we may well say, have al-
waj^s the vanity to believe they can do things bet-
ter than men, though at the same time what good
they do is by their advice. It would be odd in-
deed, if I, who laid this plot myself, could not
carry it on as well as you. But let us lose no
time in idle discourse ; lie down in my place, and
witness if I do not come off with as much ap-
plause."
Abou Hassan wrapped up his wife as she had
done him, and with his turban unrolled, like a
man in the greatest affliction, ran to the caliph.
He presented himself at the door, and the officer,
knowing he had free access, opened it. He en-
tered holding with one hand his handkerchief be-
fore his eyes, to hide the feigned tears, and struck
his bi'east with the other, and uttered exclama-
tions expressing extraordinary grief.
The caliph, always used to see Abou Hassan
Avitli a merry countenance, inquired with much
concern the cause of his grief. " Commander of
the Faithful," answered Abou Hassan, with re-
j)eated sighs and sobs, " may you long reign ! A
greater calamity could not have befallen me than
what I now lament. Alas ! Nouzhatoul-aouadat !
my wife, alas ! alas ! "
The caliph, who now understood that Abou
Hassan came to tell him of the death of his wife,
seemed much concerned, and said to him with an
air which showed how much he regretted her loss,
" God be merciful to her I She was a good slave,
and we gave her to you with an intention to make
you happy ; she deserved a longer life." And
having said this, he ordered his treasurer, who
36
was present, to give Abou Hassan a purse of a
hundred pieces of gold and a piece of brocade.
Abou Hassan immediately cast hiniself at the ca-
liph's feet, and thanked him for his present. As
soon as he had got the purse and piece of brocade,
he went home, well pleased with having found out
so quick and easy a way of supplying the neces-
sity which had given him so much uneasiness.
Nouzhatoul-aouadat, as soon as she heard the
door open, sprang up, ran to her husband, and
asked him if he had imposed on the caliph as clev-
erly as she had done on Zobeide. " You see ! "
said he, showing her the stuff, and shaking the
purse.
The caliph was so impatient to condole with
the princess on the death of her slave, that he rose
up as soon as Abou Hassan was gone. " Follow
me," said he to the vizier, " let us go and share
with the princess the grief which the death of her
slave Nouzhatoirl-aouadat must have occasioned."
Accordingly they went to Zobeide's apartment,
whom the caliph found sitting on a sofa, much af-
flicted, and still in tears. " Madam," said the ca-
liph, "I wish to tell you how much I partake
with j'ou in your affliction in your loss of Nouzha-
toul-aouadat, your faithful slave." " Commander
of the Faithful," replied Zobeide, " I do not la-
ment my slave's death, but that of Abou Hassan,
her husband." " Madam," said the caliph, " I
tell you that you are deceived ; Nouzhatoul-aoua-
dat is dead, and Abou Hassan is alive, and in 23ei--
fect health."
Zobeide, much piqued at this answer of the ca-
liph, replied, " Permit me to repeat, once more,
that it is Abou Hassan who is dead, and that my
slave Nouzhatoul-aouadat, his widow, is living.
It is not an hour since she went from hence, hav-
ing told me her affliction. All my women, who
wept with me, can bear me witness that I made
her a present of a hundred pieces of gold and a
piece of brocade ; the grief which you found me
in was on account of the death of her husband ;
and just at the instant you entered, I was going
to send you a compliment of condolence."
At these words of Zobeide, the caliph cried out
282
TALES FROM THE ARABIAN NIGHTS' ENTERTAINMENTS.
ill a fit of laughter, " This, madam, is a strange
piece of obstinacy ; but," continued he, seriously
" you may depend upon Nouzhatoul-aouadat's be-
ing dead." " I tell you no, sir," replied Zobeide ;
" it is Abou Hassan that is dead, and you shall
never make me believe otherwise."
Upon this the caliph's anger rose in his counte-
nance, and he ordered the vizier to go at once and
ascertain the truth and bring him word. No
sooner was the vizier gone, than the caliph ad-
dressing himself to Zobeide, said, " You will see
in a moment which of us is right." " For my
part," replied Zobeide, " I know very well that I
am in the right, and you will find it to be Abou
Hassan." "And for myself," returned the caliph,
" I am so sure that it is Nouzhatoul-aouadat, that I
will stake my garden of pleasures against your
palace of paintings, though the one is worth much
more than the other." " I accept the wager,"
said Zobeide, " and will abide by it." The caliph
declared the same intention ; and both awaited
the vizier's return.
While the caliph and Zobeide were disputing
so earnestly, and with so much warmth, Abou
Hassan, who foresaw their difference, was very at-
tentive to whatever might happen. As soon as
he perceived the vizier through a window, at
which he sat talking with his wife, and observed
that he was coming directly to their apartment, he
guessed his commission, and bade his wife make
haste to act the part they had agreed on, without
loss of time. They were so pressed that Abou
Hassan had much ado to wrap up his wife, and
la}' the piece of brocade which the caliph had
given him upon her, before the vizier reached the
the house.
Having ascertained the truth, the vizier has-
tened back to the calijDh and Zobeide.
" Commander of the Faithful." said the vizier,
having entered the apartment and made his salu-
tation, " it is Nouzhatoul-aouadat who is dead,
for the loss of whom Abou Hassan is as much af-
flicted as when he appeared before your majesty."
The caliph, not giving him time to pursue his
story, interrupted him, and addressing himself to
Zobeide, " Well, madam," said he, " have you
yet anything to say against so certain a truth ?
Will you still believe that Nouzhatoul-aouadat is
alive, and that Abou Hassan is dead ? And will
you not own that you have lost your wager ? "
" How, sir ? " replied Zobeide ; " I am not blind
or mad ! With these eyes I saw Nouzhatoul-
aouadat in the greatest affliction. I spoke to her
myself, and she told me that her husband was
dead. My women also heard her cries and saw
her aflliction. Let me, I pray you, send my
nurse, in whom I can place confidence, to Abou
Hassan's, to know whether or not I am in error."
The caliph consented, and the nurse set out on
her inquiry.
In the mean time Abou Hassan, who watched
at the window, perceived tlie nurse at a distance,
and guessing that she was sent by Zobeide, called
his wife, and told her that the princess's nurse was
coming to know the truth. " Therefore," said he,
" make haste, and do to me as we have agreed
on." Accordingly, Nouzhatoul-aouadat covered
him with the brocade Zobeide had given her, and
put his turban upon his face. The nurse, eager
to acquit herself of her commission, hobbled as fast
as age would allow her, and entering the room,
jDerceived Nouzhatoul-aouadat in tears, her hair
disheveled, and seated at the head of her hus-
band, beating her breast with all the expressions
of violent grief.
As soon as the nurse was gone, Nouzhatoul-
aouadat wiped her eyes, and released Abou Has-
san. They both went and sat down on a sofa
against the window, expecting what would be the
end of this stratagem, and to be ready to act ac-
cording as circumstances might require.
The nurse, in the mean time, made all the
haste she could to Zobeide, and gave the caliph
and the princess a true account of what she saw,
affirming that it was Abou Hassan who was dead.
This perplexed the caliph more and more ; and he
said : " It seems to me a strange series of marvels,
and that no one can be believed more than an-
other. Therefore, I propose we go ourselves to ex-
amine the truth, for I see no other way to clear
THE ADVENTURES OF THE CALIPH HAROUN AL-RASCHW.
283
these doubts."' So saying, tbe caliph arose, and
the princess and her train followed.
Abou Hassan, who saw them coming, apprised
his wife of it. " What shall we do ? " cried she ;
"we are ruined." " Not at all ; don't be afraid,"
returned Abou Hassan. " Let us do as we have
agreed ; and all, you shall see, will turn out well.
At the rate they are coming, we shall be ready
before they reach the door."
In fact, Abou Hassan and his wife covered
themselves as well as they could, and having
placed themselves, one beside the other, in the
middle of the chamber, each under the piece of
brocade, they waited quietly for the arrival of the
calif»li and Zobeide. On entering the chamber,
followed by all their people, they were much sur-
prise and perplexed at the dismal spectacle which
presented itself to their view. Zobeide at last
broke silence. " Alas ! " said she to the caliph,
" it is too true my dear slave is dead, as indeed it
will appear, for grief at having lost her husband."
"Allow rather, madam," replied the caliph, " that
Nouzhatoul-aouadat died first, and that the poor
Abou Hassan fell mider the affliction of seeing
his wife, your dear slave, die." " No," replied Zo-
beide, with a spirit excited by the contradiction
of the caliph, "Abou Hassan died first, because my
nurse saw his wife alive, and lamenting her hus-
band's death."
At last the caliph, reflecting upon all that had
passed, and vexed at not being able to come at
the truth, tried to devise some expedient which
should determine the wager in his own favor
and against Zobeide. " I will give," cried he, "a
thousand pieces to the person who shall ascer-
tain which of the two died first."
The caliph had scarcely spoken these words,
when he heard a voice, under the brocade which
covered Abou Hassan, say, " Commander of the
Faithful, I died first ; give me the thousand pieces
of gold." And at the same time he saw Abou
Hassan free himself from the brocade which cov-
ered him, and throw himself at his feet. His wife
uncovered herself in the same manner, and ran to
throw herself at the feet of Zobeide. Zobeide set
up a loud cry of fright and alarm. At last re-
covering herself, she was overjoyed at seeing lier
dear slave again, almost at the moment she felt
inconsolable at having seen her dead.
" So then, Abou Hassan," said the caliph, laugh-
ing, " how came it into your head thus to surprise
both Zobeide and me in a way we could not possi-
bly be upon our guard against ? "
" Commander of the Faithful," replied Abou
Hassan, " I will tell you the whole truth. I and
the wife you gave me have been too profuse in
our entertainments to our friends, and we have
expended all the treasures which your royal bounty
supplied us with. This morning we found our
chest quite empty ; and knowing your highnesses'
partiality to a pleasant joke, we invented this arti-
fice to supply our need, which we humbly entreat
you will have the goodness to forgive."
The caliph and Zobeide were very well satisfied
with the sincerity of Abou Hassan, and were dis-
posed to forgive him the deception practiced on
them. " Follow me, both of you,"' said the caliph ;
" I will give you the thousand pieces of gold that
I promised you, for the joy I feel that you are
neither of you dead."
" Commander of the Faithful," resumed Zo-
beide, " content yourself, I beseech you, with caus-
ing the thousand pieces of gold to be given to
Abou Hassan ; you owe them only to him. As
to his wife, that is my business." At the same
time she gave a thousand pieces of gold to Nouz-
hatoul-aouadat, in proof of the joy she felt that
she was still alive.
Thus did Abou Hassan and Nouzliatoul-aouad at
obtain the favor of the Caliph Haroun Al-Raschid
and of Zobeide, and gained from their bounty
enough to supply all their wants.
284
TALES FROM THE ARABIAN NIGHTS' ENTERTAINMENTS.
VI. THE HISTORY OF ALI BABA, AND OF THE FORTY ROBBERS KILLED BY
ONE SLAVE.
He determined to leave his asses
to save himself. He climbed up
a large tree, planted on a high
rock, whose branches wei-e thick
enough to conceal him, and yet
enabled him to see all that passed
without being discovered.
The troop, who were to the
number of forty, all well mounted
and armed, came to the foot of
the rock on which the tree stood,
and there dismounted. Every
man unbridled his horse, tied him to some shrub,
and hung about his neck a bag of corn which they
brouo-ht behind them. Then each of them took
off his saddle-bag, which seemed to Ali Baba to
be full of gold and silver from its weight. One,
whom he took to be their captain, came under the
tree in which Ali Baba was concealed ; and mak-
ing his way through some shrubs, pronounced
these words, — " Open, Sesame I " ' As soon as
the captain of the robbers had thus spoken, a door
opened in the rock ; and after he had made all his
troop enter before him, he followed them, when
the door shut again of itself.
The robbers stayed some time within the rock,
during which Ali Baba, fearful of being caught,
remained in the tree.
At last the door opened again, and as the cap-
tain went in last, so he came out first, and stood
to see them all pass by him ; when Ali Baba
heard him make the door close by pronouncing
these words, — " Shut, Sesame ! " Every man at
once went and bridled his horse, fastened his wal-
let, and mounted again. When the captain saw
them all ready, he put himself at their head, and
they returned the way they had come.
Ali Baba followed them with his eyes as far as
he could see them ; and afterwards stayed a con-
siderable time before he descended. Remember-
Theee once lived
in a town of Persia
two brothers, one
named Cassim, and
the other Ali Baba.
Their father divided
a small inheritance
equally between them.
Cassim married a very
rich wife, and became
a wealthy merchant.
Ali Baba married a
woman as poor as him-
self, and lived by cut-
ting wood, and bring-
ing it upon three asses
into the town to sell.
One day, when Ali
Baba was in the for-
est, and had just cut
wood enough to load
his asses, he saw at a
distance a great cloud
of dust, which seemed
to approach him. He
observed it with at-
tention, and distinguished soon after a body of
horsemen whom he suspected might be robbers.
1 " Sesame," is a small grain.
THE HISTORY OF ALT BAB A, AND OF THE FORTY ROBBERS.
285
iug the words the captain of the robbers used to
cause the door to open and shut, he had the curi-
osity to try if his pronouncing them would have
the same effect. Accordingly, he went among
the shrubs, and perceiving the door concealed be-
hind them, stood before it, and said, " Open, Ses-
ame ! " The door instantly flew wide open.
All Baba, who expected a dark, dismal cavern,
was surprised to see a well-lighted and spacious
chamber, which received the light from an open-
ing at the top of the rock, and in which were all
sorts of provisions, rich bales of silk, stuff, brocade,
and valuable carpeting, piled upon one another,
gold and silver ingots in great heaps, and money
in bacfs. The sisfht of all these riches made him
suppose that this cave must have been occupied
for ages by robbers, who had succeeded one an-
other.
Ali Baba went boldly into the cave, and col-
lected as much of the gold coin, which Avas in
bags, as he thought his three asses could carry.
When he had loaded them with the bags, he laid
wood over them in such a manner that they could
not be seen. When he had passed in and out as
often as he wished, he stood before the door, and
pronouncing the words, " Shut, Sesame I " the door
closed of itself. He then made the best of his
way to town.
When Ali Baba got home, he drove his asses
into a little yard, shut the gates very carefully,
threw off the wood that covered the panniers,
carried the bags into his house, and ranged them
in order before his wife. He then emptied the
bags, which raised such a great heap of gold as
dazzled his wife's eyes, and then he told her the
whole adventure from beginning to end, and,
above all, recommended her to keep it secret.
The wife rejoiced greatly at their good fortune,
and would count all the gold piece by piece.
" Wife," replied Ali Baba, " you do not know
what you undertake, when you pretend to count
the money ; you will never have done. I will dig
a hole and bury it. There is no time to be lost."
" You are in the right, husband," replied she ;
" but let us know, as nigh as possible, how much
we have. I will borrow a small measure, and
measure it, while you dig the hole."
Away the wife ran to her brother-in-law Cas-
sim, who lived just by, and addressing herself to
his wife, desired her to lend her a measure for a
little while. Her sister-in-law asked her whether
she would have a great or a small one. The other
asked for a small one. She bade her stay a little,
and she would readily fetch one.
The sister-in-law did so, but as she knew Ali
Baba's poverty, she was curious to know what
sort of grain his wife wanted to measure, and art-
fully putting some suet at the bottom of the meas-
ure, brought it to her, with an excuse that she
was sorrj' that she liad made her stay so long, but
that she could not find it sooner.
Ali Baba"s wife went home, set the measure
upon the heap of gold, filled it, and emptied it
often upon the sofa, till she had done, when she
was very well satisfied to find the number of meas-
ures amounted to so many as they did, and went
to tell her husband, who had almost finished dig-
ging the hole. While Ali Baba was burying the
gold, his wife, to show her exactness and diligence
to her sister-in-law, carried the measure back
again, but without taking notice that a piece of
gold had stuck to the bottom. "■ Sister," said she,
giving it to her again, " you see that I have not
kept your measure long. I am obliged to you for
it, and return it with thanks."
As soon as Ali Baba's wife was gone, Cassim's
looked at the bottom of the measure, and was in
inexpressible surprise to find a piece of gold stick-
ing to it. Envy immediately possessed her breast.
" What ! " said she, " has Ali Baba gold so plenti-
ful as to measure it? Whence has he all this
wealth ? '■
Cassim, her husband, was at his counting-house.
When he came home his wife said to him : " Cas-
sim, I know you think yourself rich, but Ali Baba
is infinitely richer than you. He does not count
his money, but measures it." Cassim desired her
to explain the riddle, which she did, by telling
him the stratagem she had used to make the dis-
covery, and showed him the piece of money, which
286
TALES FROM THE ARABIAN NIGHTS' ENTERTAINMENTS.
was so old that they could not tell in what prince's
reign it was coined.
Cassim, after he had married the rich widow,
had never treated Ali Baba as a brother, but
neglected him ; and now, instead of being pleased,
he conceived a base envy at his brother's prosper-
ity. He could not sleep all that night, and went
to him in the morning before sunrise. " Ali
Baba," said he, " I am surprised at you ; you jjre-
tend to be miserably poor, and yet you measure
gold. My wife found this at the bottom of the
measure you borrowed yesterday."
By this discourse, Ali Baba perceived that Cas-
sim and his wife, through his own wife's folly,
knew what they had so much reason to conceal ;
but what was done could not be undone. There-
fore, without showing the least surprise or trouble,
he confessed all, and offered his brother part of his
treasure to keep the secret.
" I expect as much," replied Cassim, haughtily ;
" but I must know exactly where this treasure is,
and how I may visit it myself when I choose ;
otherwise, I will go and inform against you, and
then you will not only get no more, but will lose
all you have, and I shall have a share for my in-
formation."
Ali Baba told him all he desired, even to the
very words he was to use to gain admission into
the cave.
Cassim rose the next morning long before the
sun, and set out for the forest with ten mules beai'-
ing great chests, which he designed to fill, and fol-
lowed the road which Ali Baba had pointed out
to him. He was not long before he reached the
rock, and found out the place, by the tree and
other marks which his brother had given him.
When he reached the entrance of the cavern, he
pronounced the words, " Open, Sesame I " The
door immediately opened, and when he was in,
closed upon him. In examining the cave, he was
in great admiration to find much more riches than
he had expected from Ali Baba's relation. He
quickly laid as many bags of gold as he could
carry at the door of the cavern ; but his thoughts
were so full of the great riches he should possess,
that he could not think of the necessary word to
make it open, but instead of " Sesame," said,
" Open, Barley! " and was much amazed to find
that the door remained fast shut. He named sev-
eral sorts of grain, but still the door would not
open.
Cassim had never expected such an incident,
and was so alarmed at the danger he was in, that
the more he endeavored to remember the word
" Sesame," the more his memory was confounded,
and he had as much forgotten it as if he had never
heard it mentioned. He threw down the bags he
had loaded himself with, and walked distractedly
ujD and down the cave, without having the least
regard to the riches that were round him.
About noon the robbers visited their cave. At
some distance they saw Cassim's mules straggling
about the rock, with great chests on their backs.
Alarmed at this, they galloped full speed to the
cave. They drove away the mules, who strayed
through the forest so far that they were soon out
of sight, and went directly, with their naked
sabres in their bands, to tlie door, which, on their
captain pronouncing the projjer words, immedi-
ately opened.
Cassim, who heard the noise of the horses' feet,
at once guessed the arrival of the robbers, and re-
solved to make one effort for his life. He rushed
to the door, and no sooner saw the door open, than
he ran out and threw the leader down, but could
not escape the other robbers, who with their scim-
itars soon deprived him of life.
The first care of the robbers after this was to
examine the cave. They found all the bags which
Cassim had brought to the door, to be ready to
load his mules, and carried them again to their
places, but they did not miss what Ali Baba had
taken away before. Then holding a council, and
delibei-ating upon this occurrence, they guessed
that Cassim, when he was in, could not get out
again, but could not imagine how he had learned
the secret words by which alone he could enter.
They could not deny the fact of his being there ;
and to terrify any person or accomplice who should
attempt the same thing, they agreed to cut Cas-
THE HISTORY OF ALI BABA, AND OF THE FORTY ROBBERS.
287
sim's body into four quarters — to hang two on
one side, and two on the other, within the door of
the cave. They had no sooner taken this resolu-
tion than they put it in execution ; and when they
had nothing more to detain them, left the place
of their hoards well closed. They mounted their
horses, went to beat the roads again, and to attack
the caravans they might meet.
In the mean time Cassim's wife was very un-
easy when night came, and her husband was not
returned. She ran to Ali Baba in great alarm,
and said : " I believe, brother-in-law, tliat you
know Cassim is gone to the forest, and upon what
account ; it is now night, and lie has not returned ;
I am afraid some misfortune has happened to
him." Ali Baba told her that she need not
frighten herself, for that certainly Cassim would
not think it proper to come into the town till the
night should be pretty far advanced.
Cassim's wife, considering how much it con-
cerned her husband to keep the business secret,
was the more easily persuaded to believe her
brother-in-law. She went home again, and waited
patiently till midnight. Then her fear redoubled,
and her grief was the more sensible because she
was forced to keep it to herself. She repented of
her foolish curiosity, and cursed her desire of pry-
ing into the affairs of her brother and sister-in-
law. She spent all the night ia weeping ; and as
soon as it was day, went to them, telling them, by
her tears, the cause of her coming.
Ali Baba did not wait for his sister-in-law to
desire him to go to see what was become of Cas-
sim, but departed immediately with his three
asses, begging of her first to moderate her afflic-
tion. He went to the forest, and when he came
near the rock, having seen neither his brother nor
the mules in his way, was seriously alarmed at
finding some blood spilt near the door, which he
took for an ill omen ; but when he had pronounced
the word, and the door had opened, he was struck
with horror at the dismal sight of his brother's
body. He was not long in determining how he
should pay the last dues to his brother ; but with-
out adverting to the little fraternal affection he
had shown for him, went into the cave, to find
something to enshroud his remains; and having
loaded one of his asses with them, covered them
over with wood. The other two asses he loaded
with bags of gold, covering them with wood also
as before ; and then bidding the door shut, came
away ; but was so cautious as to stop some time at
the end of the forest, that he might not go into the
town before night. When he came home, he drove
the two asses loaded with gold into his little yard,
and left the care of unloading them to his wife,
while he led the other to his sister-in-law's house.
Ali Baba knocked at the door, which was ojjened
by Morgiana, a clever intelligent slave, who was
fruitful in inventions to meet the most difficult
circumstances. When he came into the court, he
unloaded the ass, and taking jNIorgiana aside, said
to her : " You must observe an inviolable secrecy.
Your master's body is contained in these two pan-
niers. We must bury him as if he had died a
natural death. Go now and tell your mistress. I
leave the matter to jour wit and skillful devices."
Ali Baba helped to place the body in Cassim's
house, again recommended to Morgiana to act her
part well, and then returned with his ass.
Morgiana went out early the next morning to a
druggist, and asked for a sort of lozenge which
was considered efficacious in the most dangerous
disorders. The apothecary inquired who was ill ?
She replied, with a sigh, " Her good master Cassim
himself ; and that he could neither eat nor speak."
In the evening Morgiana went to the same drug-
gist's again, and with tears in her eyes asked for
an essence which they used to give to sick people
only when at the last extremity. " Alas ! " said
she, taking it from the apothecary, " I am afraid
this remedy will have no better effect than the
lozenges ; and that I shall lose my good master."
On the other hand, as Ali Baba and his wife
were often seen to go between Cassim's and their
own house all that day, and to seem melancholy,
nobody was surprised in the evening to hear the
lamentable shrieks and cries of Cassim"s wife and
Morgiana, who gave out everywhere that her mas-
ter was dead. The next morning, at daybreak.
288
TALES FROM THE ARABIAN NIGHTS' ENTERTAINMENTS.
Morgiana went to an old cobbler whom she knew
to be always early at his stall, and bidding him
good morrow, put a piece of gold into his hand,
saj'ing, " Baba Mustapha, you must bring with
you your sewing tackle, and come with me ; but I
must tell you, I shall blindfold you when you
come to such a place."
Baba Mustapha seemed to hesitate a little at
these words. " Oh ! oh ! " replied he, " you
would have me do something against my con-
science, or against my honor?" "God forbid,"
said Morgiana, putting another piece of gold into
his hand, " that I should ask anything that is con-
trary to your honor ! only come along with me,
and fear nothing."
Baba Mustapha went with Morgiana, who, after
she had bound his eyes with a handkerchief at the
place she had mentioned, conveyed him to her
deceased master's house, and never unloosed his
eyes till he had entered the room where she had
put the corpse together. " Baba Mustapha," said
she, " yon must make haste and sew the parts of
this body together ; and when you have done, I
will give you another piece of gold."
After Baba Mustapha had finished his task, she
blindfolded him again, gave him the third piece
of gold as she had promised, and recommending
secrecy to him, carried him back to the place
where she first bound his eyes, pulled off the band-
age, and let him go home, but watched him that
he returned towards his stall, till he was quite out
of sight, for fear he should have the curiosity to
return and dog her ; she then went home. Mor-
giana, on her return, warmed some water to wash
the body, and at the same time Ali Baba per-
fumed it with incense, and wrapped it in the bury-
ing clothes with the accustomed ceremonies. Not
long after, the proper officer brought the bier, and
when the attendants of the mosque, whose busi-
ness it was to wash the dead, offei-ed to perform
their duty, she told them that it was done al-
ready. Shortly after this the imaun and the other
ministers of the mosque arrived. Four neighbors
carried the corpse to the burying-ground, follow-
ing the imaun, who recited some prayers. Ali
Baba came after with some neighbors, who often
relieved the others in carrying the bier to the bury-
ing-ground. Morgiana, a slave to the deceased,
followed in the procession, weeping, beating her
breast, and tearing her hair. Cassim's wife stayed
at home mourning,«uttering lamentable cries with
the women of the neighborhood, who came, ac-
cording to custom, during the funeral, and joining
their lamentations with hers, filled the quarter far
and near with sounds of sorrow.
In this manner Cassim's melancholy death was
concealed, and hushed up between Ali Baba, his
widow, and Morgiana his slave, with so much con-
trivance, that nobody in the city had the least
knowledge or suspicion of the cause of it. Three
or four days after the funeral, Ali Baba removed
his few goods openly to his sister-in-law's house,
in which it was agreed that he should in future
live ; but the money he had taken from the robbers
he conveyed thither hy night. As for Cassim's
warehouse, he intrusted it entirely to the manage-
ment of his eldest son.
While these things were being done, the forty
robbers again visited their retreat in the forest.
Great, then, was their surprise to find Cassim's
body taken away, with some of their bags of gold.
" We ai-e certainly discovered," said the captain.
" The removal of the body, and the loss of some
of our monej', plainly shows that the man whom
we killed had an accomplice ; and for our own
lives' sake we must try and find him. What say
you, my lads ? "
All the robbers unanimously approved of the
captain's proposal.
" Well," said the captain, " one of you, the
boldest and most skillful among you, must go into
the town, disguised as a traveler and a stranger,
to try if he can hear any talk of the man whom we
have killed, and endeavor to find out who he was
and where he lived. This is a matter of the first
importance, and for fear of anj' treachery, I pro-
pose that whoever undertakes this business with-
out success, even though the failure arises only
from an error of judgment, shall suffer death."
Without waiting for the sentiments of his com-
THE HISTORY OF ALT BAB A, AND OF THE FORTY ROBBERS.
289
panions, one of the robbers started up, and said,
" I submit to this condition, and think it an honor
to expose my life to serve the troop."
After this robber had received great commenda-
tions from the captain and his comrades, he dis-
guised himself so that nobody would take him for
what he was ; and taking his leave of the troop
that night, went into the town just at daybreak ;
and walked up and down, till accidentally he came
to Baba Mustapha"s stall, which was always open
before any of the shops.
Baba Mnstapha was seated with an awl in his
hand, just going to work. The robber saluted
him, bidding him good morrow; and perceiving
that he was old, said : " Honest man, you begin to
work very early ; is it possible that one of your
age can see so well ? I question, even if it were
somewhat lighter, whether you could see to
stitch."
" You do not know me," replied Baba Musta-
pha; " for old as I am, I have extraordinary good
eyes ; and you will not doubt it when I tell you
that I sewed the body of a dead man together in a
place where I had not so much light as I have
now."
" A dead body ! " exclaimed the robber, with
affected amazement. " Yes, yes," answered Baba
Mustapha, " I see you want to have me speak out,
but you shall know no more."
The robber felt sure that he had discovered
what he sought. He pulled out a piece of gold,
and putting it into Baba Mustapha's hand, said to
him : " I do not want to learn your secret, though
I can assure you, you might safely trust me with
it. The only thing I desire of you is to show me
the house where you stitched up the dead body."
" If I were disposed to do you that favor," i-e-
plied Baba Mustapha, "I assure you I cannot. I
was taken to a certain place, whence I was led
blindfold to the house, and afterwards brought
back again in the same manner ; you see, there-
fore, the impossibility of my doing what you de-
sire."
" Well," replied the robber, " you may, how-
ever, remember a little of the way that you were
37
led blindfold. Come, let me blind your eyes at
the same place. We will walk together ; perhaps
you may recognize some part ; and as everybody
ought to be paid for their trouble, there is another
piece of gold for you ; gratify me in what I ask
you." So saying, he put another piece of gold
into his hand.
The two pieces of gold were great temptations
to Baba Mustapha. He looked at them a long
time in his hand, without saying a word, but at
last he pulled out his purse and put them in. " I
cannot promise," said he to the robber, " that I
can remember the way exactly ; but since you de-
sire, I will try what I can do." At these words
Baba Mustapha rose up, to the great joy of the
robber, and led him to the place where Morgiana
had bound his eyes. " It was here," said Baba
Mustapha, " I was blindfolded ; and I turned this
way." The robber tied ids handkerchief over his
eyes, and walked by him till he stopped directly
at Cassim's house, where Ali Baba then lived.
The thief, before he pulled off the band, marked
the door with a piece of chalk, which he had
ready in his hand, and then asked him if he knew
whose house that was ; to which Baba Mustapha
replied, that, as he did not live in that neighbor-
hood, he could not tell.
The robber, finding he could discover no more
from Baba Mustapha, thanked him for the trouble
he had taken, and left him to go back to his stall,
while he returned to the forest, persuaded that he
should be very well received.
A little after the robber and Baba Mustapha
had parted, Morgiana went out of Ali Baba's
house upon some errand, and upon her return,
seeing the mark the robber had made, stopped to
observe it. " What can be the meaning of this
mark?" said she to herself; "somebody intends
my master no good ; however, with whatever in-
tention it was done, it is advisable to guard against
the worst." Accordingly, she fetched a piece of
chalk, and marked two or three doors on each
side, in the same manner, without saying a word
to her master or mistress.
In the mean time, the robber rejoined his troop
290
TALES FROM THE ARABIAN NIGHTS' ENTERTAINMENTS.
in the forest, and recounted to them his success :
expatiating upon his good fortune in meeting so
soon with the only person who could inform him
of what he wanted to know. All the robbers list-
ened to him with the utmost satisfaction ; when
the captain, after commending his diligence, ad-
dressing himself to them all, said : " Comrades,
we have no time to lose ; let us set off well armed,
without its appearing who we are ; but that we
may not excite any suspicion, let only one or two
go into the town together, and join at our rendez-
vous, which shall be the great square. In the
mean time, our comrade who brought us the good
news and I will go and find out the house, that we
may consult what had best be done."
This speech and plan was aj)proved of hj all,
and thej' were soon read}'. They filed off in par-
ties of two each, after some interval of time, and
got into the town without being in the least sus"
pected. The captain and he who had visited the
towji in the morning as spy came in the last. He
led the captain into the street where he had
marked Ali Baba's residence ; and when they
came to the first of the houses which Morgiana
had marked, he pointed it out. But the captain
observed that the next door was chalked in the
same manner, and in the same place ; and showing
it to his guide, asked him which house it was,
that, or the first. The guide was so confounded
that he knew not what answer to make ; but still
moi'e puzzled, when he and the captain saw five
or six houses similai'ly marked. He assured the
captain, with an oath, that he had marked but
one, and could not tell who had chalked the rest,
so that he could not distinguish the house which
the cobbler had stopped at.
The captain, finding that their design had
proved abortive, went directly to the place of ren-
dezvous, and told his troop that they had lost
their labor, and must return to their cave. He
himself set them the example, and they all re-
turned as they had come.
When the troop was all got togetlier, the cap-
tain told them the reason of their returning ; and
presently the conductor was declared by all
worthy of death. He condemned himself, ac-
knowledging that he ought to have taken better
precaution, and prepared to receive the stroke
from him who was appointed to cut off his head.
But as the safety of the troop required the dis-
covery of the second intruder into the cave, an-
other of the gang, who promised himself that he
should succeed better, presented himself, and his
offer being accepted, he went and corrupted Baba
Mustapha, as the other had done ; and being shown
the house, marked it in a place more remote from
sight, with red chalk.
Not long after, Morgiana, wliose ej'es nothing
could escape, went out, and seeing the red chalk,
and arguing with herself as she had done before,
marked the other neighbors" houses in the same
place and manner.
The robber, at his return to his company, val-
ued himself much on the p>recaution he had taken,
which he looked upon as an infallible waj' of dis-
tinguishing Ali Baba's house from the others ;
and the captain and all of them thought it must
succeed. They conveyed themselves into the
town with the same precaution as before ; but
■when the robber and his captain came to the
street, they found the same difficulty ; at which
the captain was enraged, and the robber in as
great confusion as his predecessor.
Thus the captain and his troop were forced to
retire a second time, and much more dissatisfied ;
while the robber, who had been the author of the
mistake, underwent the same jjunishment, which
he willingly submitted to.
The captain, having lost two brave fellows of
his troop, was afraid of diminishing it too much
bj' pursuing this plan to get information of the
residence of their plunderer. He found by their
example that their heads were not so good as their
hands on such occasions ; and therefore resolved
to take upon himself the impoitant commission.
Accordingly, he went and addressed himself to
Baba Mustapha, who did him the same service he
had done to the other robbers. He did not set
any particular mark on the house, but examined
and observed it so carefully, by passing often
THE HISTORY OF ALT BABA, AND OF THE FORTY ROBBERS.
291
before it, that it was impossible for him to mis-
take it.
The captain, well satisfied with his attempt,
and informed of what he wanted to know, returned
to the forest : and when he came into the cave,
where the troop waited for him, said : " Now,
comrades, nothing can prevent our full revenge,
as I am certain of the house ; and in my way
hither I have thought how to put it into execu-
tion, but if any one can form a better expedient,
let him communicate it." He then told them his
contrivance ; and as they approved of it, ordered
them to go into the villages about, and buy nine-
teen mules, with thirty- eight large leather jars,
one full of oil, and the others empty.
In two or three days' time the robbers had pur-
chased the mules and jars, and as the mouth of
the jars were rather too narrow for his purpose,
the captain caused them to be widened ; and after
having put one of his men into each, with the
weapons which he thought fit, leaving open the
seam which had been undone to leave them room
to breathe, he rubbed the jars on the outside with
oil from the full vessel.
Things being thus prepared, when the nineteen
mules were loaded with thirty-seven robbers in
jars, and the jar of oil, the captain, as their driver,
Set out with them, and reached the town by the
dusk of the evening, as he had intended. He led
them through the streets till he came to Ali Baba's,
at whose door he designed to have knocked ; but
was prevented by his sitting there after supper to
take a little fresh air. He stopped his mules, ad-
dressed himself to him, and said : " I have brought
some oil a great way, to sell at to-morrow's mar-
ket; and it is now so late that I do not know
•where to lodge. If I should not be troublesome to
you, do me the favor to let me pass the night with
you, and I shall be veiy much obliged by your
hospitality."
Though Ali Baba had seen the captain of the
robbers in the forest, and had heard him speak,
it was impossible to know him in the disguise of
an oil-merchant. He told him he should be wel-
come, and immediately opened his gates for the
mules to go into the yard. At the same time he
called to a slave, and ordered him, when the mules
were unloaded, to put them into the stable, and
to feed them ; and then went to Morgiana, to bid
her get a good supper for his guest. After they
had finished supper, Ali Baba charging Morgiana
afresh to take care of his guest, said to her: "• To-
morrow morning I design to go to the bath before
day ; take care my bathing linen be ready ; give
them to Abdalla (which Avas the slave's name),
and make me some good broth against I return."
After this he went to bed.
In the mean time the captain of the robbers
went into the yard, and took ofl the lid of each
jar, and gave his j^eople orders what to do. Be-
ginning at the first jar, and so on to the last, he
said to each man: "As soon as I throw some
stones out of the chamber window where I lie, do
not fail to come out, and I will immediately join
you." After this he returned into the house,
when Morgiana, taking up a light, conducted him
to his chamber, where she left him ; and he, to
avoid any suspicion, put the light out soon after,
and laid himself down in his clothes, that he
might be the more ready to rise.
Morgiana, remembering Ali Baba's ordei-s, got
his bathing linen ready, and ordered Abdalla to
set on the pot for the broth ; but while she was
preparing it, the lamp went out, and there was
no more oil in the house, nor any candles. What
to do she did not know, for the broth must be
made. Abdalla, seeing her very uneasy, said,
" Do not fret and tease yourself, but go into the
yard, and take some oil out of one of the jars."
Morgiana thanked Abdalla for his advice, took
the oil-pot, and went into the yard ; when, as she
came nigh the first jar, the robber within said
softly, " Is it time ? "
Though naturally much surprised at finding a
man in the jar instead of the oil she wanted, she
immediately felt the importance of keeping si-
lence, as Ali Baba, his family, and herself were
in great danger; and collecting herself, without
showing the least emotion, she answered, " Not
yet, but presently." She went quietly in this
292
TALES FROM THE ARABIAN NIGHTS' ENTERTAINMENTS.
manner to all the jars, giving the same answer,
till she came to the jar of oil.
By this means Morgiana found that her master
All Baba had admitted thirty-eight robbers into
his house, and that tliis pretended oil-merchant
was their captain. She made what haste she could
to fill her oil-pot, and returned into her kitchen,
where, as soon as she had lighted her lamp, she
took a great kettle, went again to the oil-jar,
filled the kettle, set it on a large wood fire, and
as soon as it boiled went and poured enough into
every jar to stifle and destroy the robber within.
When this action, worthy of the courage of
Morgiana, was executed without any noise, as
she had projected, .she returned into the kitchen
with the empty kettle ; and having put out the
great fire she had made to boil the oil, and leaving
just enough to make the broth, put out the lamp
also, and remained silent, resolving not to go to rest
till she had observed what might follow through
a window of the kitchen, which opened into the
yard.
She had not waited long before the captain of
the robbers got up, opened the window, and find-
ing no light, and hearing no noise, or any one
stirring in the house, gave the appointed signal,
by throwing little stones, several of which hit the
jars, as he doubted not by the sound they gave.
He then listened, but not hearing or perceiving
anything whereby he could judge that his com-
panions stirred, he began to grow very uneasy,
threw stones again a second, and also a third
time, and could not comprehend the reason that
none of them should answer his signal. Much
alarmed, he went softly down into the yard, and
going to the first jar, whilst asking the robber,
whom he thought alive, if he was in readiness,
smelt the hot boiled oil, which sent forth a steam
out of the jar. Hence he suspected that his plot
to murder Ali Baba, and plunder his house, was
discovered. Examining all the jars, one after an-
other, he found that all his gang were dead ; and,
enraged to despair at having failed in his design,
he forced the lock of a door that led from the yard
to the garden, and climbing over the walls made
his escape.
When jNIorgiana saw him depart, she went to
bed, satisfied and pleased to have succeeded so
well in saving her master and family.
Ali Baba rose before day, and followed by his
slave, went to the baths, entirely ignorant of the
importar.t event which had happened at home.
When he returned from the baths, he was very
much surprised to see the oil-jars, and that the
merchant was not gone with the mules. He asked
Morgiana, who opened the door, the reason of it.
" ^^y good master," answered she, " God preserve
you and all your family. You will be better in-
formed of what you wish to know when you have
seen what I have to show you, if you will follow
me."
As soon as Morgiana had shut the door, Ali
Baba followed her, when she requested him to
look into tiie first jar, and see if there was any oil.
Ali Baba did so, and seeing a man, started back
in alarm, and cried oat. " Do not be afraid," said
Morgiana, " the man you see there can neither do
you nor anybody else any harm. He is dead."
" Ah, Morgiana," said Ali Baba, " what is it you
show me? Explain yourself." " I will," replied
Morgiana. " Moderate your astonishment, and do
not excite the curiosity of your neighbors ; for it
is of great importance to keep this affair seci'et.
Look into all tlie other jars."
Ali Baba examined all the other jars, one after
another ; and when he came to that which had
the oil in it, found it prodigiously sunk, and stood
for some time motionless, sometimes looking at
the jars, and sometimes at jMorgiana, witliout say-
ing a word, so great was his surprise. At last,
THE HISTORY OF ALI BABA, AND OF THE FORTY ROBBERS.
293
when he had lecoveied himself, he said, "And
what is become of the merchant ? "
"Merchant!" answered she; "he is as much
one as I am. I will tell you who he is, and what
is become of him ; but you had better hear the '
story in your own chamber ; for it is time for your
health that you had your broth after your bath-
ing."
Morgiana then told him all she had done, from
the first observing the mark upon the house, to
the destruction of the robbers and the flight of
their captain.
On hearing of these brave deeds from the lips
of Morgiana, Ali Baba said to her, — " God, by
your means, has delivered me from the snares
these robbers laid for my destruction. I owe,
therefore, my life to you ; and, for the first token
of my acknowledgment, give you your liberty
from this moment, till I can complete your recom-
pense as I intend."
Ali Baba's garden was very long, and shaded
at the farther end by a great nuniber of large
trees. Near these he and the slave Abdalla dug
a trench, long and wide enough to hold the bodies
of the robbers ; and as the earth was light, they
were not long in doing it. When this was done,
Ali Baba hid the jars and weapons ; and as he
had no occasion for the mules, he sent them at
different times to be sold in the market by his
slave.
While Ali Baba took these measures, the cap-
tain of the forty robbers returned to the forest
with inconceivable mortification. He did not stay
long ; the loneliness of the gloomy cavern became
frightful to him. He determined, however, to
avenge the fate of his companions, and to accom-
plish the death of Ali Baba. For this purpose he
returned to the town, and took a lodging in a
khan, and disguised himself as a merchant in silks.
Under this assumed character, he gradually con-
veyed a gi-eat many sorts of rich stuffs and fine
linen to his lodging from the cavern, but with all
the necessary precautions to conceal the place
whence he brought them. In order to dispose of
the merchandise, when he had thus amassed them
together, he took a warehouse, which hap-pened to
be 023posite to Cassim's, which Ali Baba's sou had
occupied since the death of his uncle.
He took the name of Cogia Houssain, and, as a
new-comer, was, according to custom, extremely
civil and complaisant to all the merchants his
neighbors. Ali Baba's son was, from his vicinity,
one of the first to converse with Cogia Houssain,
who strove to cultivate his friendship more partic-
ularly. Two or three days after he was settled,
Ali Baba came to see his son, and the captain of
the robbers recognized him at once, and soon
learned from his son who he was. After this he
increased his assiduities, caressed him in the most
engaging manner, made him some small presents,
and often asked him to dine and sup with him,
when lie treated him very handsomely.
Ali Baba's son did not choose to lie under such
obligation to Cogia Houssaiu ; but was so much
straitened for want of room in his house, that he
could not entertain him. He therefore acquainted
his father, Ali Baba, with his wish to invite him
in return.
Ali Baba with great pleasure took the treat
upon himself. " Son," said he, " to-morrow being
Friday, which is a day that the shops of such
great merchants as Cogia Houssain and yourself
are shut, get him to accompany you, and as you
pass by my door, call in. I will go and order
Morgiana to provide a supper."
The next day Ali Baba's son and Cogia Hous-
sain met by appointment, took their walk, and as
they returned, Ali Baba's son led Cogia Houssain
through the street where his father lived, and when
they came to the house, stopped and knocked at
the door. "This, sir," said he, "is my father's
house, who, from the account I have given him of
your friendship, charged me to procure him the
honor of your acquaintance ; and I desire you to
add this pleasure to those for which I am already
indebted to you."
Though it was the sole aim of Cogia Houssain
to introduce himself into Ali Baba's house, that he
might kill him, without hazarding his own life or
making any noise, yet he excused himself, and
294
TALES FROM THi
E ARABIAN NIGHTS' ENTERTAINMENTS.
offered to take his leave; but a sl^^^^ having
opened the door, Ali Babas son took ^"" °^l|g-
ingly by the hand, and, in a manner; forced him
in.
Ali Baba received Cogia Houssain ^^^^^^ ^ ^™'^-
ing countenance, and in the most oblip"^? mannei
he could wish. He thanked him for a^^ ^^^ ^'^^^^^
he had done his son ; adding withal tl^^ obligation
was the greater as he was a young ma^^' ^ mucn
acquainted with the world, and that he ^'g^it con-
tribute to his information.
Cogia Houssain returned the compli™^"*^ ^^ ^^-
suring Ali Baba, that though his soi' ™^g^* "°*^
111
have acquired the experience of older p^'^' '^^ "^'^
good sense equal to the experience of n^'^^^^ otneis.
After a little more conversation on dif®^®"* ^^_
jects, he offered again to take his leavr' '"''^^n All
Baba, stopping him, said: "Where air J"^*^* g^^^g'
sir, in so much haste ? I beg you wr'"^'^ ^° ™®
the honor to sup with me, though mf entertain-
ment may not be worthy your accept^^'^® = ^'^ _
as it is I heartily offer it." " Sir," ref ^i*^*^ ^^S"^
Houssain, " I am thoroughly persuadr*^ °_ your
good-will; but the truth is, I can eat "" -v'ictuals
that have any salt in them ; therefore 3"^%*^ ^'^^'^
I should feel at your table." " If that '^ *® °"'y
reason," said Ali Baba, " it ought not *^° deprive
■ fl fi f
me of the honor of your comjJany ; for, ^^ ^"® "^^^
place, there is no salt ever put into my oread, and
as to the meat we shall have to-niglit; ^ promise
you there shall be none in that. Thf^'^fore you
must do me the favor to stay. I will r^™i'" i™"
mediately."
Ali Baba went into the 'kitchen, a
nd ordered
(ihat was to
Morgiana to put no salt to the meat t' _
be dressed that night ; and to make d^^^^^ly ^"'O
or three ragouts besides what he had o'^'''^^'^*^' ^^^*
be sure to put no salt in them.
Morgiana, who was always ready t? ooey nei
master, could not help being surprif^ ^ _
strange order. " Who is this strange ''"f^"' ' ^^^^
she, "who eats no salt with his mea • lour
supper will be spoiled, if I keep it bac'^ '^'^ ^*'"g-'
" Do not be angry, Morgiana," replied ^^] Baba j
" he is an honest man, therefore do as . 1^^-
^Morgiana obeyed, though with no little reluct-
ance, and had a curiosity to see this man who ate
no salt. To this end, when she had finished what
she had to do in the kitchen, she helped Abdalla
to carry up the dishes; and looking at Cogia
Houssain, knew him at first sight, notwithstand-
ing his disguise, to be the captain of the rob-
bers, and examining him very carefully, perceived
that he had a dagger under his garment. "I
am not in the least amazed," said she to herself,
" that this wicked man, who is my master's great-
est enemy, would eat no salt with him, since he
intends to assassinate him; but I will prevent
him."
Morgiana, while they were at supper, deter-
mined in her own mind to execute one of the
boldest acts ever meditated. When Abdalla came
for the dessert of fruit, and had put it with the
wine and glasses before Ali Baba, Morgiana re-
tired, dressed herself neatly, with a suitable head-
dress like a dancer, girded her waist with a silver-
gilt girdle, to which there hung a poniard with a
hilt and guard of the same metal, and put a hand-
some mask on her face. When she had thus dis-
guised herself, she said to Abdalla, " Take j-our
tabor, and let us go and divert our master aiid
his son's friend, as we do sometimes when he is
alone."
Abdalla took his tabor and played all the way
into the hall before IMorgiana, who, when she came
to the door, made a low obeisance hy way of ask-
ing leave to exhibit her skill, while Abdalla left
off playing. " Come in, Morgiana," said Ali
Baba, " and let Cogia Houssain see what you can
do, that he may tell us what he thinks of your
performance."
Cogia Houssain, who did not exjDect this diver-
sion after supper, began to fear he should not be
V)le to take advantage of the opportunity he
tliought he had found, but hoped, if he now missed
his aim, to secure it another time, by keeping up a
friendly correspondence with the father and son ;
therefore, though he could have wished Ali Baba
would have declined the dance, he pretended to
be obliged to him for it, and had the complaisance
THE HISTORY OF ALI BAB A, AND OF THE FORTY ROBBERS.
295
to express his satisfaction at what he saw, which
pleased his host.
As soon as Abdalla saw that Ali Baba and Cogia
Houssain had done talking, he began to play on
the tabor, and accompanied it with an air, to
which Morgiana, who was an excellent performer,
danced in such a
manner as would have
created admiration in
any company.
After she had
danced several dances
with much grace, she
drew the poniard, and
holding it in her hand,
began a dance, in
which she outdid her-
self, by the many dif-
ferent figures, light
movements, and the
surprising leaps and
wonderful exertions
with which she ac-
companied it. Some-
times she presented
the poniard to one
breast, sometimes to
anothei', and often-
times seemed to strike
her own. At last, she
snatched the tabor
from Abdalla with
her left hand, and
holding the dagger in
her right, presented
the other side of the
tabor, after the man-
ner of those who get
a livelihood by dancing, and solicit the Hberality
of the spectators.
Ali Baba put a piece of gold into the tabor, as
did also his son ; and Cogia Houssain, seeing that
she was coming to him, had pulled his purse out
of his bosom to make her a present ; but while he
was putting his hand into it, Morgiana, with a
courage and resolution worthy of herself, plunged
the poniard into his heart.
Ali Baba and liis son, shocked at this action,
cried out aloud. "Unhappy woman!" exclaimed
Ali Baba, " what have you done to ruin me and
my family ? " "It was to preserve, not to ruin
you," answered Mor-
giana ; " for see here,"
continued she, open-
ing the pretended Co-
gia Houssain's gar-
ment, and showing
the dagger, " what an
enemy you had enter-
tained ! Look well
at him, and you will
find him to be both
the fictitious oil-mer-
chant and the captain
of the gang of forty
robbers. Remember,
too, that he would eat
no salt with you ; and
what would you have
more to persuade you
of his wicked design ?
Befoi'e I saw him, I
suspected him as soon
as you told me you had
such a guest. I knew
him, and you now find
that my suspicion was
not groundless."
Ali Baba, who im-
mediately felt the new
obligation he had to
Morgiana for saving
his life a second time,
embraced her ; " Morgiana," said he, " I gave you
yom- liberty, and then promised you that my
gratitude should not stop there, but that I would
soon give you higher proofs of its sincerity, which
I now do by making you my daughter-in-law."
Then addressing himself to his son, he said : " I
believe you, son, to be so dutiful a child, that you
296
TALES FROM THE ARABIAN NIGHTS' ENTERTAINMENTS.
will not refuse Morgiaiia for your wife. You see
that Cogia Houssain sought j'our friendship with
a treacherous desigu to take away my life , and if
he had succeeded, there is no doubt but he would
have sacrificed you also to his revenge. Consider
that b}' marrying Morgiana you marry the pre-
server of my family and your own."
Tlie son, far from showing any dislike, readily
consented to the marriage ; not only because he
would not disobey his father, but also because it
was agreeable to his inclination. After this they
thought of buryiug the captain of the robbers
with his comrades, and did it so privately that no-
body discovered their bones till many years after,
when no one had any concern in the publication
of this remarkable history. A few days after-
wards Ali Baba celebrated the nuptials of his son
and Morgiana with great solemnity, a sumptuous
feast, and the usual dancing and spectacles ; and
had the satisfaction to see that his friends and
neighbors, whom he invited, had no knowledge
of the true motives of the marriage ; but that
those who were not unacquainted with Morgiana's
good qualities commended his generosity and good-
ness of heart. Ali Baba did not visit the robber's
cave for a year, as he sujjposed the other two,
whom he could get no account of, might be alive.
At the year's end, when he found they had not
made any attempt to disturb him, he had tlie curi-
osity to make another journey. He mounted his
horse, and when he came to the cave he alighted,
tied his horse to a tree ; then approaching the en-
trance and pronouncing the words, " Open, Ses-
ame ! " the door opened. He entered the cavern,
and by the condition he found things in, judged
that nobody had been there since the captain had
fetched the goods for his shop. From this time he
believed he was the onl}- person in the world who
had the secret of opening the cave, and that all the
treasure was at his sole disposal. He put as much
gold into his saddle-bag as his horse would carry,
and returned to town. Some years later he car-
ried his son to the cave, and taught him the se-
cret, which he handed down to his posterity, who,
using their good fortune with moderation, lived in
great honor and splendor.
Vn. THE STORY OF SINDBAD THE SAILOR.
In the reign of the same caliph, Haroun Al-
Raschid, of whom we have already heard, there
lived at Bagdad a poor porter called Hindbad.
One day, when the weather was excessively hot,
he was employed to carry a heavy burden from
one end of the town to the other. Being much
fatigued, he took off his load, and sat upon it, near
a large mansion.
He was much pleased that he stopped at this
place ; for the agreeable smell of wood of aloes
and of pastils that came from the house, mixing
with the scent of the rose-water, completely per-
fumed and embalmed the air. Besides, he heard
from within a concert of instrumental music, ac-
companied with the harmonious notes of nightin-
gales and other birds. This charming melody,
and the smell of several sorts of savory dishes,
made the porter conclude there was a feast, with
great rejoicings within. His business seldom
leading him that way, he knew not to whom the
mansion belonged ; but he went to some of the
servants, whom he saw standing at the gate in
magnificent apparel, and asked the name of the
proprietor. " How," replied one of them, " do you
live in Bagdad, and know not that this is the
house of Sindbad the Sailor, that famous voyager,
who has sailed round the world ? " The porter
lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, loud enough
to be heard : " Almighty Creator of all things,
consider the difference between Sindbad and me !
I am every day exposed to fatigues and calamities,
and can scarcely get coarse barlej'-bread for my-
self and my family, whilst happy Sindbad pro-
fusely expends immense riches, and leads a life of
THE STORY OF SINDBAD THE SAILOR.
297
continual pleasure. What has he done to obtain
from Tliee a lot so agreeable ? And what have I
done to deserve one so wretched ? "
Whilst the porter was thus indulging his mel-
anclioly, a servant came out of the house, and
taking him by tlie arm, bade him follow him, for
Sindbad, his master, wanted to speak to him.
The servant brought him into a great hall,
where a number of people sat round a table, cov-
ered with all sorts of savory dishes. At the up-
per end sat a comely, venerable gentleman, with a
long white beard, and behind him stood a number
of officers and domestics, all ready to attend his
pleasure. This person was Sindbad. Hindbad,
whose fear was increased at the sight of so many
people, and of a banquet so sumptuous, saluted
the company trembling. Sindbad bade him draw
near, and seating him at his right hand, served
him himself^ and gave him excellent wine, of
which there was an abundance upon the side-
board.
Now, Sindbad had himself heard the porter
complain through the window, and this it was that
induced him to have him brought in. When the
repast was over, Sindbad addressed his conversa-
tion to Hindbad, and inquired his name and em-
ployment, and said, " I wish to hear from 'your
own mouth what it was you lately said in the
street."
At this request, Hindbad hung down his head
in confusion, and replied : " My lord, I confess
that my fatigue put me out of humor, and occa-
sioned me to utter some indiscreet words, which I
beg you to pardon." " Do not think I am so un-
just," resumed Sindbad, " as to resent such a com-
plaint. But I must rectify your error concerning
myself. You think, no doubt, that I have ac-
quired without labor and trouble the ease and in-
dulgence which I now enjoy. But do not mis-
take ; I did not attain to this happy condition
without enduring for several years more trouble
of body and mind than can well be imagined.
Yes, gentlemen," he added, speaking to the whole
companj^ " I assure you that my sufferings have
been of a nature so extraordinary, as would de-
38
prive the greatest raiser of his love of riches ; and
as an opportunity now offers, I will, with your
leave, relate the dangers I have encountered,
which I think will not be uninteresting to you."
THE FIRST VOYAGE OF SINDBAD THE SAILOR.
My father was a wealthy merchant of much re-
pute. He bequeathed me a large estate, which I
wasted in riotous living. I quickly perceived my
error, and that I was misspending my time, which
is of all things the most valuable. I remembered
the saying of the great Solomon, which I had fre-
quently heard from my father, "A good name is
better than precious ointment ; " and again,
"Wisdom is good with an inheritance." Struck
with these reflections, I resolved to walk in my
father's ways, and I entered into a contract with
some merchants, and embarked with them on
board a ship we had jointly fitted out.
We set sail, and steered our course towai'ds the
Indies, through the Persian Gulf, which is formed
by the coasts of Arabia Felix on the right, and by
those of Persia on the left. At first I was
troubled with sea-sickness, but speedily recovered
my health, and was not afterwards subject to that
complaint.
In our voyage we touched at several islands,
where we sold or exchanged our goods. One day,
whilst under sail, we were becalmed near a small
island, but little elevated above the level of the
water, and resembling a green meadow. The cap-
tain ordered his sails to be furled, and permitted
such persons as were so inclined to land ; of this
number I was one.
But while we were enjoying ourselves in eating
and drinking, and recovering ourselves from the
fatiscue of the sea, the island on a sudden trembled
and shook us terribly.
The trembling of the island was perceived on
board the ship, and we were called upon to reem-
bark speedilj^ or we should all be lost ; for what
we took for an island proved to be the back of a
sea-monster. Tlie nimblest got into the sloop ,
others betook themselves to swimming; but as for
myself, I was still upon the island when it disap-
298
TALES FROM THE ARABIAN NIGHTS' ENTERTAINMENTS.
peared into the sea, and I bad only time to catch
hold of a piece of wood that we. had brought out
of the ship to make a fire. Meanwhile the cap-
tain, having received those on board who were in
the sloop, and taken up some of those that swam,
resolved to improve the favorable gale that had
just risen, and hoisting his sails, pursued his voy-
age, so that it was impossible for me to recover the
ship.
Thus was I exposed to the mercy of the waves
all the rest of the day and the following night.
By this time I found my strength gone, and de-
spaired of saving my hfe, when happily a wave
threw me against an island. The bank was high
and rugged ; so that I could scarcely have got up
had it not been for some roots of trees which I
found within reach. When the sun rose, though
I was very feeble, both from hard labor and want
of food, I crept along to find some herbs fit to eat,
and had the good luck not only to procure some,
but likewise to discover a spring of excellent
water, which contributed much to recover me.
After this I advanced farther into the island, and
at last reached a fine plain, where I perceived
some horses feeding. I went towards them, when
I heard the voice of a man, who immediately ap-
peared, and asked me who I was. I related to
him my adventure, after which, taking me by the
hand, he led me into a cave, where there were
several other people, no less amazed to see me
than I was to see them.
I partook of some provisions which they offered
me. I then asked them what they did in such a
desert place ; to which they answered, that they
were grooms belonging to the Maha-raja, sov-
ereign of the island, and that every year they
brought thither the king's horses for pasturage.
Tliey added, that they were to return home on
the morrow, and had I been one day later, I must
have perished, because the inhabited part of the
island was a great distance off, and it would have
been impossible for nie to have got thither without
a guide.
Next morning they returned to the capital of
the island, took me with them, and presented me
to the Maha-raja. He asked me who I was, and
by what adventure I had come into his dominions.
After I had satisfied him, he told me he was much
concerned for my misfortune, and at the same
time ordered that I should want for nothing;
which commands his ofiicers were so generous and
careful as to see exactly fulfilled.
Being a merchant, I frequented men of my own
profession, and particularly inquired for those who
were strangers, that perchance I might hear news
from Bagdad, or find an opportunity to return.
For the Maha-raja's capital is situated on the sea-
coast, and has a fine harbor, where ships arrive
daily from the different quarters of the world. I
frequented also the society of the learned Indians,
and took delight to hear them converse ; but
withal, I took care to make my court regularly to
the Maha-raja, and conversed with the governors
and petty kings, his tributaries, th^t were about
him. The}'' put a thousand questions respecting
my country ; and I being willing to inform mj-self
as to their laws and customs, asked them concern-
ing everything which I thought worth knowing.
There belongs to this king an island named
Cassel. They assured me that every night a noise
of drums was heard there, whence the mariners
fancied that it was the residence of Degial. I
determined to visit this wonderful place, and in
my way thither saw fishes of 100 and 200 cubits
long, that occasion more fear than hurt ; for they
are so timorous, that they will fly upon the rat-
tling of two sticks or boards. I saw likewise
other fish about a cubit in length that had heads
like owls.
As I was one day at the port after my return,
the ship arrived in which I had embarked at Bus-
sorah. I at once knew the cajjtain, and I went
and asked him for my bales. " I am Sindbad,"
said I, "and those bales marked with his name
are mine."
When the captain heard me speak thus, "Heav-
ens ! " he exclaimed. " whom can we ti-ust in these
times ! I saw Sindbad perish with my own eyes,
as did also the passengers on board, and yet you
tell me you are that Sindbad. What impudence
THE STORY OF SINDBAD THE SAILOR.
299
is this ! and what a false tale to tell, in order to
possess yourself of what does not belong to you I "
" Have patience," replied I ; " do nie the favor to
hear what I have to saj'." The captain was at
length persuaded that I was no cheat ; for there
came people from his ship who knew me, paid me
great compliments, and expressed much joy at
seeins me alive. At last he recollected me him-
self, and embracing me, " Heaven be praised,"
said he "for your happy escape! I cannot ex-
press the joy it affords me. There are your
goods ; take and do with them as you please."
I took out what was most valuable in my bales,
and presented them to the Maha-raja, who, know-
ing my misfortune, asked me how I came by such
rarities. I acquainted him with the circumstance
of their recovery. He was pleased at my good
luck, accepted mj^ present, and in return gave me
one much more considerable. Upon this I took
leave of him, and went aboard the same ship, after
I had exchanged my goods for the commodities of
that country. I carried with me wood of aloes,
sandals, camphire, nutmegs, cloves, pepper, and
ginger. We passed by several islands, and at last
arrived at Bussorah, from whence I came to this
city, with the value of 100,000 sequins.
Sindbad stopped here, and ordered the musi-
cians to proceed with their concert, which the
story had interrupted. When it was evening,
Sindbad sent for a purse of 100 sequins, and giv-
ing it to the porter, said, " Take this, Hindbad ;
return to your home, and come back to-morrow to
hear more of my adventures." The porter went
awa}^, astonished at the honor done him, and the
present made him. The account of this adventure
proved very agreeable to his wife and children,
who did not fail to return thanks for what Provi-
dence had sent them by the hand of Sindbad.
Hindbad put on his best robe next day, and re-
turned to the bountiful traveler, who received
him with a pleasant air, and welcomed him heart-
Wy. When all the guests had arrived, dinner was
served, and continued a long time. When it was
ended, Sindbad, addressing himself to the com-
pany, said : " Gentlemen, be pleased to listen to
the adventures of my second voyage. They de-
serve your attention even more than those of the
first." Upon which every one held his peace, and
Sindbad proceeded : —
THE SECOND VOYAGE OP SINDBAD THE SAILOR.
I designed, after my first voyage, to spend the
rest of my days at Bagdad, but it was not long ere
I grew weary of an indolent life, and I put to sea
a second time, with merchants of known probity.
We embarked on board a good ship, and after
recommending ourselves to God, set sail. We
traded from island to island, and exchanged com-
modities with great profit. One day we landed on
an island covered with several sorts of fruit-trees,
but we could see neither man nor animal. We
walked in the meadows, along the streams that
watered them. Whilst some diverted themselves
with gathering flowers and others fruits, I took
my wine and provisions, and sat down near a
stream betwixt two high trees, which formed a
thick. shade. I made a good meal, and afterwards
fell asleep. I cannot tell how long I slept, but
when I awoke the ship was gone.
In this sad condition, I was ready to die with
grief. I cried out in agony, beat my head and
breast, and threw myself upon the ground, where
I lay some time in despair. I upbraided myself a
hundred times for not being content with the prod-
uce of my first voyage, that might have sufficed
me all my life. But all this was in vain, and my
repentance came too late. At last I resigned my-
self to the will of God. Not knowing what to do,
I climbed up to the top of a lofty tree, from
whence I looked about on all sides, to see if I
could discover anything that could give me hopes.
When I gazed towards the sea I could see noth-
ing but sky and water ; but looking over the land
I beheld something white ; and coming down, I
took what provision I had left, and went towards
it, the distance being so great that I could not dis-
tinguish what it was.
As I approached, I thought it to be a white
dome, of a prodigious height and extent : and
when I came up to it, I touched it, and found it to
300
TALES FROM THE ARABIAN NIGHTS' ENTERTAINMENTS.
be very smooth.
I went round to
if it was open on any
side, but saw it was not, and
that there was no climbing
up to the top, as it was so
smooth. It was at least fifty
paces round.
By this time the sun was
about to set, and all of a
sudden the sky became as
dark as if it had been covered
with a thick cloud. I was much
astonished at this sudden darkness,
but much more when I found it oc-
casioned by a bird of a monstrous
size, that came flying towards me.
I remembered that I had often
heard mariners speak of a miracu-
lous bird called the roc, and con-
ceived that the great dome which
I so much admired must be its
egg. In short, the bird alighted,
and sat over the egg. As I pei--
ceived her coming, I crept close to
the egg, so that I had before me one of the legs of
the bird, which was as big as the trunk of a tree.
I tied myself strongly to it with my turban, in
hopes that the roc next morning would carry me
with her out of this desert island. After hav-
ing passed the night in this condition, the bird
flew away as soon as it was daylight, and carried
me so high, that I could not discern the earth ;
she afterwards descended with so
much rapidity that I lost my
senses. But when I found my-
self on the ground, I speedily un-
tied the knot, and had scarcely
done so, when the roc, having
taken up a serpent of a monstrous
length in her bill, flew away.
The spot where the bird left
me was encompassed on all sides
by mountains, that seemed to
reach above the clouds, and so
steep that there was no possibility of getting out
of the valley. This was a new perplexity ; so that
when I compared this place with the desert island
from which the roc had brought me, I found that
I had gained nothing by the change.
As I walked tlirough this valley, I perceived it
was strewed with diamonds, some of which were
of a surprising bigness. I took pleasure in look-
ing upon them; but shortly saw at a distance such
objects as greatly diminished my satisfaction, and
which I could not view without terror, namely, a
great number of serpents, so monstrous that the
least of them was capable of swallowing an ele-
phant. They retired in the daytime to their dens,
where they hid themselves from the roc, their
enemy, and came out only in the night.
I spent the day in walking about in the valley,
resting myself at times in such places as I thought
most convenient. When night came on I went
into a cave, where I thought I might repose in
safety. I secured the entrance, which was low
and narrow, with a great stone, to preserve me
from the serpents ; but not so far as to exclude the
light. I supped on part of my provisions, but the
serpents, which began hissing round me, put me
into such extreme fear that I did not sleep.
When day appeared the serpents retired, and I
came out of the cave trembling. I can justly say,
that I walked upon diamonds, without feeling any
inclination to touch them. At last I sat down,
and notwithstanding my apprehensions, not having
closed my eyes during the night, fell asleep, after
having eaten a little more of my provisions. But I
THE STORY OF SINDBAD THE SAILOR.
301
had scarcely shut my eyes when something that fell
by me with a great noise awaked me. This was a
large piece of raw meat ; and at the same time I
saw several others fall down from the rocks in dif-
ferent places.
I had always regarded as fabulous what I had
heard sailors and others relate of the valley of
diamonds, and of the stratagems employed by
merchants to obtain jewels from thence ; but now
I found that they had stated nothing but the
truth. For the fact is, that the merchants come
to the neighborhood of this valley, when the ea-
gles have young ones, and throwing great joints of
meat into the valley, the diamonds, upon whose
points they fall, stick to them ; the eagles, which
are stronger in this country than anywhere else,
pounce with great force upon those pieces of meat,
and carry them to their nests on the precipices of
the rocks to feed their young ; the merchants at
this time run to their nests, disturb and drive off
the eagles by their shouts, and take away the dia-
monds that stick to the meat.
I perceived in this device the means of my de-
liverance.
Having collected together the largest diamonds
I could find, and put theui into the leather bag in
which I used to carry my provisions, I took the
largest of the pieces of meat, tied it close round
me with the cloth of my turban, and then laid
myself upon the ground, with my face down-
wards, the bag of diamonds being made fast to
my girdle.
I had scarcely placed myself in this posture
when one of the eagles, having taken me up with
the piece of meat to which I was fastened, carried
me to his nest on the top of the mountain. The
merchants immediately began their shouting to
frighten the eagles ; and when they had obliged
them to quit their p)rey, one of them came to the
nest where I was. He was much alarmed when
he saw me ; but recovering himself, instead of in-
quiring how I came thither, began to quarrel with
me, and asked why I stole his goods ? " You will
treat me," replied I, " with more civility, when
you know me better. Do not be uneasy ; I have
diamonds enough for you and myself, more than
all the other merchants together. Whatever they
have they owe to chance ; but I selected for my-
self, in the bottom of the valley, those which you
see in this bag."
I had scarcely done speaking, when the other
merchants came crowding about us, much aston-
ished to see me ; but they were much more sur-
prised when I told them my storJ^
They conducted me to their encampment ; and
there having opened my bag, they were surprised
at the largeness of my diamonds, and confessed
that they had never seen any of such size and per-
fection. I prayed the merchant who owned the
nest to which I had been carried (for every mer-
chant had his own), to take as many for his share
as he pleased. He contented himself with one,
and that, too, the least of them ; and when I
pressed him to take moi'e, without fear of doing
me any injury, " No," said he, " I am very well
satisfied with this, which is valuable enough to
save me the trouble of making any more voyages,
and will raise as great a fortune as I desire."
I spent the night with the merchants, to whom
I related my story a second time, for the satisfac-
tion of those who had not heard it. I could not
moderate my joy when I found myself delivered
from the danger I have mentioned. I thought
myself in a dream, and could scarcely believe my-
self out of danger.
The merchants had thrown their pieces of meat
into the valley for several days ; and each of
them being satisfied with the diamonds that had
fallen to his lot, we left the place the next morn-
ing, and traveled near high mountains, where
there were serpents of a prodigious length, which
we had the good fortune to escape. We took
shipping at the first port we reached, and touched
at the isle of Roha, where the trees grow that
yield camphire. This tree is so large, and its
branches so thick, that one hundred men may
easily sit under its shade. The juice, of which
the camphire is made, exudes from a hole boi'ed
in the upper part of the tree, is received in a ves-
sel, where it thickens to a consistency, and be-
302
TALES FROM THE ARABIAN NIGHTS' ENTERTAINMENTS.
comes what we call camplnre. After the juice is
thus drawn out, the tree withers and dies.
In this island is also found the rhinoceros, an
animal less than the elephant, but larger than the
buffalo. It has a horn upon it nose, about a cubit
in length ; this horn is solid, and cleft through
the middle. The rhinoceros fights with the ele-
phant, runs his horns into his belly, and carries
him off upon his head ; but the blood and the fat
of the elephant running into his eyes and making
him blind, he falls to the ground ; and then,
stranse to relate, the roc comes and carries them
both away in her claws, for food for her young
ones.
I pass over many other things peculiar to this
island, lest I should weary you. Here I ex-
changed some of my diamonds for merchandise.
From hence we went to other islands, and at last,
having touched at several trading towns of the
continent, we landed at Bussorah, from whence I
proceeded to Bagdad. There I immediately gave
large presents to the poor, and lived honorably
upon the vast riches I had brought and gained
with so much fatigue.
Thus Sindbad ended the relation of the second
voyage, gave Hindbad another hundred sequins,
and invited him to come the next day to hear the
account of the third.
THE FIFTH VOYAGE OP SINDBAD THE SAILOE.
All the troubles and calamities I had undergone
could not cure me of ray inclination to make new
voyages. I therefore bought goods, departed with
them for the best seaport, and there, that I might
not be obliged to depend upon a captain, but have
a ship at my own command, I remained till one
was built on purpose, at my own charge. When
the ship was ready I went on board with my
goods ; but not having enough to load her, I
agreed to take with me several merchants of dif-
ferent nations, with their merchandise.
We sailed with the first fair wind, and after a
long navigation, the first place we touched at was
a desert island, where we found an egg of a roc,
equal in size to that I formerly mentioned. There
was a young roc in it, just ready to be hatched,
and its beak had begun to break the egg.
The merchants who landed with me broke the
egg with hatchets, and made a hole in it, pulled
out the young roc piecemeal, and roasted it. I
had in vain entreated them not to meddle with
the egg.
Scarcely had they finished their repast, when
there appeared in the air, at a considerable dis-
tance, two great clouds. The captain of my ship,
knowing by experience wliat they meant, said
they were the male and female parents of the roc,
and pressed us to reembark with all speed, to pre-
vent the misfortune which he saw would other-
wise befall us.
The two rocs approached with a frightful noise,
which they redoubled when they saw the egg
broken and their young one gone. They flew
back in the direction they had come, and disap-
peared for some time, while we made all the sail
we could to endeavor to prevent that which un-
happily befell us.
They soon returned, and we observed that each
of them carried between its talons an enormous
rock. When they came directly over my shij),
the}' hovered, and one of them let go his rock ;
but by the dexterity of the steersman it missed
us, and fell into the sea. The other so exactly hit
the middle of the ship as to split it into pieces.
The mariners and passengers were all crushed to
death, or fell into the sea. I myself was of the
number of the latter ; but, as I came up again, I
fortunately caught hold of a piece of the -wi-eck,
and swimming, sometimes with one hand and
sometimes with the otlier, but always holding fast
the plank, the wind and the tide favoring me, I
came to an island, and got safely ashore.
I sat down upon the grass, to recover myself
from ray fatigue, after whicli I went into the
island to explore it. It seeraed to be a delicious
garden. I found trees everywhere, some of them
bearing green and others ripe fruits, and streams
of fresh pure water. I ate of the fruits, which I
found excellent ; and drank of the water, which
was very light and good.
THE STORT OF SINDBAD THE SAILOR.
303
When I was a little advanced into the island I
saw an old man, who appeared very weak and in-
firm. He was sit-
ting on the bank of
a stream, and at
first I took him to
be one who had
been shipwiecked
like myselt. I went
towards him and
saluted him, but
mly slightly bo\\e(l
his head. I asked
linn why he sat so
stdl ; but instead of
answering me, he
made a sign for me
to take him upon
my back, and carry
him over the
brook.
I believed him really
to stand in need of my
assistance, took him
upon my back, and hav-
carried him over, bade him
down, and for that end
stooped, that he might get off
with ease ; but instead of doing so (which I laugh
at every time I think of it), the old man, who to
me appeared quite decrepit, threw his legs nimbly
about my neck. He sat astride upon my shoul-
ders, and held my throat so tight that I thought
he would have strangled me, and I fainted away.
get
Notwithstanding my fainting, the ill-natured old
fellow still kept his seat ujoon my neck. When I
had recovered my breath, he thrust one of his feet
against my side, and struck me so rudely with the
other, that he forced me to rise up against my
will. Having arisen, he made me carry him under
the trees, and forced me now and then to stop, that
he might gather and eat fruit. He never left his
seat all day ; and when I lay down to rest at night,
he laid himself down with me, holding still fast
about my neck. Every moi'ning he pinched me
to make me awake, and after-
wards obliged me to get up and
walk, and spurred me with his
feet.
One day I found several dry
calabashes that had fallen from a
tree. I took a large one, and after
cleaning it, pressed into it some
juice of grapes, which abounded
in the island ; having filled the
calabash, I put it by in a conven-
ient place, and going thither again some days
after, I tasted it, and found the wine so good, that
it gave me new vigor, and so exhilarated my sjjir-
its, that I began to sing and dance as I carried my
bui den.
The old man, perceiving the effect which this
had upon me, and that I carried him with more
ease than before, made me a sign to give him some
of it. I handed him the calabash, and the liquor
pleasing his palate, he drank it oft'. There being
a considerable quantity of it, he soon began to sing,
and to move about from side to side in his seat
upon my shoulders, and bj' degrees to loosen his
legs from about me. Finding that he did not press
me as before, T threw him upon the ground, where
he lay without motion ; I then took up a great
stone and slew him.
I was extremely glad to be thus freed forever
from this troublesome fellow. I now walked to-
wards the beach, where I met the crew of a shijj
that had cast anchor, to take in water ; they were
surprised to see me, but more so at hearing the
particulars of my adventures. " You fell," said
304
TALES FROM THE ARABIAN XIGHTS ENTERTAIXMEXTS.
they, " into the hands of the Old Man of the Sea,
and are the first who eTer escaped strangling by
his malicious embraces. He never quitted those
he had once made himself master of, till he had
destroyed them, and he has made this island noto-
rious by the number of men he has slain." They
carried me with them to the captaiu, who received
me with great kindness. He put out again to sea,
and after some days' sail we arrived at the harbor of
a great city, the houses of which overhung the sea.
One of the merchants who had taken me into
his friendship invited me to go along with him.
He gave me a large sack, and having recom-
mended me to some people of the town, who used
to gather cocoa-nuts, desired them to take me with
them. " Go," said he, " follow them, and act as
you see them do ; but do not separate from them,
otherwise you may endanger your life." Having
thus spoken, he gave me provisions for the jour-
ney, and I went with them.
We came to a thick forest of cocoa-trees, very
lofty, with trunks so smooth that it was not possi-
ble to climb to the branches that bore the fruit.
When we entered the forest we saw a great num-
ber of apes of several sizes, who fled as soon as
they perceived us, and climbed to the tops of the
trees with amazing swiftness.
The merchants with whom I was gathered
stones, and threw them at the apes on the trees.
I did the same ; and the apes, out of revenge,
threw cocoa-nuts at us so fast, and with such gest-
ui-es, as sufficiently testified their anger and re-
sentment. We gathered up the cocoa-nuts, and
from time to time threw stones to provoke the
apes ; so that by this stratagem we filled our bags
with cocoa-nuts. I thus gradually collected as
many cocoa-nuts as produced me a considerable
sum.
Having laden our vessel with cocoa-nuts, we set
sail, and passed by the islands where pepper grows
in great plentv. From thence we went to the isle
of Comari, where the best species of wood of aloes
grows. I exchanged my cocoa in those two isl-
ands for pepper and wood of aloes, and went with
other merchants a-pearl-fishing. I hired divers,
who brought me up some that were very large and
pure.
I embarked in a vessel that happily arrived at
Bussorah ; and from thence I returned to Bag-
dad, where I realized vast sums from my pepper,
wood of aloes, and pearls. I gave the tenth of
my gains in alms, as I had done upon my return
from my other voyages, and rested from my fa-
tigues.
VIH. THE STORY OF THE LITTLE HUNCHBACK.
Theee was in former times at Casgar, on the
extreme boundaries of Tartary, a tailor, who was
married to a wife to whom he was tenderly at-
tached. One day while he was at work, a little
hunchback seated himself at the shop door, and
began to sing and play upon a tabor. The tailor
was pleased with his performance, and resolved to
take him to his house to entertain his wife. Imme-
diately after their arrival, the tailor's wife placed
before them a dish of fish ; but as the little man
was eating, he unluckily swallowed a bone, which,
notwithstanding all that the taUor and his wife
could do, choked him. This accident greatly
alarmed them both, lest they should be punished
as murderers. Now, it so happened that a doctor,
a Jew, lived close by, and the tailor and his wife
devised a scheme for placing the body of the dwarf
in his house. On their knocking at the door, the
servant-maid came down without any light, and
asked what they wanted. " Go and tell your mas-
ter," said the tailor, putting a piece of money in
her hand, " we have brought him a man who is ill,
and want his advice." While the servant was
gone up to inform her master, the tailor and his
wife hastily conveyed the body of the hunchback,
supposed to be dead, to the head of the stairs, and
leaving it there, hurried away.
In the mean time the doctor, transported with
THE STORY OF THE LITTLE HUNCHBACK.
305
joy at being paid beforehand, hastily ran towards
the head of the stairs without waiting for a light,
and came against the body of the hunchback with
so much violence, that he precipitated it to the
bottom. " Bring me a light ! " cried he to the
maid ; " quick, quick ! " At last she brought a
light, and he went
down-stairs with her ;
but when he saw what
he had done, " Unhap-
py man that I am ! "
said he, " why did I
attempt to come with-
out a light ? I have
killed the poor fellow
who was brought to
me to be cured ; and
unless Esdra's ass
come to assist uie, the
authorities will be
here, and drag me out
of my house for a
murderer."
The doctor then
called his wife, and
consulted with her
how to dispose of the
dead body during the
night. The doctor
racked his brain in
vain ; he could not
think of any strata-
gem to relieve his em-
barrassment ; but his
wife, who was more
fertile in invention,
said : " A thought has
just come into my
head ; cari-y the dead body to the terrace of our
house, and let it down the chimney of our Mus-
sulman neighbor."
This Mussulman was one of the sultan's pur-
veyors for furnishing oil, butter, and articles of a
similar nature, and had a magazine in his house,
where the rats and mice made prodigious havoc.
39
The Jewish doctor approving the proposed ex-
pedient, his wife and he took the little dwarf up to
the roof of the house, and placing ropes under his
armpits, let him down the chimney into the pur-
veyor's chamber so dexterously that he stood up-
right against the wall, as if he had been alive.
They were scarcely
got back into their
own chamber, when
the purveyor, who
had returned late
from a wedding-feast,
went into his room,
with a lantern in his
hand. He was not a
little surprised to dis-
cover a human figure
standing in his chim-
ney; but being a
stout fellow, and ap-
prehending him to be
a thief, he took up a
stick, and, "Ah,"
said he, " I thought
the rats and mice ate
my butter and tallow;
but it is y o u who
come down the chim-
ney to rob me ? How-
ever, I think you will
have no wish to come
here again." Upon
this he attacked the
hunchback, and
struck him several
times with his stick.
The body fell down
flat on the ground,
and the purveyor redoubled his blows. But observ-
ing that the body did not move, he stood a little
time to regard it ; and then, fear succeeding his an-
ger, " Wretched man that I am ! " said he ; " what
have I done ! I have killed a man ! alas, I have
carried my revenge too far." He stood pale and
thunderstruck, and could not tell what resolution
306
TALES FROM THE ARABIAN NIGHTS' ENTERTAINMENTS.
to take, when on a sudden he took up the body
supposed to be dead, and carried it to the end of
the street, where he phiced it in an upright pos-
ture against a shop ; he then returned without
once looking behind him.
A few minutes before daybreak, a wealthy
Christian merchant, coming home from a night's
festivity, passed by the spot where the sultan's
purveyor had put the dead body, which being
jostled by him, tumbled upon the merchant's back.
The merchant, thinking he was attacked by a rob-
ber, knocked it down, and after redoubling his
blows, cried out " Thieves ! " The outcry alarmed
the watch, who came up immediately, and finding
a Christian beating a Mussulman, " What reason
have you," said he, " to abuse a Mussulman in
this manner?" "He would have robbed me,"
replied the merchant, "and jumped upon my back
in order to take me by the tliroat." "If he did,"
said the watch, "you have revenged yourself suf-
ficiently ; come, get off him." At tlie same time
perceiving the little man to be dead, he said, " Is
it thus that a Christian dares to assassinate a Mus-
sulman ? " So saying, he laid hold of the Chris-
tian, and carried him to the house of the cadi.
In the mean time the Christian merchant, reflect-
ing upon his adventure, could not conceive how
such slight blows of his fist could have killed the
man.
The judge having heard the report of the watch,
and viewed the body, which they had brought to
his house, interrogated the Christian merchant,
who could not deny the death, though he had not
caused it. But the judge considering that the lit-
tle dwarf belonged to the sultan, for he was one
of his buffoons, would not put the Christian to
death till he knew the sultan's pleasure. For this
end he went to the palace, and acquainted the
sultan with what had liappened ; and received this
answer, " I have no mercy to show to a Chi-is-
tian who kills a Mussulman." Upon this the
cadi ordered a stake to be prepared, and sent
criers all over the city to proclaim that they were
about to impale a Christian for killing a Mussul-
man.
At length the merchant was brought to the
place of execution ; and the executioner was about
to fasten him to the stake, when the sultan's pur-
veyor pushed through the crowd, calling to him to
stop, for that the Christian had not committed the
murder, but he himself had done it, and related
how he had attacked him, under the impression
that he was a thief. " Let the Christian go," said
the cadi to the executioner, " and impale this man
in his stead, since it appears by his own confession
that he is guilty." Thereupon tlie executioner
released the merchant, and seized the purveyor;
but just as he was going to impale him, he heard
the voice of the Jewish doctor, earnestly entreat-
ing him to suspend the execution, and make room
for him to approach, as he was the real criminal,
and stating how he had by his hasty imprudence
caused his death. The chief justice being now
persuaded that the Jewish doctor was the mur-
derer, gave orders to the executioner to seize liim
and release the purveyor. Accordingly the doc-
tor was just going to be impaled, when the tailor
appeared, crying, in his turn, to the executioner
to hold his hand, and make room for him, that lie
might come and make his confession to the cadi,
as, after all, he was the person really answerable
for the death of the hunchback, and he could not
bear that an innocent man should suffer for his
crime. The cadi being now fairlj' perplexed to
decide who was the real culprit amongst so many
self-accusing criminals, determined to refer the
matter to the sultan himself, and proceeded Ijo the
palace, accompanied by the tailor, the Jewish doc-
tor, and the Christian merchant, while four of his
men carried on a bier the body of the dwarf, sup-
posed to be dead.
When they appeared in the sultan's presence,
the cadi prostrated himself at his feet ; and on ris-
ing, gave him a faithful relation of all he knew
of the story of the dwarf, and of the three men
who, one after the other, accused themselves of his
involuntary murder. The story appeared so ex-
traordinary to the sultan, that he ordered his
own historian to write it down with all its circum-
stances.
THE STORY OF THE BARMECIDE FEAST.
307
IX. THE STORY OF THE BARMECIDE FEAST.
One day as Schacabac passed by a magnificent
house, whose high gate showed a very spacious
court, where there was a multitude of servants, he
went to one of them, and asked him to whom that
house belonged. " Good man," replied the serv-
ant, " whence do you come that you ask me such
a question ? Does not all that you behold point
out to you that it is the palace of a Barmecide ? "
Schacabac, who very well knew the liberality and
generosity of the Barmecides, addressed himself
to one of the gate-keepers (for he had more than
one), and prayed him to give him an alms. " Go
in," said he, " nobody hinders you, and address
yourself to the master of the house ; he will send
you back satisfied."
Schacabac, who expected no such civility,
thanked the porter, and entered the palace. He
went on till he came into a hall richly furnished
and adorned with painting of gold and azure foli-
age, where he saw a venerable man, with a long
white beard, sitting at the upper end on a sofa,
whence he concluded him to be the master of the
house ; and, in fact, it was the Barmecide himself,
who said to him, in a very civil manner, that he
was welcome, and asked him what he wanted.
" My lord," answered Scliacabac, " I am a poor
man who stands in need of help. I swear to you
I have not eaten one bit to-day." " Is it true,"
demanded the Barmecide, " that you are fasting
till now ? Alas ! poor man, he is ready to die for
hunger ! Ho, boy ! " cried he, with a loud voice ;
" bring a basin and water presently, that we may
wash our hands." Though no boy appeared, and
Schacabac saw neither water nor basin, the Bar-
mecide fell to rubbing his hands as if one had
poured water upon them, and bade him come and
wash with him. Schacabac judged by this that
the Barmecide lord loved to be men-y ; and he
himself understanding raillery, and knowing that
the poor mustbe complaisant to the rich, if they
would have anything from them, came forward
and did as he was required.
" Come on," said the Barmecide ; " bring us
something to eat, and do not let us wait." When
he had spoken, though nothing appeared, he be-
gan to cut, as if something had been brought him
upon a plate, and putting his hand to his mouth,
began to eat ; and said to Schacabac : " Come,
friend, eat as freely as if you were at home ; you
said you were like to die of hunger, but you eat as
if you had no appetite ! " " Pardon me, my lord,"
said Schacabac, who perfectly imitated what he
did ; " you see I lose no time, and that I play my
part well enough." " How like you this bread ?"
said the Barmecide ; " do not you find it very
good ? " " Oh, my lord," replied Schacabac, who
saw neither bread nor meat, " I have never eaten
anything so white and so fine." " Eat your fill,"
said the Barmecide. " I assure you the woman
who bakes me this good bread cost me five hundred
pieces of gold to purchase her."
The Barmecide, after having boasted so much
of his bread, which Schacabac ate only in idea,
cried, " Boy, bring us another dish ; " and though
no boy appeared, "■ Come, my good friend," con-
tinued he, "taste this new dish, and tell me if
ever you ate better mutton and barley broth than
this." "It is admirably good," replied Schacabac,
" and therefore you see I eat heartily." " You
oblige me highly," resumed the Barmecide. " I
conjure you, then, by the satisfaction I have to see
you eat so heartily, that you eat all up, since you
like it so well." A little while after he called for
a goose and sweet sauce. He then called for sev-
eral others, of which Schacabac, who was ready
to die of hunger, pretended to eat ; but what he
boasted of more than all the rest was a lamb, fed
with pistachio nuts, which he ordered to be
brought up in the same manner. " I knew you
would like it," said the Barmecide. " There is
nothing in the woi-ld finer," replied Schacabac ;
" your table is most delicious." " Come, bring
the ragout. I fancy you will like that as well as
you did the lamb. Well, how do you relish it ? "
308
TALES FROM THE ARABIAN NIGHTS' ENTERTAINMENTS.
" Oh, it is wonderful," replied Scbacabac ; " for
here we taste all at once amber, cloves, nutmeg,
ginger, pepper, and the most odoriferous herbs,
and all these delicacies are so well mixed that one
does not prevent our tasting the other." " How
pleasant ! Honor this ragout," said the Barme-
cide, " by eating heartily of it. Ho, boy, bring us
another ragout." " No, my lord, if it please you,"
replied Scbacabac, " for indeed I can eat no
more."
" Come, take it away, then," said the Barme-
cide, " and bring the fruit." He stayed a moment,
as it were to give time for his servants to carry it
away ; after which he addressed Scbacabac,
" Taste these almonds, they are good and fresh
gathered." Both of them made as if they had
peeled the almonds and eaten them ; after this
the Barmecide invited him to eat something else.
" Look," said be, " there are all sorts of fruits,
cakes, dry sweetmeats, and conserves. Take what
you like." Then stretching out his hand, as if be
bad reached Scbacabac something, he still bade
him eat, and said to him : " Metbinks you do not
eat as if you had been so hungry as you com-
plained you were when you came in." " My lord,"
replied Scbacabac, whose jaws ached with moving
and having nothing to eat, " I assure you I am so
full that I cannot eat one bit more."
" Well, then, friend," resumed the Barmecide,
" we must drink some wine now, after we have
eaten so well." " I will drink, then, out of com-
plaisance," said Scbacabac, " for I see you will
have nothing wanting to make your treat com-
plete ; but since I am not accustomed to drink
wine, I am afraid I shall act contrary to the re-
spect that is due to you ; therefore I pray you to
excuse me from drinking any wine. I will be
content with water." " No, no," said the Barme-
cide, " you shall drink wine ; " and at the same
time he commanded some to be brought, in the
same manner as the meat and fruit bad been
served before. He made as if he poured out wine,
and drank first himself, and then pouring out for
Scbacabac, presented him the glass, saying, " Drink
my health, and let us know if you think this wine
good." He made as if he took the glass, and
looked to see if the color was good, and put it to
his nose, to try the flavor. He then made a low
salute to the Barmecide, to signify that be took
the liberty to drink his health ; and, lastly, he ap-
peared to drink with all the signs of a man that
drinks with pleasure. " My lord," said he, " this
is very excellent wine, but I think it is not strong
enough." " If you would have stronger," an-
swered the Barmecide, " you need only speak, for
I have several sorts in my cellar. Try how you
like this." Upon which be made as if he poured
out another glass for himself and one for Scbaca-
bac, and did this so often that Scbacabac, feign-
ing to be intoxicated with tbe-wine, and acting the
part of a drunken man, lifted up his hand, and
gave the Barmecide such a box on the ear as
made him fall down. He was going to give him
another blow ; but the Barmecide, holding up his
hand to ward it off, cried, " Are you mad ? "
Then Scbacabac, making as if he had come to
himself again, said : " My lord, you have been so
good as to admit your slave into your house, and
give him a treat. You should have been satisfied
with making me eat, and not have obliged me to
drink wine ; for I told you beforehand that it
might occasion me to fail in my respect for you.
I am very sorry for it, and beg you a thousand
pardons."
Scarcely had be finished these words, when the
Barmecide, instead of being angry, began to laugh
with all his might. " I have been long," said he,
" seeking a man of your character. I not only
forgive the blow you have given me, but I desire
henceforward we should be friends, and that you
take my house for your home ; you have bad the
complaisance to accommodate yourself to my
humor, and the patience to keep the jest up to
the last ; we will now eat in good eai'nest." When
he had finished these words, be clapped bis bands,
and commanded bis servants, who then ap-
peared, to cover the table, which was speedily
done, and Scbacabac was treated with all those
dishes in reality which he ate of before in fancy.
As last they cleared the table and brought in the
CONCLUSION.
309
wine ; and at the same time a number of hand-
some slaves, richly appareled, came and sung
some agreeable airs to their musical instruments.
In a word, Schacabac had all the reason in the
world to be satisfied with the Barmecide's bounty ;
for he treated him as his friend, and ordered him
a robe of honor from his wardrobe.
The Sultan of the Indies could not but admire
the prodigious and inexhaustible memory of the
sultaness, his wife, who had entertained him for a
tliousand and one nights with such a variety of
interesting stories.
His temper was softened and his prejudices re-
moved. He was not only convinced of the merit
and great wisdom of the Sultaness Scheherazade,
but he remembered with what courage she had
offered to be his wife, without fearing the death
to which she knew she exposed hei'self, and which
so many sultanesses had suffered within her knowl-
edge. These considerations, and the many other
good qualities he knew her to possess, induced him
at last to forgive her. "I confess lovely Schehera-
zade," said he, " that you have appeased my anger.
I freely renounce the law I had imposed on my-
self, and I will have you to be regarded as the
deliverer of the many damsels I had resolved to
sacrifice to my unjust resentment."
The sultaness cast herself at his feet, and em-
braced them tenderly, with all the marks of the
most lively and perfect gratitude.
The grand vizier was the first who learned
this agreeable intelligence from the sultan's own
mouth. It was instantly carried to the city, towns,
and jji'ovinces ; and gained the sultan, and the
lovely Sclieherazade his consort, universal ap-
plause, and the blessings of all the people of the
extensive empire of the Indies.
THE BOOK OF BALLADS.
JOHN BAELEYCORN.
Theke was three kings into the East,
Three kings both great and high,
And they hae sworn a solemn oath
John Barleycorn should die.
They took a plow and plowed him down,
Put clods upon his head,
And they hae sworn a solemn oath,
John Barleycorn was dead.
But the cheerful spring came kindly on,
And showers began to fall ;
John Barleycorn got up again,
And sore surprised them all.
The sultry suns of summer came,
And he grew thick and strong,
His head well armed wi' pointed spears,
That no one should him wrong.
The sober autumn entered mild,
When he grew wan and pale ;
His bending joints and drooping head
Showed he began to fail.
His color sickened more and more,
He faded into age ;
And then his enemies began
To show their deadly rage.
They 've ta'en a weapon long and sharp.
And cut him by the knee ;
And tied him fast upon the cart.
Like a rogue for forgerie.
They laid him down upon his back.
And cudgeled him full sore ;
They hung him up before the storm.
And turned him o'er and o'er.
They filled up a darksome pit
With water to the brim.
They heaved in John Barleycorn,
There let him sink or swim.
They laid him out upon the floor,
To work him further woe,
And still, as signs of life appeared.
They tossed him to and fro.
They wasted, o'er a scorching flame.
The marrow of his bones ;
But a miller used him worst of all,
For he crushed him between two stones.
And they hae ta'en his very heart's blood,
And drank it round and round ;
And still the more and more they drank,
Their joy did more abound.
John Barleycorn was a hero bold,
Of noble enterprise ;
For if you do but taste his blood,
'T will make your courage rise.
Then let us toast John Barleycorn,
Each man a glass in hand ;
And may his great posterity
Ne'er faU in old Scotland !
ROBIN HOOD AND ALLIN A DALE.
Come listen to me, you gallants so free.
All you that love mirth for to hear,
And I will tell you of a bold outlaw
That lived in Nottinghamshire.
ROBIN HOOD AND ALLIN A DALE.
311
As Robin Hood in the forest stood,
All under the greenwood tree,
There he was aware of a brave young man
As fine as fine might be.
The youngster was clothed in scarlet red.
In scarlet fine and gay ;
And he did frisk it over the plain,
And chanted a roundelay.
As Robin Hood next morning stood
Amongst the leaves so gay ;
There did he espy the same young man.
Come drooping along the way.
" What wilt thou give me ? " said Robin Hood,
" In ready gold or fee.
To help thee to thy true love again,
And deliver her unto thee ? "
" I have no money," then quoth the yotmg man,
" No ready gold nor fee,
But I will swear upon a book
Thy true servant for to be."
" How many miles is it to thy true love ?
Come tell me without guile : "
" By the faith of my body," then said the young man,
" It is but five little mile."
The scarlet he wore the day before
It was clean cast away ;
And at every step he fetched a sigh,
" Alack and a well-a-day ! "
Then stepped forth brave Little John,
And Midge, the miller's son,
Which made the young man bend his bow,
When as he saw them come.
Then Robin he hasted over the plain,
He did neither stint nor lin.
Until he came unto the church,
Where Allin should keep his wedding.
" What hast thou here ? " the bishop then said,
" I prithee now tell unto me : "
" I am a bold harper," quoth Robin Hood,
" And the best in the north country."
" Stand ofl^, stand off ! " the young man said,
" What is your will with me ? "
" You must come before our master straight,
Under yon greenwood tree."
" Oh welcome, Oh welcome," the bishop he said,
" That music best pleaseth me ; "
" You shall have no music," quoth Robin Hood,
" Till the bride and the bridegroom I see."
And when he came bold Robin before,
Robin asked him courteously,
" Oh, hast thou any money to spare
For my merry men and me ? "
" I have no money," the young man said,
" But five shillings and a ring ;
And that I have kept this seven long years.
To have it at my wedding.
"Yesterday I should have married a maid,
But she soon fi-om me was tane,
And chosen to be an old knight's delight.
Whereby my poor heart is slain."
" What is thy name ? " then said Robin Hood,
" Come tell me without any fail : "
" By the faith of my body," then said the young man,
" My name it is Allin a Dale."
With that came in a wealthy knight,
Which was both grave and old.
And after him a finikin lass.
Did shine like the glistering gold.
" This is not a fit match," quoth bold Robin Hood,
" That you do seem to make here.
For since we are come into the church.
The bride shall choose her own dear."
Then Robin Hood put his horn to his mouth,
And blew blasts two or three ;
When four-and-twenty bowmen bold
Came leaping over the lea.
And when they came into the churchyard.
Marching all on a row.
The very first man was Allin a Dale,
To give bold Robin his bow.
312
THE BOOK OF BALLADS.
" This is thy true love," Robin be said,
" Young Allin as I hear say ;
And you shall be married at this same time,
Before we depart away."
" That shall not be," the bishop he said,
" For thy word shall not stand ;
They shall be three times asked in the church,
As the law is of our land."
Robin Hood pulled off the bishop's coat,
And put it upon Little John ;
" By the faith of my body," then Robin said,
" This cloth doth make thee a man."
When Little John went into the quire ;
The people began to laugh ;
He asked them seven times in the church,
Lest three times should not be enough.
" We '11 kill a fat ven'son," said bold Robin Hood,
" And dress it by the highway side ;
And we will watch the bishop narrowly,
Lest some other way he should ride."
Robin Hood dressed himself in shepherd's attire,
With six of liis men also ;
And, when the Bishop of Hereford came by.
They about the fire did go.
" Oh, what is the matter ? " then said the bishop,
" Or for whom do you make this ado ?
Or why do you kill the king's ven'son,
When your company is so few ? "
" We are shepherds," said bold Robin Hood,
" And we keep sheep all the year,
And we are disposed to be merry this day,
And to kill of the king's fat deer."
' Who gives me this maid ? " said Little John ;
Quoth Robin Hood, " That do I,
And he that takes her from Allin a Dale,
Full dearly he shall her buy."
And thus having end of this merry wedding.
The bride looked like a queen ;
And so they returned to the merry greenwood,
Amongst the leaves so green.
ROBIN HOOD AND THE BISHOP OF HERE-
FORD.
Some will talk of bold Robin Hood,
And some of barons bold ;
But I '11 tell you how he served the Bishop of Here-
ford,^
When he robbed him of his gold.
As it befell in merry Barnsdale,
All under the greenwood tree.
The Bishop of Hereford was to come by,
With all his company.
" Come kill me a ven'son," said bold Robin Hood,
" Come kill me a good fat deer ;
The Bishop of Hereford is to dine with me to-day,
And he shall pay well for his cheer.
" You are brave fellows," said the bishop,
" And the king your doings shall know :
Therefore make haste and come along with me,
For before the king you shall go."
" Oh pardon, oh pardon," said bold Robin Hood,
" Oh pardon, I thee pray !
For it becomes not your lordship's coat
To t.T,ke so many lives away.
" No pardon, no pardon," said the bishop,
" No pardon I thee owe ;
Therefore make haste and come along with me,
For before the king you shall go."
Then Robin set his back against a tree,
And his foot against a thorn,
And from underneath his shepherd's coat
He pulled out a bugle horn.
He put the little end to his mouth.
And a loud blast did he blow,
Till threescore and ten of bold Robin's men
Came running all on a row.
All making obeisance to bold Robin Hood,
'T was a comely sight for to see.
" What is the matter, master ? " said Little John,
" That ye blow so hastily ?"
THE HUNTING OF THE CHEVIOT.
313
" Oh, here is the Bishop of Hereford,
And no pardon we shall have."
" Cut off his head, master," said Little John,
" And throw him into his grave."
" Oh pardon, oh pardon," said the bishop,
" Oh pardon, I thee pray !
For if I had known it had been you,
" I 'd have gone some other way."
" Call in a reckoning," said the bishop,
" For methinks it grows wondrous high."
" Lend me your purse, master," said Little John,
" And I '11 tell you by and by."
Then Little John took the bishop's cloak,
And spread it upon the ground.
And out of the bishop's portmantua
He told three hundred pound.
" No pardon, no pardon," said bold Robin Hood,
" No pardon I thee owe ;
Therefore make haste and come along with me.
For to merry Barnsdale you shall go."
Then Robin he took the bishop by the hand,
And led him to merry Barnsdale ;
He made him to stay and sup with him that night.
And to drmk wine, beer, and ale.
" Here *s money enough, master," said Little John,
" And a comely sight 't is to see ;
It makes me in charity with the bishop.
Though he heartily loveth not me."
Robin Hood took the bishop by the hand.
And he caused the music to play ;
And he made the bishop to dance in his boots,
And glad he could so get away.
THE HUNTING OF THE CHEVIOT.
The Percy out of Northumberland
And a vow to God made he,
40
That he would hunt in the mountains
Of Cheviot within days three,
In the maugre of doughty Douglas
And all that ever with him be.
314
THE BOOK OF BALLADS.
The fattest harts in all Cheviot
He said he would kill and carry them away ;
" By my faith," said the doughty Douglas again,
" I will let that hunting if I may."
Then the Percy out of Bamborough came
With him a mighty meany
With fifteen hundred archers bold of blood and bone,
They were chosen out of shires three.
This began on a Monday at morn
In Cheviot the hills so high ;
The child may rue that is imborn.
It was the more pity.
The drivers thorough the woodes went,
For to raise the deer ;
Bowmen bickered upon the bent
With their broad arrows clear.
Then the wild thorough the woodes went
On every side sheer,
Greyhounds thorough the greves glent
For to kill their deer.
They began in Cheviot the hills above.
Early on Monanday ;
By that it drew to the hour of noon,
A hundred fat harts dead there lay.
They blew a mort upon the bent,
They 'sembled on sides sheer ;
To the quarry then the Percy went
To the brittling of the deer.
He said : " It was the Douglas's promise
This day to meet me here.
But I wist he would faU, verament," —
A great oath the Percy sware.
At the last a squire of Northumberland
Looked at his hand full nigh ;
He was ware of the doughty Douglas comiDg,
With him a mighty meany.
Both with spear, bill, and brand:
It was a mighty sight to see ;
Hardier men, both of heart nor hand,
Were not in Christianity.
THE HUNTING OF THE CHEVIOT.
816
They were twenty hundred spearmen good,
Withouten any fail ;
They were born along by the water of Tweed,
I' the bounds of Tivydale.
" Leave off the brittling the deer," he said,
" To your bows Icrok ye take good heed ;
For never since ye were on your mothers born
Had ye never so mickle need."
The doughty Douglas on a steed
He rode at his men beforne ;
His armor glittered as a glede ;
A bolder bairn was never born.
But, an fortune be my chance,
I dare meet him, one man for one."
Then bespake a squire of Northumberland,
Eichard Witherington was his name ;
" It shall never be told in South England," he says,
" To King Henry the Fourth for shame.
" I wot ye bin great lordes two
I am a poor squire of land ;
I will never see my captain fight on a field,
And stand myself and look on.
But while I may my weapon wield
I will not fail both heart and hand."
" Tell me who ye are," he says,
" Or whose men that ye be.
Who gave you leave to hunt in this Cheviot Chase,
In the spite of me ? "
The first man that ever him an answer made.
It was the good Lord Percy ;
" We wiU not tell thee whose men we are," he says,
" Nor whose men that we be ;
But we wiU hunt here in this chase
In the spite of thine and of thee.
That day, that day, that dreadful day !
The first fytte here I find,
And you will hear any more o' the Hunting o' the
Cheviot,
Yet is there more behind.
II.
The Englishmen had their bows ybent
Their hearts were good enow ;
The first of arrows that they shot off.
Seven score spearmen they slew.
" The fattest harts in all Cheviot
We have killed and cast to carry them away : "
" By my troth," said the doughty Douglas again,
" Therefore the otie of us shall die this day."
Then said the doughty Douglas
Unto the Lord Percy :
"To kill all these guiltless men,
Alas, it were great pity.
" But Percy, thou art a lord of land,
I am an earl called within my country,
Let all our men upon a party stand
And do the battle of thee and of me."
" Now a curse on his crown," said the Lord Percy,
" Whoever thereto says nay ;
By my troth, doughty Douglas," he says,
" Thou shalt never see that day.
" Neither in England, Scotland nor France
Nor for no man of a woman born.
Yet bides the Earl Douglas upon the bent.
A captain good enow.
And that was seen, verament
For he wrought them both woo and woe.
"f he Douglas parted his host in three.
Like a chief chieftain of pride.
With sure spears of mighty tree.
They came in on every side ;
Through our English archery
Gave many a wound full wide ;
Many a doughty they gar'd to die
Which gained them no pride.
The Englishmen let their bows be
And pulled out brands that were bright ;
It was a heavy sight to see
Bright swords on basnets light.
Thorough rich mail and maniple
Many stem they stroke down straight ;
316
THE BOOK OF BALLADS.
Many a freke that was full free
There under foot did light.
Till the blood out of their basnets sprent.
As ever did bail or rain.
At last the Douglas and the Percy met,
Like to captains of might and of main ;
They swapt together till they both sweat,
With swords that were of line Milan.
These worthy frekes for to fight,
Thereto they were full fain,
" Hold thee, Percy," said the Douglas,
" And i' faith I shall thee bring,
Where thou shalt have an earl's wages
Of Jamie our Scottish king.
" Thou shalt have thy ransom free,
I hight thee here this thing.
For the manfullest man yet art thou
That ever I conquered in field-fighting."
" Nay," said the Lord Percy,
" I told it thee beforne
That I would never yielded be
To no man of a woman born."
With that there came an arrow hastily
Forth of a mighty wane ;
It hath stricken the Earl Douglas
In at the breast bane.
Thorough liver and lungs baith
The sharp arrow is gone
That never after in all his live days
He spake no words but one :
That was, " Fight ye, my merry men, whill
may,
For my life days be gone."
The Percy leaned on his brand
And saw the Douglas die.
He took the dead man by the hand
And said, " Woe is me for thee I
THE HUNTING OF THE CHEVIOT.
317
' To have saved thy life, I would have parted with
My lands for years three,
For a better man of heart nor of hand
Was not in all the north country."
They took on either hand
By the light of the moon ;
Many had no strength for to stand
In Cheviot the hills aboon.
Of all that saw a Scottish knight
Was called Sir Hugh Montgomery ;
He saw the Douglas to the death was dight,
He spended a spear, a trusty tree :
Of fifteen hundred archers of England
Went away but fifty and three ;
Of twenty hundred spearmen of Scotland
But even five and fiftie.
He rode upon a courser
Thorough a hundred archery ;
He never stinted, nor never blane.
Till he came to the good Lord Percy.
But all were slain Cheviot within ;
They had no strength to stand on high ;
The child may rue that is unborn
It was the more pitie.
He set upon the Lord Percy
A dint that was full sore ;
With a sure spear of a mighty tree
Clean through the body he the Percy bore,
There was slain with the Lord Percy,
Sir John of Agerstone,
Sir Eoger, the hynd Hartley,
Sir William, the bold Heron.
At t' other side that a man might see
A large cloth-yard and mair ;
Two better captains were not in Christianity,
Than that day slain were there.
Sir George, the worthy Lovel,
A knight of great renown.
Sir Ralph, the rich Rugby,
With dints were beaten down.
An archer of Northumberland
Saw slain was the Lord Percy ;
He bare a bend-bow in his hand
Was made of trusty tree.
For Witherington my heart was woe
That ever he slain should be ;
For when both his legs were hewn in two.
Yet he kneeled and fought on his knee.
An arrow that a cloth-yard was long
To the hard steel haled he ;
A dint that was both sad and sore
He set on Sir Hugh Montgomery.
There was slain with the doughty Douglas,
Sir Hugh Montgomery ;
Sir Davy Liddall, that worthy was.
His sister's son was he.
The dint it was both sad and sore
That he on Montgomery set ;
The swan feathers that his arrow bore
With his heart blood they were wet.
Sir Charles o' Murray in that place
That never a foot would flee ;
Sir Hugh Maxwell, a lord he was.
With the Douglas did he dee.
There was never a freke one foot would flee
But still in stour did stand,
Hewing on each other, while they might dree
With many a baleful brand.
This battle began in Cheviot
An hour before the noon,
And when even-song bell was rung
The battle was not haK done.
So on the morrow they made them biers
Of birch and hazel so gray ;
Many widows with weeping tears
Came to fetch their mates away.
Tivydale may carp of care
Northumberland may make great moan.
For two such captains as slain were there.
On the March-party shall never be none.
318
THE BOOK OF BALLADS.
Word has come to Edinborough
To Jamie the Scottish king,
That doughty Douglas, lieutenant of the Marches
He lay slain Cheviot within.
His handes did he weal and wring,
He said, " Alas ! and wo is me !
Such an other captain Scotland within,"
He said, " i' faith should never be."
Word is come to lovely London
To the fourth Harry our king.
That Lord Percy, lieutenant of the Marches,
He lay slain, Cheviot within.
' God have mercy on his soul," said King Harry,
" Good Lord if thy will it be !
I have a hundred captains in England," he said,
" As good as ever was he.
But Percy, as I brook my life.
Thy death well quit shall be."
As our noble king made his avow.
Like a noble prince of renown,
For the death of the Lord Percy
He did the battle of Homildown ;
Where six and thirty Scottish knights
On a day were beaten down ;
Glendale glittered on their armor bright.
Over castle, tower and town.
This was the Hunting of the Cheviot
That tear began this spurn :
Old men that know the ground weel enow
Call it the battle of Otterbourn.
At Otterbourn began this spurn
Upon a Monauday ;
There was the doughty Douglas slain.
The Percy never went away.
There was never a time on the March parties
Since the Douglas and Percy met,
But it was marvel, and the red blood ran not
As the rain does in the street.
And now may Heaven amend us all
And to the bliss us bring.
Thus was the Hunting of the CheTiot
God send us all good ending.
KING JOHN AND THE ABBOT OF CAN-
TERBURY.
An ancient story I '11 tell you anon
Of a notable prince, that was called King John ;
And he ruled England with main and with might,
For he did great wrong and maintained little right.
And I '11 tell you a story, a story so merry,
Concerning the Abbot of Canterbury ;
How for his housekeeping and high renown,
They rode post for him to fair London town.
An hundred men, the king did hear say,
The abbot kept in his house every day ;
And fifty gold chains, without any doubt.
In velvet coats waited the abbot about.
" How now, father abbot, I hear it of thee.
Thou keepest a far better house than me ;
And for thy housekeeping and high renown,
I fear thou work'st treason against my crown."
" My liege," quoth the abbot, " I would it were
known
I never spend nothing but what is my own ;
And I trust your grace will do me no dears
For spending of my own true gotten geere."
Yes, yes, father abbot, thy fault it is high.
And now for the same thou needest must die ■,
For except thou canst answer me questions three.
Thy head shall be smitten from thy bodie.
" And first," quoth the king, " when I 'm in this
stead,
With my crown of gold so fair on my head.
Among all my liege-men so noble of birth.
Thou must tell me to one penny what I am worth.
" Secondly tell me, without any doubt.
How soon I may ride the whole world about ;
And at the third question thou must not shrink,
But tell me here truly what I do think."
KING JOHN AND THE ABBOT OF CANTERBURY.
319
" Oh these are hard questions for my shallow wit,
Nor I cannot answer your Grace as yet ;
But if you will give me but three weeks space,
I '11 do my endeavor to answer your Grace."
" Now three weeks space to thee will I give.
And that is the longest time thou hast to live ;
For if thou dost not answer my questions three,
Thy lands and thy livings are forfeit to me."
Away rode the abbot all sad at that word,
And he rode to Cambridge and Oxenford ;
But never a doctor there was so wise,
That could with his learning an answer devise.
Then home rode the abbot of comfort so cold,
And he met his shepherd a-going to fold :
" How now, my lord abbot, you are welcome home ;
What news do you bring us from good King
John ? "
" Sad news, sad news, shepherd, I must give.
That I have but three days more to live ;
For if I do not answer him questions three.
My head will be smitten from my bodie.
" The first is to tell him there in that stead,
With his crown of gold so fair on his head.
Among all his liege-men so noble of birth,
To within one penny of what he is worth.
"The second, to tell him without any doubt.
How soon he may ride this whole world about ;
And at the third question I must not shrink.
But tell him there truly what he does think."
" Now cheer up, sir abbot, did you never hear yet
That a fool he may learn a wise man wit ?
Lend me horse, and serving men, and your apparel.
And I '11 ride to London to answer your quarrel.
" Nay, frown not, if it hath been told unto me,
I am like your lordship as ever may be ;
And if you will but lend me your gown
There is none shall know us in fair London town."
" Now horses and serving men thou shalt have.
With sumptuous array most gallant and brave,
With crozier, and mitre, and rochet, and cope,
Fit to appear 'fore our father the pope."
" Now welcome, sir abbot," the king he did say,
" 'T is well thou 'rt come back to keep thy day :
For and if thou canst answer my questions three,
Thy life and thy living both saved shall be.
" And first, when thou seest me here in this stead,
With my crown of gold so fair on my head,
Among all my liege-men so noble of birth.
Tell me to one penny what I am worth."
" For thirty pence our Saviour was sold
Among the false Jews, as I have been told :
And twenty-nine is the worth of thee.
For I think thou art one penny worser than he."
The king he laughed, and swore by St. Bittel,
" I did not think I had been worth so little !
Now secondly tell me, without any doubt.
How soon I may ride this whole world about."
" You must rise with the sun, and ride with the same,
Until the next morning he riseth again ;
And then your Grace need not make any doubt
But in twenty-four hours you '11 ride it about."
The king he laughed, and swore by St. Jone,
" I did not think it could be gone so soon.
Now from the third question thou must not shrink,
But tell me here truly what I do think."
" Yea, that I shall do and make your Grace merry ;
You think I 'm the Abbot of Canterbury ;
But I 'm his poor shepherd, as plain you may see,
That am come to beg pardon for him and for me."
The king he laughed, and swore by the mass,
" 1 '11 make thee lord abbot this day in his place ! "
" Nay, nay, my liege, be not in such speed,
For alack, I can neither write nor read."
" Four nobles a week, then, I will give thee.
For this merry jest thou hast shown unto me ;
And tell the old abbot, when thou com'st home.
Thou hast brought him a pardon from good King
John."
320
THE BOOK OF BALLADS.
SWEET WILLIAM'S GHOST.
There came a ghost to Margaret's door,
With many a grievous groan,
And aye he tirled at the pin,
But answer made she none.
" Is that my father Philip,
Or is 't my brother John ?
Or is 't my true love Willy,
From Scotland new come home ? "
" 'T is not thy father Philip,
Nor yet thy brother John ;
But 't is thy true love Willy,
From Scotland new come home.
" O sweet Margaret, O dear Margaret,
I pray thee speak to me :
Give me my faith and troth, Margaret,
As I gave it to thee."
" Thy faith and troth thou 'It never get,
Nor yet wilt thou me win.
Till that thou come within my bower
And kiss my cheek and chin."
" If I should come within thy bower,
I am no earthly man :
And should I kiss thy rosy lips
Thy days would not be lang.
" O sweet Margaret, O dear Margaret,
I pray thee speak to me :
Give me my faith and troth, Margaret,
As I gave it to thee."
" Thy faith and troth thou 'It never get.
Nor yet wilt thou me win,
Till you take me to yon kirk-yard,
Aud wed me with a ring."
" My bones are buried in yon kirk-yard
Afar beyond the sea,
And it is but my spirit, Margaret,
That 's now speaking to thee."
She stretched out her lily-white hand,
And for to do her best :
" Have there your faith and troth, Willy,
God send your soul good rest."
Now she has kilted her robes of green
A piece below her knee ;
And all the live-long winter night
The dead corpse followed she.
" Is there any room at your head, Willy,
Or any room at your feet ;
Or any room at your side, Willy,
Wherein that I may creep ? "
" There 's no room at my head, Margaret,
There 's do room at my feet ;
There 's no room at my side, Margaret,
My coffin 's made so meet ;
Then up and crew the red red cock.
And up then crew the gray ;
" 'T is time, 't is time, my dear Margaret,
That you were going away."
SIR PATRICK SPENS.
The king sits in Dunfermline town.
Drinking the blude-red wine :
" Oh where will I get a skeely skipper
To sail this new ship of mine ? "
Oh up and spake an eldern knight,
Sat at the king's right knee :
" Sir Patrick Spens is the best sailor
That ever sailed the sea."
Our king has written a braid letter,
And sealed it with his hand.
And sent it to Sir Patrick Spens,
Was walking on the strand.
" To Noroway, to Noroway,
To Noroway o'er the faem ;
The king's daughter of Noroway,
" ' Tis thou maun bring her hame I "
SIE PA THICK SPJ^JVS.
321
The first word that Sir Patrick read,
Sae loud, loud hiughed he,
The neist word that Sir Patrick read,
The tear blindit his e'e.
" Oh wha is this has done this deed,
Aud tauld the king o' me.
To send us out at this time of the year,
To sail upon the sea ?
" Be it wind, be it weet, be it hail, be it sleet,
Our ship must sail the I'aem ;
The king's daughter of Noroway,
'T is we must fetch her hame."
They hoysed their sails on Monenday morn
Wi' a' the speed they may ;
They hae landed in Noroway
Upon a Wodensday.
They hadna been a week, a week
In Noroway, but twae.
When that the lords o' Noroway
Began aloud to say :
" Ye Scottishmen spend a' our king's gowd
And a' our queene's fee."
" Ye lie, ye lie, ye liars loud !
Fu' loud I hear ye lie !
" For I hae brought as much white monie
As gane my men and me.
And I brought a half-fou o' gude red gowd
Out oure the sea wi' me.
" Make ready, make ready, my merry men a' !
Our gude ship sails the morn."
" Now, ever alake ! my master dear,
I fear a deadly storm !
" I saw the new moon, late yestreen,
Wi' the auld moon in her arm ;
And if we gang to sea, master,
. I fear we '11 come to harm."
They hadna sailed a league, a league,
A league, but barely three,
41
When the lift grew dark, and the wind blew loud,
Aud gurly grew the sea.
The ankers brak, and the topmasts lap,
It was sic a deadly storm ;
And the waves came o'er the broken ship
Till a' her sides were torn.
" Oh where will I get a gude sailor
To take my helm in hand,
Till I get up to the tall topmast.
To see if I can spy land ? "
" Oh here am I, a sailor gude,
To take the helm in hand,
Till you go up to the tall topmast, —
But I fear you '11 ne'er spy land."
He hadna gane a step, a step,
A step, but barely ane.
When a boult flew out of our goodly ship,
And the salt sea it came in.
" Gae fetch a web o' the silken claith,
Another o' the twine,
And wap them into our ship's side
And let na the sea come in."
They fetched a web o' the silken claith,
Another o' the twine,
And they wapped them roun' that gude ship's side,
But still the sea came in.
Oh laith, laith were our gude Scots lords
To weet their cork-heeled shoon !
But lang or a' the play was played.
They wat their hats aboon.
And mony was the feather-bed
That floated on the faem,
And mony was the gude lord's son
That never mair cam hame.
The ladyes wrange their fingers white,
The maidens tore their hair ;
A' for the sake of their true loves,
For them they '11 see na mair.
822
THE BOOK OF BALLADS.
Ob laug. lang may the ladyes sit,
Wi' their fans into their hand,
Before they see Sir Patrick Speiis
Come sailing to the stiaud !
And lang, lang may the maidens sit,
Wi' their gowd kaims in their hair,
A' waiting for their aiu dear loves,
For them they 'H see na mair.
Oh forty miles off Aberdeen
'T is fifty fathoms deep.
And there lies gude Sir Patrick Spans
AVi' the Scots lords at his feet.
THE HEIR OF LINNE.
Lithe and listen, gentlemen.
To sing a song I will began ;
It is of a lord of fair Scotland,
Which was the unthrifty heir of Linne.
His father was a right good lord,
His mother a lady of high degree ;
But they, alas ! were dead him frae.
And he loved keeping companie.
To spend the day with merry cheer,
To drink and revel every night.
To card and dice from eve to morn,
It was, I ween, his heart's delight.
To ride, to run, to rant, to roar,
To always spend and never spare ;
I wot, an' it were the king himself
Oi gold and fee he mote be bare.
So fares the unthrifty Lord of Linne
Till all his gold is gone and spent ;
And he maun sell his lands so broad,
His house, and lands, and all his rent.
His father had a keen steward,
And John o' the Scales was called he ;
1 Goch-pennie, earnest money, i. e. part o£ the price paid in ad-
vance to bind tlie contract.
But John is become a gentel-man.
And John has got both gold and fee.
Says, " Welcome, welcome, Lord of Linne,
Let nought distui'b thy merry cheer ;
If thou wilt sell thy lands so broad.
Good store of gold I '11 give thee here."
" My gold is gone, my money is spent ;
My land now take it unto thee:
Give me thy gold, good John o' the Scales,
And thine for aye my laud shall be."
Then John he did him to record draw.
And John he east him a gods-pennie ; ^
But for every pound that John agreed,
The land, I wis, was well worth three.
He told him the gold upon the board.
He was right glad his land to win ;
" The gold is thine, the land is mine,
And now I '11 be the Lord of Linne."
Thus he hath sold his land so broad.
Both hill and holt, and moor and fen,
All but a poor and lonesome lodge.
That stood far off in a lonely glen.
For so he to his father bight ; ^
" My son, when I am gone," said he,
" Then thou wilt spend thy land so broad.
And thou wilt spend tliy gold so free.
" But swear me now upon the rood,'
That lonesome lodge thou 'It never spend ;
For when all the world doth frown on thee,
Thou there sbalt find a faithful friend."
The heir of Linne is full of gold :
" And come with me, my friends," said he,
" Let 's drink, and rant, and merry make,
And he that spares, ne'er mote he thee." *
They ranted, drank, and merry made,
Till all his gold it waxed thin ;
And then his friends they slunk away ;
They left the unthrifty heir of Linne.
2 Might, promised.
» Rood, cross. * Thee, thrive.
THE HEIR OF LINNE.
323
He had never a penny left in his purse,
Never a penny left but three,
And one was brass, another was lead,
And another it was white money.
" Now well-a-day," said the heir of Linne,
" Now well-a-day, and woe is me.
For when I was the Lord of Linne.
I never wanted gold nor fee.
" But many a trusty friend have I,
And why should I feel dole or care ?
I'll borrow of them all by turns.
So need I not be never bare."
But one, I wis, was not at home ;
Another had paid his gold away ;
Another called him thriftless loon.
And bade him sharply wend his way.
"Now well-a-dav, said the heir of Linne,
•' Now well-a-day and woe is me ;
For when I had my lands so broad,
On me they lived right merrilee.
"To beg my bread from door to door,
I wis, it were a breuniug ' shame ;
To rob and steal it were a sin ;
To work, my limbs I cannot frame.
" Now I '11 away to the lonesome lodge,
For there my father bade me wend :
When all the world should frown on me,
I there should find a trusty friend."
Away then hied the heir of Linne,
O'er hill and holt, and moor and fen,
Until he came to the lonesome lodge
That stood so low in a lonely glen.
He looked up, he looked down,
In hope some comfort for to win ;
But bare and lothly were the walls :
'■ Here 's sorry cheer," quo' the heir of Liune.
The little window, dim and dark,
Was hung with ivy, brere, and yew ;
No shimmering sun here ever shone,
No halesome breeze here ever blew.
' Brenning, burning.
324
THE BOOK OF BALLADS.
No chair, ne table, he mote spy,
No cheerful hearth, ne welcome bed ;
Nought save a rope with renning noose,
That dangling hung up o'er his head.
And over it in broad letters.
These words were written so plain to see :
" Ah ! graceless wretch, hast spent thine all,
And brought thyself to penurie ?
" All this my boding mind misgave,
I therefore left this trusty friend ;
Let it now shield thy foul disgrace.
And all thy shame and sorrows end."
Sorely shent ^ wi' this rebuke.
Sorely shent was the heir of Linne ;
His heart, I wis, was near to-brast
With guilt and sorrow, shame and sin.
Never a word spake the heir of Linne,
Never a word spake he but three ;
" This is a trusty friend indeed.
And is right welcome unto me."
Then round his neck the cord he drew.
And sprang aloft with his bodie.
When lo ! the ceiling burst in twain.
And to the ground came tumbling he.
Astonyed lay the heir of Linne,
Ne knew if he were live or dead ;
At length he looked, and saw a bill,
And in it a key of gold so red.
He took the bill, and lookt it on,
Strait good comfort found he there :
1 Shent, shamed.
It told him of a hole in the wall.
In which there stood three chests in-fere."
Two were full of the beaten gold,
The third was full of white money ;
And over them in broad letters
These words were written so plain to see :
' Once more, my son, I set thee clear ;
Amend thy life and follies past ;
For but thou amend thee of thy life,
That rope must be thy end at last."
2 In-fere, together.
THE HEIR OF LINNE.
325
" And let it be," said the heir of Linne,
" And let it be, but if I amend :
For here I will make mine avow,
This reade * shall guide me to the end."
Away then went with a merry cheer.
Away then went the heir of Linne ;
I wis, he neither ceased ne blanne,"
Till John o' the Scales' house he did win.
And when he came to John o' the Scales,
Up at the speer then looked he ;
There sat three lords upon a row.
Were drinking of the wine so free.
And John himself sat at the board-head,
Because now Lord of Linne was he ;
" I pray thee,'' he said, " good John o' the Scales,
One forty pence for to lend me."
" Away, away, thou thriftless loon ;
Away, away, this may not be ;
For a curse on my head," he said,
" If ever I trust thee one peunie."
Then bespake the heir of Linne,
To John o' the Scales' wife then spake he :
" Madame, some alms on me bestow,
I pray for sweet Saint Charitie."
" Away, away, thou thriftless loon ;
I swear thou gettest no alms of me ;
For if we should hang any losel here,
The first we would begin with thee."
Then bespake a good fellow,
Which sat at John o' the Scales his board ;
1 Reade, advice.
Said, " Turn again, thou heir of Linne ;
Some time thou wast a well good lord.
' Some time a good fellow thou hast been,
And sparedst not thy gold and fee ;
Therefore I '11 lend thee forty pence.
And other forty if need be.
' And ever I pray thee, John o' the Scales,
To let him sit in thy companie ;
For well I wot thou hadst his land.
And a good bargain it was to thee."
* Blanne, stopped.
326
THE BOOK OF BALLADS.
Up then spake him John o' the Scales,
All ■wood ^ he answered him again :
'•' Now a curse on my head," he said,
" But I did lose by that bargain.
" And here I proffer thee, heir of Linne,
Before these lords so fair and free,
Thou shalt have it back again better cheap
By a hundred marks than I had it of
thee.
" I draw you to record, lords," he said ;
With that he cast him a gods-pennie :
" Now by my fay," said the heir of Linne,
" And here, good John, is thy money."
And he pulled forth three bags of gold.
And laid them down upon the board ;
All woe begone was John o' the Scales,
So shent he could say never a word.
He told him forth the good red gold,
He told it forth with mickle din ;
" The gold is thine, the land is mine,
And now I 'm again the Lord of Linne."
Says, " Have thou here, thou good fellow,
Forty pence thou didst lend me :
Now I am again the Lord of Linne,
And forty pounds I will give thee.
" I '11 make thee keeper of my forest.
Both of the wild deer and the tame ;
For but I reward thy bounteous heart,
I wis, good fellow, I were to blame."
"Now well-a-day ! " saith Joan o' the Scales ;
" Now well-a-day, and woe is my life !
Yesterday I was Lady of Linne,
Now I 'm but John o' the Scales his wife."
" Now fare thee well," said the heir of Linne,
" Farewell now, John o' the Scales," said
he:
" A curse light on me, if ever again
I bring my lands in jeopardy."
1 Wood, frantic.
THE DRAGON OF WANTLEY.
Old stories tell how Hercules
A dragon slew at Lerna,
With seven heads and fourteen eyes,
To see and well discern-a :
But he had a club, this dragon to drub.
Or he ne'er had done it, I warrant ye :
But More of More-hall, with nothing at all,
He slew the dragon of Wantley.
This dragon had two furious wings,
Each one upon each shoulder ;
With a sting in his tail as long as a flail,
Which made him bolder and bolder.
He had long claws, and in liis jaws
Four and forty teeth of iron ;
With a hide as tough as any buff.
Which did him round environ.
Have you not heard how the Trojan horse
Held seventy men in his belly?
This dragon was not quite so big.
But very near, I '11 tell ye ;
Devoured he poor children three.
That could not with him grapple ;
And at one sup he ate them up.
As one would eat an apple.
All sorts of cattle this dragon would eat,
Some say he ate up trees.
And that the forests sure he would
Devour up by degrees :
For houses and churches were to him geese and turixsys ;
He ate all and left none behind,
But some stones, dear Jack, that he could not crack.
Which on the hills you will find.
Hard by a furious knight there dwelt ;
Men, women, girls, and boys,
Sighing and sobbing, came to his lodging.
And made a hideous noise.
Oh save us all. More of More-hall,
Thou peerless knight of these woods ;
Do but slay this dragon, who won't leave us a rag on,
We '11 give thee all our goods.
THE DRAGON OF WANTLET.
327
This being done, he did engage
To hew the dragon down ;
But first he went new armor to
Bespeak at Sheffield town ;
With spikes all about, not within but without.
Of steel so sharp and strong,
Both behind and before, arms, legs, and all o'er.
Some five or six inches lon^.
It is not strength that always wins,
For wit doth strength excel ;
Which made our cunning champion
Creep down into a well,
Where he did think this dragon would drink,
And so he did in truth ;
And as he stooped low, he rose up and cried, boh t
And kicked him in the mouth.
Had you but seen him in this dress,
How fierce he looked, and how big.
You would have thought him for to be
Some Egyptian porcupig :
He frighted all, cats, dogs, and all,
Each cow, each horse, and each hog :
For fear they did fiee, for they took him to be
Some strange, outlandish hedge-hog.
Oh, quoth the dragon with a deep sigh,
And turned six times together,
Sobbing and tearing, cursing and swearing
Out of his throat of leather :
More of More-hall, O thou rascal,
Would I had seen thee never ;
With the thing at thy foot thou hast pricked my throat.
And I 'm quite undone forever.
To see this fight all people then
Got up on trees and houses.
On churches some, and chimneys too ;
But these put on their trousers.
Not to spoil their hose. As soon as he rose.
To make him strong and mighty.
He drank, by the tale, six pots of ale
And a quart of aqua-vitae.
Murder, murder, the dragon cried.
Alack, alack, for grief ;
Had you but missed that place, you could
Have done me no mischief.
Then his head he shaked, trembled and quaked,
And down he laid and cried ;
First on one knee, then on back tumbled he ;
So groaned, and kicked, and died.
THE BOOK OF FAMILIAR STORIES.
THE RENOWNED HISTORY OF LITTLE GOODY TWO-SHOES.
ASCRIBED TO OLIVER GOLDSMITH.
INTRODUCTION.
All the world must allow that Two-Shoes was
not her real name. No ; her father's name was
Mean well ; and he was for many years a consid-
erable farmer in the parish where Margery was
born ; but by the misfortunes which he met with
in business, and the wicked persecutions of Sir
Timothy Gripe, and an overgrown farmer called
Graspall, he was effectually ruined.
The case was thus. The parish of Mouldwell,
where they lived, had for many ages been let by
the Lord of the Manor in twelve different farms,
in which the tenants lived comfortably, brought
up large families, and carefully supported the poor
people who labored for them, until the estate by
marriage and by death came into the hands of Sir
Timothy.
This gentleman, who loved himself better than
all his neighbors, thought it was less trouble to
write one receipt for his rent than twelve, and Far-
mer Graspall offering to take all the farms as the
leases expii-ed. Sir Timothy agreed with him, and
in process of time he was possessed of every farm
but that occupied by Little Margery's father,
which he also wanted ; for as Mr. Meanwell was
a charitable good man, he stood up for the poor at
the parish meetings, and was unwilling to have
them oppressed b}' Sir Timothy and this ava-
ricious farmer. — Judge, O kind, humane, and
courteous reader, what a terrible situation the
poor must be in, when this covetous man was per-
petual overseer, and everything for their mainte-
nance was drawn from his hard heart and cruel
hand. But he was not only perpetual overseer,
but perpetual church-warden ; and judge, O ye
Christians, what state the church must be in,
when supported by a man without religion or vir-
tue. He was also jaerpetual surveyor of the high-
ways, and what sort of roads he kept up for the
convenience of travelers, those best knew who
have had the misfortune to pass through that par-
ish. — Complaints indeed were made, but to what
purpose are complaints, when brought against a
man who can hunt, drink, and smoke without the
Lord of the Manor, who is also the Justice. of
Peace '
The opposition which Little Margery's father
made to this man's tyrannj^ gave offense to Sir
Timothj', who endeavored to force him out of his
farm ; and, to oblige him to throw u^) the lease,
ordered both a brick kiln and a dog kennel to be
erected in the farmer's orchard. This was con-
trary to law, and a suit was commenced, in which
Margery's father got the better. The same of-
fense was again committed three different times,
and as many actions brought, in all of which the
farmer had a verdict, and costs paid him; but
notwithstanding these advantages, the law was so
expensive, that he was ruined in the contest, and
obliged to give up all he had to his creditors;
THE RENOWNED HISTORY OF LITTLE GOODY TWO-SHOES.
529
which effectually answered the purpose of Sir
Timothy, who erected those nuisances in the far-
mer's orchard with that intention. Ah, my dear
reader, we brag of liberty, and boast of our laws ;
but the blessings of the one, and the protection of
the other, seldom fall to the lot of the poor ; and
especially when a rich man is their adversary.
How, in the name of goodness, can a poor wretch
obtain redress, when thirty pounds ai-e insufficient
to try his cause? Where is he to find money to
fee counsel, or how can he plead his cause himself
(even if he was permitted^ when our laws are so
obscure and so multiplied, that an abridgment of
them cannot be contained in fifty volumes folio ?
As soon as Mr. Meanwell had called together
his creditors. Sir Timothy seized for a year's rent,
and turned the farmer, his wife. Little Margery,
and her brother out of doors, without any of the
necessaries of life to support them.
This elated the heart of Mr. Graspall, this
crowned his hopes, and filled the measure of his
iniquity ; for, besides gratifying his revenge, this
man's overthrow gave him the sole dominion over
the poor, whom he depressed and abused in a man-
ner too horrible to mention.
Margery's father flew into another parish for
succor, and all those who were able to move left
their dwellings and sought employment elsewhere,
as they found it would be impossible to live un-
der the tyranny of two such people. The very
old, the very lame, and tlie blind, were obliged to
stay behind, and whether they were starved, or
what became of them, history does not say , but
the character of the great Sir Timothy, and ava-
ricious tenant, were so infamous, that nobody
would work for them by the day, and servants
were afraid to engage themselves by the year, lest
any unforeseen accident should leave them parish-
ioners in a place where they knew they must per-
ish miserably ; so that great part of the land lay
unfilled for some years ; which was deemed a just
reward for such diabolical proceedings.
But what, says the reader, can occasion all this ?
do you intend this for children ? Permit me to
inform you, that this is not the book, sir, men-
42
tioned in the title, but an introduction to that
book ; and it is intended, sir, not for that sort of
children, but for children of six feet high, of
which, as my friend has j ustly observed, there are
many millions in the kingdom ; and these reflec-
tions, sir, have been rendered necessary by the un-
accountable and diabolical scheme which many
gentlemen now give into, of laying a number of
farms into one, and very often a whole parish into
one farm : which in the end must reduce the com-
mon people to a stage of vassalage, worse than
that under the barons of old, or of the clans in
Scotland, and will in time depopulate the king-
dom ? but as j'ou are tired of the subject I shall
take myself away, and you may visit Little Mar-
gery.
CHAPTER I.
HOW AND ABOUT LITTLE MAKGERY AND HER BROTHER.
Care and discontent shortened the days of Lit-
tle Margery's father. He was forced from his
family, and seized with a violent fever in a place
where Dr. James's powder was not to be had, and
where he died miserably. Margery's poor mother
survived the loss of her husband but a few days,
and died of a broken heart, leaving Margery and
her little bi-other to the wide world ; but, poor
woman, it would have melted your heart to have
seen how frequently she heaved her head, while
she lay speechless, to survey with languishing
looks her little orphans, as much as to say, " Do
Tommy, do Margery, come with me." They
cried, poor things, and she sighed away her soul ;
and I hope is happy.
It wo.uld both have excited your pity, and have
done your heart good, to have seen how these two
little ones were so fond of each other, and how
hand in hand they trotted about.
They were both very ragged, and Tommy had
no shoes, and Margery had but one. They had
nothing, poor things, to support them (not being
in their own parish) but what they picked from
the hedges, or got from the poor people, and they
lay every night in a barn. Their relations took
no notice of them ; no, they were rich, and
330
THE BOOK OF FAMILIAR STORIES.
ashamed to own such a poor little ragged girl as
Margery, and such a dirty little curly pated boy
as Tommy. Our relations and friends seldom
take notice of us when we are poor ; but as we
grow rich they grow fond. And this will always
be the case, while people love money better than
they do God Almighty. But such wicked folks
who love nothing but money and are proud and
despise the poor, never come to any good in the
end, as we shall see by and by. ■
CHAPTER II.
HOW AND ABOUT MR. SMITH.
Me. Smith was a very worthy clergyman, who
lived in the parish where Little Margery and
Tommy were born ; and having a relation come
to see him, who was a charitable good man, he
sent for these children to him. The gentleman
ordered Little Margery a new pair of shoes, gave
Mr. Smith some money to buy her clothes ; and
said he would take Tommy and make him a little
sailor.
After some days the gentleman intended to go
to London, and take little Tommy with him, of
whom you will know more by and by, for we shall
at a proper time present you with his history, his
travels, and adventures.
The parting between these little children was
very affecting. Tommy cried, and they kissed each
other an hundred times : at last Tommy thus
wiped off her tears w^th the end of his jacket, and
bid her cry no more, for that he would come to
her again when he returned from sea.
CHAPTER III.
HOW LITTLE MAnOERY OBTAINED THE XAME OF GOODY
TWO-SHOES, AND WHAT HAPPENED IN THE PARISH.
As soon as Little Margery got up in the morn-
ing, which was very early, she ran all round the
village, crying for her brother ; and after some
time returned greatly distressed.
However, at this instant, the shoemaker very
opportunely came in with the new shoes, for
which she had been measured by the gentleman's
order.
Nothing could have supported Little IMargeiy
under the affliction she was in for the loss of her
brother, but the pleasure .she took in her Two-
shoes. She ran out to Mrs. Smith as soon as they
were put on, and stroking down her ragged apron
thus cried out, " Two-Shoes, Ma'am, see Two-
Shoes." And so she behaved to all the people
she met, and by that means obtained the name of
Goody Two-Shoes.
Little Margery was very happy in being with
Mr. and Mrs. Smith, who were very charitable
and good to her, and had agreed to bring her up
with their family ; but as soon as that tjn-ant of
the parish, that Graspall, heard of her being there,
he applied iirst to Mr. Smith, and threatened to
reduce his tithes if he kept her ; and after that he
spoke to Sir Timothy, who sent Mr. Smith a per-
emptory message by his servant, that he should
send back Meanwell's girl to be kept by her rela-
tions, and not harbor her in the parish. This so
distressed Mr. Smith, that he shed tears, and cried,
" Lord have mercy on the poor ! "
The prayers of the righteous fly upwards, and
reach unto the throne of heaven, as will be seen
by the sequel.
Mrs. Smith was also greatly concerned at being
thus obliged to discard poor Little Margery. She
kissed her, and cried, as did also Mr. Smith, but
they were obliged to send her away, for the peo-
ple who had ruined her father could at any time
have ruined them.
CHAPTER IV.
HOW LITTLE MARGERY LEARNED TO READ, AND BY DE-
GREES TAUGHT OTHERS.
Little Margery saw how good and how wise
Mr. Smith was, and concluded that this was ow-
ing to his great learning, therefore she wanted of
all things to learn to read. For this purpose she
used to meet the little boys as they came from
school, borrow their books, and sit down and read
till they returned. By this means she got more
learning than any of her playmates, and laid the
following scheme for instructing those who were
more ignorant than herself. She found that only
THE RENOWNED HISTORY OF LITTLE GOODY TWO- SHOES.
331
the following letters were required to spell all the
words ; but as some of these letters are large, and
some small, she with her knife cut out of several
pieces of wood ten sets of each of these : —
a b c d e f g h i j k 1 m n o p q r s t u V w X y z.
And having got an old spelling book, she made
her companions set up all the words they wanted
to spell, and after that she taught them to com-
pose sentences. " You know what a sentence is,
my dear ; ' I will be good,' is a sentence ; and is
made up, as you see, of several words."
I once went her rounds with her, and was
highly diverted, as you may see, if you please to
look into the next chapter.
CHAPTER V.
HOW LITTLE TWO-SHOES BECAME A TROTTING TUTOR-
ESS, AND HOW SHE TAUGHT HER YOUNG PUPILS.
It was about seven o'clock in the morning when
we set out on this important business, and the
first house we came to was Farmer Wilson's.
Here Margery stopped, and ran up to the door,
tap, tap, tap. " Who 's there ? " " Only Little
Goody Two-Shoes," answered Margery, " come to
teach Billy." " Oh ! Little Goody," says Mrs.
Wilson, with pleasure in her face, " I am glad to
see you. Billy wants you sadly, for he has learned
his lesson." Then out came the little boy. " How
do, Doody Two-Shoes," says he, not able to speak
plain. Yet this little boy had learned all his let-
ters ; for she threw down this alphabet mixed to-
gether thus : —
bdfhkmoqsuwyxfacegilnprtvzj,
and he picked them up, called them by their right
names, and put them all in order thus : —
a b c d e f g h i j k 1 m n o p q r s t u V w x y z.
The next place we came to was Farmer Simp-
son's.
" Bow, wow, wow," says the dog at the door.
" Sirrah," says his mistress, " what do you bark at
Little Two-Shoes; come in Madge; here, Sally
■wants you sadly, she has learned all her lesson."
" Yes, that 's what I have," replied the little one,
in the country manner : and immediately taking
the letters she set up these syllables : —
ba be bi bo bu,
da de di do du.
ca ce ci CO cu,
fa fe fi fo fu.
and gave them their exact sounds as she composed
them.
After this, Little Two-Shoes taught her to spell
words of one syllable, and she soon set up pear,
plumb, top, ball, pin, puss, dog, hog, fawn, buck,
doe, lamb, sheep, ram, cow, bull, cock, hen, and
many more.
The next place we came to was Gaffer Cook's
cottage. Here a number of poor children were
met to learn, who all came round Little Margery
at once, and having pulled out her letters, asked
the little boy next her, what he had for dinner ?
Who answered, " Bread " (the poor children in
many places live very hard). "Well then," says
she, "set up the first letter." He put up the B,
to which the next added r, and the next e, the
next a, the next d, and it stood thus. Bread.
And what, had you, Polly Comb, for your din-
ner ? " Apple Pie," answered the little girl : upon
which the next in turn set up a great A, the two
next a p each, and so on, till the two words Ap-
ple and Pie were united and stood thus, Apple
Pie.
The next had potatoes, the next beef and tur-
nips, which were spelled, with many otiiers, till
the game of spelling was finished. She then set
them another task, and we proceeded.
The next place we came to was Farmer Thom-
son's, where there was a great many little ones
waiting for her.
" So, Little Mrs. Goody Two-Shoes," says one
of them, " where have you been so long ? " "I
have been teaching," says she, " longer than I in-
tended, and am, I am afraid, come too soon for you
now." " No, but indeed you are not," replied the
other : " for I have got my lesson, and so has Sally
Dawson, and so has Harry Wilson, and so have we
all ; " and they capered about as if they were over-
joyed to see her. " Why then," says she, " you
332
THE BOOK OF FAMILIAR STORIES.
are all very good, and God Almighty -will love
you ; so let us begin our lessons." They all hud-
dled round her, and though at the other place they
were employed about words and syllables, here
we had people of much greater understanding who
dealt only in sentences.
The letters being brought upon the table, one
of the little ones set up the following sentence.
" The Lord have mercy upon me, and grant that
I may be always good, and say my prayers, and
love the Lord my God with all my heart, with all
my soul, and with all my strength ; and honor the
king and all good men in authority under him."
Then the next took the letters, and composed
this sentence.
" Lord have mercy upon me, and grant that I
may love my neighbor as myself, and do unto all
men as I would have them do unto me, and tell no
lies ! but be honest and just in all my dealings."
Lesson for the Conduct of Life.
He that would thrive,
Must rise bj' five.
He that hath thriveu,
May lay till seven.
Truth may be blamed
But can't be shamed.
Tell me with whom you go,
And I '11 tell what you do.
A friend in your need,
Is a friend indeed.
They never can be wise,
Who good counsel despise.
As we were returning home, we saw a gentle-
man, who was very ill, sitting under a shady ti-ee
at the corner of the rookery. Though ill, he be-
gan to joke with Little Margery, and said, laugh-
ing, " So, Goody Two-Shoes, they tell me you are
a cunning little baggage ; pray can you tell me
what I shall do to get well?" " Yes, sir," says
she, " go to bed when your rooks do, and get up
with them in the morning; earn, as they do, every
day what you eat, and eat and drink no more than
you earn : and you '11 get health and keep it.
What should induce the rooks to frequent gentle-
men's houses, only but to tell them how to lead a
prudent life? they never build under cottages or
farm-houses, because they see that these peojjle
know how to live without their admonition.
Thus wealth and wit you may improve,
Taught by tenants of the grove."
The gentleman, laughing, gave Margery six-
pence, and told her she was a sensible hussy.
CHAPTER VI.
HOW THE WHOLE PARISH WAS FRIGHTENED.
Who does not know Lady Ducklington, or who
does not know that she was buried at this parish
church ? Well, I never saw a grander funeral i n
all my life : but the money they squandered away,
would have been better laid out in little books for
children, or in meat, drink, and clothes for the
poor.
All the country round came to see the bury-
ing, and it was late before the corpse was interred.
After which, in the night, or rather about two
o'clock in the morning, the bells were heard to
jingle in the steeple, which frightened the people
prodigiously, who all thought it was Lady Duck-
lington's ghost dancing among the bell ropes. The
people flocked to AVill Dobbins, the clerk, and
wanted him to go to see what it was ; but William
said he was sure it was a ghost, and that he would
not offer to open the door. At length Mr. Long,
the rector, hearing such an uproar in the village,
went to the clerk, to know wh}' he did not go into
the church, and see who was there. "I go, sir?"
says William, " why the ghost would frighten me
out of my wits." Mrs. Dobbins too cried, and
laying hold of her husband, said, he should not be
eat up by the ghost. " A ghost, you blockhead,"
says Mr. Long in a pet, " did either of you ever
see a ghost in a church, or know anybody that
did?" "Yes," says the clerk, "my father did
once in the shape of a windmill, and it walked all
around the church in a trice, with jack boots on,
and had a gun by its side, instead of a sword."
" A fine picture of a ghost, truly," says Mr. Long ;
THE RENOWNED HISTORY OF LITTLE GOODY TWO- SHOES.
333
"give me the key of the church, you monkey ; for
I tell you there is no such thing now, whatever
may have been formerly." Then taking the key,
he went to the church, all the people following
him. As soon as he had opened the door, what
sort of a ghost do you think appeared? Why,
Little Two-Shoes, who being weary had fallen
asleep in one of the pews during the funeral serv-
ice, and was shut in all night. She immediately
asked Mr. Long's pardon for the trouble she had
given him, told him she had been locked into the
church, and said she should not have rung the
bells, but that she was very cold, and hearing
Farmer Boult's man go whistling bj' with his
horses, she was in hopes he would have gone to
the clerk for the key to let her out.
CHAPTER VII.
CONTAINING AN ACCOUNT OF ALL THE SPIRITS OR
THINGS SHE SAW IN THE CHURCH.
The people were ashamed to ask Little Madge
any questions before Mr. Long, but as soon as he
was gone, they all got round her to satisfy their
curiosity, and desired she would give them a par-
ticular account of all that she had heard or seen.
Her Tale.
"I went to the church, said she, as most of you
did last night, to see the burying, and, being very
wear}', I sat me down in Mr. Johns's pew. and
fell fast asleep. At eleven of the clock I awoke ;
which I believe was in some measure occasioned
by the clock's striking, for I heard it. I started
up, and could not at first tell where I was ; but
after some time I recollected the funeral, and soon
found that I was shut in the church. It was dis-
mal dark, and I could see nothing ; but while I
was standing in the pew, something jumped up
upon me behind, and laid, as I thought, its hands
over my shouldei's. I own I was a little afraid at
first ; however, I considered that I had alwaj'S
been constant at prayers, and at church, and that
I had done nobody any harm, but had endeavored
to do what good I could ; and then thought I,
what have I to fear? Yet I kneeled down to say
my pi'ayers. As soon as I was on my knees, some-
thing very cold, as cold as marble, aye, as cold as
ice, touched my neck, which made me start ; how-
ever, I continued my prayers, and having begged
protection from Almighty God, I found my spirits
come, and I was sensible I had nothing to fear ;
for God Almighty protects not only all those that
are good, but also all those who endeavor to be
good, — nothing can withstand the power, and ex-
ceed the goodness of God Almighty. Armed with
the confidence of his protection, I walked down
the church aisle, when I heard something pit, pat,
pit, pat, pit, pat, come after me, and something
touched my hand, which seemed as cold as a mar-
ble monument. I could not think what this was,
yet I knew that it could not hurt me, and there-
fore I made myself easy ; but being very cold, and
the church being paved with stones, which were
verj'^ damp, I felt my way, as well as I could, to
the pulpit ; in doing which something rushed by
me and almost threw me down. However, I was
not frightened, for I knew that God Almighty
would suffer nothing to hurt me.
" At last I found out the pulpit, and having
shut the door, I laid me down on the mat and
cushion to sleep ; when something thrust and
pulled the door, as I thought, for admittance,
which prevented my going to sleep. At last it
cries, " Bow, wow, wow ; " and I concluded it
must be Mr. Saunderson's dog, which had fol-
lowed me from their house to church ; so I opened
the door, and called Snip, Snip, and the dog
jumped upon me immediately. After this, Snip
and I lay down togethei', and had a comfortable
nap ; for when I awoke again it was almost light.
I then walked up and down all the aisles of the
church to keep myself warm ; and though I went
into the vaults, and trod on Lady Ducklington's
coffin, I saw nothing, and I believe it was owing
to the reason Mr. Long has given you, namely,
that there is no such thing to be seen. As to my
part, I would as soon lie all night in a church as
in any other place ; and I am sure that any little
boy or girl, who is good and loves God Almightj',
and keeps his commandments, may as safely lie in
334
THE BOOK OF FAMILIAR STORIES.
the church, or the churchyard, as anywhere else,
if they take care not to get cold, for I am sure
there are no things either to hurt or to frighten
them ; though any one possessed of fear might
have taken Neighbor Saunderson's dog with his
cold nose for a ghost ; and if they had not been
undeceived, as I was, would never have thought
otherwise." All the company acknowledged the
justness of the observation, and thanked Little
Two-Shoes for her advice.
Reflection.
After this, my dear children, I hope you will
not believe any foolish stories that ignorant, weak,
or designing people may tell you about ghosts,
for the tales of ghosts, witches, and fairies are the
frolics of a distempered brain. No wise man ever
saw either of them. Little Margery was not
afraid ; no, she had good sense, and a good con-
science, ■which is a cure for all these imaginary
evils.
CHArTER VIII.
OF SOMETHING WHICH HAPPENED TO LITTLE MARGERY
TWO-SHOES IN A BARN, MORE DREADFUL THAN THE
GHOST IN THE CHUKCH ; AND HOW SHE RETURNED
GOOD FOR EVIL TO HER ENEMY SIH TIJIOTHY.
Some days after this, a raoi-e dreadful accident
befell Little Madge. She happened to be coming
late from teaching, when it rained, thundered, and
lightened, and therefore she took shelter in a
farmer's barn at a distance from the village. Soon
after, the tempest drove in four thieves, who not
seeing such a little creep-mouse girl as Two-Shoes,
lay down on the hay next to her, and began to
talk over their exploits, and to settle plans for
future robberies. Little Margery, on hearing
them, covered herself with straw. To be sure slie
•waS frightened, but her good sense taught her
that the only security she had was in keeping her-
self concealed ; therefore she lay very still, and
breatlied very softly. About four o'clock these
wicked people came to a resolution to break both
Sir William Dove's house and Sir Timothy Gripe's,
and hy force of arms to carry off all tlieir money,
plate, and jewels; but as it was thought then too
late, they all agreed to defer it till the next night.
After laying tliis scheme, they all set out upon
their pranks, which greatly rejoiced Margery, as
it would any other little girl in her situation.
Early in the morning she went to Sir William,
and told him tlie whole of their conversation.
Upon which he asked her name, then gave her
sometliing, and bid her call at his house the day
following. She also went to Sir Timothy, not-
withstanding he had used her so ill, for she knew
it was her duty to do good for evil. As soon as
he was informed who she was, he took no notice
of her ; upon which she desired to speak to Lady
Gripe, and having informed her ladyship of the
affair, she went away. This lady had more sense
than her husband, which indeed is not a singu-
lar case ; for instead of despising Little JLu-gery
and her information, she privately set peojjle to
guard the house. The robbers divided themselves,
and went about the time mentioned to both houses,
and were surprised by the guards and taken.
Upon examining these wretches (one of which
turned evidence), both Sir William and Sir Tim-
othy found that they owed tlieir lives to the dis-
covery made by Little Margery ; and the first
took great notice of her, and would no longer let
her lie in a barn ; but Sir Timothy onh' said,
that he was ashamed to owe his life to the daugh-
ter of one who was his enemy ; so true it is, " That
a proud man seldom forgives those he has in-
jured."
CHAPTER IX.
HOW LITTLE MARGERY WAS JIADE PRINCIPAL OF A
COUNTRY COLLEGE.
Mrs. Williams, who kejjt a college for in-
structing little gentlemen and ladies in the science
of A, B, C, was at this time very old and infirm
and wanted to decline this important trust. This
being told to Sir Wiliam Dove, who lived in the
parish, he sent for Mrs. Williams, and desired
she would examine Little Two-Shoes, and see
whether she was qualified for the office. This was
done, and Mrs. Williams made the following re-
port in her favor, namely, that Little Margery
THE RENOWNED HISTORY OF MRS. MARGERY TWO-SHOES.
335
was the best scholar, and had the best head and
the best heart of any one she had examined. All
the country had a great opinion of Mrs. Williams,
and this character gave them also a great opinion
of Mrs. Margery, for so we must now call her.
This Mrs. Margery thought the happiest period
of her life ; but more happiness was in store for
her. God Almighty heaps up blessings for all
those who love Him, and though for a time He
may suffer them to be poor, and distressed, and
hide his good purposes from human sight, yet in
the end they are generally crowned with happi-
ness here, and no one can doubt their being so
hereafter.
THE RENOWNED HISTORY OF MRS. MARGERY TWO-SHOES.
PART II.
In the first part of this work the young student
has read, and I hope with pleasure and improve-
ment, the history of this Lady, while she was
known and distinguished by the name of Little
Two-Shoes ; we are now come to a period of her
life when that name was discarded, and a more
eminent one bestowed upon her, I mean that of
Mks. Margery Two-Shoes : for as she was now
president of the A, B, C college, it became neces-
sary to exalt her in title as in place.
No sooner was she settled in this office, but she
laid every possible scheme to promote the welfare
and happiness of all her neighbors, and especially
of her little ones, in whom she took great delight ;
and all those whose parents could not afford to
pay for their education, she taught for nothing
but the pleasure she had in their company ; for
you are to observe that they were vei'y good, or
were soon made so by her good management.
CHAPTER I.
OF HEK SCHOOL, HER USHERS, OR ASSISTANTS, AND HER
MANNER OF TEACHING.
We have already informed the reader, that the
school where she taught was that which was before
kept by Mrs. Williams. Tlie room was very large
and spacious, and as she knew that nature in-
tended children should be always in action, she
placed her different letters, or alphabets, all round
the school, so that every one was obliged to get
up and fetch a letter, or to spell a word when it
came to their turn ; which not only kept them in
health, but fixed the letters and points firmly in
their minds.
CHAPTER II.
A SCENE OF DISTRESS IN A SCHOOL.
It happened one day, when Mrs. Two-Shoes
was diverting the children after dinner, as she
usually did, with some innocent games, or enter-
taining and instructive stories, that a man arrived
with the melancholy news of Sally Jones's father
being thrown from his horse, and thought past all
recovery ; nay, the messenger said, that he was
seemingly dying when he came away. Poor Sally
was greatly distressed, as indeed were all in the
school, for she dearly loved her father and Mrs.
Two-Shoes, and all her children dearly loved her.
At this instant something was heard to flap at
the window, at which the children were surprised;
but Mrs. Margerj' knowing what it was, opened
the casement, and drew in a pigeon with a letter.
As soon as he was placed upon the table, he
walked up to little Sally, and dropping the letter,
cried " Co, co, coo ; " as much as to say, " There,
read it."
" My dear Sally, — God Almighty has been very
merciful and restored your papa to us again, who
is now so well as to be able to sit up. I hear you
are a good girl, my dear, and I hope you will
never forget to praise the Lord for that his great
goodness and mercy to us. What a sad thing it
would have been it your father had died, and left
both you and me, and little Tommy in distress,
and without a friend. Your father sends his
blessing with mine. Be good, my dear child, and
•336
THE BOOK OF FAMILIAR STORIES.
God Almighty will also bless you, whose blessing
is above all things.
" I am, my dear Sally,
" Your affectionate mother,
" Maetha Jones."
CHAPTER III.
OF THE AMAZING SAGACITY AND INSTINCT OF A LITTLE
DOG.
Soon after this, a very dreadful accident hap-
pened in the school. It was on a Thursday morn-
ing, I very well remember, when the children hav-
ing learned their lessons soon, she had given them
leave to play, and tliey were all running about
the school, and diverting themselves with the
birds and the lamb ; at this time the dog, all of
a sudden, laid hold of his mistress's apron, and
endeavored to pull her out of the school. She was
at first surprised ; however, she followed him, to
see what he intended. No sooner had he led her
back into the garden, but he ran back, and pulled
out one of the children in the same manner ; upon
which she ordered them all to leave the school im-
mediately, and they had not been out five minutes
before the top of the house fell in. What a mi-
raculous deliverance was here I How gracious !
How good was God Almighty to save all these
children from destruction, and to make use of such
an instrument as a little sagacious animal to ac-
complish his divine will ! I should have observed
that, as soon as they were all in the garden, the
dog came leaping round tbem to express his joy,
and when the house was fallen, laid himself down
quietly by his mistress.
Some of the neighbors who saw the school fall,
and who were in great pain for Margery and her
little ones, soon spread the news through the vil-
lage, and all the parents, terrified for their cliil-
dren, came crowding in abundance : thej- had,
however, the satisfaction to find them all safe, and
upon their knees with their mistress, giving God
thanks for their happy deliverance.
You are not to wonder, my dear reader, that
this little dog should have more sense than you,
or your father, or your grandfather.
Though God Almighty has made man the lord
of the crtotion, and endowed him with reason,
yet in many respects, He has been altogether as
bountiful to other creatures of his forming.
Some of the senses of other animals are more acute
than ours, as we find by daily experience.
The downfall of the school was a great misfort-
une to Mrs. Margery ; for she not only lost all
her books, but was destitute of a place to teach
in ; but Sir William Dove, being informed of tliis,
ordered it to be built at his own expense, and till
that could be done. Farmer Grove was so kind as
to let her have his large hall to teach in.
CHAPTER IV.
WHAT HAPPENED AT FARMER GROVE'S AND HOW SHE
GRATIFIED HIM FOR THE USE OF HIS ROOM.
While at Mr. Grove's, wdiich was in the heart
of the village, she not only taught the children in
the daytime, but the farmer's servants and all the
neighbors to read and write in the evening ; and
it was a constant practice, before they went away,
to make them all go to prayers and sing jasalms.
By this means the jjeople grew extremely regular,
his servants were always at home instead of being
at the alehouse, and he had more work done than
ever. This gave not only Mr. Grove, but all the
neighbors, a high opinion of her good sense and
prudent behavior ; and she was so much esteemed,
that the most of the differences in the parish were
left to her decision ; and if a man and wife quar-
reled (which sometimes happened in that part of
the kingdom), both pai'ties certainly came to her
for advice. Everybody knows that Martha Wil-
son was a passionate, scolding jade, and that John
her husband was a surly, ill-tempered fellow.
These were one day brought by the neighbors for
Margery to talk to them, when they talked be-
fore hei', and were going to blows ; but she, step-
ping between them, thus addressed the husband :
" John," says she, " you are a man, and ought to
have more sense than to fly in a passion at every
word that is said amiss by your wife : and Mar-
tha," says she, " you ought to know your duty
better than to say anything to aggravate your
THE RENOWNED HISTORY OF MRS. MARGERY TWO-SHOES.
837
husband's resentment. These frequent quarrels
arise from the indulgence of your violent passions ;
for I know you both love each other, notwith-
standing what has passed between you. Now,
pray tell me, John, and tell me, Martha, when you
have had a quarrel over night, are you not both
sorry for it the next day ? " They both declared
that they were. " Whj^ then," says she, " I '11 tell
you how to prevent this for the future, if you
promise to take my advice." They both promised
her. " You know," says she, " that a small spark
will set fire to tinder, and that tinder properly
placed will set fire to a house : an angry word is
witli you as that spark, for you are both as touchy
as tinder, and very often make your own house
too hot to hold you. To prevent this, therefore,
and to live happily for the future, you must sol-
emnly agree, that if one speaks an angry word,
the other will not answer, till he or she has dis-
tinctly called over the alphabet, and the other not
reply till he has told twenty ; by this means your
passions will be stifled, and reason will have time
to take the rule."
This is the best recipe that was ever given for
a married couple to live in peace. Though John
and his wife frequently attempted to quarrel aft-
erwards, they never could get their passions to a
considerable height, for there was something so
droll in thus carrying on the dispute, that, before
they got to the end of the arguuient, they saw the
absurdity of it, laughed, kissed, and were friends.
CHAPTER V.
THE CASE OF MRS. MARGERY.
Mes. Margery was always doing good, and
thought she could never sufliciently gratify those
who had done anything to serve her. These gen-
erous sentiments naturally led her to consult the
interest of Mr. Grove, and the rest of her neigh-
bors ; and as most of their lands were meadow,
and they depended much on their hay, which had
been for many years greatly damaged by the wet
weather, she contrived an instrument to direct them
when to mow their grass with safety, and prevent
their hay being spoiled. They all came to her for
43
advice, and by that means got in their hay without
damage, whilst most of that in the neighboring vil-
lage was spoiled.
This occasioned a very great noise in the coun-
try, and so greatly provoked were the people who
resided in the other parishes, that they absolutely
sent old Gaffer Gooaecap (a busy fellow in other
people's concerns) to find out evidence against
her. The wiseacre happened to come to her to
school, when she was walking about with a raven
on one shoulder, a pigeon on the other, a lark on
her hand, and a lamb and a dog by her side ;
which indeed made a droll figure, and so surprised
the man that he cried out, " A witch ! a witch ! a
witch ! "
Upon this she, laughing, answered, " A con-
jurer! a conjurer! a conjurer!" and so they
parted ; but it did not end thus, for a warrant was
issued out against Mrs. Margery, and she was car-
ried to a meeting of the justices.
At the meeting, one of the justices who knew
little of life, and less of the law, behaved very
idly ; and, though nobody was able to prove any-
thing against her, asked who she could bring to
her character. " Who can you bring against my
character, sir?" says she. "There are people
enough who would appear in my defense, were it
necessary : but I never supposed that any one here
could be so weak as to believe there was any such
thing as a witch. If I am a witch, this is my
charm, and " (laying a barometer or weather glass
on the table) " it is with this," says she, " that I
have taught my neighbors to know the state of the
weather." All the company laughed ; and Sir
William Dove, who was on the bench, asked her
accusers how they could be such fools as to think
there was any such thing as a witch ?
After this, Sir William inveighed against the
absurd and foolish notions which the country peo-
ple had imbibed concerning witches and witch-
craft, and having proved that there was no such
thing, but that all were the effects of folly and ig-
norance, he gave the court such an account of
Mrs. Margery, and her virtue, good sense, and
prudent behavior, that the gentlemen present were
338
THE BOOK OF FAMILIAR STORIES.
enamored with lier, and returned her public thanks
for the great service she had done the country.
One gentleman in particular, I mean Sir Charles
Jones, had conceived such a high opinion of her
that he offered her a considerable sum to take care
of his family, and the education of his daughter,
which, however, she refused ; but this gentleman
sending for her afterwards, when he had a danger-
ous fit of illness, she went, and behaved so pru-
dently in the family, and so tenderly to him and
his daughter, that he would not permit her to
leave his house, but soon after made her proposals
of marriage. She was truly sensible of the honor
he intended her, but, though poor, she would not
consent to be made a lady till he had effectually
provided for his daughter ; for she told him, that
power was a dangerous thing to be trusted with,
and that a good man or woman would never throw
themselves into the road of temptation.
All things being settled, and the day fixed, the
neighbors came in crowds to see the wedding ; for
they were all glad that one who had been such a
good little girl, and was become such a virtuous
and good woman, was going to be made a lady ;
but just as the clergyman had opened his book, a
gentleman richly dressed ran into the church and
cried, " Stop I stop ! " This greatly alarmed the
congregation, particularly the intended bride and
bridegroom, whom he first accosted and desired to
speak with them apart. After they had been
talking some little time, the people were greatly
surprised to see Sir Charles stand motionless, and
his bride cry and faint away in tlie stranger's
arms. This seeming grief, however, was only a
prelude to a flood of joy which immediately suc-
ceeded ; for you must know, gentle reader, that
this gentleman, so richly dressed, was that identi-
cal little boy, whom you before saw in the sailor's
habit ; in short, it was Mrs. Margery's brother,
who was just come from sea, where he had, after
a desperate engagement, taken a rich prize, and
hearing, as soon as he landed, of his sister's in-
tended wedding, had rode post to see that a proper
settlement was made on her, which she was now
entitled to, as he himself was both able and will-
ing to give her an ample fortune. They soon re-
turned to the communion table, and were married
in tears, but they were tears of joy.
CHAPTER VI.
THE TRUE USE OF RICHES.
About this time she heard that Mr. Smith was
oppressed by Sir Timothy Gripe and his friend
Graspall ; upon which she, in conjunction with
her brother, defended him in Westminster Hall,
where Mr. Smith gained a verdict. As a justice
of the peace he was struck off the list, and no
longer permitted to act in that capacity. A rela-
tion of his who had a right to the Mould well es-
tate, finding that it was possible to get the better
at law of a rich man, laid claim to it, brought his
action, and recovered the whole manor of Mould-
well ; and being afterwards inclined to sell it, he
in consideration of the aid Lady Margery had lent
him during his distress, made her the first offer,
and she purchased the whole. This mortified Sir
Timothy and his friend Graspall, who experienced
nothing but misfortunes, and was in a few years
so dispossessed of his ill-gotten wealth, that his
family were reduced to seek subsistence from the
parish, at which those who had felt the weight
of his iron-hand rejoiced ; but Ladj' INIargery de-
sired that his childi-en might be treated with care
and tenderness ; " for they" (says she) " are no
ways accountable for the actions of their father."
At her first coming into power, she took care to
gratify her old friends, especially Mr. and Mrs.
Smith, whose family she made happy.
EYES, AND NO EYES; OR, THE ART OF SEEING.
339
EYES, AND NO EYES; OR, THE ART OF SEEING.
BY JOHN AIKIN.
Well, Robert, whei-e have you been walking
this afternoon ? (said Mr. Andrews to one of his
pupils at the close of a holiday.)
R. I have been, sir, to Broom-heath, and so
round by the windmill upon Campmount, and
home through the meadows by the river side.
Mr. A. Well, that 's a pleasant round.
R. I thought it very dull, sir ; I scarcely met
with a single person. I had rather by half have
gone along the turnpike road.
Mr. A. Why, if seeing men and horses is your
object, you would, indeed, be better entertained
on the high-road. But did you see William ?
R. We set out together, but he lagged behind
in the lane ; so I walked on and left him.
Mr. A. That was a pity. He would have been
company for you.
R. Oh, he is so tedious, always stopping to look
at this thing and that ! I had rather walk alone.
I dare say he is not got home yet.
Mr. A. Here he comes. Well, William, where
have you been?
W. Oh, sir, the pleasantest walk ! I went all
over Broom-heath, and so up to the mill at the
top of the hill, and then down among the green
meadows by the side of the river.
Mr. A. Why, that is just the round Robert has
been taking, and he complains of its dullness, and
prefers the high-road.
W. I wonder at that. I am sure I hardly took a
step that did not delight me ; and I have brought
my handkerchief full of curiosities home.
Mr. A. Suppose, then, you give us some ac-
count of what amused you so much. I fancy it
will be as new to Robert as to me.
W. I will, sir. The lane leading to the heath,
you know, is close and sandy, so I did not mind
it much, but made the best of my way. However,
I spied a curious thing enough in the hedge. It
was an old crab-tree, out of which grew a great
bunch of something green, quite different from
the tree itself. Here is a branch of it.
Mr. A. Ah ! this is mistletoe, a plant of great
fame for the use made of it by the Druids of old
in their religious rites and incantations. It bears
a very slimy white berry, of which bird-lime may
be made, whence its Latin name of Viscus. It is
one of those plants which do not grow in the
ground by a root of their own, but fix themselves
upon other plants ; whence they have been hu-
morously styled parasitical, as being hangers-on
or dependents. It was the mistletoe of the oak
that the Druids particularly honored.
W. A little farther on I saw a green wood-
pecker fly to a tree, and run up the trunk like a
cat.
3Ir. A. That was to seek for insects in the
bark, on which they live. They bore holes with
their strong bills for that purpose, and do much
damage to the trees by it.
W. What beautiful birds they are !
Mr. A. Yes ; they have been called, from their
color and size, the English parrot.
W. When I got upon the open heath, how
charming it was ! The air seemed so fresh, and
the prospect on every side so free and unbounded !
Then it was all covered with gay flowers, many
of which I had never observed before. There
were at least three kinds of heath (I have got
them in my handkerchief here), and gorse, and
broom, and bell-flower, and many others of all
colors, that I will beg you presently to tell me
the names of.
3Ir. A. That I will, readily.
W. I saw, too, several birds that were new to
me. There was a pretty grayish one, of the size'
of a lark, that was hopping about some great
stones ; and when he flew, he showed a great deal
of white above his tail.
Mr. A, That was a wheatear. They are reck-
340
THE BOOK OF FAMILIAR STORIES.
onecl very delicions birds to eat, and frequent the
open downs in Sussex, and some other counties,
in great numbers.
W. There was a flock of lapwings upon a
marshy part of the heath, that amused me much.
As I came near them, some of them kept flying
round and round just over my head, and crying
peivit so distinctly, one might almost fancy they
spoke. I thought I should have caught one of
them, for he flew as if one of his wings was broken,
and often tumbled close to the ground ; but as I
came near, he always made a shift to get away.
M7\ A. Ha, ha ! you were finely taken in then !
This was all an artifice of the bird to entice you
away from its nest : for they build upon the bare
ground, and their nests would easily be observed,
did they not draw ofE the attention of intruders
by their loud cries and counterfeit lameness.
W. I wish I had known that, for he led me a
long chase, often over shoes in water. However,
it was the cause of my falling in with an old man
and a boy who were cutting and piling up turf for
fuel, and I had a good deal of talk with them
about the manner of preparing the turf, and the
price it sells at. They gave me, too, a creature I
never saw before — a young viper, which they had
just killed, together with its dam. I have seen
several common snakes, but this is thicker in pro-
portion, and of a darker color than they are.
Mr. A. True. Vipers frequent those turfj',
boggy grounds pretty much, and I have known
several turf-cutters bitten by them.
W. They are very venomous, are they not ?
3Ir. A. Enough so to make their wounds pain-
ful and dangerous, though they seldom prove
fatal.
W. Well — I then took my course up to the
windmill on the mount. I climbed up the steps
of the mill in order to get a better view of the
country round. What an extensive prospect ! I
counted fifteen church steeples ; and I saw several
gentlemen's houses peeping out from the midst of
green woods and plantations ; and I could trace
the windings of the river all along the low grounds,
till it was lost behind a ridge of hills. But I '11
tell you what I mean to do, sir, if you will give
me leave.
Mr. A. What is that ?
W. I will go again, and take with me Carey's
county map, by which I shall probably be able to
make out most of the places.
Mr. A. You shall have it, and I will go with
you, and take my pocket sjjying-glass.
W. I shall be very glad of that. Well — a
thought struck me that as the hill is called Camp-
mount, there might probably be some remains of
ditches and mounds with which I have read that
camps were surrounded. And I really believe I
discovered something of that sort running round
one side of the mount.
3Ir. A. Very likely you might. I know anti-
quaries have described such remains as existing
there, which some suppose to be Roman, others
Danish. We will examine them further when we
go.
W. From the hill I went straight down to the
meadows below, and walked on the side of a brook
that runs into the river. It was all bordered with
reeds and flags, and tall flowering plants, quite
different from those I had seen on the heath. As
I was getting down the bank to reach one of them,
I heard something plunge into the water near rae.
It was a large water rat, and I saw it swim over to
the other side, and go into its hole. There were
a great many large dragon flies all about the
stream. I caught one of the finest, and have got
him here in a leaf. But how I longed to catch a
bird that I saw hovering over the water, and every
now and then darting down into it I It was all
over a mixture of the most beautiful green and
blue, with some orange color. It was somewhat
less than a thrush, and had a large head and bill,
and a short tail.
Mr. A. I can tell you what that bird was, — a
kingfisher, the celebrated halcyon of the ancients,
about which so many tales are told. It lives on
fish, which it catches in the manner you saw. It
builds in holes in the banks, is a shy, retiring bird,
never to be seen far from the stream where it in-
habits.
urns, AND NO EYES; OR, THE ART OF SEEING.
841
W. I must ti'y to get another sight of him, for I
never saw a bird that pleased me so much. Well
— I followed this little brook till it entered the
river, and then took the path that runs along the
bank. Oii the opposite side I observed several
little birds running along the shore, and making a
piping noise. They were brown and white, and
about as big as a snipe.
Mr. A. I suppose they vpere sandpipers, one of
the numerous family of birds that get their living
by wading among the shallows, and picking up
worms and insects.
W. There were a great many swallows, too,
sporting upon the surface of the water, that enter-
tained me with their motions. Sometimes they
dashed into the stream : sometimes they pursued
one another so quick, that the eye could scarcely
follow them. In one place, where a high, steep
sand bank rose directly above the river, I observed
many of them go in and out of holes with which
the bank was bored full.
Mr. A. Those were sandmartins, the smallest of
our four species of swallows. They are of a mouse
color above, and white beneath. They make their
nests and bring up their young in these holes,
which run a great depth, and by their situation
are secure from all plunderers.
W. A little farther I saw a man in a boat, who
was catching eels in an odd way. He had a long
pole with broad iron prongs at the end, just like
Neptune's trident, only there were five instead of
three. This he pushed straight down among the
mud in the deepest parts of the river, and fetched
up the eels sticking between the prongs.
Mr. A. I have seen this method. It is called
spearing of eels.
W. While I was looking at him, a heron came
flying over my head, with his large flagging wings.
He lit at the next turn of the river, and I crept
softly behind the bank to watch his motions. He
had waded into the water as far as his long legs
would carry him, and was standing with his neck
drawn in, looking intently on the stream. Pres-
ently he darted his long bill as quick as lightning
into the water, and drew out a fish, which he swal-
lowed. I saw him catch another in the same man-
ner. He then took alarm at some noise I made,
and flew away slowly to a wood at some distance,
where he settled.
3Ir. A. Probably his nest was there, for herons
build upon the loftiest trees they can find, and
sometimes live in society together, like rooks.
Formerly, when these birds were valued for the
amusement of hawking, many gentlemen had their
heronries, and a few are still remaining.
W. I think they are the largest wild birds we
have.
3Ir. A. They are of a great length and spread
of wing, but their bodies are comjjaratively small.
W. I then turned homeward across the mead-
ows, where I stopped a while to look at a large
flock of starlings, which kept flying about at no
great distance. I could not tell at first what to
make of them ; for they rose all together from the
ground as thick as a swarm of bees, and formed
themselves into a kind of black cloud, hovering
over the field. After taking a short round, they
settled again, and presently rose again in the
same manner. I dare say there were hundreds of
them.
Mr. A. Pei'haps so ; for in the fenny countries
their flocks are so numerous as to break down
whole acres of reeds by settling on them. This
disposition of starlings to fly in close swarms
was remarked even by Homer, who compares the
foe flying from one of his heroes, to a cloud of
stares retiring dismayed at the approach of the
hawk.
W. After I had left the meadows, I crossed the
corn-fields in the way to our house, and passed by
a deep marie pit. Looking into it, I saw in one
of the sides a cluster of what I took to be shells ;
and upon going down, I picked up a clod of marie,
which was quite full of them ; but how sea shells
could get thei-e, I cannot imagine.
Mr. A. I do not wonder at your surprise, since
many philosophers have been much perplexed to
account for the same appearance. It is not un-
common to find great quantities of shells and rel-
ics of marine animals even in the bowels of high
342
THE BOOK OF FAMILIAR STORIES.
mountains, very remote from the sea. They are
certainly proofs that the earth was once in a very
different state from what it is at present ; but in
what manner, and how long ago these changes
took place, can only be guessed at.
W. I got to the high field next our house just
as the sun was setting, and I stood looking at it
till it was quite lost. What a glorious sight ! The
clouds were tinged piirple and crimson and j'el-
low, of all shades and hues, and the clear sky
vai'ied from blue to a fine green at the horizon.
But how large the sun appears just as it sets ! I
think it seems twice as big as when it is over
head.
Mr. A. It does so ; and you may probably have
observed the same apparent enlargement of the
moon at its rising.
W. I have ; but pray what is the reason of
this?
3Ir. A. It is an optical deception, depending
upon principles which I cannot well exjslain to
you till you know more of that branch of science.
But what a number of new ideas this afternoon's
walk has afforded you ! I do not wonder that
you found it amusing ; it has been very instruct-
ive too. Did you see nothing of all these sights,
Robert ?
B. I saw some of them, but I did not take par-
ticular notice of them.
Mr. A. Why not ?
R. I don't know. I did not care about them,
and I made the best of my way home.
Mr. A. That would have been right, if you had
been sent on a message ; but as you only walked
for amusement, it would have been wiser to have
sought out as many sources of it as possible. But
so it is — one man walks through the world with
his eyes open, and another with them shut ; and
upon this difference depends all the superiority of
knowledge the one acquires above the other. I
have known sailors who had been in all the quar-
ters of the world, and could tell you nothing but
the signs of the tippling-houses they frequented
in different parts, and the price and quality of the
liquor. On the other hand, a Franklin could
not cross the channel without making some obser-
vations useful to mankind. While many a vacant
thoughtless youth is whirled throughout Europe
without gaining a single idea worth crossing a
street for, the observing e3e and inquiring mind
finds matter of improvement and delight in every
ramble in town or country. Do you then, Wil-
liam, continue to make use of your e3'es ; and you,
Robert, learn that eyes were given you to use.
THE BOY WITHOUT A GENIUS.
BY JOHN AIKIN.
Me. Wiseman, the school-master, at the end of
his summer vacation, received a new scholar with
the following letter.
Sir, — This will be delivered to you by my son
Samuel, whom I beg leave to commit to your care,
hoping that by your well-known skill and atten-
tion you will be able to make something of him ;
which, I am sorry to say, none of his masters
have hitherto done. He is now eleven, and yet
can do nothing but read his mother tongue, and
that indifferently. We sent him at seven to a
grammar school in our neighborhood ; but his
master soon found that his genius was not turned
to learning languages. He was then put to writ-
ing, but he set about it so awkwardly that he
made nothing of it. He was tried at accounts,
but it appeared that he had no genius for that
either. He could do nothing in geography for
want of memory. In short, if he has any genius
at all, it does not yet show itself. But I trust to
your experience in cases of this nature to discover
THE EOT WITHOUT A GENIUS.
343
what he is fit for, and to instruct him accordingly.
I beg to be favored shortly with your opinion
about him, and remain, sir,
Your most obedient servant,
Humphry Acres.
When Mr. Wiseman had read this letter, he
shook his head, and said to his assistant, A pretty
subject they have sent us here ! a lad that has a
great genius for nothing at all. But perhaps my
friend Mr. Acres expects that a boy should show
a genius for a thing before he knows anything
about it — no uncommon error ! Let us see, how-
ever, what the youth looks like. I suppose he is
a human creature at least.
Master Samuel Acres was now called in. He
came hanging down his head, and looking as if he
was going to be flogged.
Come hithei', my dear ! said Mr. Wiseman.
Stand by me, and do not be afraid. Nobody will
hurt you. How old are you ?
Eleven last May, sir.
A well-grown boy of your age, indeed. You
love play, I dare say.
Yes, sir.
What, are you a good hand at marbles ?
Pretty good, sir.
And can spin a top, and drive a hoop, I suppose ?
Yes, sir.
Then you have the full use of your hands and
fingers ?
Yes, sir.
Can you write, Samuel?
I learned a little, sir, but I left it off again.
And why so ?
Because I could not make the letters.
No ! Why how do you think other boys do ? —
have they more fingers than you ?
No, sir.
Are you not able to hold a pen as well as a mar-
ble ?
Samuel was silent.
Let me look at your hand.
Samuel held out both his paws, like a dancing
bear.
I see nothing here to hinder you from writing
as well as any boy in the school. You can read,
I suppose.
Yes, sir.
Tell me, then, what is written over the school-
room door.
Samuel with some hesitation read, —
WHATEVER MAN HAS DONE, MAN MAY DO.
Pray, how did you learn to read ? — Was it not
with taking pains ?
Yes, sir.
Well — taking more pains will enable you to
read better. Do you know anything of the Latin
grammar ?
No, sir.
Have you never learned it ?
I tried, sir, but I could not get it by heart.
Why, you can say some things by heart. I
dare say you can tell me the names of the week in
their order.
Yes, sir, I know them.
And the months in the year, perhaps.
Yes, sir.
And you could probably repeat the names of
your brothers and sisters, and all your father's
servants, and half the people in the village be-
sides.
I believe I could, sir.
Well — and is hie, hcec, hoc, more difficult to re-
member than these ?
Samuel was silent.
Have you learned anything of accounts ?
I went into addition, sir, but I did not go on
with it.
Why so ?
I could not do it, sir.
How many marbles can you buy for a penny ?
Twelve new ones, sir.
And how many for a half-penny ?
Six.
And how many for two pence ?
Twenty-four.
If you were to have a penny a day, what would
that make in a week ?
344
THE BOOK OF FAMILIAR STORIES.
Seven pence.
But if you paid two pence out of that, what
would 3'ou have left ?
Samuel studied a while and then said, five pence.
Right. Why here you have been pvactieing the
four great rules of arithmetic, addition, substrac-
tion, multiplication, and division. Learning ac-
counts is no more than this. Well, Samuel, I see
what you ace fit for. I shall set you about noth-
ing but what you are able to do ; but observe,
you must do it. We have no I can't here. Now
go among your school-fellows.
Samuel went away, glad that his examination
was over, and with more confidence in his powers
than he had felt before.
The next day he began business. A boy less
than himself was called out to set him a copy of
letters, and another was appointed to hear him
grammar. He read a few sentences in English
that he could perfectly understand, to the master
hiuiself. Thus by going on steadily and slowly,
he made a sensible progress. He had already
joined his letters, got all the declensions perfectly,
and half the multiplication table, when Mr. Wise-
man thought it time to answer his father's letter ;
which he did as follows : —
Sir, — I now think it right to give you some in-
formation concerning your son. You perhaps ex-
pected it sooner, but I always wish to avoid hasty
judgments. You mentioned in your letter that
it had not yet been discovered which way his ge-
nius pointed. If by genius you meant such a de-
cided bent of mind to any one pursuit as will lead
to excel with little or no labor, or instruction, I
must say tliat I have not met with such a quality
in more than three or four boys in my life, and
your son is certainly not among the number.
But if you mean only the ability to do some of
those things which tlie greater part of mankind
can do when properly taught, I can affirm that I
find in him no peculiar deficiency ; and whether
you choose to bring him up to a trade or to some
practical profession, I see no reason to doubt that
he may in time become sufficiently qualified for it.
It is my favorite maxim, sir, that everything most
valuable in this life may general]}' be acquired by
taking pains for it. Your son has already lost
much time in the fruitless expectation of finding
out what he would take up of liis own accord.
Believe me, sir, few boys will take up anything of
their own accord but a top or a marble. I will
take care while he is with me that he loses no
more time this way, but is employed about things
that are fit for him, not doubting that we shall
find him fit for them.
I am, sir, yours, etc.
Solon Wiseman.
Though the doctrine of this letter did not per-
fectly agree with Mr. Acre's notions, yet being
convinced that Mr. Wiseman was more likely to
make something of his son than any of his former
preceptors, he continued him at this school for
some years, and had the satisfaction to find him
going on in a steady course of gradual imjirove-
ment. In due time a profession was chosen for
him, which seemed to suit his temper and talents,
but for which he had no particular turn, having
never thought at all about it. He made a re-
spectable figure in it, and went through the world
with credit and usefulness, though without a genius.
A TALE OF POTTED SPRATS.
BY AMELIA OPIE.
Most mistresses of families have a family re-
ceipt-book ; and are apt to believe that no receipts
are so good as their own.
With one of these notable ladies a young house-
keeper went to pass a few days, both at her town
and country-house. The hostess was skilled, not
A TALE OF POTTED SPRATS.
345
only in culinary lore, but in economy ; and was
in tlie liabit of setting on her table, even when
not alone, whatever her taste or cai'efulness had
led her to pot, pickle, or preserve, for occasional
use.
Before a meagre family dinner was quite over,
a dish of potted speats was |et before the lady
of the house, who, expatiating on their excellence,
derived from a family receipt of a century old,
pressed her still unsatisfied guest to partake of
them.
The dish was as good as much salt and little
spice could make it ; but it had one peculiarity
— it had a strong flavor of garlic, and to garlic
the poor guest had a great dislike.
But she was a timid woman ; and good-breeding,
and what she called benvolence, said, " persevere
a swallow," though her palate said, " no." " Is
it not excellent?" said the hostess. "Very,"
faltered out the half-suffocated guest ; — and this
was lie the first. "Did you ever eat anything
like it befoi-e ? " " Never," replied the other
more firmly ; for then she knew that she spoke
the truth, and lotiging to add, " and I hope I never
shall eat anything like it again." " I will give
you the receipt," said the lady, kindly ; " it will
be of use to you as a young housekeeper : for it
is economical, as well as good, and serves to make
out, when we have a scrap-dinner. My servants
often dine on it." " I wonder you can get any
servants to live with you," thought the guest ;
" but I dare say you do not get any one to stay
long ! " " You do not, however, eat as if you
liked it." " Oh, yes, indeed I do, very much," (lie
the second) she i-eplied, "but you forget I have
already eaten a good dinner : " (lie the third.
Alas ! what had benevolence, so called, to answer
for this occasion !)
" Well, I am delighted to find that you like my
sprats," said the flattered hostess, while the cloth
was removing : adding, " John ! do not let those
sprats be eaten in the kitchen I " an order which
the guest heai'd with indescribable alarm.
The next day they were to set off for the coun-
try-house, or cottage. When they were seated in
44
the carriage, a large box was put in, and the guest
fancied she smelt garlic ; but
" Where ignorance is bliss,
'T is folly to be wise."
She therefore asked no questions ; but tried to
enjoy the present, regardless of the future. At a
certain distance they stopped to bait the horses.
There the guest expected that they should get
out, and take some refreshment ; but her econom-
ical companion, with a shrewd wink of the eye,
observed, " I always sit in the carriage on these
occasions. If one gets out, the people at the inn
expect one to order a luncheon. I therefore take
mine with me." So saying, John was summoned
to drag the carriage out of sight of the inn win-
dows. He then unpacked the box, took out of
it knives and forks, plates, etc., and also a jar,
which, impregnating the air with its effluvia, even
before it was opened, disclosed to the alarmed
guest that its contents were the dreaded sprats I
"Alas !" thought she, " Pandora's box was
nothing to this I for in that, Hope remained be-
hind ; but, at the bottom of this is Despair ! " In
vain did the unhappy lady declare (lie the fourth)
that "she had no appetite, and (lie the fifth)
that she never ate in the morning," Her hostess
would take no denial. However, she contrived to
get a piece of sprat down, enveloped in bread ;
and the rest she threw out of the window, when
her companion was looking another way — who,
on turning round, exclaimed, " so, you have soon
dispatched the fish ! let me give you another ; do
not refuse, because you think they are nearly fin-
ished ; I assure you there are several left ; and
(delightful information !) we shall have a fresh
supply to-morrow ! " However, this time she was
allowed to know when she had eaten enough ;
and the travelers proceeded to their journey's end.
This day, the sprats did not appear at dinner ;
— but, there being only a few left, they were
kept for a bonne louche, and reserved for supper !
a meal of which, this evening, on account of indis-
position, the hostess did not partake, and was
therefore at liberty to attend entirely to the wants
of her guest, who would fain have declined eating
346
THE BOOK OF FAMILIAR STORIES.
also, but it was impossible ; she had just declared
that she was quite well, and had often owned that
she enjoyed a piece of supper after an early din-
gier. There was therefore no retreat from the
maze in which her insincerity had involved her ;
and eat she must : but, when she again smelled on
her plate the nauseous composition, which being
near the bottom of the pot was more disagreeable
than ever, human patience and human infirmity
could bear no more ; the scarcely tasted morsel
fell from her lips, and she rushed precipitately
into the open air, almost disposed to execrate, in
her heart, potted sprats, the good breeding of her
officious hostess, and even Benevolence itself.
WASTE NOT, WANT NOT: OR, TWO STRINGS TO YOUR BOW.
BY MARIA EDGEWOETH.
Me. Gresham, a Bristol merchant, who had,
by honorable industry and economy, accumulated
a considerable fortune, retired from business to a
new house which he had built upon the Downs,
near Clifton. Mr. Gresham, however, did not im-
agine that a new house alone could make him
happy. He did not propose to live in idleness and
extravagance ; for such a life would have been
equally incompatible with his habits and his prin-
ciples. He was fond of children ; and as he had
no sons, he determined to adopt one of his rela-
tions. He had two nephews, and he invited both
of them to his house, that he might have an op-
portunity of judging of their dispositions, and of
the habits which they had acquired.
Hal and Benjamin, Mr. Gresham's nephews,
were about ten years old. They had been edu-
cated very differently. Hal was the son of the
elder branch of the family. His father was a gen-
tleman, who spent rather more than he could af-
ford ; and Hal, from the example of the servants
in his father's family, with whom he had passed
the first years of his childhood, learned to waste
more of everything than he used. He had been
told, that " gentlemen should be above being care-
ful and saving ; " and he had unfortunately im-
bibed a notion that extravagance was the sign of
a generous disposition, and economy of an avari-
cious one.
Benjamin, on the contrary, had been taught
habits of care and foresight. His father had but
a very small fortune, and was anxious that his
son should early learn that economy insures inde-
pendence, and sometimes puts in the power of
those who are not very rich to be very generous.
The morning after these two boys arrived at
their uncle's, they were eager to see all the rooms
in the house. Mr. Gresham accompanied them,
and attended to their remarks and exclamations.
" Oh I what an excellent motto I " exclaimed
Ben, when he read the following words, which
were written in large characters over the chim-
ney-piece, in his uncle's spacious kitchen, —
" WASTE NOT, WANT NOT."
" Waste not, want not ! " repeated his cousin
Hal, in rather a contemptuous tone ; " I think it
looks stingy to servants ; and no gentleman's serv-
ants, cooks especially, would like to have such a
mean motto always staring them in the face."
Ben, who was not so conversant as his cousin in
the ways of cooks and gentlemen's servants, made
no reply to these observations.
Mr. Gresham was called away whilst his neph-
ews were looking at the other rooms in the house.
Some time afterwards he heard their voices in the
hall.
'■ Boys," said he, " what are you doing there ? "
" Nothing, sir," said Hal ; " you were called away
from us, and we did not know which way to go."
" And have you nothing to do? " said Mr. Gres-
ham. " No, sir, nothing," answered Hal, in a care-
less tone, like one who was well content with the
state of habitual idleness. " No, sir, nothing ! "
WASTE NOT, WANT NOT.
347
replied Ben, in a voice of lamentation. " Come,"
said Mr. Gresham, " if you have nothing to do
lads, will you unpack these two parcels for me ? "
The two parcels were exactly alike, both of them
well tied up with good whip-cord. Ben took his
parcel to a table, and, after breaking off the seal-
ing-wax, began carefully to examine the knot, and
then to untie it. Hal stood still, exactly in the
spot where the parcel was put into his hands, and
tried first at one corner, and then at another, to
pull the string off by force.
" I wish these people would n't tie up their par-
cels so tight, as if they were never to be undone,"
cried he, as he tugged at the cord ; and he pulled
the knot closer instead of loosening it.
" Ben ! why, how did you get yours undone,
man ? — what's in your parcel ? — I wonder what
is in mine. I wish I could get this string off —
I must cut it."
" Oh, no," said Ben, who now had undone the
last knot of his parcel, and who drew out the
length of string with exultation, " don't cut it,
Hal. Look what a nice cord this is, and yours is
the same : it 's a pity to cut it ; ' Waste not, ivant
not! ' you know."
" Pooli ! said Hal, " what signifies a bit of pack-
thread ? " " It is whip-cord," said Ben. " Well,
whip-cord ! what signifies a bit of whip-cord ! you
can get a bit of whip-cord twice as long as that for
two pence ; and who cares for two pence ! Not I,
for one ! so here it goes," cried Hal, drawing out
his knife ; and he cut the cord, precipitately, in
sundry places.
" Lads ! have you undone the parcels for me ? "
said Mr. Gresham, opening the parlor-door as he
spoke. " Yes, sir," cried Hal ; and he dragged
off his half-cut, half-entangled string, — " here 's
the parcel." " And here 's jny parcel, uncle ; and
here 's the string," said Ben. " You may keep the
string for your pains," said Mr. Gresham. " Thank
you, sir," said Ben ; " what an excellent whip-cord
it is!" "And you, Hal," continued Mr. Gres-
ham, " you may keep your string too, if it will be
of any use to you." " It will be of no use to me,
thank you sir," said Hal. " No, I am afraid not.
if this be it," said his uncle, taking up the jagged,
knotted remains of Hal's cord.
A few days after this, Mr. Gresham gave to
each of his nephews a new top.
" But how 's this ? " said Hal ; " these tops have
no strings ; what shall we do for strings ? " "I
have a string that will do very well for mine,"
said Ben ; and he pulled out of his pocket the fine,
long, smooth string which had tied up the parcel.
With this he soon set up his top, which spun ad-
mirably well.
" Oh how I wish I had but a string ! " said Hal ;
" what shall I do for a string ? I '11 tell you what ;
I can use the string that goes round my hat I "
" But then," said Ben, " what will you do for a
hat-band ? " " I '11 manage to do without one,"
said Hal ; and he took the string off his hat for
his top. It soon was worn through ; and he split
his top by driving the peg too tightly into it.
His cousin Ben let him set ujj his the next day ;
but Hal was not more fortunate or more careful
when he meddled with other people's things than
when he managed his own. He had scarcely
plaj'ed half an hour before he split it, by driving
in the peg too violently.
Ben bore this misfortune with good humor.
" Come," said he, " it can't be helped : but give
me the string, because tliat may still be of use for
something else.
It happened some time afterwards that a lady,
who had been intimately acquainted with Hal's
mother at Bath, — that is to say, who had fre-
quently met her at the card-table during the win-
ter, — now arrived at Clifton. She was informed
by his mother that Hal was at Mr. Gresham's ; and
her sons who were friends of his, came to see him,
and invited him to spend the next day with them.
Hal joyfully accepted the invitation. He was
always glad to go out to dine, because it gave him
something to do, something to think of, or at least
something to say. Besides this, he had been edu-
cated to think it was a fine thing to visit fine
people ; and Lady Diana Sweepstakes (for that
was the name of his mother's acquaintance) was
a very fine lady, and her two sons intended to
348
THE BOOK OF FAMILIAR STORIES.
be very great gentlemen. He was in a prodigious
hurry when these young gentlemen knocked at
his uncle's door the next day ; but just as he got
to the hall door, little Patty called to him from
the top of the stairs, and told him that he had
dropped his pocket-handkerchief.
'' Pick it up, then, and bring it to me, quick,
can't you, child ? " cried Hal, " for Lady Di's sons
are waiting for me."
Little Patty did not know anything about Lady
Di's sons ; but as she was very good-natured, and
saw that her cousin Hal was, for some reason or
other, in a desperate hurry, she ran down-stairs as
fast as she possibly could, towards the landing-
place, where the handkerchief lay ; but, alas ! be-
fore she reached the handkerchief, she fell, rolling
down a whole flight of stairs, and when her fall
was at last stopped by the landing-place, she did
not cry, but she writhed as if she was in great
pain.
" Where are you hurt, my love ? " said Mr.
Gresham, who came instantly, on hearing the
noise of some one falling down-stairs. " Where
are you hurt, my dear ? "
" Here, papa," said the little girl, touching her
ankle, which she had decently covered with her
gown : " I believe I am hurt here, but not
much," added she, trying to rise ; " only it hui-ts
me when I move." " I '11 carry you ; don't move
then," said her father ; and he took her up in his
arms. " My shoe ; I 've lost one of my shoes,"
said she.
Ben looked for it upon the stairs, and he found
it sticking in a loop of whip-cord, which was
entangled round one of the banisters. When tliis
cord was drawn forth, it appeared that it was the
very same jagged entangled piece which Hal had
pulled off his parcel. He had diverted himself
with running up and down stairs, whipping the
banisters with it, as he thought he could convert
it to no better use ; and, with his usual careless-
ness, he at last left it hanging just where he hap-
pened to throw it when the dinner-bell rang.
Poor little Patty's ankle was terribly sprained,
and Hal reproached himself for his folly, and
would have reproached himself longer, perhaps, if
Lady Di Sweepstakes' sons had not hurried him
away.
In the evening, Patty could not run about as
she used to do ; but she sat upon the sofa, and
she said that she did not feel the pain in her ankle
so much, whilst Ben was so good as to play at
jack-straws with her.
" That 's right, Ben ; never be ashamed of being
good-natured to those who are younger and weaker
than yourself," said his uncle, smiling at seeing
him produce his whip-cord, to indulge his little
cousin with a game at her favorite cat's-cradle.
" I sliall not think j'ou one bit less manly, becau.se
I see you playing at cat's-cradle with a little child
of six years old."
Hal, however, was not precisely of his uncle's
opinion ; for when he returned in the evening, and
saw Ben playing with his little cousin, he could
not help smiling contemptuously, and asked if he
had been playing at cat's-cradle all night. In a
heedless manner he made some inquiries after
Patt3''s sprained ankle, and then he ran on to tell
all the news he had heard at Lady Diana Sweep-
stakes', — news which he thought would make him
apfiear a person of vast importance.
" Do you know, uncle, — do you know, Ben,"
said he, — " there 's to be the most famous doings
that ever were heard of upon the Downs here, the
first day of next month, which will be in a fort-
night, — thank my stars I I wish the fortnight
was over ; I shall think of nothing else, I know,
till that happy day comes I "
Mr. Gresham inquired why the first of Septem-
ber was to be so much happier than anj' other day
in the year. " Why," replied Hal, " Lady Diana
Sweepstakes, you know, is a famous rider and
archer, and all that.'' " Very likely," said Mr.
Gresham, soberly ; " but what then ? "
" Dear uncle ! " cried Hal, " but you shall hear.
There's to be a race upon the Downs the first of
September, and after the race there "s to be an
archery meeting for the ladies, and Lady Diana
Sweepstakes is to be one of them. And after the
ladies have done shooting, — now, Ben, comes the
WASTE NOT, WANT NOT.
349
best part of it ! — we boys are to bave our turn,
and Lady Di is to give a prize to the best marks-
man amongst us, of a very handsome bow and ar-
row ! Do you know, I 've been practicing already,
and I '11 show you to-morrow, as soon as it conies
home, the famous bow and arrow that Lady Diana
has given me ; but, perhaps," added he, with a
scornful laucjh, " vou like a cat's-cradle better than
a bow and arrow."
Ben made no reply to this taunt at the moment ;
but the next day, when Hal's new bow and arrow
came home, he convinced him that he knew how
to use it very well.
"Ben," said his uncle, "you seem to be a good
marksman, though you have not boasted of your-
self. I '11 give you a bow and arrow, and, perhaps
if you practice, you may make yourself an archer
before the first of September ; and, in the mean
time, you will not wish the fortnight to be over,
for you will have something to do."
"Oh, sir," interrupted Hal, "but if you mean
that Ben should put in for the prize, he must have
a uniform." " Why must he ? " said Mr. Gresham.
" Why, sir, because everybody has — I mean
everybody that 's anybody ; and Lady Diana was
talking about the uniform all dinner-time, and it 's
settled all about it, except the buttons ; the young
Sweepstakes are to get theirs made first for pat-
terns : they are to be white, faced with green ; and
they "11 look very handsome, I "m sure ; and I shall
write to mamma to-night, as Lady Diana bid me,
about mine ; and I shall tell her to be sure to an-
swer my letter, without fail, by return of the post ;
and then if mamma makes no objection, which I
know she won't, because she never thinks much
about expense, and all that, — then I shall bespeak
my uniform, and get it made by the same tailor
that makes for Lady Diana and the young Sweep-
stakes."
" Mercy upon us ! " said Mr. Gresham, who was
almost stunned by the rapid vociferation with
which this long speech about a uniform was pro-
nounced. " I don't pretend to understand these
things," added he, with an air of simplicity; "but
we will inquire, Ben, into the necessity of the
case ; and if it is necessary — or if you think it
necessary that you shall have a uniform, — why,
I '11 give you one."
" You, uncle ! Will you, indeed f " exclaimed
Hal, with amazement painted in his countenance.
" Well, that 's the last thing in the world I should
have expected ! You are not at all the sort of
person I should have thought would care about a
uniform ; and now I should have supposed you 'd
have thought it extravagant to have a coat on pur-
pose only for one day ; and I 'm sure Ladj' Diana
Sweepstakes thought as I do ; for when I told her
of that motto over your kitchen-chimney, ' WASTE
XOT, WANT NOT,' she laughed, and said that I had
better not talk to you about uniforms, and that
my mother was the proper person to write to about
my uniform : but I '11 tell Lady Diana, uncle, how
good you are, and how much she was mistaken."
" Take care how you do that," said Mr. Gres-
ham ; "for perhaps the lady was not mistaken."
" '^■Aj, did not you say, just now, you would
give poor Ben a uniform ? " " I said I would, if
he thought it necessary to have one." " Oh, I '11
answer for it, he *11 think it necessary," said Hal,
laughing, "because it is necessary." "Allow him,
at least, to judge for himself," said Mr. Gres-
ham. " My dear uncle, but I assure you," said
Hal, earnestly, "there's no judging about the
matter, because really, upon my word. Lady Di-
ana said distinctly, that her sons were to have uni-
forms, white faced with green, and a green and
white cockade in their hats." " May be so," said
Mr. Gresham, still with the same look of calm
simplicity ; " put on your hats, boys, and come
with me. I know a gentleman whose sons are to
be at this archery meeting, and we will inquire
into all the particulars from him. Then, after we
have seen him (it is not eleven o'clock yet), we
shall have time enough to walk on to Bristol, and
choose the cloth for Ben's uniform, if it is neces-
sary.
" I cannot tell what to make of all he says,"
whispered Hal as he reached down his hat ; " do
you think, Ben, he means to give you this uniform
or not?" "I think," said Ben, "that he means
350
THE BOOK OF FAMILIAR STORIES.
to give me one, if it is necessary, or, as he said, if
I think it is necessary."
" And that to be sure you will ; won't you ? or
else you '11 be a great fool, I know, after all I 've
told you. How can any one in the world know so
much about the matter as I, who have dined with
Lady Diana Sweepstakes but yesterday, and heard
all about it from beginning to end ? And as for
this gentleman that we are going to, I 'm sure, if
he knows anything about the matter, he '11 say
exactly the same as I do." " We shall hear," said
Ben, with a degree of composure which Hal could
by no means comprehend when a uniform was in
question.
The gentleman upon whom Mr. Gresham called
had three sons, who were all to be at this archery
meeting ; and they unanimously assured him, in
the presence of Hal and Ben, that they had never
thought of buying unifoiTns for this grand occa-
sion, and that, amongst the number of their ac-
quaintance, they knew of but three boys whose
friends intended to be at such an unnecessary ex-
pense. Hal stood amazed.
" Such are the varieties of opinion upon all the
grand affairs of life," said Mr. Gresham, looking
at his nephews. " What amongst one set of peo-
ple you hear asserted to be absolutely necessary,
you will hear from another set of people is quite
unnecessary. All that can be done, my dear boys,
in these difficult cases, is to judge for yourselves,
which opinions, and which people, are the most
reasonable."
Hal, who had been more accustomed to think
of what was fashionable than of what was reason-
able, without at all considering the good sense of
what his uncle said to him, replied, with childish
petulance, "Indeed, sir, I don't know what other
people think ; but I only know what Lady Diana
Sweepstakes said." The name of Lady Diana
Sweepstakes, Hal thought, must impress all pres-
ent with respect : he was highly astonished when,
as he looked round, he saw a smile of contempt
upon every one's countenance ; and he was yet
further bewildered when he heard her spoken of
as a very silly, extravagant, ridiculous woman,
whose opinion no prudent person would ask upon
any subject, and whose example was to be shunned,
instead of being imitated. " Aye, my dear Hal,"
said his uncle, smiling at his look of amazement,
" these are some of the things that young people
must learn from experience. All the world do not
agree in opinion about characters : you will hear
the same person admired in one company, and
blamed in another; so that we must still come
round to the same point. Judge for yourself."
Hal's thoughts were, however, at present, too
full of the uniform to allow his judgment to act
with perfect impartiality. As soon as their visit
was over, and all the time they walked down the
hill from Prince's Buildings towards Bristol, he
continued to repeat nearly the same arguments
which he had formerly used, respecting necessity,
the uniform, and Lady Diana Sweepstakes. To
all this i\L-. Gresham made no replj' ; and longer
had the young gentleman expatiated upon the
subject, which had so strongly seized upon his im-
agination, had not his senses been forcibly assailed
at this instant by the delicious odors and tempting
sight of certain cakes and jellies in a pastry-cooks
shop. " O uncle," said he, as his uncle was going
to turn the corner to pursue the road to Bristol,
" look at those jellies ! " pointing to a confection-
er's shop. " I must buy some of those good things,
for I have got some half-pence in my pocket."
" Your having half -pence in A'our pocket is ■ an
excellent reason for eating," said Mr. Gresham,
smiling. "But I really am hungry," said Hal;
" you know, uncle, it is a good while since break-
fast."
His uncle, who was desirous to see his nephews
act without restraint, that he might judge their
characters, bid them do as they pleased.
" Come, then, Ben, if you 've any half-pence in
your pocket." " I 'm not hungry," said Ben. " I
suppose tJiat means that you 've no half-pence,"
said Hal, laughing, with the look of superiority
which he had been taught to think the rich might
assume towards those who were convicted either
of poverty or economy. " Waste not, want not,"
said Ben to himself. Contrary to his cousin's sur-
WASTE N07] WANT NOT.
351
mise, he happened to have twopenny-worth of
half-pence actually m his pocket.
At the very moment Hal stepped into the pas-
try-cook's shop, a poor, industrious man, with a
wooden leg, who usually sweeps the dirty corner
of the walk, which turns at this spot to the Wells,
held his hat to Ben, who, after glancing his eye at
the petitioner's well-worn broom, instantly pro-
duced his two-pence. " I wish I had more half-
pence for you, my good man," said he ; " but I 've
only two-pence."
Hal came out of Mr. Millar's, the confection-
er's shop, with a hatful of cakes in his hand. Mr.
Millar's dog was sitting on the flags before the
door ; and he looked up, with a wistful, begging
eye, at Hal, who was eating a queen-cake. Hal^
who was wasteful even in his good-nature, threw
a whole queen-cake to the dog, who swallowed it
for a single mouthful.
" There goes two-pence in the form of a queen-
cake," said Mr. Gresham.
Hal next offered some of his cakes to his uncle
and cousin ; but they thanked him and refused to
eat any, because, they said, they were not hungry ;
so he ate and ate, as he walked along, till at last
he stopped, and said, " This bun tastes so bad
after the queen-cakes, I can't bear it ! " and he was
going to fling it from him into the river. " Oh, it
is a pity to waste that good bun ; we may be glad
of it yet," said Ben; "give it to me, rather than
throw it away." " Why, I thought you said you
were not hungry," said Hal. " True, I am not
hungry now; but that is no reason why I should
never be hungry again." " Well, there is the cake
for you ; take it ; for it has made me sick ; and I
don't cai'e what becomes of it."
Ben folded the refuse bit of his cousin's bun in
a piece of paj^er, and put it into his pocket.
" I 'm beginning to be exceedingly tired, or
sick, or something," said Hal ; "and as there is a
stand of coaches somewhere hereabouts, had not
we better take a coach, instead of walking all the
way to Bristol ? "
" For a stout archer," said Mr. Gresham, " you
are more easily tired than one might have ex-
pected. However, with all my heart ; let us take
a coach, for Ben asked me to show him the ca-
thedral yesterday ; and I believe I should find it
rather too much for me to walk so far, though I
am not sick with eating good things."
" The cathedral ! " said Hal, after he had been
seated in the coach about a quarter of an hour,
and had somewhat recovered from his sickness, —
" the cathedral ! Why, are we only going to Bris-
tol to see the cathedral ? I, thought we came out
to see about a uniform."
There was a dullness and melancholy kind of
stupidity in Hal's countenance as he pronounced
these words, like one wakening from a dream,
which made both his uncle and cousin burst out
a-laughing.
" Why," said Hal, who was now piqued, " I 'm
sure you did say, uncle, you would go to Mr. Hall's
to choose the cloth for the uniform." " Very true,
and so I will," said Mr. Gresham ; " but we need
not make a whole morning's work, need we, of
looking at a piece of cloth ? Cannot we see a
uniform and a cathedral both in one morning ? "
They went first to the cathedral. Hal's head
was too full of the uniform to take any notice of
the painted window, which immediately caught
Ben's unembarrassed attention. He looked at the
large stained figures on the Gothic window, and
he observed their colored shadows on the floor and
walls.
Mr. Gresham, who perceived that he was eager
on all subjects to gain information, took this op-
portunity of telling him several things about the
lost art of painting on glass, Gothic arches, etc.,
which Hal thought extremely tiresome.
" Come ! come I we shall be late indeed," said
Hal ; " surely you've looked long enough, Ben, at
this blue and red window." " I 'm only thinking
about these colored shadows," said Ben. "I can
show you, when we go home, Ben," said his uncle,
" an entertaining paper upon such shadows." ^
" Hark I " cried Ben, " did you hear that noise ? "
They all listened ; and they heard a bird singing
1 Vide Priestley's History of Vision, chapter on Colored Shadows.
352
THE BOOK OF FAMILIAR STORIES.
in the cathedral. " It 's our old robin, sir," said
the lad who had opened the cathedral-door for
them.
" Yes," said Mr. Gresham, " there he is, boys,
look, — perched upon the organ ; he often sits
there, and sings, whilst the organ is playing."
" And," continued the lad who showed the cathe-
dral, " he has lived here these many, many win-
ters. The}' say he is fifteen years old ; and he is
so tame, poor fellow, that if I had a bit of bread
he 'd come down and feed in my hand." " I 've a
bit of a bun here," cried Ben, joyfully, producing
the remains of the bun which Hal but an hour be-
fore would have thrown away. " Pray, let us see
the poor robin eat out of your hand."
The lad crumbled the bun, and called to the
robin, who fluttered and chirped, and seemed re-
joiced at the sight of the bread ; but yet he did
not come down from his pinnacle on the organ.
" He is afraid of ms," said Ben ; " he is not
used to eat before strangers, I suppose."
" Ah, no, sir," said the young man, with a deep
sigh, "■ that is not the thing. He is used enough
to eat afore company. Time was he 'd have come
down for me before ever so many fine folks, an d
have ate his crumbs out of my hand at my first
call ; but, poor fellow, it 's not his fault now. He
does not know me now, sir, since my accident, be-
cause of this great black patch." The young man
put his hand to his right eye, which was covered
with a huge black patch. Ben asked what accident
he meant ; and the lad told him that, but a few
weeks ago, he had lost the sight of his eye by
the stroke of a stone, which reached him as he
was passing under the rocks at Clifton unluckily
when the workmen were blastinsr. " I don't mind
so much for myself, sir," said the lad ; '• but I can't
work so well now, as I used to do before my ac-
cident for my old mother, who has had a stroke
of the palsy ; and I 've a many little brothers
and sisters not well able yet to get their own
livelihood, though they be as willing as willing
can be."
"Where does your mother live?" said Mr.
Gresham. " Hard by, sir, just close to the church
here : it was her that always had the showing of
it to strangers, till she lost the use of her poor
limbs."
" Shall we, may we, uncle, go that way ? This
is the house; is not it?" said Ben, when they
went out of the cathedral.
They went into the house : it was rather a hovel
than a house ; but poor as it was, it was as neat
as misery could make it. The old woman was
sitting up in her wretched bed winding worsted ;
four meagre, ill-clothed, pale children were all
busy, some of them sticking pins in paper for the
pin-maker, and others soiting rags for the paper-
maker.
" What a horrid place it is ! " said Hal, sigh-
ing ; " I did not know there were such shocking
places in the world. I 've often seen terrible-look-
ing, tumble-down places, as we drove through the
town in mamma's carriage ; but then I did not
know who lived in them ; and I never saw the
inside of any of them. It is very dreadful, indeed,
to think that people are forced to live in this
way. I wish mamma would send me some more
pocket-money, that I might do something for them.
I had half-a-crown ; but," continued he, feeling in
his pockets, " I 'm afraid I spent the last shilling
of it this morning upon those cakes that made me
sick. I wish I had my shilling now, I 'd give it
to these poor people.^'
Ben, though he was all this time silent, was as
sorry as his talkative cousin for all these poor peo-
ple. But there was some difference between the
sorrow of these two boys.
Hal, after he was again seated in the hackney-
coach, and had rattled through the busy streets of
Bristol for a few minutes, quite forgot the specta-
cle of misery which he had seen ; and the gay
shops in Wine Street and the idea of his green
and white uniform wholly occupied his imagina-
tion.
" Now for our uniforms ! " cried he, as he
jumped eagei'ly out of the coach, when his uncle
stopped at the woolen-draper's door.
" Uncle," said Ben, stopping Mr. Gi-esham be-
fore he got out of the carriage, " I don't think a
WASTE NOT, WANT NOT.
363
uniform is at all necessary for me. I 'm very
much obliged to you ; but I would rather not have
one. I have a very good coat; and I think it
would be waste."
" Well, let me get out of the carriage, and we
will see about it," said Mr. Gresham ; " perhaps
the sight of the beautiful green and white cloth,
and the epaulet (have you ever considered the
epaulets ?) may tempt you to change your mind."
" Oh no," said Ben, laughing : " I shall not change
my mind."
The green cloth, and the white cloth, and the
epaulets were produced, to Hal's infinite satisfac-
tion. His uncle took up a pen, and calculated for
a few minutes ; then, showing the back of the let-
ter, upon which he was writing, to his nephews,
" Cast up these sums, boys," said he, " and tell
me whether I am right." " Ben, do you do it,"
said Hal, a little embarrassed ; " I am not quick
at figures." Ben was, and he went over his uncle's
calculation very expeditiously.
" It is right, is it ? " said Mr. Gresham. " Yes,
sir, quite right." " Then by this calculation, I
find I could, for less than half the money your
uniforms would cost, purchase for 'each of you
boys a warm great-coat, which you will want, I
have a notion, this winter upon the Downs."
" Oh, sir," said Hal, with an alarmed look ;
" but it is not winter yet ; it is not cold weather
ye.t. We shan't want great-coats yetr
" Don't you remember how cold we were, Hal,
the day before yesterday, in that sharp wind,
when we were flying our kite upon the Downs ?
and winter will come, though it is not come yet.
I am sure, I should like to have a good warm
great-coat very much."
Mr. Gresham took six guineas out of his purse ;
and he placed three of them before Hall and three
before Ben. " Young gentlemen," said he, " I be-
lieve your uniforms would come to about three
guineas apiece. Now I will lay out this money
for you just as you please. Hal, what say you ? "
Why, sir," said Hal, " a great-coat is a good
thing, to be sure ; and then, after the great-coat,
as you said it would only cost half as much as the
45
uniform, there would be some money to spare,
would not there ? " " Yes, my dear, about five-
and-twenty shillings." " Five-and-twenty shil-
lings ? I could buy and do a great many things,
to be sure, with five-and-twenty shillings; but
then, the. tJdng is, I must go without the uniform,
if I have the great-coat." " Certainly," said his
uncle. " Ah ! " said Hal, sighing, as he looked
at the epaulet, " uncle, if you would not be dis-
pleased if I choose the uniform " — " I shall not
be displeased at your choosing whatever you like
best," said Mr. Gresham.
" Well, then, thank you, sir," said Hal ; " I think
I had better have the uniform, because, if I have
not the uniform now directly, it will be of no use
to me, as the archery meeting is the week after
next, you know; and as to the great-coat, per-
haps between this time and the very cold weather,
which, perhaps, won't be till Christmas, papa will
buy a great-coat for me ; and I '11 ask mamma to
give me some pocket-money to give away, and she
will, perhaps." To all this conclusive, conditional
reasoning, which depended upon perhaps, three
times repeated, Mr. Gresham made no reply ; but
he immediately bought the uniform for Hal, and
desired that it should be sent to Lady Diana
Sweepstakes' son's tailor, to be made up. The
measure of Hal's happiness was now complete.
"And how am I to lay out the three guineas
for you, Ben ? " said Mr. Gresham ; " speak, what
do you wish for first ? " "A great-coat, uncle,
if you please." Mr. Gresham bought the coat;
and, after it was paid for, five-and-twenty shillings
of Ben's three guineas remained. " What next,
my boy ? " said his uncle. " Arrows, uncle, if
you please : three arrows." " My dear, I prom-
ised you a bow and arrows." " No, uncle, you
only said a bow." " Well, I meant a bow and
arrows. I 'm glad you are so exact, however.
It is better to claim less than more of what is
promised. The three arrows you shall have. But,
go on ; how shall I dispose of these five-and-twenty
shillings for you ? " " In clothes, if you will be
so good, uncle, for that poor boy who has the
great black patch on his eye."
354
THE BOOK OF FAMILIAR STORIES.
"I always believed," said Mr. Gresham, shak-
ing hands with Ben, " that economy and generos-
ity were the best friends, instead of being enemies,
as some silly, extravagant people would have us
think them. Choose the poor blind boy's coat,
my dear nephew, and pay for it. There 's no oc-
casion for my praising you about the matter.
Your best reward is in your own mind, child ; and
you want no other, or I 'm mistaken. Now jump
into the coach, boys, and let 's be off. We shall
be late, I 'm afraid," continued he, as the coach
drove on ; " but I must let you stop, Ben, with
your goods, at the poor boy's door."
When they came to the house, Mr. Gresham
opened the coach-door, and Ben jumped out with
his parcel under his arm.
" Stay, stay ! You must take me with you,"
said his pleased uncle ; " I like to see people made
happy, as well as you do." " And so do I too ! "
said Hal ; " let me come with you. I almost wish
my imiform was not gone to the tailor's, so I do."
And when he saw the look of delight and grati-
tude with which the poor boy received the clothes
which Ben gave him, and when he heard the
mother and children thank him, Hal sighed, and
said, "Well, I hope mamma will give me some
more pocket-money soon."
Upon his return home, however, the sight of
the famous bow and arrow, which Lady Diana
Sweepstakes had sent him, recalled to his imagi-
nation all the joys of his ^reen and white uni-
form; and he no longer \s^ished that it had not
been sent to the tailor's. " But I don't understand,
cousin Hal," said little Patty, " why you call this
bow 2i famous bow. You sz.j famous very often ;
and I don't know exactly what it means ; a, famous
uniform — famous doings. I remember you said
there are to he famous doings, the first of Septem-
ber, upon the Downs. What Ao&s famous mean ? "
"Oh, why,/amoMs means. Now don't you know
what famous means ? It means — it is a word
that people say — it is the fashion to say it — it
means — it means famous." Patty laughed, and
said, " This does not explain it to me."
" No," said Hal, " nor can it be explained : if
you don't understand it, that 's not my fault ;
everybody but little children, I suppose, under-
stands it ; but there 's no explaining those sort of
words, if you don't take them at once. There 's
to hefamoiis doings upon the Downs, the first of
September ; that is, grand, fine. In short, what
does it signify talking any longer, Patty, about
the matter ? Give me my bow, for I must go out
upon the Downs and practice."
Ben accompanied him with the bow and the
three arrows which his uncle had now given to
him ; and every day these two boys went out
upon the Downs and practiced shooting with in-
defatigable perseverance. Where equal pains are
taken, success is usually found to be pretty nearly
equal. Our two archers, by constant practice, be-
came expert marksmen ; and before the day of
trial they were so exactly matched in point of
dexterity, that it was scarcely possible to decide
which was superior.
The long-expected first of September at length
arrived. "What sort of a day is it?" was the
first question that was asked by Hal and Ben
the moment that they wakened. The sun shone
bright ! but there was a sharp and high wind.
"Ha! " said Ben, "I shall be glad of my good
great-coat to-day ; for I 've a notion it will be
rather cold upon the Downs, especially when we
are standing still, as we must, whilst all the peo-
ple are shooting." " Oh, never mind ! I don't
think I shall feel it cold at all," said Hal, as he
dressed himself in his new green and white uni-
form ; and he viewed himself with much com-
placency.
" Good - morning to you, uncle ; how do you
do ? " said he, in a voice of exultation, when he
entered the breakfast-room. How do you do ?
seemed rather to mean : How do you like me in
my uniform ? And his uncle's cool, " Verj' well,
I thank you, Hal," disappointed him, as it seemed
only to say, " Your uniform makes no difference
in my opinion of you."
Even little Patty went on eating her breakfast
much as usual, and talked of the pleasure of walk-
ing with her father to the Downs, and of all the
WASTE NOT, WANT NOT.
355
little things which interested her ; so that Hal's
epaulets were not the principal object in any one's
imagination but his own.
" Papa," said Patty, " as we go up the hill
where there is so much red mud, I must take care
to pick my way nicely ; and I must hold up my
frock, as you desired me; and perhaps you will
be so good, if I am not troublesome, to lift me
over the very bad places where there are no step-
ping-stones. My ankle is entirely well, and I 'm
glad of that, or else I should not be able to walk
so far as the Downs. How good you were to me,
Ben, when I was in pain, the day I sprained my
ankle ! you played at jack-straws, and at cat's-
cradle, with me. Oh, that puts me in mind —
here are your gloves, which I asked you that night
to let me mend. I 've been a great while about
them ; but are not they very neatly mended,
papa;
•look at the sewing."
" I am not a very good judge of sewing, my
dear little girl," said Mr. Gresham, examining
the work with a close and scrujoulous eye ; " but,
in my opinion, here is one stitch that is rather
too long. The white teeth are not quite even."
" Oh, papa, I '11 take out that long tooth in a
minute," said Patty, laughing : " I did not think
that you would have observed it so soon."
" I would not have you trust to my blindness,"
said her father, stroking her head fondly ; " I ob-
serve everything. I observe, for instance, that
you are a grateful little girl, and that you ai'e
glad to be of use to those who have been kind to
you ; and for this I forgive you the long stitch."
" But it 's out, it 's out, papa," said Patty ; " and
the next time your gloves want mending, Ben,
I '11 mend them better."
" They are very nice, I think," said Ben, draw-
ing them on ; " and I am much obliged to you.
I was just wishing I had a pair of gloves to keep
my fingers warm to-day, for I never can shoot
well when my hands are benumbed. Look, Hal,
you know how ragged these gloves were ; you
said they were good for nothing but to throw
away ; now look, there 's not a hole in them," said
he, spreading his fingers.
" Now, is it not very extraordinary," said Hal
to himself, " that they should go on so long talk-
ing about an old pair of gloves, without saying
scarcely a word about my new uniform ? Well,
the young Sweepstakes and Lady Diana will talk
enough about it ; that 's one comfort. Is not it
time to think of setting out, sir ? " said Hal to his
uncle. The company, you know, are to meet at
the Ostrich at twelve, and the race is to begin at
one, and Lady Diana's horses, I know, were or-
dered to be at the door at ten."
Mr. Stephen, the butler, here interrupted the
hurrying young gentleman in his calculations.
" There 's a poor lad, sir, below, with a great black
patch on his right eye, who is come from Bristol,
and wants to speak a word with the young gentle-
men, if you please. I told him they were just
going out with you ; but he says he won't detain
them more than half a minute."
" Show him up, show him up," said Mr. Gres-
ham.
" But, I suppose," said Hal, with a sigh, "that
Stephen mistook when he said the young gentle-
men ; he only wants to see Ben, I dare say ; I 'm
sure he has no reason to want to see me."
" Here he comes. O Ben, he is dressed in the
new coat you gave him," whispered Hal, who was
really a good-natured boy, though extravagant.
" How much better he looks than he did in the
ragged coat ! Ah ! he looked at you first, Ben —
and well he may ! "
The boy bowed, without any cringing civility,
but with an open, decent freedom in his manner,
which expressed that he had been obliged, but
that he knew his young benefactor was not think-
ing of the obligation. He made as little distinc-
tion as possible between his bows to the two cous-
ins.
" As I was sent with a message, by the clerk of
our parish, to Redland chapel out on the Downs,
to-day, sir," said he to Mr. Gresham, " knowing
your house lay in my way, my mother, sir, bid me
call and make bold to offer the young gentlemen
two little worsted balls that she has worked for
them," continued the lad, pulling out of his pocket
356
THE BOOK OF FA3fILL4.R STORIES.
two worsted balls worked in green and orange-col-
ored stripes. " They are but poor things, sir, she
bid me say, to look at ; but, considering she has
but one hand to work with, and that her left hand,
you '11 not despise 'em, we hopes." He held the
balls to Ben and Hal. " They are both alike,
gentlemen," said he. " If you '11 be pleased to
take 'em, they 're better than they look, for they
bound higher than your head. I cut' the cork
round for the inside myself, which was all I could
do."
" They are nice balls, indeed ; we are much
obliged to you," said the boys as they received
them ; and they proved them immediately. The
balls struck the floor with a delightful sound, and
rebounded higher than Mr. Gresham's head. Lit>
tie Patty clapped her hands joyfully. But now a
thundering double rap at the door was heard.
" The Master Sweepstakes, sir," said Stephen,
" are come for Master Hal. They say that all the
young gentlemen who have archery uniforms are
to walk together, in a body, I think they say, sir ;
and they are to parade along the Well Walk, they
desired me to say, sir, with a drum and fife, and
so up the hill by Prince's Place, and all to go uj)on
the Downs together, to the place of meeting. I
am not sure I 'm right, sir ; for both the young
gentlemen spoke at once, and the wind is very
high at the street-door, so that I could not well
make out all they said ; but I believe this is the
sense of it."
" Yes, yes," said Hal, eagerly, " it 's all right.
I know that is just what was s6ttled the day I
dined at Lady Diana's ; and Lady Diana and a
great party of gentlemen are to ride " —
"Well, that is nothing to the purpose," inter-
rupted Mr. Gresham. t " Don't keep these Master
Sweepstakes waiting.. Decide: do you choose to
go with them or with us?" "Sir — uncle — sir,
you know, since all the uniforms agreed to go to-
gether " — " Off with you, then, Mr. Uniform,
if you mean to go," said Mr. Gresham.
Hal ran down-stairs in such a hurry that he
forgot his bow and arrows. Ben discovered this
when he went to fetch his own ; and the lad from
Bristol, who had been ordered by Mr. Gresham to
eat his breakfast before he proceeded to Redland
chapel, heard Ben talking about his cousin's bow
and arrows. " I know," said Ben, " he will be
sorry not to have his bow with him, because here
are the green knots tied to it, to match his cock-
ade ; and he said that the boys were all to carry
their bows, as part of the show."
" If you '11 give me leave, sir," said the poor
Bristol lad, " I shall have plenty of time ; and I '11
run down to the Well Walk after the young gen-
tleman, and take him his bow and arrows."
" Will you ? I shall be much obliged to you,"
said Ben ; and away went the boy with the bow
that was ornamented with green ribbons.
The public walk leading to the Wells was full
of company. The windows of all the houses in
St. Vincent's Parade were crowded with well-
dressed ladies, who were looking out in expecta-
tion of the archery procession. Parties of gentle-
men and ladies, and a motley crowd of spectators,
were seen moving backwards and forwards, under
the rocks, on the opposite side of the water. A
barge, with colored streamers flying, was waiting
to take up a party who were going upon the water.
The bargemen rested upon their oars, and gazed
with broad faces of curiosity upon the busy scene
that appeared upon the public walk.
The archers and archeresses were now drawn
up on the flags, under the semicircular piazza just
before Mrs. Yearsley's library. A little band of
children, who had been mustered by Lady Diana
Sweepstakes' spirited exertions, closed the proces-
sion. They were now all in readiness. The
drummer only waited for her ladyship's signal ;
and the archers' corps only waited for her lady-
ship's word of command to march.
" Where are your bow and arrows, my little
man ? " said her ladyship to Hal, as she reviewed
her Lilliputian regiment. " You can't march, man,
without your arms ! "
Hal had dispatched a messenger for his forgot-
ten bow, but the messenger returned not. He
looked from side to side in great distress. " Oh,
there 's my bow coming, I declare ! " cried he : —
WASTE NOT, WANT NOT.
357
" look, I see the bow and the ribbons. Look now,
between the trees, Charles Sweepstakes, on the
Hortwell Walk ; — it is coming ! " " But you Ve
kept us all waiting a confounded time," said his
impatient friend. " It is that good-natured poor
fellow from Bristol, I protest, that has brought it
me ; I 'm sure I don't deserve it from him," said
Hal to himself, when he saw the lad with the
black patch on his eye running, quite out of
breath, towards him with his bow and arrows.
" Fall back, my good friend ; fall back," said
the military lady, as soon as he had delivered the
bow to Hal ; " I mean, stand out of the way, for
your great patch cuts no figure amongst us.
Don't follow so close, now, as if you belonged to
us, pray."
The poor boy had no ambition to partake of the
triumph ; hefell hack as soon as he understood the
meaning of the lady's words. The drum beat, the
fife played, the archers marched, the spectators
admired. Hal stepped proudly, and felt as if the
eyes of the whole universe were upon his epau-
lettes, or upon the facings of his uniform ; whilst
all the time he was considered only as part of a
show.
The walk appeared much shorter than usual,
and he was extremely sorry that Lady Diana,
when they were half-way up the hill leading to
Prince's Place, mounted her horse, because the
road was dirty, and all the gentlemen and ladies
who accompanied her followed her example.
" We can leave the children to walk, you
know," said she to the gentleman who helped her
to mount her horse. " I must call to some of them,
though, and leave orders where they are to join.
She beckoned ; and Hal, who was foremost, and
proud to show his alacrity, ran on to receive her
ladyship's orders. Now, as we have before ob-
served, it was a sharp and windy day ; and though
Lady Diana Sweepstakes was actually speaking to
him, and looking at him, he could not prevent his
nose from wanting to be blowed : he pulled out his
handkerchief, and out rolled the new ball which
had been given to him just before he left home,
and which, according to his usual careless habits.
he had stuffed into his pocket in his hurry. " Oh,
my new ball ! " cried he, as he ran after it. As
he stooped to pick it up, he let go his hat, which
he had hitherto held on with anxious care ; for
the hat, though it had a fine green and white
cockade, had no band or string round it. The
string, as we may recollect, our wasteful hero had
used in spinning his top. The hat was too large
for his head without this band ; a sudden gust of
wind blew it off. Lady Diana's horse started and
reared. She was a famous horsewoman, and sat
him to the admiration of all beholders ; but there
was a puddle of red clay and water in this spot,
and her ladyship's uniform-habit was a sufferer by
the accident. " Careless brat ! " said she, " why
can't he keep his hat upon his head ? " In the
mean time the wind blew the hat down the hill,
and Hal ran after it, amidst the laughter of his
kind friends, the young Sweepstakes, and the rest
of the little regiment. The hat was lodged, at
length, upon a bank. Hal pursued it ; he thought
this bank was hard, but, alas ! the moment he set
his foot upon it the foot sank. He tried to draw
it back ; his other foot slipped, and he fell pros-
trate, in his green and white uniform, into the
treacherous bed of red mud. His companions,
who had halted upon the top of the hill, stood
laughing spectators of his misfortune.
It happened that the poor boy with the black
patch upon his eye, who had been ordered by
Lady Diana to '■'•fall hack,''' and to '■'■keep at a dis-
tance" was now coming up the hill; and the mo-
ment he saw our fallen hero he hastened to his
assistance. He dragged poor Hal, who was a
deplorable spectacle, out of the red mud. The
obliging mistress of a lodging-house, as soon as she
understood that the young gentleman was nephew
to Mr. Gresham, to whom she had formerly let
her house, received Hal, covered as he was with
dirt.
The poor Bristol lad hastened to Mr. Gresham's
for clean stockings and shoes for Hal. He was
unwilling to give up his uniform ; it was rubbed
and rubbed, and a spot here and there was washed
out ; and he kept continually repeating, — " When
358
THE BOOK OF FAMILIAR STORIES.
it 's dry it vnll all brush off — when it 's dry it
will all brush off, won't it ? " But soon the fear
of being too late at the archery-meeting began to
balance the dread of appearing in his stained ha-
biliments ; and he now as anxiously repeated,
whilst the woman held the wet coat to the fire,
" Oh, I shall be too late : indeed, I shall be too
late ; make haste ; it will never dry ; hold it
nearer — nearer to the fire. I shall lose my turn
to shoot ; oh, give me the coat ; I don't mind how
it is, if I can but get it on."
Holding it nearer and nearer to the fire dried it
quickly, to be sure ; but it shrunk it also, so that
it was no easy matter to get the coat on again.
However, Hal, who did not see the red splashes,
which, in spite of all these operations, were too
visible upon his shoulders and upon the skirts of
his white coat behind, was pretty well satisfied to
observe that there was not one spot upon the fac-
ings. " Nobody," said he, " will take notice of
my coat behind, I dare say. I think it looks as
smart almost as ever ! " — and under this persua-
sion our young archer resumed his bow, — his
bow with green ribbons, now no more ! — and he
pursued his way to the Downs.
All his companions were far out of sight. " I
suppose," said he to his friend with the black
patch, — "I suppose my uncle and Ben had left
home before you went for the shoes and stockings
for me?" "Oh yes, sir; the butler said they
had been gone to the Downs a matter of a good
half-hour or more."
Hal trudged on as fast as he possibly could.
When he got upon the Downs, he saw numbers of
carriages, and crowds of people, all going towards
the place of meeting at the Ostrich. He pressed
forward. He was at first so much afraid of being
late, that he did not take notice of the mirth his
motley appearance excited in all beholders. At
length he reached the appointed spot. There
was a great crowd of people. In the midst he
heard Lady Diana's loud voice betting upon some
one who was just going to shoot at the mark.
" So then the shooting is begun, is it ? " said
Hal. " Oh, let me in ! pray let me into the circle !
I 'm one of the archers — I am, indeed ; don't you
see my green and white uniform ? "
" Your red and white uniform, you mean," said
the man to whom he addressed himself ; and the
people, as they opened a passage for him, could
not refrain from laughing at the mixture of dirt
and finery which it exhibited. In vain, when
he got into the midst of the formidable circle,
he looked to his friends, the young Sweepstakes,
for their countenance and support. They were
amongst the most unmerciful of the laughers.
Lady Diana also seemed more to enjoy than to
pity his confusion.
" Why could not you keep your hat upon your
head, man ? " said she, in her masculine tone.
" You have been almost the ruin of my poor uni-
form-habit ; but I 've escaped rather better than
you have. Don't stand there, in the middle of the
circle, or you '11 have an arrow in your eyes just
now, I 've a notion."
Hal looked round in search of better friends.
" Oh, where 's my uncle ? — where 's Ben ? " said
he. He was in such confusion that, amongst the
number of faces, he could scarcely distinguish one
from another ; but he felt somebody at this mo-
ment pull his elbow, and, to his great relief, he
heard the friendly voice, and saw the good-nat-
ured face of his cousin Ben.
"Come back; come behind these people," said
Ben ; " and put on my great-coat ; here it is for
you."
Right glad was Hal to cover his disgraced uni-
form with the rough great-coat which he had for-
merly despised. He pulled the stained, drooping
cockade out of his unfortunate hat ; and he was
now sufficiently recovered from his vexation to
give an intelligible account of his accident to his
uncle and Patty, who anxiously inquired what had
detained him so long, and what had been the mat-
ter. In the midst of the history of his disaster,
he was just proving to Patty that his taking the
hat-band to spin his top had nothing to do with his
misfortune, and he was at the same time endeavor-
oring to refute his uncle's opinion that the waste
of the whip-cord that tied the parcel was the orig-
WASTE NOT, WANT NOT.
359
inal cause of all his evils, when he was summoned
to try his skill with his famo%is how.
" My hands are benumbed ; I can scarcely feel,"
said he, rubbing them, and blowing upon the ends
of his fingers.
" Come, come," cried young Sweepstakes, —
" I 'm within one inch of the mark ; who '11 go
nearer, I shall like to see. Shoot away, Hal ; but
first understand our laws ; we settled them before
you came upon the green. You are to have three
shots, with your own bow and your own arrows ;
and nobody 's to borrow or lend under pretence of
other bows being better or worse, or under any
pretence. Do you hear, Hal ? "
This young gentleman had good reasons for be-
ing so strict in these laws, as he had observed that
none of his companions had such an excellent bow
as he had provided for himself. Some of the boys
had forgotten to bring more than one arrow with
them, and by his cunning regulation that each per-
son should shoot with their own arrows, many had
lost one or two of their shots.
" You are a lucky fellow ; you have your three
arrows," said young Sweepstakes. " Come, we
can't wait whilst you rub your fingers, man ; —
shoot away."
Hal was rather surprised at the asperity with
which his friend spoke. He little knew how eas-
ily acquaintance, who call themselves friends, can
change, when their interest comes in the slightest
degree in competition with their friendship. Hur-
ried by his impatient rival, and with his hands so
much benumbed that he could scarcely feel how
to fix the arrow in the string, he drew the bow.
The arrow was within a quarter of an inch of
Master Sweepstakes' mark, which was the nearest
that had yet been hit. Hal seized his second ar-
row. " If I have any luck," said he — But just
as he pronounced the word luck, and as he bent
his bow, the string broke in two, and the bow
fell from his hands.
" There, it 's all over with you ! " cried Master
Sweepstakes, with a triumphant laugh.
"Here's my bow for him, and welcome," said
Ben. " No, no, sir," said Master Sweepstakes,
" that is not fair ; that 's against the regulation.
You may shoot with your own bow, if you choose
it, or you may not, just as you think proper ; but
you must not lend it, sir."
It was now Ben's turn to make his trial. His
first arrow was not successful. His second was
exactly as near as Hal's first. " You have but one
more," said Master Sweepstakes ; " now for it ! "
Ben, before he ventured his last arrow, prudently
examined the string of his bow ; and, as he pulled
it to try its strength, it cracked. Master Sweep-
stakes clapped his hands with loud exultations and
insulting laughter. But his laughter ceased when
our provident hero calmly drew from his pocket
an excellent piece of whipcord.
" The everlasting whipcord, I declare ! " ex-
claimed Hal, when he saw that it was the very
same that had tied up the parcel. " Yes," said
Ben, as he fastened it to his bow, " I put it into
my pocket to-day on purpose, because I thought
I might happen to want it." He drew his bow
the third and last time.
" Oh, papa ! " cried little Patty, as his arrow
hit the mark, " it 's the nearest ; is it not the
nearest ? "
Master Sweepstakes, with anxiety, examined the
hit. There could be no doubt. Ben was victori-
ous ! The bow, the prize-bow, was now delivered
to him ; and Hal, as he looked at the whipcord,
exclaimed, —
" How lucky this whipcord has been to you,
Ben ! "
" It is lucky, perhaps you mean, that he took
care of it," said Mr. Gresham.
"Aye," said Hal, "very true; he might well
say, ' Waste not, want not.' It is a good thing to
have two strings to one's bow."
360
THE BOOK OF FAMILIAR STORIES.
THE DISCONTENTED PENDULUM.
BY JANE TAYLOB.
An old Clock, that had stood for fifty years in
a farmer's kitchen without giving its owner any
cause of complaint, early one summer's morning,
before the family was stirring, suddenly stopped.
Upon this the Dial-plate (if we may credit the fa-
ble) changed countenance with alarm ; the Hands
made an ineffectual effort to continue their course ;
the Wheels remained motionless with surprise ;
the Weights hung speechless. Each member felt
disposed to lay the blame on the others.
At length the Dial instituted a formal inquiry
into the cause of the stop, when Hands, Wheels,
Weights, with one voice protested their innocence.
But now a faint tick was heard from the Pendu-
lum, who thus spoke : —
"I confess myself to be the sole cause of the
present stoppage, and am willing, for the general
satisfaction, to assign my reasons. The truth is,
that I am tired of ticking." Upon hearing this,
the old Clock became so enraged that it was on
the point of striking.
" Lazy Wire ! " exclaimed the Dial-plate. " As
to that," replied the Pendulum, " it is vastly
easy for you. Mistress Dial, who have always, as
everybody knows, set yourself up above me — it is
vastly easy for you, I say, to accuse other people
of laziness — you who have nothing to do all j'our
life but to stare people in the face, and to amuse
yourself with watching all that goes on in the
kitchen. Think, I beseech you, how you would
like to be shut up for life in this dark closet, and
wag backward and forward year after year, as I
do." " As to that," said the Dial, " is there not
a window in your house on purpose for you to
look through ? "
" But what of that ? " resumed the Pendulum.
" Although there is a window, I dare not stop,
even for an instant, to look out. Besides, I am
really weary of my way of life ; and, if you please,
I '11 tell you how I took this disgust at my em-
ployment.
" This morning I happened to be calculating
how many times I should have to tick in the
course only of the next twenty-four hours — per-
haps some of you above there can tell me the ex-
act sum ? " The Minute-hand, being quick at
figures, instantly replied, " Eighty-six thousand
four hundred times." " Exactly so," replied the
Pendulum.
" Well, I appeal to you all if the thought of this
was not enough to fatigue one ? And when I be-
gan to multiply the strokes of one day by those of
months and years, really it is no wonder if I felt
discouraged at the prospect ; so, after a great deal
of reasoning and hesitation, thought I to myself,
' I '11 stop ! ' "
The Dial could scarcely keep its countenance
during this harangue ; but, resuming its gravity,
thus replied : " Dear Mr. Pendulum, I am really
astonished that such a useful, industrious person
as yourself should have been overcome by this
suggestion.
" It is true, you have done a great deal of work
in your time; so have we all, and are likely to do;
and though this may fatigue us to think of, the
question is, Will it fatigue us to do ? Would you
now do me the favor to give about half a dozen
strokes, to illustrate my argument ? " The Pen-
dulum complied, and ticked six times at its usual
pace.
" Now," resumed the Dial, " was that exertion
fatiguing to you ? " " Not in the least," replied
the Pendulum ; " it is not of six strokes that I
complain, nor of sixty, but of millions."
" Very good," replied the Dial ; " but recollect
that, although you may think of a million strokes
in an instant, you are required to execute but one ;
and that, however often you may hereafter have
THE DISCONTENTED PENDULUM.
361
to swing, a moment will always be given you to
swing in."
" That consideration staggers me, I confess,"
said the Pendulum. " Then I hope," added the
Dial-plate, " we shall all immediately return to
our duty, for the people will lie in bed till noon
if we stand idling thus."
Upon this, the Weights, who had never been
accused of light conduct, used all their influence
in urging him to proceed ; when, as with one con-
46
sent, the Wheels began to turn, the Hands began
to move, the Pendulum began to swing, and, to its
credit, ticked as loud as ever ; while a beam of the
rising sun, that streamed through a hole in the
kitchen-shutter, shining ful' upon the Dial-plate,
made it brighten up as if nothing had been the
matter.
When the farmer came down to breakfast, he
declared, upon looking at the Clock, that his
watch had gained half an hour in the night.
A VOYAGE TO LILLIPUT.
BY JONATHAN SWIFT.
CHAPTER I.
THE AUTHOR GIVES SOME ACCOUNT OP HIMSELF AND
FAMILY. — HIS FIRST INDUCEMENTS TO TRAVEL. — HE
IS SHIPWRECKED, AND SWIMS FOR HIS LIFE GETS
SAFE ON SHORE IN THE COUNTRY OF LILLIPUT. — IS
MADE A PRISONER, AND CARRIED UP THE COUNTRY.
My father had a small estate in Nottingham-
shire ; I was the third of five sons. He sent me
to Emanuel College in Cambridge, at fourteen
years old, where I resided three years, and ap-
plied myself close to my studies ; but the charge
of maintaining me, although I had a very scanty
allowance, being too great for a narrow fortune, I
was bound apprentice to Mr. James Bates, an
eminent surgeon in London, with whom I con-
tinued four years ; my father now and then send-
ing me small sums of money, I laid them out in
learning navigation, and other parts of the mathe-
matics, useful to those who intend to travel, as I
always believed it would be, some time or other,
my fortune to do. When I left Mr. Bates, I went
down to my. father; where, by the assistance of
him and my uncle John, and some other relations,
I got forty pounds, and a promise of thirty pounds
a year to maintain me at Leyden ; there I studied
physic two years and seven months, knowing it
would be useful in long voyages. Soon after my
return from Leyden, I was recommended by my
good master, Mr. Bates, to be surgeon to the
Swallow, Captain Abraham Pannell, commander ;
■with whom I continued three years and a half,
making a voyage or two into the Levant, and
some other parts. When I came back I resolved
to settle in London ; to which Mr. Bates, my
master, encouraged me, and by him I was recom-
mended to several patients. I took part of a small
house in the Old Jewry ; and being advised to al-
ter my condition, I married Miss Mary Burton,
second daughter to Mr. Edmund Burton, hosier, in
Newgate Street, with whom I received four hun-
dred pounds for a portion.
But my good master Bates dying in two years
after, and I having few friends, my business be-
began to fail ; for my conscience would not suffer
me to imitate the bad practice of too many among
my brethren. Having, therefore, consulted with
my wife and some of my acquaintance, I deter-
mined to go again to sea. I was surgeon succes-
sively in two ships, and made several voyages, for
six years, to the East and West Indies, by which I
got some addition to my fortune. My hours of
leisure I spent in reading the best authors, ancient
and modern, being always provided with a good
number of books ; and when I was ashore, in ob-
serving the manners and dispositions of the people,
as well as learning their language ; wherein I had
a great facility, by the strength of my memory.
The last of these voyages not proving very fort-
unate, I grew weary of the sea, and intended to
stay at home with my wife and family. I re-
moved from the Old Jewry to Fetter Lane, and
from thence to Wapping, hoping to get business
among the sailors, but it would not turn to ac-
count. After thi-ee years' expectation that things
would mend, I accepted an advantageous offer
from Captain William Prichard, master of the An-
telope, who was making a voyage to the South
Sea. We set sail from Bristol, May 4, 1699, aiad
our voyage at first was very prosperous.
It would not be proper, for some reasons, to
A VOTAGE TO LILLIPUT.
363
trouble the reader with the particulars of our ad-
ventures in those seas ; let it suffice to inform
him, that in our passage from thence to the East
Indies, we were
driven by a vio-
lent storm to the
northwest of Van
Diemen's Land.
By an observa-
tion, we found
ourselves in the
latitude of thirty
degrees, two
minutes south.
Twelve of our
crew were dead
by immoderate
labor and ill
food ; the rest
were in a very
weak condition.
On the 5th of
November, which
was the begin-
ning of summer
in those parts,
the weather be-
ing very hazy,
the seamen spied
a rock within
half a cable's
length of the
ship, but the
wind was so
strong that w e
were driven di-
rectly upon it,
and immediately
split. Six of the
crew, of whom I
was one, having
let down the boat into the sea, made a shift to
get clear of the ship and the rock. We rowed, by
my computation, about three leagues, till we were
able to work no longer, being already spent with
s«
..4^^^
^
Blefiifcu
ILiiIliput,
DLrcovered,AJ).i69^ .
labor while we were in the ship. We therefore
trusted ourselves to the mercy of the waves, and
in about half an hour the boat was overset by a
s u d d e n flurry
from the north.
What became of
my companions
in the boat, as
well as of those
who escaped on
the rock, or were
left in the vessel,
I cannot tell, but
conclude they
were all lost.
For my own
part, I- swam as
fortune di-
rected me, and
was pushed for-
ward by wind
and tide. I
often let my
legs drop, and
could feel n o
bottom; but
when I was al-
most gone, and
able to struggle
no longer, I
found myself
within my depth,
and by this time
the storm was
much abated.
The declivity
was so small
that I walked
near a mile be-
fore I got to the
shore, which I
conjectured was about eight o'clock in the evening.
I then advanced forward near half a mile, but
could not discover any sign of houses or inhab-
itants : at least I was in so weak a condition that
364
A VOYAGE TO LILLIPUT.
I did not observe them. I was extremely tired,
and with that, and the heat of the weather, and
about half a pint of brandy that I drank as I left
the ship, I found myself much inclined to sleep.
I lay down on the grass, which was very short
and soft, where I slept sounder than ever I re-
membered to have done in my life, and, as I reck-
oned, about nine hours ; for when I awaked it
was just daylight. I attempted to rise, but was
not able to stir ; for, as I happened to lie on my
back, I found my arms and legs were strongly
fastened on each side to the ground ; and my hair,
which was long and thick, tied down in the same
manner. I likewise felt several slender ligatures
across my body, from my arm-pits to my thighs. I
could only look upwards ; the sun began to grow
hot, and the light offended my eyes, I heard a
confused noise about me ; but in the posture I
lay could see nothing except the sky. In a little
time I felt something alive moving on my left leg,
which, advancing gently forward over my breast,
came almost up to my chin ; when bending my
eyes downward as much as I could, I perceived
it to be a human creature not six inches high,
with bow and arrow in his hands, and a quiver
at his back. In the mean time, I felt at least
forty more of the same kind (as I conjectured)
following the first. I was in the utmost astonish-
ment, and roared so loud that they all ran back in
fright ; and some of them, as I was afterwards
told, were hurt by the falls they got by leaping
from my sides upon the ground. However, they
soon returned, and one of them, who ventured so
far as to get a full sight of my face, lifting up his
hands and eyes by way of admiration, cried out
in a shrill but distinct voice, Hekinah degul !
The others repeated the same words several times,
but then I knew not what they meant.
I lay all this while, as the reader may believe,
in great uneasiness ; at length, struggling to get
loose, I had the fortune to break the strings, and
wrench out tlie pegs that fastened my left arm to
the ground, for, by lifting it up to my face, I dis-
covered the methods they had taken to bind me,
and at the same time with a violent pull, which
gave me excessive pain, I a little loosened the
strings that tied down my hair on the left side,
so that I was just able to turn my head about two
inches. But the creatures ran off a second time,
before I could seize them ; whereujDon there was
a great shout in a very shrill accent, and after it
had ceased I heard one of them cry aloud, Tolgo
phonac ; when in an instant I felt above a hun-
dred arrows discharged on my left hand, which
pricked me like so many needles ; and besides
they shot another flight into the air, as we do
bombs in Europe, whereof many, I suppose, fell
on my body (though I felt them not), and some
on my face, which I immediately covered with
my left hand. When this shower of arrows was
over, I fell a groaning with grief and pain, and
then striving again to get loose, they discharged
another volley larger than the first, and some of
them attempted with spears to stick me in the
sides ; but by good luck I had on me a buff jerkin,
which they could not pierce. I thought it the
most prudent method to lie still, and my design
was to continue so till night, when, my left hand
being already loose, I could easily free myself:
and as for the inhabitants, I had reason to believe
I might be a match for the greatest army they
could bring against me, if they were all of the
same size with him that I saw. But fortune dis-
posed otherwise of me. When the people observed
I was quiet, they discharged no more arrows ;
but, by the noise I heard, I knew their numbers
increased ; and about four yards from me, over
against my right ear, I heard a knocking for
above an hour, like that of people at work ; when
turning my head that way, as well as the pegs
and strings would permit me, I saw a stage erected
about a foot and a half from the ground, capable
of holding four of the inhabitants, with two or
three ladders to mount it : from whence one of
them, who seemed to be a person of quality, made
me a long speech, whereof I understood not one
syllable. But I should have mentioned, that be-
fore the principal person began his oration, he
cried out three times, Langro dehul san (these
words and the former were afterwards repeated
A VOYAGE TO LILLIPUT.
365
and explained to me). Whereupon, immediately
about fifty of the inhabitants came and cut the
string that fastened the left side of my head,
which gave me the liberty of turning it to the
right, and of observing the person and gesture of
him that was to speak. He appeared to be of
middle age, and taller than any of the other three
who attended him, whereof one was a page that
held up his train, and seemed to be somewhat
longer than my middle finger ; the other two stood
one on each side to support him. He acted every
part of an orator, and I could observe many pe-
riods of threatenings, and others of promises, pity,
and kindness. I answered in a few words, but in
the most submissive manner, lifting up my left
hand and both my eyes to the sun, as calling him
for a witness ; and being almost famished with
hunger, not having eaten a morsel for some hours
before I left the ship, I found the demands of
nature so strong upon me that I could not forbear
showing my impatience (perhaps against the strict
rules of decency) by putting my finger frequently
to my mouth, to signify that I wanted food. The
hurgo (for so they call a great lord, as I afterwards
learned) understood me veiy well. He descended
from the stage, and commanded that several lad-
ders should be applied to my sides, on which above
a hundred of the inhabitants mounted, and walked
towards my mouth, laden with baskets full of
meat, whicli had been provided and sent thither
by the king's orders, upon the first intelligence he
received of me. I observed there was the flesh
of several animals, but could not distinguish them
by the taste. There were shoulders, legs, and
loins, shaped like those of mutton, and very well
dressed, but smaller than the wings of a lark. I
ate them by two or three at a mouthful, and took
three loaves at a time about the bigness of musket-
bullets. They supplied me as fast as they could,
showing a thousand marks of wonder and aston-
ishment at my bulk and appetite.
I then made another sign that I wanted drink.
They found by my eating that a small quantity
would not suffice me ; and being a most ingenious
people, they slung up, with great dexterity, one
of their largest hogsheads, then rolled it towards
my hand, and beat out the top ; I drank it off at
a draught, which I might well do, for it did not
hold half a pint, and tasted like a small wine
of Bui'gundy, but much more delicious. They
brought me a second hogshead, which I drank in
the same manner, and made signs for more : but
they had none to give me. When I had per-
formed these wonders they shouted for joy, and
danced upon my breast, repeating several times as
they did, at first, Hehinah degul. The)' made me
a sign that I should throw down the two hogs-
heads, but first warning the people below to stand
out of the way, crying aloud, Borach mevolah;
and when they saw the vessels in the air there
was a universal shout of Mekinah degul. I confess
I was often tempted, while they were passing
backwards and forwards on my body, to seize
forty or fifty of the first that came in my reach
and dash them against the ground. But the re-
membrance of what I had felt, which probably
might not be the worst they could do, and the
promise of honor I made to them — for so I in-
terpreted my submissive behavior — soon drove
out these imaginations. Besides, I now consid-
ered myself as bound by the laws of hospitality
to a people who had treated me with so much ex-
pense and magnificence. However, in my thoughts
I could not sufficiently wonder at the intrepidity
of these diminutive mortals, who dui'st venture to
mount and walk upon my body while one of my
hands was at liberty, without trembling at the
very sight of so prodigious a creature as I must
appear to them. After some time, when they ob-
served that I made no more demands for meat,
there appeared before me a person of high rank
from his imperial majesty. His excellency, hav-
ing mounted on the small of my right leg, ad-
vanced forwards up to my face, with about a
dozen of his retinue, and producing his credentials
under the signet royal, which he applied close to
my eyes, spoke about ten minutes without any
signs of anger, but with a kind of determined
resolution ; often pointing forwards, which, as I
afterwards found, was towards the capital city,
366
A VOYAGE TO LILLIPUT.
about half a mile distant, whither it was agreed
by his majesty in comicil that I must be conveyed.
I answered in few words, but to no purpose, and
made a sign with my hand that was loose, putting
it to the other (but over his excellency's head for
fear of hurting him or his train) and then to my
own head and body, to signify that I desired my
liberty.
It appeared that he understood me well enough,
for he shook his head by way of disapprobation,
and held his hands in a posture to. show that I
must be carried as a prisoner. However, he made
other signs, to let me understand that I should
have meat and drink enough, and very good treat-
ment. Whereupon I once more thought of at-
tempting to break my bonds ; but again, when I
felt the smart of their arrows upon my face and
hands, which were all in blisters, and many of the
darts still sticking in them, and observing likewise
that the number of my enemies increased, I gave
tokens to let them know that they might do with
me what they pleased. Upon this, the hurgo and
his train withdrew, with much civility and cheer-
ful countenances. Soon after I heard a general
shout, with frequent repetitions of the words, Pep-
lom seldm ; and I felt great numbers of people on
my left side relaxing the cords to such a degree
that I was able to turn upon my right. But, be-
fore this, they had daubed my face and both my
hands with a sort of ointment, very pleasant to
the smell, which, in a few minutes, removed all
the smart of their arrows. These circumstances,
added to the refreshment I had received by their
victuals and drink, which were very nourishing,
disposed me to sleep. I slept about eight hours,
as I was afterwards assured ; and it was no won-
der, for the physicians, by the emperor's order,
had mingled a sleepy potion in the hogsheads of
wine.
It seems that upon the first moment I was dis-
covered sleeping on the ground, after my landing,
the emperor had early notice of it by an express ;
and determined in council that I should be tied
in the manner I have related (which was done in
the night while I slept), that plenty of meat and
drink should be sent to me, and a machine pre-
pared to carry me to the capital city. This reso-
lution perhaps may appear very bold and danger-
ous, and I am confident would not be imitated by
any prince in Europe on the like occasion. How-
ever, in my opinion, it was extremely prudent, as
well as generous : for, supposing these people had
endeavored to kill me with their spears and ar-
rows, while I was asleep, I should certainly have
awaked with the first sense of smart, which might
have so far aroused my rage and strength as to
have enabled me to break the strings wherewith I
was tied ; after which, as they were not able to
make resistance, so they could expect no raei'cy.
These people are most excellent mathemati-
cians, and arrived to a great perfection in mechan-
ics by the countenance and encouragement of the
emperor, who is a renowned patron of learning.
This prince has several machines fixed on wheels,
for the carriage of trees and other great weights.
He often builds his largest men-of-war, whereof
some are nine feet long, in the woods whei'e the
timber grows, and has them carried on these en-
gines three or four hundred yards to the sea.
Five hundred carpenters and engineers were im-
mediately set at work to prepare the greatest , en-
gine they had. It was a frame of wood raised
three inches from the ground, about seven feet long
and four wide, moving upon twenty-two wheels.
The shout I heard was upon the arrival of this en-
gine, which, it seems, set out in four hours after
my landing. It was brought parallel to me, as I
lay. But the principal difficulty was to raise and
place me in this vehicle. Eighty poles, each of
one foot high, were erected for this purpose, and
very strong cords, of the bigness of packthread,
were fastened by hooks to many bandages, whicb
the workmen had girt round my neck, my hands,
my body, and my legs. Nine hundred of the
strongest men were employed to draw up these
cords, by many pulleys fastened on the poles ; and
thus, in less than three hours, I was raised and
slung into the engine, and there tied fast. All
this I was told ; for, while the operation was per-
forming, I lay in a profound sleep, by the force of
A VOYAGE TO LILLIPUT.
367
that soporiferous medicine infused into my liq-
uor. Fifteen hundred of the emperor's largest
horses, each about four inches and a half high,
were employed to draw me towards the metrop-
olis, which, as I said, was half a mile distant.
About four hours after we began our journey, I
awaked by a very ridiculous accident ; for the car-
riage being stopped a while, to adjust something
that was out of order, two or three of the young
natives had the curiosity to see how I looked
when I was asleep ; they climbed up into the en-
gine, and advancing very softly to my face, one of
them, an officer in the guards, put the sharp end
of his half-pike a good way up into my left nos-
tril, which tickled my nose like a straw, and made
me sneeze violently ; whereupon they stole ofJ, un-
perceived, and it was three weeks before I knew
tlie cause of my awaking so suddenly. We made
a long march the remaining part of the day, and
rested at night with five hundred guards on each
368
A VOYAGE TO LILLIPUT.
side of me, half with torches, and half with bows
and arrows, ready to shoot me if I should ofEer to
stir. The next morning, at sunrise, we continued
our march, and arrived within two hundred yards
of the city gates about noon. The emperor, and
all his court, came out to meet us ; but his great
officers would by no means suffer his majesty to
endanger his person by mounting on my body.
At the place where the carriage stopped there
stood an ancient temple, esteemed to be the larg-
est in the whole kingdom, which, having been pol-
luted some years before by an unnatural murder,
was, according to the zeal of those people, looked
upon as profane, and therefore had been applied
to common use, and all the ornaments and furni-
ture carried away. In this edifice it was deter-
mined I should lodge. The great gate, fronting
to the north, was about four feet high, and almost
two feet wide, through which I could easily creep.
On each side of the gate was a small window, not
above six inches from the ground ; into that on the
left side the king's smith conveyed fourscore and
eleven chains, like those that hang to a lady's
watch in Europe, and almost as large, which were
locked to my left leg with six-and-thirty padlocks.
Over against this temple, on the other side of the
great highway, at twenty feet distance, there was
a turret at least five feet high. Here the emperor
ascended, with many princij)al lords of his court,
to have an ojiportunity of viewing me, as I was
told, for I could not see them. It was reckoned
that above an hundred thousand inhabitants came
out of the town upon the same errand ; and, in
spite of my guards, I believe there could not be
fewer than ten thousand, at several times, who
mounted my body, by the help of ladders. But
a proclamation was soon issued, to forbid it, upon
pain of death. When the workmen found it was
impossible for me to break loose, they cut all the
strings that bound me ; whereupon I rose up, with
as melancholj' a disposition as ever I had in my
life. But the noise and astonishment of the people,
at seeing me rise and walk, are not to be expressed.
The chains that held my left leg were about two
yards long, and gave me not only liberty of walk-
ing backwards and forwards in a semicircle, but,
being fixed within four inches of the gate, allowed
me to creep in, and lie at my full length in the
temple.
CHAPTER II.
THE EMPEROR OF LILLIPUT, ATTENDED BY SEVERAL OF
THE NOBILITY, COMES TO SEE TUE AUTHOR IN HIS
CONFINEMENT. — THE EMPEROR'S PERSON AND HABITS
DESCRIBED. — LEARNED MEN APPOINTED TO TEACH THE
AUTHOR THEIR LANGUAGE. — HE GAINS FAVOR BY HIS
MILD DISPOSITION. — HIS POCKETS ARE SEARCHED, AND
HIS SWORD AND PISTOLS TAKEN FROM HIM.
When I found myself on my feet, I looked
about me, and must confess I never beheld a more
entertaining prospect. The country around ap-
peared like a continued garden, and the inclosed
fields, which were generally forty feet square, re-
sembled so many beds of flowers. These fields
were intermingled with woods of half a stang^ and
the tallest trees, as I could judge, appeared to
be seven feet high. I viewed the town on my
left hand, which looked like the painted scene of a
city in a theatre
The emperor was already descending from the
tower, and advancing on horseback towards me,
which had like to have cost him dear ; for the
beast, though very well trained, yet wholly un-
used to such a sight, which appeared as if a mount-
ain moved before him, reared up on his hinder
feet : but that prince, who is an excellent horse-
man, kept his seat, till his attendants ran in, aud
held the bridle, while his majesty had time to
dismount. When he alighted, he surveyed me
round with great admiration ; but kept beyond the
length of my chain. He ordered his cooks and but-
lers, who were already prepared, to give me victuals
and drink, which they pushed forwai'd in a sort of
vehicles upon wheels, till I could reach them. I
took these vehicles, and soon emptied them all :
twenty of them were filled with meat, and ten
with liquor ; each of the former afforded me two
or three good mouthfuls ; and I emptied the liquor
of ten vessels, which was contained in earthen vials,
1 A stang is a pole or perch ; sixteen feet and a half.
A VOYAGE TO LILLIPUT.
369
into one vehicle, drinking it off at a draught ; and
so I did with the rest. The empress and young
princes of the blood of both sexes, attended by
many ladies, sat at some distance in their chairs :
but, upon the accident that happened to the em-
peror's horse, they alighted, and came near his
person, which I am now going to describe. He
is taller, by almost the breath of my nail, than
any of his court ; which alone is enough to strike
an awe into the beholders. His features are strong
and masculine, with an Austrian lip, and arched
nose ; his complexion olive, his countenance erect,
his body and limbs well proportioned, all his
motions graceful, and his deportment majestic.
He was then past his prime, being twenty-eight
years and three quarters old, of which he had
reigned about seven in great felicity, and gener-
ally victorious. For the better convenience of
beholding him, I lay on my side, so that my face
was parallel to his, and he stood but three yards
off : however I have had him since many times in
my hand, and therefore cannot be deceived in the
description. His dress was very plain and simple,
and the fashion of it between the Asiatic and the
European ; but he had on his head a light helmet
of gold, adorned with jewels, and a plume on the
crest. He held his sword drawn in his hand to
defend himself, if I should happen to bi'eak loose :
it was almost three inches long ; the hilt and scab-
bard were gold enriched with diamonds. His voice
was shrill, but very clear and articulate ; and I
could distinctly hear it when I stood up. The
ladies and courtiers were all most magnificently
clad ; so that the spot they stood upon seemed to
resemble a petticoat spread on the ground, em-
broidei'ed with figures of gold and silver. His im-
perial majesty spoke often to me, and I returned
answers : but neither of us could understand a
syllable. There were several of his priests and
lawyers present (as I conjectured by their hab-
its), who were commanded to address themselves
to me ; and I spoke to them in as many languages
as I had the least smattering of, which were High
and Low Dutch, Latin, French, Spanish, Italian,
and Lingua Franca ; but all to no purpose. After
47
about two hours the court retired, and I was left
with a strong guard, to prevent the impertinence,
and probably the malice, of the rabble ; who were
very impatient to crowd about me as near as they
durst ; and some of them had the impudence to
shoot their arrows at me, as I sat on the ground
by the door of my house, whereof one very nar-
rowly missed my left eye. But the colonel ordered
six of the ringleaders to be seized, and thought
no punishment so proper as to deliver them bound
into my hands ; which some of his soldiers ac-
cordingly did, pushing them forwards with the
butt-ends of their pikes into my reach. I took
them all in my right hand, put five of them into
my coat-pocket, and as to the sixth, I made a
countenance as if I would eat him alive. The
poor man squalled terribly, and the colonel and
his officers were in much pain, especially when
they saw me take out my penknife ; but I soon
put them out of fear ; for, looking mildly, and im-
mediately cutting the sti-ings he was bound with,
I set him gently on the ground and away he ran.
I treated the rest in the same manner, taking them
one by one out of my pocket ; and I observed
both the soldiers and people were highly delighted
at this mark of ray clemency, which was repre-
sented very much to my advantage at court.
Towards night I got with some difficulty into
my house, where I lay on the ground, and con-
tinued to do so about a fortnight ; during which
time, the emperor gave orders to have a bed pre-
pared for me. Six hundred beds of the common
measure were brought in carriages, and worked
up in my house ; a hundred and fifty of their beds,
sewn together, made up the breadth and length ;
and these were four double ; which, however, kept
me but very indifferently from the hardness of
the floor, that was of smooth stone. By the same
computation they provided me with sheets, blan-
kets, and coverlets, tolerable enough for one who
had been so long inured to hardships.
As the news of my arrival spread through the
kingdom, it brought prodigious numbers of rich,
idle, and curious people to see me ; so that the
villages were almost emptied ; and great neglect
370
A VOYAGE TO LILLIPUT.
of tillage and household affairs must have ensued,
if his imperial majesty had not provided by sev-
eral proclamations and orders of state, against
this inconvenieney. He directed that those who
had already beheld me should return home, and
not presume to come within fifty yards of my
house, without license from the court ; whereby
the secretaries of state got considerable fees.
In the mean time the emperor held frequent
councils, to debiite what course should be taken
with me ; and I was afterwards assured by a par-
ticular friend, a person of great quality, who was
as much in the secret as any, that the court was
imder man}^ difficulties concerning me. They ap-
prehended my breaking loose ; that my diet would
be very expensive, and might cause a famine.
Sometimes they determined to starve me, or at
least to shoot me in the face and hands with poi-
soned arrows, which would soon dispatch me ; but
again they considered that the stench of so large a
carcass might produce a plague in the metropolis
and probably spread through the whole kingdom.
In the midst of these consultations, several officers
of the army went to the door of the great council-
chamber, and two of them being admitted, gave
an account of my behavior to the six criminals
above mentioned ; which made so favorable an
impression in the breast of his majesty and the
whole board, in my behalf, that an imperial com-
mission was issued out, obliging all the villages
nine hundred yards round the city to deliver in
every morning six beeves, forty sheep, and other
victuals for my sustenance ; together with a pro-
portionable quantity of bread, and wine and other
liquors ; for the due payment of which his majesty
gave assignments upon his treasury — for this
prince lives chiefly upon his own demesnes : sel-
dom, except upon great occasions, raising any sub-
sidies upon his subjects, who are bound to attend
him in his wars at their own expense. An estab-
lishment was also made of six hundred persons to
be my domestics, who had board-wages allowed
for their maintenance, and tents built for them
very conveniently on each side of my door. It
was likewise ordered that three hundred tailors
should make me a suit of clothes, after the fashion
of the country ; that six of his majesty's greatest
scholars should be employed to instruct me in
their language ; and lastly, that the emperor's
horses, and those of the nobility and troops of
guards, should be frequently exercised in my
sight, to accustom themselves to me. All these
orders were duly put in execution ; and in about
three weeks I made great progress in learning
their language : during which time the emperor
frequently honored me with his visits, and was
pleased to assist my masters in teaching me. We
began already to converse together in some sort ;
and the first words I learned, were to express my
desire " that he would be pleased to give me my lib-
erty ;" which I every day repeated on my knees.
His answer, as I could apprehend it, was " that
this must be a work of time, not to be thought on
without the advice of his council, and that first I
must lumos Jcelmin pesso desmar Ion emposo ; "
that is, swear a peace with him and his kingdom :
however, that I should be used with all kindness :
and he advised me " to acquire by my patience and
discreet behavior the good opinion of himself and
his subjects." He desired " I would not take it
ill, if he gave orders to certain proper officers to
search me ; for probably I might caiTy about me
several weapons, which must needs be dangerous
things, if they answered the bulk of so prodigious
a person." I said, "His majestj- should be satis-
fied ; for I was ready to strip myself, and turn up
my pockets before him." This I delivered, part
in words, and part in signs. He replied, " that,
by the laws of the kingdom, I must be searched
by two of his officers ; that he knew this could not
be done without my consent and assistance ; and
he had so good an opinion of my generosity and
justice as to trust their persons in my hands ; that
whatever they took from me should be returned
when I left the country, or paid for at the rate
which I would set upon them." I took up the two
officers in my hands, put them first into my coat-
pockets, and then into every other pocket about
me, except my two fobs and another secret pocket,
which I had no mind should be searched, wherein
A VOYAGE TO LILLIPUT.
371
I had some little necessaries that were of no con-
sequence to any but myself. In one of my fobs
there was a silver watch, and in the other a small
quantity of gold in a purse. These gentlemen,
having pen, ink, and paper about them, made an
exact inventory of everything they saw ; and
when they had done, desired I would set them
down, that they might deliver it to the em-
peror. This inventory I afterwards translated
into English, and is word for word as follows : —
" Imprimis, In the right coat-pocket of the great
Man-mountain ( for so I interpret the words quin-
bus flestrin), after the strictest search, we found
only one great piece of coarse cloth, large enough
to be a foot-cloth for your majesty's chief room of
state. In the left pocket we saw a huge silver
chest, with a cover of the same metal, which we,
the searchers, were not able to lift. We desired
it should be opened, and one of us stepping into
it, found himself up to the mid-leg in a sort of
dust, some part whereof flying up to our faces, set
us both a-sneezing for several times togethei". In
his right waistcoat pocket we found a jorodigious
bundle of white thin substances, folded one over
another, about the bigness of three men, tied with
a strong cable, and marked with black figures ;
which we humbly conceive to be writings, every
letter almost half as large as the palm of our
hands. In the left there was a sort of engine,
from the back of which were extended twenty
long poles, resembling the palisadoes before your
majesty's court ; wherewith we conjecture the
Man-mountain combs his head, for we did not al-
ways trouble him with questions, because we
found it a great difficulty to make him understand
us. In the large pocket on the right side of his
middle cover (so I translate ranfu-lo, by which
they meant my breeches), we saw a hollow pillar
of iron, about the length of a man, fastened to a
strong piece of timber larger than the pillar ; and
upon one side of the pillar were huge pieces of
iron sticking out, cut into strange figures, which
we know not what to make of. In the left pocket
another engine of the same kind. In the smaller
pocket on the right side, were several round flat
pieces of white and red metal, of different bulk ;
some of the white, which seemed to be silver,
were so large and heavy that my comrade and I
could hardly lift them. In the left pocket were
two black pillars irregularly shaped : we could
not, without difficulty, reach the top of them as we
stood at the bottom of his pocket. One of them
was covered, and seemed all of a piece ; but at
the upper end of the other there appeared a white
round substance, about twice the bigness of our
heads. Within each of these was inclosed a pro-
digious plate of steel ; which, by our orders, we
obliged him to show us, because we apprehended
they might be dangerous engines. He took them
out of their cases, and told us, that in his own
country his practice was to shave his beard with
one of these, and cut his meat with the other.
There were two pockets which we could not enters
these he called his fobs ; they were two large slits
cut into the top of his middle cover, but squeezed
close by the pressure of his belly. Out of the
right fob hung a great silver chain, with a wonder-
ful kind of engine at the bottom. We directed
him to draw out whatever was at the end of that
chain, which appeared to be a globe, half silver,
and half of some transparent metal ; for, on the
transparent side we saw certain strange figures
circularly drawn, and thought we could touch
them, till we found our fingers stopped by that
lucid substance. He put this engine to our ears,
which made an incessant noise, like that of a wa-
ter-mill : and we conjecture it is either some un-
known animal, or the god that he worships ; but
we are more inclined to the latter opinion, because
he assured us (if we understood him right, for he
expressed himself very imperfectly) that he seldom
did anything without consulting it. He called it
his oracle, and said it pointed out the time for
every action of his life. From the left fob he
took out a net almost large enough for a fisher-
man, but contrived to open and shut like a purse,
and served him for the same use : we found therein
several massy pieces of yellow metal, which, if
they be real gold, must be of immense value.
" Having thus, in obedience to your majesty's
372
A VOYAGE TO LILLIPUT.
commands, diligently searched all his pockets, we
observed a girdle about his waist, made of the
hide of some prodigious animal, from which, on
the left side, hung a sword of the length of five
men ; and on the right, a bag, or pouch, divided
into two cells, each cell capable of holding three
of your majesty's subjects. In one of these cells
were several globes, or balls, of a most ponderous
metal, about the bigness of our heads, and re-
quired a strong hand to lift them : the other cell
contained a heap of certain black grains, but of
no great bulk or weight, for we could hold above
fifty of them in the palms of our hands.
"This is an exact inventory of what we found
about the body of the Man-mountain, who used us
with great civility, and due respect to your maj-
esty's commission. Signed and sealed on the
fourth day of the eighty-ninth moon of your maj-
esty's auspicious reign : —
" CLEFRm Frelock.
" Mabsi Frelock."
When the inventory was read over to the em-
peror, he directed me, although in very gentle
terms, to deliver up the several particulars. He
first called for my scimitar, which I took out,
scabbard and all. In the mean time he ordered
three thousand of his choicest troops (who then
attended him) to surround me at a distance, with
their bows and arrows just ready to discharge ;
but I did not observe it, for mine eyes were wholly
fixed upon his majesty. He then desired me to
draw my scimitar, which, although it had got
some rust by the sea-water, was in most parts,
exceeding bright. I did so, and immediately all
the troops gave a shout between terror and sur-
prise ; for the sun shone clear, and the reflection
dazzled their eyes as I waved the scimitar to and
fro in my hand. His majesty, who is a most
magnanimous prince, was less daunted than I
could expect : he ordered me to return it into the
scabbard, and cast it on the ground as gently as I
could, about six feet from the end of my chain.
The next thing he demanded was one of the hol-
low iron pillars ; by which he meant my pocket
pistols. I drew it out, and at his desire, as well as
I could, expressed to him the use of it ; and charg-
ing it only with powder, which, by the closeness
of my pouch happened to escape wetting in the sea
(an inconvenience against which all prudent mar-
iners take special care to provide), I first cautioned
the emperor not to be afraid, and then I let it off
in the air. The astonishment here was much
greater than at the sight of the scimitar. Hun-
dreds fell down as if they had been struck dead ;
and even the emperor, although he stood his
ground, could not recover himself for some time.
I delivered up both my pistols in the same man-
ner as I had done my scimitar, and then my pouch
of powder and bullets ; begging him that the for-
mer might be kept from fire, for it would kindle
with the smallest spai'k, and blow up his imperial
palace into the air. I likewise delivered up my
watch, which the emperor was very curious to see,
and commanded two of his tallest yeomen of the
guards to bear it on a pole upon their shoulders,
as draymen in England do a barrel of ale. He
was amazed at the continual noise it made, and
the motion of the minute-hand, which he could
easily discern ; for their sight is much more acute
than ours : he asked the opinion of his learned
men about it, which wei-e various and remote, as
the reader may well imagine without my repeat-
ing ; although, indeed, I could not very perfectly
understand them. I then gave up my silver and
copper money, my purse with nine large pieces of
gold, and some smaller ones ; my knife and razor,
my comb and silver snuff-box, my handkerchief
and journal-book. My scimitar, pistols, and pouch,
were conveyed in carriages to his majesty's stores ;
but the rest of my goods were returned me.
I had, as I before observed, one private pocket,
which escaped their search, wherein there was a
pair of spectacles (which I sometimes use for the
weakness of mine eyes), a pocket perspective, and
some other little conveniences ; which, being of no
consequence to the emperor, I did not think my-
self bound in honor to discover, and I apprehended
they might be lost or spoiled if I ventured them
out of my possession.
A VOYAGE TO LILLIPUT.
373
CHAPTER ni.
THE AUTHOR DIVERTS THE EMPEROR, AND HIS NOBILITY
OF BOTH SEXES, IN A VERY UNCOMMON MANNER. — THE
DIVERSIONS OF THE COURT OF LILLIPUT DESCRIBED. —
THE AUTHOR HAS HIS LIBERTY GRANTED HIM UPON
CERTAIN CONDITIONS.
My gentleness and good behavior had gained
so far on the emperor and his court, and indeed
upon the army and people in general, that I began
to conceive hopes of getting my liberty in a short
time. I took all possible methods to cultivate
this favorable disposition. The natives came by
degrees to be less apprehensive of any danger
from me. I would sometimes lie down, and let
five or six of them dance on ray hand ; and at
last the boys and girls would venture to come and
play at hide-and-seek in my hair. I bad now
made a good progress in understanding and speak-
ing the language. The emperor had a mind one
day to entertain me with several of the country
shows, wherein they exceeded all nations I have
known, both for dexterity and magnificence. I
was diverted with none so much as that of the
rope-dancers, performed upon a slender white
thread, extended about two feet, and twelve inches
from the ground. Upon which I shall desire lib-
erty, with the reader's patience, to enlarge a lit-
tle.
This diversion is only practiced by those persons
who are candidates for great employments and
high favor at court. They are ti'ained in this art
from their youth, and are not always of noble
birth, or liberal education. When a great office
is vacant, either by death or disgrace (which often
happens), five or six of these candidates petition
the emperor to entertain his majesty and the court
with a dance on the rope ; and whoever jumps
the highest without falling, succeeds in the office.
Very often the chief ministers themselves are com-
manded to show their skill, and to convince the
emperor that they have not lost their faculty.
Flimnap, the treasurer, is allowed to cut a caper
on the straight rope, at least an inch higher than
any other lord in the whole empire. I have seen
him do the summerset several times together upon
a trencher fixed on a rope which is no thicker than
a common packthread in England. My friend
Reldresal, principal secretary for private affairs, is
in my opinion, if I am not partial, the second after
the treasurer ; the rest of the great officers are
much upon a par.
These diversions are often attended with fatal
accidents, whereof great numbers are on record.
I myself have seen two or three candidates break
a limb. But the danger is much greater when
the ministers themselves are commanded to show
their dexterity ! for, by contending to excel them-
selves and their fellows, they strain so far that
there is hardly one of them who has not received
a fall, and some of them two or three. I was as-
sured that, a year or two before my arrival, Flim-
nap would infallibly have broke his neck, if one
of the king's cushions, that accidentally lay on
the ground, had not weakened the force of his
fall.
There is likewise another diversion, which is
only shown before the emperor and empress, and
the first minister, upon particular occasions. The
emperor lays on the table three fine silken threads
of six inches long ; one is blue, the other red, and
the third green. These threads are proposed as
prizes for those persons whom the emperor has a
mind to distinguish by a peculiar mark of his fa-
vor. The ceremony is performed in his majesty's
great chamber of state, where the candidates are
to undergo a trial of dexterity, very different from
the former, and such as I have not observed the
least resemblance of in any other country of the
new or old world. The emperor holds a stick in
his hands, both ends parallel to the horizon, while
the candidates advancing, one by one, sometimes
leap over the stick, sometimes creep under it, back-
ward and forward, several times, according as the
stick is advanced or depressed. Sometimes the
emperor holds one end of the stick, and the fii'st
minister the other; sometimes the minister has it
entirely to himself. Whoever performs his part
with the most agility, and holds out the longest in
leaping and creeping, is rewarded with the blue-
colored silk ; the red is given to the next, and the
374
A VOYAGE TO LILLIPUT.
green to the third, which they all wear girt twice
round about the middle; and you see few great
persons about this court who are not adorned with
one of these girdles.
The horses of the army, and those of the royal
stables, having been daily led before me, were no
longer shy, but would come up to my very feet
without starting. The riders would leap them
over my hand, as I held it on the ground ; and one
of the emperor's huntsmen, upon a large courser,
took my foot, shoe and all ; which was indeed a
prodigious leap. I had the good fortune to divert
the emperor one day after a very extraordinary
manner. I desired he would order several sticks
of two feet high, and the thickness of an ordinary
cane, to be brought me ; whereupon his majesty
commanded the master of his woods to give direc-
tions accordingly ; and the next morning six wood-
men arrived with as many carriages, drawn by
eight horses to each. I took nine of these sticks,
and fixing them firmly in the ground in a quad-
rangular figure, two feet and a half square, I took
four other sticks and tied them parallel at each cor-
ner, about two feet from the ground ; then I fast-
ened my liandkerchief to the nine sticks that stood
erect ; and extended it on all sides, till it was tight
as the top of a drum ; and the four parallel sticks,
rising about five inches higher than the handker-
chief, served as ledges on each side. When I had
finished my work, I desired the emperor to let a
troop of the best horse, twenty-four in number,
iome and exercise upon this plain. His majesty
approved of the proposal, and I took them up one
by one, in my hands, ready mounted and armed,
with the proper ofiicers to exercise them. As soon
as they got into order, they divided into two par-
ties, performed mock skirmishes, discharged blunt
arrows, drew their swords, fled and pursued, at-
tacked and retired, and, in short, discovered the
best military discipline I ever beheld. The par-
allel sticks secured them and their horses from
falling over the stage ; and the emperor was so
much delighted, that he ordered this entertainment
to be repeated several days, and once was pleased
to be lifted up, and give the word of command ;
and, with great difficulty, persuaded even the em-
press herself to let me hold her in her close chair
within two yards of the stage, when she was able
to take a full view of the whole performance. It
was my good fortune, that no ill accident hap-
pened in these entertainments ; only once a fiery
horse, that belonged to one of tlie captains, paw-
ing with his hoof, struck a hole in my handker-
chief, and his foot slipping, he overthi-ew his rider
and himself ; but I immediately relieved them
both, and covering the hole with one hand, I set
down the troop with the other, in the same man-
ner as I took them up. The horse that fell was
sti'ained in the left shoulder, but the rider got
no hurt ; and I repaired my handkerchief as well
as I could : however, I would not trust to the
strength of it any more, in such dangerous enter-
prises.
About two or three days before I was set at lib-
erty, as I was entertaining the court with this
kind of feats, there arrived an express to inform
his majesty that some of his subjects, riding near
the place where I was first taken up, had seen a
great black substance lying on the ground, very
oddly shaped, extending its edges round, as wide
as his majesty's bed-chamber, and rising up in the
middle as high as a man ; that it was no living
creature, as they at first apprehended, for it lay on
the grass without motion, and some of them had
walked round it several times ; that, by mounting
upon each other's shoulders, they had got to the
top, which was flat and even, and stamping upon
it, they found that it was hollow within ; that
they humbly conceived it might be something be-
longing to the Man-mountain ; and if his majesty
pleased, they would undertake to bring it with
only five horses. I presently knew what they
meant, and was glad at heart to receive this intel-
ligence. It seems, upon my first reaching the
shore after our shipwreck, I was in such confusion,
that before I came to the place where I went to
sleep, my hat, which I had fastened with a string
to my head while I was rowing, and had stuck on
all the time I was swimming, fell off after I came
to land ; the string, as I conjecture, breaking by
A VOYAGE TO LILLIPUT.
375
some accident, which I had never observed, but
thought my hat had been lost at sea. I entreated
his imperial majesty to give orders it might be
brought to me as soon as possible, describing to
him the use and the nature of it ; and the next day
the wagoners arrived with it, but not in a very
good condition ; they had bored two holes in the
brim, within an inch and a half of the edge, and
fastened two hooks in the holes, these hooks were
tied by a long cord to the harness, and thus my
hat was dragged along for above half an English
mile ; but the ground in that country being ex-
tremely smooth and level, it received less damage
than I expected.
Two days after this adventure, the emperor,
having ordered that part of his army which quar-
ters in and about his metropolis, to be in readi-
ness, took a fancy of diverting himself in a singu-
lar manner. He desired that I would stand like a
colossus, with my legs as far asunder as I conven-
iently could. He then commanded his general
(who was an old experienced leader, and a great
patron of mine) to draw up the troops in close
order, and march them under me ; the foot by
twenty-four in a breast, and the horse by sixteen,
with drums beating, colors flying, and pikes ad-
vanced. This body consisted of three thousand
foot, and a thousand horse.
I had sent so many memorials and petitions for
my liberty that his majesty at length mentioned
the matter, first in the cabinet, and then in a full
council; where it was opposed by none, except
Skyresh Bolgolam, who was pleased, without any
provocation, to be my mortal enemy. But it was
carried against him by the whole board, and con-
firmed by the emperor. That minister was galbet,
or admiral of the realm, very much in his master's
confidence, and a person well versed in affairs, but
of a morose and sour complexion. However, he
was at length persuaded to comply, but prevailed
that the articles and conditions upon which I
should be set free, and to which I must swear,
should be drawn up by himself. These articles
were brought to me by Skyresh Bolgolam in
person, attended by two under-secretaries and
several persons of distinction. After they were
read, I was demanded to swear to the performance
of them, first, in the manner of my own country,
and afterward in the method prescribed by their
laws, which was, to hold my right foot in my left
hand, and to place the middle finger of my right
hand on the crown of my head, and my thumb on
the tip of my right ear. But because the reader
may be curious to have some idea of the style and
manner of expression peculiar to that people, as
well as to know the articles upon which I recov-
ered my liberty, I have made a translation of the
whole instrument, word for word, as near as I was
able, which I here offer to the public.
GOLBASTO MOMAHEM EVLAME GuEDILO
Shefin Mully Ully Gue, most mighty em-
peror of Lilliput, delight and terror of the uni-
verse, whose dominions extend five thousand hlus-
trugs (about twelve miles in circumference) to the
extremities of the globe ; monarch of all mon-
arcbs, taller than the sons of men ; whose feet
press down to the centre, and whose head strikes
against the sun ; at whose nod the princes of the
earth shake their knees ; pleasant as the spring,
comfortable as the summer, fruitful as autumn,
dreadful as winter. His most sublime Majesty
proposes to the Man-mountain, lately arrived at
our celestial dominions, the following articles,
which, by a solemn oath, he shall be obliged to
perform : —
I. The Man-mountain shall not depart from our
dominions, without our license under our great
seal.
II. He shall not presume to come into our me-
tropolis without our express order ; at which time,
the inhabitants shall have two hours' warning to
keep within doors.
III. The said Man-mountain shall confine his
walks to our principal high-roads, and not offer
to walk or lie down in a meadow or field of
corn.
IV. As he walks the said roads, he shall take
the utmost care not to trample upon the bodies of
any of our loving subjects, their horses or carriages.
376
A VOYAGE TO LILLIPUT.
nor take any of our subjects into his hands with-
out their own consent.
V. If an express requires extraordinary dis-
patch, the Man-mountain shall be obliged to carry,
in his pocket, the messenger and horse a six days'
journey once in every moon, and return the said
messenger back (if so required) safe to our im-
perial presence.
VI. He shall be our ally against our enemies in
the island of Blefuscu, and do his utmost to de-
stroy their fleet, which is now preparing to in-
vade us.
VII. That the same Man-mountain shall, at his
time of leisure, be aiding and assisting to our
workmen, in helping to raise certain great stones,
towards covering the wall of the principal park,
and other royal buildings.
VIII. That the said Man-mountain shall in two
moons' time, deliver in an exact survey of the
circumference of our dominions, by a computation
of his own paces round the coast.
Lastly^ That, upon his solemn oath to observe
the above articles, the said Man-mountain shall
have a daily allowance of meat and drink sufficient
for the support of 1724 of our subjects, with free
access to our royal person, and other marks of our
favor. Given at our palace at Belfaborac, the
twelfth day of the ninety-first moon of our reign.
I swore and subscribed to these articles with
great cheerfulness and content, although some of
them were not so honorable as I could have
wished ; which proceeded wholly from the malice
of Skyresh Bolgolam, the high-admiral ; where-
upon my chains were immediately unlocked, and I
was at full liberty. The emperor himself, in
person, did me the honor to be by at the whole
ceremony. I made my acknowledgments by
prostrating myself at his majesty's feet ; but he
commanded me to rise ; and after many gracious
expressions, which to avoid the censure of vanity
I shall not repeat, he added, " that he hoped I
should prove a useful servant, and well deserve all
the favors he had already conferred upon me, or
might do for the future."
The reader may please to observe, that in the
last article of the recovery of my liberty, the em-
peror stipulates to allow me a quantity of meat
and drink sufficient for the support of 1724 Lilli-
putians. Some time after, asking a friend at
court how they came to fix on that determined
number, he told me that his Majesty's mathe-
maticians, having taken the height of my body
by the help of a quadrant, and finding it to ex-
ceed theirs in the proportion of twelve to one,
they concluded from the similarity of their bodies,
that mine must contain at least 1724 of theirs,
and consequently would require as much food as
was necessary to support that number of Lillipu-
tians. By which the reader may conceive an
idea of the ingenuity of that people, as well as
the prudent and exact economy of so great a
prince.
CHAPTER IV.
MILDENDO, THE METROPOLIS OF LILLIPUT, DESCRIBED,
TOGETHER WITH THE EMPEROR's PALACE. — A CONVER-
SATION BETWEEN THE AUTHOR AND A PRINCIPAL SEC-
RETARY, CONCERNING THE AFFAIRS OF THAT EMPIRE.
— THE AUTHOR OFFERS TO SERVE THE EMPEROR IN HIS
WARS.
The first request I made after I had obtained
my liberty was, that I might have license to see
Mildendo, the metropolis ; which the emperor
easily granted me, but with a special charge to do
no hurt either to the inhabitants or their houses.
The people had notice, by proclamation, of my
design to visit the town. The wall, which com-
passed it, is two feet and a half high, and at least
eleven inches broad, so that a coach and horses
may be driven very safely round it ; and it is
flanked with strong towers at ten feet distance.
I stepped over the great western gate, and passed
very gently and sidling through the two princi-
pal streets, only in my short waistcoat, for fear
of damaging the roofs and eaves of the houses with
the skirts of my coat. I walked with the utmost
circumspection, to avoid treading on any strag-
glers who might remain on the streets ; although
the orders were very strict, that all the people
should keep in their houses at their own peril.
A VOYAGE TO LILLTPUT.
377
The garret windows and tops of houses were so
crowded with spectators, that I thought in all my
travels I had not seen a more populous place.
The city is an exact square, each side of the wall
being five hundred feet long. The two great
streets, which run across and divide it into four
quarters, are five feet wide. The lanes and alleys,
which I could not enter, but viewed them as I
passed, are from twelve to eighteen inches. The
town is capable of holding five hundred thousand
souls : the houses are from three to five stories :
the shops and markets well provided.
The emperor's palace is in the centre of the
city, where the two great streets meet. It is in-
closed by a wall of two feet high, and twenty feet
distance from the buildings. I had his majesty's
permission to step over this wall ; and the space
being so wide between that and the palace, I
could easily view it on every side. The outward
court is a square of forty feet, and includes two
other courts ; in the inmost are the royal apart-
ments, which I was very desii'ous to see, but found
it extremely difficult ; for the great gates, from
one square into another, were but eighteen inches
high and seven inches wide. Now the buildings
of the outer court were at least five feet high, and
it was impossible for me to stride over them with-
out infinite damage to the pile, though the walls
were strongly built of hewn stone, and four inches
thick. At the same time the emperor had a great
desire that I should see the magnificence of his pal-
ace ; but this I was not able to do till three days
after, which I spent in cutting down with my
knife some of the largest trees in the royal park,
about a hundred yards distance from the city.
Of these trees I made two stools, each about three
feet high, and strong enou.gh to bear my weight.
The people having received notice a second time,
I went again through the city to the palace with
my two stools in my hands. When I came to the
side of the outer court, I stood iipon one stool and
took the other in my hand ; this I lifted over the
roof, and gently set it down on the space between
the first and second court, which was eight feet
wide. I then stepped over the building very con-
48
veniently from one stool to the other, and drew
up the first after me with a hooked stick. By
this contrivance I got into the inmost court ;
and, lying down upon my side, I applied my face
to the windows of the middle stories, which were
left open on purpose, and discovered the most
splendid apartments that can be imagined.
There I saw the empress and the young princes,
in their several lodgings, with their chief attend-
ants about them. Her imperial majesty was
pleased to smile very graciously upon me, and gave
me out of the window her hand to kiss.
But I shall not anticipate the reader with further
descriptions of this kind, because I reserve them
for a greater work, which is now almost ready for
the press ; containing a general description of "this
empire, from its first erection, thi'ough a long se-
ries of princes ; with a particular account of their
wars and politics, laws, learning and religion ;
their plants and animals ; their peculiar manners
and customs, with other matters very curious and
useful ; my chief design at present being only to
relate such events and transactions as happened
to the public or to myself during a residence of
about nine months in that empire.
One morning, about a fortnight after I had ob-
tained my liberty, Reldresal, principal secretary
(as they style him) for private affairs, came to
my house attended only by one servant. He or-
dered his coach to wait at a distance, and desired
I would give him an hour's audience ; which I
readily consented to, on account of his quality
and personal merits, as well as of the many good
offices he had done me during my solicitations at
court. I offered to lie down that he might the
more conveniently reach my ear ; but he chose
rather to let me hold him in my hand during our
conversation. He began with compliments on my
liberty ; said " he might pretend to some merit
in it ; " but however added, " that if it had not
been for the present situation of things at court,
perhaps I might not have obtained it so soon.
For," said he, " as flourishing a condition as we
may appear to be in to foreigners, we labor under
two mighty evils ; a violent faction at home, and
378
A VOYAGE TO LILLIPUT.
the danger of an invasion, by a most potent
enemy, from abroad. As to the first, you are to
understand, that for above seventy moons past
there Iiave been two struggling parties in this em-
pire, under tlie names of Tramecksan and Slameck-
sa?i, from the high and low heels of their shoes,
by which they distinguish themselves. It is al-
leged, indeed, that the high-heels are most agree-
able to our ancient constitution ; but, however this
be, his majesty has determined to make use only
of low heels in the administration of the govern-
ment, and all offices in the gift of the crown, as
you cannot but observe : and particularly that his
majesty's imperial heels are lower at least by a
drurr than any of bis court (drurr is a measure
about the fourteenth part of an inch). The ani-
mosities between these two parties run so high,
that they will neither eat nor drink nor talk with
each other. We compute the Tramecksan, or
high heels, to exceed us in number ; but the power
is wholly on our side. We apprehend his impe-
rial highness, the heir to the crown, to have some
tendency towards the high heels ; at least, we can
plainly discover that one of his heels is higher
than the other, which gives him a hobble in his
gait. Now, in the midst of these intestine dis-
quiets, we are threatened with an invasion from
the island of Blefuscu, which is the other great
empire of the universe, almost as large and power-
ful as this of his majesty. For as to what we have
heai'd you affirm, that there are other kingdoms
and states in the world inhabited by human creat-
ures as large as yourself, our philosophers are in
much doubt, and would rather conjecture that you
dropped from the moon, or one of the stars ; be-
cause it is certain that a hundred mortals of your
bulk would in a short time destroy all the fruits
and cattle of his majesty's dominions : besides, our
histories of six thousand moons make no mention
of any other regions than the two great empires
of Lilliput and Blefuscu. Which two mighty
powers have, as I was going to tell you, been en-
gaged in a most obstinate war for six-and-thirty
moons past. It began upon the following occa-
sion : it is allowed on all hands, that the primi-
tive way of breaking eggs, before we eat them,
was upon the larger end ; but his present maj-
esty's grandfather, while he was a boy, going to
eat an egg, and breaking it according to the an-
cient practice, happened to cut one of his fingers ;
whereupon the emperor, his father, published an
edict, commanding all his subjects, upon great
penalties, to break the smaller ends of their eggs.
The people so highly resented this law, that our
histories tell us there have been six rebellions
raised on that account ; wherein one emperor lost
his life, and another his crown. These civil com-
motions were constantly fomented by the mon-
archs of Blefuscu ; and when they were quelled,
the exiles always fled for refuge to that empire.
It is computed that eleven thousand persons have
at several times suffered death rather than sub-
mit to break their eggs at the smaller end. Many
hundred large volumes have been published upon
this controversy ; but the books of the Big-endians
have been long forbidden, and the whole pai'ty
rendered incapable by law of holding employ-
ments. During the course of these troubles, the
emperors of Blefuscu did frequently expostulate
by their ambassadors, accusing us of making a
schism in religion by offending against a funda-
mental doctrine of our great prophet Lustrog, in
the fifty-fourth chapter of the Blundecral, which
is their Alcoran. This, however, is thought to
be a mere strain upon the text ; for the words are
these : that all true believers break their eggs at
the convenient end ; and which is the convenient
end seems, in my humble opinion, to be left to
every man's conscience, or at least in the power
of the chief magistrate to determine.
" Now, the Big-endian exiles have found so
much credit in the emperor of Blefuscu's court,
and so much private assistance and encouragement
from their party here at home, that a bloody war
has been carried on between the two empires for
six-and-thirty moons, with various success ; dur-
ing which time we have lost forty capital ships,
and a much greater number of smaller vessels,
together with thirty thousand of our best seamen
and soldiers ; and the damage received by the
A VOYAGE TO LILLIPUT.
379
enemy is reckoned to be somewhat greater than
ours. However, they have now equipped a nu-
merous fleet, and are just preparing to make a de-
scent upon us; and his imperial majesty, placing
great confidence in your valor and strength, has
commanded me to lay this account of his affairs
before you."
I desired the secretary to present my humble
duty to the emperor ; and to let him know " that
I thought it would not become me, who was a
foreigner, to interfere with parties ; but I was
ready, with the hazard of my life, to defend his
person and state against all invaders."
CHAPTER V.
THE AUTHOR, BY AN EXTRAORDINARY STRATAGEM, PRE-
VENTS AN INVASION. — A HIGH TITLE OF HONOR IS
CONFERRED UPON HIM.. — AMBASSADORS ARRIVE FROM
THE EMPEROR OF BLEFUSCU, AND SUE FOR PEACE.
The empire of Blefuscu is an island situated to
the northeast of Lilliput, from which it is parted
only by a channel of eight hundred yards wide.
I had not yet seen it, and upon this notice of an
intended invasion, I avoided appearing on that
side of the coast, for fear of being discovered by
some of the enemy's ships, who had received no in-
telligence of me ; all intercourse between the two
empires having been strictly forbidden during the
war, upon pain of death, and an embargo laid by
our emperor upon all vessels whatsoever. I com-
municated to Jiis majesty a project I had formed
of seizing the enemy's whole fleet ; which, as our
scouts assured us, lay at anchor in the harbor,
ready to sail with the first fair wind. I consulted
the most experienced seamen upon the depth of
the channel, which they had often plumbed ; who
told me, that in the middle, at high water, it was
seventy glumghiffs deep, which is about six feet of
European measure ; and the rest of it fiftj^ glum-
ghiffs at most. I walked towards the northeast
coast, over against Blefuscu : where, lying down
behind a hillock, I took out my small perspective
glass, and viewed the enemy's fleet at anchor, con-
sisting of about fifty men-of-war, and a great num-
ber of transports : I then came back to my house,
and gave orders (for which I had a warrant) for
a great quantity of the strongest cable and bars of
iron. The cable was about as thick as packthread,
and the bars of the length and size of a knitting-
needle. I trebled the cable to make it stronger,
and for the same reason, I twisted three of the iron
bars together, bending the extremities into a hook.
Having thus fixed fifty hooks to as many cables, I
went back to the northeast coast, and putting off
my coat, shoes, and stockings, walked into the sea
in my leathern jerkin, about half an hour before
high water. I waded with what haste I could,
and swam in the middle about thirty yards, till I
felt ground. I arrived at the fleet in less than half
an hour. The enemy were so frighted when they
saw me, that they leaped out of their ships, and
swam to shore, where there could not be fewer
than thirty thousand souls : I then took my tack-
ling, and fastening a hook to the hole at the prow
of each, I tied all the cords together at the end.
While I was thus employed, the enemy discharged
several thousand arrows, many of which stuck in
my hands and face ; and, besides the excessive
smart, gave me much disturbance in my work.
My. greatest apprehension was for mine eyes,
which I should have infallibly lost, if I had not
suddenly thought of an expedient. I keiJt, among
othei' little necessaries, a pair of spectacles in a
private pocket, which, as I observed before, had
escaped the emperor's searchers. These I took
out and fastened as strongly as I could upon my
nose, and thus armed, went on boldly with my
work, in spite of the enemy's arrows, many of
which struck against the glasses of my spectacles,
but without any other effect, farther than a little
to discompose them. I had now fastened all the
hooks, and taking the knot in my hand, began to
pull ; but not a ship would stir, for thej' were all
too fast held by their anchors, so that the boldest
part of my enterprise remained. I therefore let go
the cord, and leaving the hooks fixed to the ships,
I resolutely cut with my knife the cables that fast-
ened the anchors, receiving about two hundred
arrows in my face and hands ; then I took up the
380
A VOYAGE TO LILLIPUT.
knotted end of the cables, to which my hooks were
tied, and with great ease drew fifty of the enemy's
largest men-of-war after me.
The Blefuscudians, who had not the least imag-
ination of what I intended, were at first con-
founded with aston- ~jj^
ishment. They had ^ _
seen me cut the ca-
bles, and thought
my design was only
to let the ships run
adrift, or fall foul
on each other ; but
when they perceived
the whole fleet mov-
ing in order, and
saw me pulling at
the end, they set up
such a scream of
grief and despair as
it is almost impos-
sible to describe or
conceive. When I
had got out of dan-
ger, I stopped
a while to pick out
the arrows that
stuck in my hands
and face; and
rubbed on some of
the same ointment
that was given me
at my first arrival,
as I have formerly
mentioned. I then
took off my specta-
cles, and waiting
about an hour till
the tide was a little
fallen, I waded
through the middle with my cargo, and arrived
safe at the royal port of Lilliput.
The emperor and his whole court stood on the
shore, expecting the issue of this great adventure.
They saw the ships move forward in a large half-
moon, but could not discern me, who was up to
my breast in water. When I advanced to the
middle of the channel, they were yet more in pain,
because I was under water to my neck. The em-
peror concluded me to be drowned, and that the
enemy's fleet was
approaching in a
hostile manner : but
he was soon eased
of his fears ; for the
channel growing
shallower every step
I made, I came in
a short time within
hearing, and hold-
ing up the end of
the cable, by which
the fleet was fast-
ened, I cried in a
loud voics, " Long
live the most puis-
sant king of Lilli-
put! " This great
prince received me
at my landing with
all possible encomi-
ums, and created me
a itardac upon the
spot, which is the
highest title of hon-
or among them.
His majesty de-
sired I would take
some other oppor-
tunity of bringing
all the rest of his
enemy's ships into
his ports. And so
un measurable is the
ambition of princes,
that he seemed to think of nothing less than re-
ducing the whole empire of Blefuscu into a prov-
ince, and governing it by a viceroy ; of destroying
the Big-endian exiles, and compelling that people
to break the smaller end of their eggs, by which he
A VOYAGE TO LILLIPUT.
381
would remain the sole monarch of the whole world.
But I endeavored to divert him from this design,
by many arguments drawn from the topics of
policy as well as justice ; and I plainly protested
" that I would never be an instrument of bringing
a free and brave people into slavery ; " and when
the matter was debated in council, the wisest part
of the ministry were of my 023inion.
This open, bold declaration of mine was so op-
posite to the schemes and politics of his imperial
majesty, that he could never forgive me. He
mentioned it in a very artful manner at council,
where I was told that some of the wisest appeared
at least, by their silence, to be of my opinion ; but
others, who were my secret enemies, could not
forbear some expressions which by a side wind re-
flected on me ; and from this time began an in-
trigue between his majesty, and a junto of minis-
ters, maliciously bent against me, which broke out
in less than two months, and had like to liave
ended in my utter destruction. Of so little weight
are the greatest services to princes, when put into
the balance with a refusal to gratify their pas-
sions.
About three weeks after this exploit there ar-
rived a solemn embassy from Blefuscu, with hum-
ble offers of a peace ; which was soon concluded,
upon conditions very advantageous to our emperor,
wherewith I shall not trouble the reader. There
were six ambassadors with a train of about five
hundred persons ; and their entry was very mag-
nificent, suitable to the grandeur of their master
and the importance of their business. When their
treaty was finished, wherein I did them several
good offices by the credit I now had, or at least
appeared to have, at court, their excellencies, who
were privately told how much I had been their
friend, made me a visit in form. Tbey began
with many compliments upon my valor and gen-
erosity, invited me to that kingdom in the em-
peror their master's name, and desired me to show
them some proof of my prodigious strength, of
which they had heard so many wonders ; wherein
I readily obliged them, but shall not trouble the
reader with the particulars.
When I had for some time entertained their
excellencies, to their infinite satisfaction and sur-
prise, I desired they would do me the honor to
present my most humble respects to the emperor
their master, the renown of whose virtues had so
justly filled the whole world with admiration,
and whose royal person I resolved to attend before
I returned to my own country. Accordingly, the
next time I had the honor to see our emperor, I
desired his general license to wait on the Blefus-
cudian monarch, which he was pleased to grant
me, as I could perceive, in a very cold manner;
but could not guess the reason, till I had a whisper
from a certain person, " that Flimnap and Bolgo-
1am had represented my intercourse with those
ambassadors as a mark of disaffection ; " from
which I am sure my heart was wholly free. And-
this was the first time I began to conceive some
imperfect idea of courts and ministers.
It is to be observed, that these ambassadors
spoke to me by an interpreter, the languages of
both empires differing as much from each other
as any two in Europe, and each nation priding
itself upon the antiquity, beauty, and energy of
their own tongues, with an avowed contempt for
that of their neighbor : yet our emperor, standing
upon the advantage he had got by the seizure of
their fleet, obliged them to deliver their creden-
tials, and make their speech, in the Lilliputian
tongue. And it must be confessed, that from the
great intercourse of trade and commerce between
both realms, from the continual reception of exiles
which is mutual among them, and from the cus-
tom, in each empire, to send their young nobility
and richer gentry to the other, in order to polish
themselves by seeing the world, and understand-
ing men and manners ; there are few persons of
distinction, or merchants, or seamen, who dwell
in the maritime parts, but what can hold conver-
sation in both tongues ; as I found some weeks
after, when I went to pay my respects to the em-
peror of Blefuscu, which, in the midst of great
misfortunes, through the malice of my enemies,
proved a very happy adventure to me, as I shall
relate in its proper place.
382
A VOYAGE TO LILLIPUT.
CHAPTER VI.
OF THE INHABITANTS OF LILLIPUT ; THEIR LEARNING,
LAWS, AND CUSTOMS ; THE MANNER OF EDUCATING
THEIR CHILDREN. THE AUTHOR'S WAY OF LIVING
IN THAT COUNTRY.
Although I intend to leave the description of
this empire to a particular treatise, yet, in the
mean time, I am content to gratify the curious
reader with some general ideas. As the common
size of the natives is somewhat under six inches
high, so there is an exact proportion in all other
animals, as well as plants and trees : for instance,
the tallest horses and oxen are between four and
five inches in height, the sheep an inch and a half,
more or less ; their geese about the bigness of a
sparrow, and so the several gradations downwards,
till you come to the smallest, which to my sight
vrere almost invisible ; but nature has adapted
the eyes of the Lilliputians to all objects proper
for their view; they see with great exactness,
but at no great distance. And to show the sharp-
ness of their sight towards objects that are near,
I have been much pleased with observing a cook
pulling a lark, which was not so large as a com-
mon fly ; and a young girl threading an invisible
needle with invisible silk.
Their tallest trees are about seven feet high : I
mean some of those in the great royal park, the
tops whereof I could but just reach with my fist
clinched. The other vegetables are in the same
proportion ; but this I leave to the reader's imag-
ination.
I shall say but little at present of their learning,
which for many ages has flourished in all its
branches among them ; but their manner of writ-
ing is very peculiar, being neither from the left to
the right, like the Europeans ; nor from the right
to the left, like the Arabians ; nor from up to
down, like the Chinese ; but aslant, from one cor-
ner of the paper to the other, like ladies in Eng-
land.
They bury their dead with their heads directly
downward, because they hold an opinion that in
eleven thousand moons they are all to rise again ;
in which period the earth (which they conceive to
be flat) will turn upside down, and by this means
they shall, at their resurrection, be found ready
standing on their feet. The learned among them
confess the absurdity of this doctrine ; but the
practice still continues, in compliance to the vul-
gar.
There are some laws and customs in this empire
very peculiar ; and if they were not so directly
contrary to those of my own dear country, I should
be tempted to say a little in their justification. It
is only to be wished they were as well executed.
The first I shall mention, relates to informers.
All crimes against the state are punished here
with the utmost severitj^ ; but if the person ac-
cused makes his innocence plainly to appear upon
his trial, the accuser is immediately put to an
ignominious death ; and out of his goods or lands
the innocent person is quadruply recompensed for
the loss of his time, for the danger he underwent,
for the hardship of his imprisonment, and for all
the charges he has been at of making his defense ;
or, if that fund be deficient, it is largely supplied
by the crown. The emperor also confers on him
some public mark of his favor, and proclamation is
made of his innocence through the whole city.
They look upon fraud as a greater crime than
theft, and therefore seldom fail to punish it with
death ; for they allege that care and vigilance,
with a very common understanding, may preserve
a man's goods from thieves, but honesty has no
fence against superior cunning ; and since it is
necessary that there should be a perpetual inter-
course of buying and selling, and dealing upon
credit, where fraud is permitted and connived at,
or has no law to punish it, the honest dealer is al-
ways undone, and the knave gets the advantage. I
remember, when I was once interceding with the
king for a criminal who had wronged his master
of a great sum of money, which he had received
by order, and ran away with ; and happening to
tell his majesty by way of extenuation, that it was
only a breach of trust, the emperor thought it
monstrous in me to offer as a defense the gi'eatest
aggravation of the crime ; and truly I had little
to say in return, further than the common answer,
A VOYAGE TO LILLIPUT.
883
that different nations had different customs ; for,
I confess I was heartily ashamed.
Although we usually call reward and punish-
ment the two hinges upon which all government
turns, yet I could never obsei've this maxim to be
put in practice by any nation, except that of
Lilliput. Whoever can there bring sufficient proof
that he has strictly observed the laws of his coun-
try for seventy-three moons, has a claim to certain
privileges, according to his quality and condition
of life, with a proportionable sum of money out of
a fund appropriated for that use : he likewise ac-
quires the title of snilpall, or legal, which is added
to his name, but does not descend to his posterity.
And these jDsople thought it a prodigious defect of
policy among us, when I told them that our laws
were enforced only by penalties, without any men-
tion of reward. It is upon this account that the
image of Justice, in their courts of judicature, is
formed with six eyes, two before, as many behind,
and on each side one, to signify circumspection ;
with a bag of gold open in her right hand, and a
sword sheathed in her left, to show she is more
disposed to reward than to punish.
In choosing persons for all employments, they
have more regard to good morals than to great
abilities ; for, since government is necessary to
mankind, they believe that the common size of
human understanding is fitted to some station or
other ; and that Providence never intended to make
the management of public affairs a mystery to be
comprehended only by a few persons of sublime
genius, of which there seldom are three born in an
age : but they suppose truth, justice, temperance,
and the like, to be in every man's power ; the
practice of which virtues, assisted by experience
and a good intention, would qualify any man for
the service of his country, except where a course
of study is required. But they thought the want
of moral virtues was so far from being supplied by
superior endowments of the mind, that employ-
ments could never be put into such dangerous
hands as those of persons so qualified ; and at
least, that the mistakes committed by ignorance,
in a virtuous disposition, would never be of such
fatal consequence to the public weal as the prac-
tice of a man whose inclinations led him to be cor-
rupt, and who had great abilities to manage, to
multiply, and defend his corruptions.
In like manner, the disbelief of a Divine Prov-
idence renders a man incapable of holding any
public station ; for since kings avow themselves
to be the deputies of Providence, the Lilliputians
think nothing can be more absurd than for a
prince to employ such men as disown the author-
ity under which he acts.
In relating these and the following laws, I would
only be understood to mean the original institu-
tions, and not the most scandalous corruptions
into which these people are fallen by the degen-
erate nature of man. For, as to that infamous
practice of acquiring great employments by danc-
ing on the ropes, or badges of favor and distinc-
tion by leaping over sticks and creeping under
them, the reader is to observe that they were first
introduced by the grandfather of the emperor now
reigning, and grew to the present height by the
gradual increase of party and faction.
Ingratitude is among them a capital crime, as
we read it to have been in some other countries ;
for they reason thus : that whoever makes ill re-
turns to his benefactor must needs be a common
enemy to the rest of mankind, from whom he has
received no obligation, and therefore such a man
is not fit to live.
Their notions relating to the duties of parents
and children differ exti-emely from ours. For since
the conjvmction of male and female is founded
upon the great law of nature, in order to propa-
gate and continue the species, the Lilliputians will
needs have it, that men and women are joined
together like other animals, by the motives of
natural instincts ; and that their tenderness to-
wards their young proceeds from the like natural
principle : for which reason, they will never allow
that a child is under any obligation to his father
for begetting him, or to his mother for bringing
him into the world : which, considering the mis-
eries of human life, was neither a benefit in itself
nor intended so by his parents, whose thoughts,
384
A VOYAGE TO LILLIPUT.
in their love encounters, were otherwise employed.
Upon these, and the like reasonings, their opinion
is, that parents are the last of all others to be
trusted with the education of their own children ;
and therefore they have in every town public nur-
series, where all parents, except cottagers and la-
borers, are obliged to send their infants of both
sexes to be reared and educated, when they come
to the age of twenty moons, at which time they
are supposed to have some rudiments of docility.
These scliools are of several kinds, suited to dif-
ferent qualities and to both sexes. They have
certain professors well skilled in preparing chil-
dren for such a condition of life as befits the rank
of their parents, and their own capacities as well
as inclinations. I shall first say something of the
male nui-series, and then of the female.
The nurseries for males of noble or eminent
birth are provided with grave and learned pro-
fessors and their several deputies. The clothes
and food of the children are plain and simple.
They are bred up in the principles of honor, jus-
tice, courage, modesty, clemency, religion, and
love of their country ; they are always employed
in some business, except in the times of eating
and sleeping, which are very short, and two hours
for diversions, consisting of bodily exercises. They
are dressed by men till four years of age, and
then are obliged to dress themselves, although
their quality be ever so great; and the women
attendants, who are aged proportionably to ours
at fifty, perform only the most menial offices.
They are never suffered to converse with servants,
but go together, in smaller or greater numbers, to
take their diversions, and alwaj's in the presence
of a professor or one of his deputies ; whereby
they avoid those early bad impressions of folly
and vice to which our children are subject. Their
parents are suffered to see them only twice a
year ; the visit is to last but an hour ; they are al-
lowed to kiss tlie child at meeting and parting ;
but a professor, who always stands by on those
occasions, will not suffer them to whisper, or use
any fondling expressions, or bruig any presents
of toys, sweetmeats, and the like.
The pension from each family for the education
and entertainment of a child, upon failure of due
payment, is levied by the emperor's officers.
The nurseries for children of ordinary gen-
tlemen, merchants, ti'aders, and handicrafts are
managed proportionably after the same manner ;
only those designed for trades ai-e put out appren-
tices at eleven years old : whereas those of per-
sons of quality continue in their exercises till fif-
teen, which answers to twenty-one with us ; but
the confinement is gradually lessened for the last
three years.
In the female nurseries, the young girls of qual-
ity are educated much like the males, only they
are dressed by orderly servants of their own sex ;
but always in the presence of a professor or dep-
uty, till they come to dress themselves, which is
at five years old. And if it be found that these
nurses ever presume to entertain the girls with
frightful or foolish stories, or the common follies
practiced by chambermaids among us, they are
publicly whipped thrice about the city, imprisoned
for a year, and banished for a life to the most
desolate part of the couutr^r. Thus the young
ladies there are as much ashamed of being cowai'ds
and fools as the men, and despise all personal or-
naments, beyond decency and cleanliness : neither
did I perceive any difference in their education
made by their difference of sex, only that the ex-
ercises of the females were not altogether so ro-
bust ; and that some rules were given them relat-
ing to domestic life, and a smaller compass of
learning was enjoined them : for their maxim is,
that among people of quality a wife should be
always a reasonable and agreeable companion,
because she cannot always be young. When the
girls are twelve years old, which among them is
the marriageable age, their parents or guardians
take them home, with great expressions of grat-
itude to the professors, and seldom without the
tears of the young lady and her companions.
In the nurseries of the females of the meaner
sort, the children are instructed in all kinds of
work proper for their sex, and their several de-
grees ; those intended for apprentices are dis-
A VOYAGE TO LILLIPUT.
385
missed at seven years old, the rest are kept till
eleven.
The meaner families who have children at these
nurseries are obliged, beside their annual pension,
which is as low as possible, to return to the stew-
ard of the nursery a small monthly share of their
gettings, to be a portion for the child ; and there-
fore all parents are limited in their expenses by
the law. For the Lilliputians think nothing can
be more unjust than for people, in subservience
to their own appetites, to bring children into the
world and leave the burden of supporting them
on the public. As to persons of quality, they
give security to appropriate a certain sum for each
child, suitable to their condition : and these funds
are always managed with good husbandry and the
most exact justice.
The cottagers and laborers keep their children
at home, their business being only to till and cul-
tivate the earth, and therefore their education is
of little consequence to the public : but the old
and diseased among them are supported by hospi-
tals ; for begging is a trade unknown in this em-
pire.
And here it may, perhaps, divert the curious
reader, to give some account of my domestics,
and my manner of living in this country, during
a residence of nine months and thirteen days.
Having a head mechanically turned, and being
likewise forced by necessity, I had made for my-
self a table and chair convenient enough, out of
the largest trees in the royal park. Two hundred
seamstresses were employed to make me shirts
and linen for my bed and table, all of the strong-
est and coarsest kind they could get, which, how-
ever, they were forced to quilt together in several
folds, for the thickest was some degrees finer than
lawn. Their linen is usually three inches wide,
and three feet make a piece. The seamstresses
took my measure as I lay on the ground, one
standing at my neck, and another at my midleg,
with a strong cord extended, that each held by
the end, while a third measured the length of the
cord with a rule an inch long. Then they meas-
ured my right thumb, and desired no more ; for by
a mathematical computation, that twice round the
thumb is once round the wrist, and so on to the
neck and the waist, and by the help of my old
shirt, which I displayed on the ground before them
for a pattern, they fitted me exactly. Three hun-
dred tailors were employed in the same manner
to make me clothes ; but they had another con-
trivance for taking my measure. I kneeled down,
and they raised a ladder from the ground to my
neck ; upon this ladder one of them mounted, and
let fall a plumb-line from my collar to the floor,
which just answered the length of my coat; but
my waist and arms I measured myself. When
my clothes were finished, which was done in my
house (for the largest of theirs would not have
been able to hold them), they looked like the
patchwork made by the ladies in England, only
that mine were all of a color.
I had three hundred cooks to dress my victuals,
in little convenient huts built about my house,
where they and their families lived, and prepared
me two dishes apiece. I took up twenty waiters
in my hand, and placed them on the table ; a
hundred more attended below on the ground, some
with dishes of meat, and some with barrels of wine
and other liquors slung on their shoulders, all
which the waiters above drew up, as I wanted, in
a very ingenious manner by certain cords, as we
draw a bucket up a well in Europe. A dish of
their meat was a good mouthful, and a barrel of
their liquor a reasonable draught. Their mutton
yields to ours, but their beef is excellent. I have
had a sirloin so large, that I have been forced to
make three bites of it ; but this is rare. My serv-
ants were astonished to see me eat it, bones and
all, as in our country we do the leg of a lark.
Their geese and turkeys I usually ate at a mouth-
ful, and I confess they far exceed ours. Of their
smaller fowl, I could take up twenty or thirty at
the end of my knife.
One day his imperial majesty, being informed
of my way of living, desired " that himself and his
royal consort, with the young princes of the blood
of both sexes, might have the happiness," as he
was pleased to call it, " of dining with me." They
386
A VOYAGE TO LILLIPUT.
came accordingly, and I placed them in chairs of
state, upon my table, just over against me, with
their guards about them. Flimnap, the lord high-
treasurer, attended there likewise, with his white
stafE ; and I observed he often looked on me with
a sour countenance, which I would not seem to
regard, but ate more than usual, in honor to my
dear country, as well as to fill the court with ad-
miration. I have some private reasons to believe
that this visit from his majesty gave Flimnap an
opportunity of doing me ill offices to his master.
That minister had always been my secret enemy,
though he oXitwardly caressed me more than was
usual to the moroseness of his nature. He repre-
sented to the emperor " the low condition of his
treasury ; that he was forced to take up money at
a great discount ; that exchequer bills would not
circulate under nine per cent, below par ; that I
had cost his majesty above a million and a half of
sprugs (their greatest gold coin, about the bigness
of a spangle) ; and, upon the whole, that it would
be advisable in the emperor to take the first fair
occasion of dismissing me."
CHAPTER VII.
THE AUTHOR, BEING INFORMED OF A DESIGN TO ACCUSE
HIM OF HIGH TREASON, MAKES HIS ESCAPE TO BLE-
FUSCU. HIS RECEPTION THERE.
Befoee I proceed to give an account of my
leaving this kingdom it may be pi'oper to inform
the reader of a private intrigue which had been
for two months forming against me. I had been
hitherto, all my life, a stranger to courts, for which
I was unqualified by the meanness of my condition.
I had indeed heard and read enough of the dispo-
sitions of great princes and ministers, but never
expected to have found such terrible effects of
them in so remote a country, governed, as I
thought, by very different maxims from those in
Europe.
When I was just preparing to pay my attend-
ance on the Emperor of Blefuscu, a considerable
person at court (to whom I liad been very service-
able, at a time when he lay under the highest
displeasure of his imperial majesty) came to my
house very privately at night, in a close chair, and,
without sending his name, desired admittance.
The chairmen were dismissed : I put the chair,
with his lordship in it, into my coat pocket ; and
giving orders to a trusty servant to say I was in-
disposed and gone to sleep, I fastened the door of
my house, placed the chair on the table, according
to my usual custom, and sat down by it. After
the common sakitations were over, observing his
lordship's countenance full of concern, and inquir-
ing into the reason, he desired " I would hear him
with patience, in a matter that highly concerned
my honor and life." His speech was to the fol-
lowing effect, for I took notes of it as soon as he
left me : —
" Yon are to know," said he, " that several com-
mittees of council have been lately called, in the
most private manner, on your account ; and it is
but two days since his majesty came to a full res-
olution.
" You are very sensible that Skyresh Bolgolam
(^galhet, or high-admiral) has been your mortal
enemy, almost ever since your arrival. His origi-
nal reasons I know not; but his hatred is increased
since your great success against Blefuscu, by which
his glory as admiral is much obscured. This lord,
in conjunction with Flimnap, the high-treasurer,
whose enmity against you is notorious on account
of his lady, Limtoc the general, Lalcon the cham-
berlain, and Balmuff the grand justiciai-y, have
prepared articles of impeachment against you, for
treason and other capital crimes."
This preface made me so impatient, being con-
scious of my own merits and innocence, that I was
going to interrupt him ; when he entreated me to
be silent, and thus pi'oceeded : —
" Out of gratitude for the favors you have done
me, I procured information of the whole proceed-
ings, and a copy of the articles ; wherein I venture
my head for your service."
[The articles recited various grounds of suspi-
cion, especially Quinbus Flestrin's humanity toward
Blefuscu after he had brought the imperial fleet
A VOYAGE TO LILLIPUT.
387
into port, and his friendly intercourse with the
ambassadors from Blefuscu.]
" In the several debates upon this impeachment,
it must be confessed that his majesty gave many
marks of his great lenity ; often urging the serv-
ices you had done him, and endeavoring to ex-
tenuate your crimes. The treasurer and admiral
insisted that you should be put to the most pain-
ful and ignominious death, by setting fire to your
house at night ; and the general was to attend with
twenty thousand men, armed with poisoned ar-
rows, to shoot you on the face and hands. Some
of your servants were to have private orders to
strew a poisonous juice on your shirts and sheets,
which would soon make you tear your own flesh,
and die in the utmost torture. The general came
into the same opinion, so that for a long time there
was a majority against you ; but his majesty, re-
solving, if possible, to spare your life, at last
brought off the chamberlain.
" Upon this incident, Reldresal, principal secre-
tary for private affairs, who always approved him-
self your true friend, was commanded by the em-
peror to deliver his opinion, which he accordingly
did, and therein justified the good thoughts you
have of him. He allowed your crimes to be great,
but that still there was room for mercy, the most
commendable virtue in a prince, and for which his
majesty was so justly celebrated. He said the
friendship between you and him was so well
known to the world that perhaps the most honor-
able board might think him partial ; however, in
obedience to the command he had received, he
would freely offer his sentiments. That if his
majesty, in consideration of your services, and
pursuant to his own merciful disposition, would
please to spare your life, and only give orders to
put out both your eyes, he humbly conceived that,
by this expedient, justice might in some measure
be satisfied, and all the world would applaud the
lenity of the emperor, as well as the fair and gen-
erous proceedings of those who have the honor to
be his counselors. That the loss of your eyes
would be no impediment to your bodjly strength,
by which you might still be laseful to his maj-
esty; that blindness is an addition to courage,
by concealing dangers from us ; that the fear you
had for your eyes was the greatest difficulty in
bringing over the enemy's fleet ; and it would be
sufficient for you to see by the eyes of the minis-
ters, since the greatest princes do no more.
" This proposal was received with the utmost
disapprobation by the whole board. Bolgolam,
the admiral, could not preserve his temper ; but,
rising up in a fury, said he wondered how the sec-
retary durst presume to give his opinion for pre-
serving the life of a traitor : that the services you
had performed were, by all true reasons of state,
the great aggravation of your crimes ; that the
same strength which enabled you to bi-ing over
the enemy's fleet might serve, upon the first dis-
content, to carry it back : that he had good rea-
sons to think you were a Big-endian in your heart ;
and, as treason begins in the heart before it ap-
pears in overt acts, so he accused you as a traitor
on that account, and therefore insisted you should
be put to death.
" The treasurer was of the same opinion : he
showed to what straits his majesty's revenue was
reduced by the charge of maintaining you, which
would soon grow insupportable : that the secre-
tary's expedient of putting out your eyes was so
far from being a remedy against this evil, that it
would probably increase it, as is manifest from the
common practice of blinding some kind of fowls,
after which they fed the faster and grew fat sooner ;
that his sacred majesty and the council, who are
your judges, were, in their own consciences, fully
convinced of your guilt, which was a sufficient
argument to condemn you to death, without the
formal proofs required by the strict letter of the
law.
" But his imperial majesty, fully determined
against capital punishment, was graciously pleased
to say that since the council thought the loss of
your eyes too easy a censure, some other may be
inflicted hereafter. And your friend the secre-
tary, humbly desiring to be heard again, in an-
swer to what the treasurer had objected, con-
388
A VOYAGE TO LILLIPUT.
cerning the great charge his majesty was at in
maintaining you, said that his excellency, who
had the sole disposal of the emperor's revenue,
might easily provide against that evil by grad-
ually lessening your establishment ; by which, for
want of sufficient food, you will grow weak and
faint, and lose your appetite, and consume in a
few months; neither would the stench of your
carcass be then so dangerous, when it should be-
come more than half diminished ; and immediately
upon your death five or six thousand of his maj-
esty's subjects might, in two or three days, cut
your flesh from your bones, take it away by cart-
loads, and bury it in distant parts to prevent in-
fection, leaving the skeleton as a monument of ad-
miration to posterity.
" Thus by the great friendship of the secretary
the whole affair was compromised. It was strictly
enjoined that the project of starving you by de-
grees should be kept a secret ; but the sentence of
putting out your eyes was entered on the books ;
none dissenting except Bolgolam, the admiral.
" In three days your friend the secretary will be
directed to come to your house and read before
you the articles of impeachment ; and then to sig-
nify the great lenity and favor of his majesty and
council, whereby you are only condemned to the
loss of your eyes, which his majesty does not ques-
tion you will gratefully and humbly submit to ;
and twenty of his majesty's surgeons will attend,
in order to see the operation well performed, by
discharging very sharp-pointed arrows into the
balls of your eyes, as you lie on the ground.
" I leave to j^our prudence what measures you
will take ; and to avoid suspicion I must imme-
diately return in as private a manner as I came."
His lordship did so ; and I remained alone, un-
der many doubts and perplexities of mind.
It was a custom introduced by this prince and
his ministry (very different, as I have been as-
sured, from the practice of former times), that
after the court had decreed any cruel execution,
either to gratify the monarch's resentment, or the
malice of a favorite, the emperor always made a
speech to his whole council, expressing his great
lenity and tenderness as qualities known and con-
fessed by all the world. This speech was imme-
diately published throughout the kingdom ; nor
did anything terrify the people so much as those
encomiums on his majesty's mercy ; because it
was observed that the more these praises were en-
larged and insisted on, the more inhuman was the
punishment, and the sufferer more innocent. Yet
as to myself, I must confess, having never been de-
signed for a courtier, either by my birth or educa-
tion, I was so ill a judge of things that I could not
discover the lenity and favor of this sentence, but
conceived it (jDerhaps erroneously) rather to be rig-
orous than gentle. I sometimes thought of standing
my trial ; for, although I could not deny the facts
alleged in the several articles, yet I hoped they
would admit of some extenuation. But having in
my life perused many state trials, which I ever ob-
served to terminate as the judges thought fit to
direct, I durst not rely on so dangerous a decision,
in so critical a juncture, and against such powerful
enemies. Once I was strongly bent upon resist-
ance; for, while I had liberty, the whole strength
of that empire could hardly subdue me, and I
might easily with stones pelt the metropolis to
pieces ; but I soon rejected that project with
horror, by remembering the oath I had made to
the emperor, the favors I received from him, and
the high title of nardao he conferred upon me.
Neither had I so soon learned the gratitude of cour-
tiers to persuade myself that his majesty's present
severities acquitted me of all past obligations.
At last I fixed upon a resolution for which it is
probable I may incur some censure, and not un-
justly, for I confess I owe the preserving of my
ej'es, and consequently my liberty, to my own
great rashness and want of experience ; because,
if I had then known the nature of princes and
ministers, which I have since observed in many
other courts, and their methods of treating crim-
inals less obnoxious than myself, I should, with
great alacrity and readiness, have submitted to so
easy a punishment. But hurried on b}^ the pre-
cipitancy of youth, and having his imperial maj-
esty's license to pay my attendance upon the
A VOYAGE TO LILLIPUT.
889
emperor of Blefuscu, I took this opportunity, be-
fore the three days were elapsed, to send a letter
to my friend, the secretary, signifying my resolu-
tion of setting out that morning for Blefuscu, pur-
suant to the leave I had got; and, without waiting
for an answer, I went to that side of the island
where our fleet lay. I seized a large man-of-war,
tied a cable to the prow, and lifting up the an-
chors, I stripped myself, put my clothes (together
with my coverlet which I carried under my arm)
into the vessel, and drawing it after me, between
wading and swimming, arrived at the royal port
of Blefuscu, where the people had long expected
me ; they lent me two guides to direct me to the
capital city, which is of the same name. I held
them in my hands till I came within two hundred
yards of the gate, and desired them " to signify
my arrival to one of the secretaries, and let him
know I there waited his majesty's command." I
had an answer in about an hour, "that his maj-
esty, attended by the royal family, and great offi-
cers of the court, was coining out to receive me."
I advanced a hundred yards. The emperor and
his train alighted from their horses, the empress
and ladies from their coaches, and I did not per-
ceive they were in any fright or concern. I lay
on the ground to kiss his majesty's and the em-
press's hands. I told his majesty " that I was
come according to my promise, and with the license
of the emperor my master, to have the honor of
seeing so mighty a monarch, and to offer him any
service in my power, consistent with my duty to
my own prince ; " not mentioning a word of my
disgrace, because I had hitherto no regular infor-
mation of it, and might suppose myself wholly
ignorant of any such design ; neither could I rea-
sonably conceive that the emperor would discover
the secret, while I was out of his power ; wherein,
however, it soon appeared I was deceived.
I shall not trouble the reader with the particu-
lar account of my reception at this court, which was
suitable to the generosity of so great a prince ; nor
of the difficulties I was in for want of a house and
bed, being forced to lie on the ground, wrapped
up in my coverlet.
CHAPTER YTII.
THE AUTHOR, BY A LUCKY ACCIDENT, FINDS MEANS TO
LEAVE BLEFUSCU ; AND, AFTER SOME DIFFICULTIES,
RETURNS SAFE TO HIS NATIVE COUNTY.
Theee days after my arrival, walking out of
curiosity to the northeast coast of the island, I ob-
served, about half a league off in the sea, some-
what that looked like a boat overturned. I pulled
off my shoes and stockings, and wading two or
three hundred yards, I found the object to ap-
proach nearer by force of the tide ; and then
plainly saw it to be a real boat, which I supposed
might by some tempest have been driven from a
ship : whereupon I returned immediately towards
the city, and desired his imperial majesty to lend
me twenty of the tallest vessels he had left, after
the loss of his fleet, and three thousand seamen,
under the command of his vice-admiral. This
fleet sailed round, while I went back the shortest
way to the coast, where I first discovered the boat.
I found the tide had driven it still nearer. The
seamen were all provided with cordage, which I
had beforehand twisted to a sufficient strength.
When the ships came up, I stripped myself, and
waded till I came within a hundred yards of the
boat, after which I was forced to swim till I got
up to it. The seamen threw me the end of the
cord, which I fastened to a hole in the forepart of
the boat, and the other end to a man-of-war ; but
I found all my labor to little purpose ; for, being
out of my depth, I was not able to work. In this
necessity I was forced to swim behind, and push
the boat forward as often as I could with one of
my hands ; and the tide favoring me, I advanced
so far that I could just hold up my chin and feel
the ground. I rested two or three minutes, and
then gave the boat another shove, and so on, till
the sea was no higher than my armpits ; and now
the most laborious part being over, I took out my
other cables, which were stowed in one of the
ships, and fastened them first to the boat and then
to nine of the vessels which attended me ; the
wind being favorable, the seamen towed, and I
shoved, until we arrived within forty yards of the
shore, and waiting till the tide was out, I got dry
390
A VOYAGE TO LILLIPUT.
to the boat, and by the assistance of two thousand
men with ropes and engines, I made a sliift to turn
it on its bottom, and found it was but Uttle dam-
aged.
I shall not trouble the reader -with the difficul-
ties I was under, by the help of certain paddles,
which cost me ten days making, to get my boat to
the royal port of Blefuscu, whei-e a mighty con-
course of people appeared upon my arrival, full of
wonder at the sight of so prodigious a vessel. I
told the emperor " that my good fortune had
thrown this boat in my way, to carry me to some
place whence I might return into my native
country ; and begged his majesty's orders for get-
ting materials to fit it up ; together with his
license to depart ; " which, after some kind expos-
tulations, he was pleased to grant.
I did very much wonder, in all this time, not to
have heard of any express relating to me from our
emperor to the court of Blefuscu. But I was aft-
erwards given privately to understand, that his
imperial majesty, never imagining I had the least
notice of his designs, believed I was only gone to
Blefuscu In performance of my promise, according
to the license he had given me, which was well
known at our court, and would return in a few
days, when the ceremony was ended. But he was
at last in pain at my long absence ; and after con-
sulting with the treasurer and the rest of that ca-
bal, a person of quality was dispatched with the
copy of the articles against me. This envoy had
instructions to represent to the monarch of Ble-
fuscu " the great lenity of his master, who was
content to punish me no further than with the loss
of mine eyes ; that I had fled from justice ; and if
I did not return in two hours I should be deprived
of my title of nardac, and declared a traitor."
The envoy further added, " that in order to main-
tain the peace and amity between both empires,
his master expected that his brother of Blefuscu
would give orders to have me sent back to Lilli-
put, bound hand and foot, to be punished as a
traitor."
The emperor of Blefuscu, having taken three
days to consult, returned an answer consisting of
many civilities and excuses. He said, " that as
for sending me bound, his brother knew it was im-
possible ; that although I had deprived him of his
fleet, yet he owed great obligations to me for many
good offices I had done him in making the peace.
That, however, both their majesties would soon be
made easy ; for I had found a prodigious vessel on
the shore, able to carry me on the sea, which he
had given orders to fit up, with my own assistance
and direction ; and he hoped, in a few weeks, both
empires would be freed from so insupportable an
incumbrance."
With this answer the envoy returned to Lilli-
put, and the monarch of Blefuscu related to me all
that had passed ; offering me at the same time
(but under the strictest confidence) his gracious
protection if I would continue in his service ;
wherein although I believed him sincere, yet I re-
solved never more to put any confidence in princes
or ministers, where I could possibly avoid it ; and
therefore, with all due acknowledgments for his
favorable intentions, I humbly begged to be ex-
cused. I told him, that " since fortune, whether
good or evil, had thrown a vessel in my way, I
was resolved to venture myself on the ocean,
rather than be an occasion of difference between
two such might}' monarchs." Neither did I find
the emperor at all displeased ; and I discovered,
by a certain accident, that he was very glad
of my resolution, and so were most of his min-
isters.
These considerations moved me to hasten my
departure somewhat sooner than I intended ; to
which the court, impatient to have me gone, very
readily contributed. Five hundred workmen were
employed to make two sails to my boat, according
to my directions, by quilting thirteen folds of their
strongest linen together. I was at the pains of
making ropes and cables, by twisting ten, twenty,
or thirty of the thickest and strongest of theirs.
A great stone that I happened to find, after a long
search, by the seashore, served me for an anchor.
I had the tallow of three hundred cows, for greas-
ing my boat, and other uses. I was at incredible
pains in cutting down some of the largest timber
A VOYAGE TO LILLIPUT.
391
trees for oars and masts, -wherein I was, however,
much assisted by his majesty's ship-carpenters,
who helped me in smoothing them, after I had
done the rough work.
In about a month, when all was prepared, I sent
to receive his majesty's commands, and to take
my leave. The emperor and royal family came
out of the palace ; I lay down on my face to kiss
his hand, which he very graciously gave me ; so
did the empress and young princes of the blood.
His majesty presented me with fifty purses of two
hundred sprugs apiece, together with his picture
at full length, which I put immediately into one of
my gloves, to keep it from being hurt. The cere-
monies at my departure were too many to trouble
the reader with at this time.
I stored the boat with the carcasses of a hun-
dred oxen and three hundred sheep, with bread
and drink proportionable, and as much meat ready-
dressed as four hundred cooks could provide.
I took with me six cows and two bulls alive, with
as many ewes and rams, intending to cany them
into my own country and proj^agate the breed ;
and to feed them on board I had a good bundle of
hay, and a bag of corn. I would gladly have taken
a dozen of the natives, but this was a thing the
emperor would by no means permit ; and, besides
a diligent search into my pockets, his majesty
engaged my honor " not to carry away any of his
subjects, although with their own consent and de-
sire."
Having thus prepared all things as well as I was
able, I set sail, on the twenty-fourth day of Septem-
ber, 1701, at six in the morning ; and when I had
gone about four leagues to the northward, the wind
being at southeast, at six in the evening, I descried
a small island about half a league to the north-
west. I advanced forward, and cast anchor on the
lee side of the island, which seemed to be uninhab-
ited. I then took some refreshment and went to
my rest. I slept well, and as I conjecture, at least
six hours, for I found the day broke in two hours
after I awaked. It was a clear night. I ate my
breakfast before the sun was up ; and heaving
anchor, the wind being favorable, I steered the
same course that I had done the day before, wherein
I was directed by my pocket-compass. My inten-
tion was to reach, if possible, one of those islands
which I had reason to believe lay to the northeast
of Van Diemen's Land. I discovered nothing all
that day ; but upon the next, about three in the
afternoon, when I had, by my computation, made
twenty-four leagues from Blefuscu, I descried a
sail steering to the southeast ; my course was due
east. I hailed her, but could get no answer ; vet
I found I gained upon her, for the wind slack-
ened. I made all the sail I could, and in half an
hour she spied me, then hung out her ancient, and
discharged a gun. It is not easy to expi'ess the
joy I was in, upon the unexpected hope of once
more seeing my beloved country, and the dear
pledges I left in it. The ship slackened her sails,
and I came up with her between five and six in
the evening, September twenty-sixth ; but my
heart leaped within me to see her English colors.
I put my cows and sheep into my coat-pockets,
and got on board with all my little cai-go of pro-
visions. The vessel was an English merchantman,
retui'ning from Japan, by the North and South
seas; the captain, Mr. John Biddel, of Deptford,
a very civil man and an excellent sailor. We
were now in the latitude of 30 degrees south ;
there were about fifty men in the ship ; and here
I met an old comrade of mine, one Peter Williams*
who gave me a good character to the captain.
This gentleman treated me with kindness, and
desired I would let him know what place I came
from last, and whither I was bound ; which I did
in a few words, but he thought I was raving, and
that the dangers I had undergone had disturbed
my head ; whereupon I took my black cattle and
sheep out of my pocket, which, after great aston-
ishment, clearljr convinced him of my veracity. I
then showed him the gold given me by the em-
peror of Blefuscu, together with his majesty's
picture at full length, and some other rarities of
that country. I gave him two pui-ses of two hun-
dred spriigs each, and promised when we arrived
in England, to make him a present of a cow, and
a sheep big with young.
392
A VOTAGE TO LILLIPUT.
I shall not trouble the reader with a particular
account of this voyage, which was very prosper-
ous for the most part. We arrived in the Downs
on the 13th of April, 1702. I had only one mis-
fortune, that the rats on board carried away one
of my sheep : I found her bones in a hole, picked
clean from the flesh. The rest of my cattle I got
safe ashore, and set them a-grazing on a bowling-
green at Greenwich, where the fineness of the
grass made them feed very heartily, though I
had always feared the contrary : neither could I
possibly have preserved them in so long a voyage,
if the captain had not allowed me some of his best
biscuit, which, rubbed to powder, and mingled
with water, was their constant food. The short
time I continued in England I made a consider-
able profit by showing my cattle to many persons
of quality and others ; and before I began my sec-
ond voyage I sold them for six hundred pounds.
Since my last return I find the breed is considei'-
ably increased, especially the sheep, which I hope
will prove much to the advantage of the woolen
manufacture, by the fineness of the fleeces.
I stayed but two months with my wife and
family, for my insatiable desire of seeing foreign
countries would suffer me to continue no longer.
I left fifteen hundred pounds with my wife, and
fixed her in a good house at Redriff. My remain-
ing stock I carried with me, part in money and
part in goods, in hopes to improve my fortunes.
My eldest uncle John had left me an estate in
land near Epping of about thirty pounds a year,
and I had a long lease of the Black Bull in Fetter
Lane, which yielded me as much more ; so that I
was not in any danger of leaving my family upon
the parish. My son Johnny, named so after his
uncle, was at the grammar-school, and a towardly
child. My daughter Betty (who is now well
married, and has children) was then at her needle-
work. I took leave of my wife and boy and girl,
with tears on both sides, and went on board the
Adventure, a merchant ship of three hundred
tons, bound for Surat, Captain John Nicholas, of
Liverpool, commander. But my account of this
voyage must be referred to the Second Part of my
Travels.
TRAVELS OF BAEOJS7 MUNCHAUSEN.
CHAPTER I.
\_The Baron is supposed to relate these adventures to
his friends over a bottle.']
THE BARON RELATES AN ACCOUNT OF HIS FIRST TRAV-
ELS.— THE ASTONISHING EFFECTS OF A STORM. — AR-
RIVES AT CEYLON ; COMBATS AND CONQUERS TWO
EXTRAORDINARY OPPONENTS. — RETURNS TO HOLLAND.
Some years before my beard announced ap-
proaching manhood, or, in other words, when I
was neither man nor boy, but between both, I
expressed in repeated conversations a strong de-
sire of seeing the world, from which I was dis-
couraged by my parents, though my father had
been no inconsiderable traveler himself, as will
appear before I have reached the end of my sin-
gular and, I may add, interesting adventures. A
cousin, by my mother's side, took a liking to me,
often said I was a fine forward youth, and was
much inclined to gratify my curiosity. His elo-
quence had more effect than mine, for my father
consented to my accompanying him in a voyage
to the island of Ceylon, where his uncle had re-
sided as governor many years.
We sailed from Amsterdam with dispatches
from their High Mightinesses the States of Hol-
land. The only circumstance which happened on
our voyage worth relating was the wonderful ef-
fects of a storm, which had torn up by the roots
a great number of trees of enormous bulk and
height, in an island where we lay at anchor to
take in wood and water ; some of these trees
weighed many tons, yet they were carried by the
wind so amazingly high, that they appeared like
the feathers of small birds floating in the air, for
they were at least five miles above the earth :
however, as soon as the storm subsided they all
50
fell perpendicularly into their respective places,
and took root again, except the lai-gest, which hap-
pened, when it was blown into the air, to have a
man and his wife, a very honest old couple, upon
its branches, gathering cucumbers (in this part of
the globe that useful vegetable grows upon trees) :
the weight of this couple, as the tree descended,
overbalanced the trunk, and brought it down in
a horizontal position : it fell upon the chief man
of the island, and killed him on the spot ; he had
quitted his house in the storm, under an appre-
iiension of its falling upon him, and was returning
through his own garden when this fortunate acci-
dent happened. The word fortunate, here, re-
quires some explanation. This chief was a man
of a very avaricious and oppressive disposition,
and though he had no family, the natives of the
island were half-starved by his oppressive and in-
famous impositions.
The very goods which he had thus taken from
them were spoiling in his stores, while the poor
wretches from whom they were plundered were
pining in poverty. Though the destruction of
this tyrant was accidental, the people chose the
cucumber-gatherers for their governors, as a mark
of their gratitude for destroying, though accident-
ally, their late tyrant.
After we had repaired the damages we sustained
in this remarkable storm, and taken leave of the
new governor and his lady, we sailed with a fair
wind for the object of our voyage.
In about six weeks we arrived at Ceylon, where
we were received with great marks of friendshijj
and true politeness. The following singular ad-
ventures may not prove unentertaining.
After we had resided at Cevlon about a fort-
394
TRAVELS OF BARON MUNCHAUSEN.
night I accompanied one of the governor's broth-
ers upon a shooting party. He was a strong,
athletic man, and being used to that climate
(for he had resided there some years), he bore
the violent heat of the sun much better than I
could ; in our excursion he had made a consider-
able progress through a thick wood when I was
only at the entrance.
Near the banks
of a large piece of
water, which had
engaged my atten-
tion, I thought I
heard a rustling
noise behind; on
turning about I was
almost petrified (as
who would not be ?)
at the sight of a lion,
which was evidently
approaching with the
intention of satisfy-
ing his appetite with
my poor carcass, and
that without asking
my consent. What
was to be done in
this horrible dilem-
ma? I had not even
a moment for reflec-
tion ; my piece was
only charged with
swan-shot, and I had
no other about me ;
however, though I
could have no idea of
killing such an animal with
that weak kind of ammunition, yet I had some
hopes of frightening him by the report, and per-
haps of wounding him also. I immediately let fly,
without waiting till he was within reach, and the
report did but enrage him, for he now quickened
his pace, and seemed to approach me full speed :
I attempted to escape, but that only added (if
an addition could be made) to my distress; for
the moment I turned about I found a large croco-
dile, with his mouth extended almost ready to re-
ceive me. On my right hand was the piece of
water before mentioned, and on my left a deep
precipice, said to have, as I have since learned, a
receptacle at the bottom for venomous creatures ;
in short, I gave myself up as lost, for the lion was
now upon his hind legs, just in the act of seizing
me ; I fell involuntarily to the ground with fear,
and, as it afterwards
appeared, he sprang
over me. I lay some
time in a situation
which no language
can describe, expect-
ing to feel his teeth
or talons in some
part of me every mo-
ment : after waiting
in this prostrate situ-
ation a few seconds
I heard a violent but
unusual noise, differ-
ent from any sound
that had ever before
assailed my ears ;
nor is it at all to be
wondered at, when
I inform you from
whence it proceed-
ed: after listening
for some time, I ven-
tured to raise my
head and look round,
when, to my un-
speakable joy, I per-
ceived the lion had, by the eagerness with which
he sprung at me, jumped forward, as I fell, into
the crocodile's mouth ! which, as before observed,
was wide open ; the head of the one stuck in the
throat of the other ! and they were struggling to
extricate themselves ! I fortunately recollected
my eouteau de chasse, which was by my side ;
with this instrument I severed the lion's head at
one blow, and the body fell at my feet ! I then,
with the butt-end of my fowling piece, rammed the
TRAVELS OF BARON MUNCHAUSEN.
395
head farther into the throat of the crocodile, and
destroyed him by suffocation, for he could neither
gorge nor eject it.
Soon after I had thus gained a complete victory
over my two powerful adversaries my companion
arrived in search of me ; for finding I did not fol-
low him into the wood, he returned, apprehending
I had lost my way, or met with some accident.
After mutual congratulations, we measured the
crocodile, which was just forty feet in length.
As soon as we had related this extraordinary
adventure to the governor, he sent a wagon and
servants, who brought home the two carcasses.
The lion's skin was properly preserved, with its
hair on, after which it was made into tobacco-
pouches, and presented by me, upon our return to
Holland, to the burgomasters, who, in return, re-
quested my acceptance of a thousand ducats.
The skin of the crocodile was stuffed in the
usual manner, and makes a capital article in their
public museum at Amsterdam, where the exhib-
itor relates the whole story to each spectator, with
such additions as he thinks proper. Some of his
variations are rather extravagant ; one of them is,
that the lion jumped quite through the crocodile,
and was making his escape at the back door, when,
as soon as his head appeared. Monsieur the Great
Baron (as he is pleased to call me) cut it off, and
three feet of the crocodile's tail along with it ; nay,
so little attention has this fellow to the truth, that
he sometimes adds, as soon as the crocodile missed
his tail, he turned about, snatched the coutemi de
chasse out of Monsievir's hand, and swallowed it
with such eagerness that it pierced his heart and
killed him immediately !
The little i-egard which this impudent knave has
to veracity makes me sometimes apprehensive that
my real facts may fall under suspicion, by being
found in company with his confounded inven-
tions.
CHAPTER II.
IN WHICH THE BAROX PROVES HIMSELF A GOOD SHOT.
— HE LOSES HIS HORSE, AND FINDS A WOLF. — MAKES
HIM DRAW HIS SLEDGE. — PROMISES TO ENTERTAIN
HIS COMPANY WITH A RELATION OP SUCH FACTS AS
ARE WELL DESERVING THEIR NOTICE.
I SET off from Rome on a journey to Russia, in
the midst of winter, from a just notion that frost
and snow must of course mend the roads, which
every traveler had described as uncommonly bad
through the northern parts of Germany, Poland,
Courland, and Livonia. I went on horseback, as
the most convenient manner of traveling ; I was
but lightly clothed, and of this I felt the inconven-
ience the more I advanced northeast. What must
not a poor old man have suffered in that severe
weather and climate, whom I saw on a bleak com-
mon in Poland, lying on the road, helpless, shiver-
ing, and hardly having wherewithal to cover his
nakedness ? I pitied the poor soul : though I felt
the severity of the air myself, I threw my mantle
over him, and immediately I heard a voice from
the heavens, blessing me for that piece of charity,
saying, —
" You will be rewarded, my son, for this in
time."
I went on : night and darkness overtook me.
No village was to be seen. The country was cov-
ered with snow, and I was unacquainted with the
road. '
Tired, I alighted, and fastened my horse to
something like a painted stump of a tree, which
appeared above the snow ; for the sake of safety
I placed my pistols under my arm, and laid down
on the snow, where I slept so soundly that I did
not open my eyes till full daylight. It is not easy
to conceive my astonishment to find myself in the
midst of a village, lying in a churchyard ; nor was
my horse to be seen, but I heard him soon after
neigh somewhere above me. On looking upwards
I beheld him hanging by his bridle to the weather-
cock of the steeple. Matters were not very plain
to me : the village had been covered with snow
overnight ; a sudden change of weather had taken
place ; I had sunk down to the churchyard whilst
asleep, gently, and in the same proportion as the
snow had melted away ; and what in the dark I
had taken to be a stump of a little tree appearing
above the snow, to which I had tied my horse,
396
TRAVELS OF BARON MUNCHAUSEN.
proved to have been the cross or weather-cock of
the steeple !
Without long consideration I took one of my
pistols, shot the bridle in two, brought down the
horse, and proceeded on my journey. [Here the
Baron seems to have forgotten his feelings; he
should certainly have ordered his horse a feed of
corn, after fasting so long.]
He carried me well — advancing into the inte-
rior parts of Russia. I found traveling on hoi'se-
back rather unfashionable in winter, therefore I
submitted, as I always do, to the custom of the
country, took a single horse sledge, and drove
briskly towards St. Petersburg. I do not exactly
recollect whether it was in Eastland or Jugeman-
land, but I remember that in the midst of a dreary
forest I spied a terrible wolf making after me, with
all the speed of ravenous winter hunger. He soon
overtook me. There was no possibility of escape.
Mechanically I laid myself down flat in the sledge,
and let my horse run for our safety. What I
wished, but hardly hoped or expected, happened
immediately after. The wolf did not mind me in
the least, but took a leap over me, and falling fu-
riously on the horse, began instantly to tear and
devour the hind-part of the poor animal, which
ran the faster for his pain and terror. Thus un-
noticed and safe myself, I lifted my head slyly up,
and with horror I beheld that the wolf had ate his
way into the horse's body ; it was not long before
he had fairly forced himself into it, when I took
my advantage, and fell upon him with the butt-
end of my whip. This unexpected attack in his
rear frightened him so much, that he leaped foi'-
ward with all his might : the horse's carcass
dropped on the ground, but in his place the wolf
was in the harness, and I on my part whipping
him continually : we both arrived in full career
safe at St. Petersburg, contrary to our respective
expectations, and very much to the astonishment
of the spectators.
I shall not tire you, gentlemen, with the poli-
tics, arts, sciences, and historj' of this magnificent
metropolis of Russia, nor trouble you with the
various intrigues and pleasant adventures I had
in the politer circles of that country, where the
lady of the house always receives the visitor with
a dram and a salute. I shall confine myself rather
to the greater and nobler objects of your atten-
tion, horses and dogs, my favorites in the brute
creation ; also to foxes, wolves, and bears, with
which, and game in general, Russia abounds more
than any other part of the world ; and to such
sports, manly exercises, and feats of gallantrj'
and activity, as show the gentleman better than
musty Greek or Latin, or all the perfume, finery,
and capers of French wits or petit-maitres.
CHAPTER III.
AN ENCOUNTER BETWEEN THE BARON'S NOSE AND A
DOOR-POST, WITH ITS WONDERFUL EFFECT. FIFTY
BRACE OF DUCKS AND OTHER FOWL DESTROYED BY
ONE SHOT. — FLOGS A FOX OUT OF HIS SKIN. — LEADS
AN OLD SOW HOME IN A NEW WAY, AND VANQUISHES
A WILD BOAR.
Foe several months (as it was some time before
I could obtain a commission in the army) I was
perfectly at liberty to sport away my time and
money in the most gentleman-like manner. You
may easily imagine that I spent much of both
out of town with such gallant fellows as knew
how to make the most of an open forest country.
The very recollection of those amusements gives
me fresh spirits, and creates a warm wish for a
repetition of them. One morning I saw, through
the windows of my bedroom, that a large pond
not far ofE was covered with wild ducks. In an
instant I took my gun from the corner, ran down-
stairs and out of the house in such a hurry that I
imprudently struck my face against the dooi'-post.
Fire flew out of my eyes, but it did not prevent
my intention ; I soon came within shot, when,
leveling my piece, I observed to my sorrow that
even the flint had sprung from the cock by the
violence of the shock I had just received. There
was no time to be lost. I presently remembered
the effect it had on my eyes, therefore opened the
pan, leveled my piece against the wild fowls, and
my fist against one of my eyes. [The Baron's
eyes have retained fire ever since, and appear par-
TRAVELS OF BARON MUNCHAUSEN.
397
ticularly illuminated when he relates this anec-
dote.] A hearty blow drew sparks again ; the
shot went off, and I killed fifty brace of ducks,
twenty widgeons, and three couple of teals.
Presence of mind is the soul of manly exercises.
If soldiers and sailors owe to it many of their
lucky escapes, hunters and sportsmen are not less
beholden to it for many of their successes. In a
noble forest in Russia I met a fine black fox, whose
valuable skin it would have been a pity to tear
by ball or shot. Reynard stood close to a tree.
In a twinkling I took out my ball, and placed a
good spike-nail in its room, fired, and hit him so
cleverly that I nailed his brush fast to the tree.
I now went up to him, took out my hanger, gave
him a cross-cut over the face, laid hold of my
whip, and fairly flogged him out of his fine skin.
Chance and good luck often correct our mis-
takes ; of this I had a singular instance soon after,
when, in the depth of a forest, I saw a wild pig
and sow running close behind each other. My
ball had missed them, yet the foremost pig only
ran away, and the sow stood motionless, as fixed
to the ground. On examining into the matter, I
found the latter one to be an old sow, blind with
age, which had taken hold of her pig's tail, in or-
der to be led along by filial duty. My ball, hav-
ing passed between the two, had cut his leading-
string, which the old sow continued to hold in her
mouth ; and as her former guide did not draw her
on anjf longer, she had stopped of course ; I thei-e-
fore laid hold of the remaining end of the pig's
tail, and led the old beast home without any fur-
ther trouble on my pai't, and without any reluct-
ance or apprehension on the part of the helpless
old animal.
Terrible as these wild sows are, yet more fierce
and dangerous are the boars, one of which I had
once the misfortune to meet in the forest, unpre-
pared for attack or defense. I retired behind an
oak-tree just when the furious animal leveled a side-
blow at me, with such force that his tusks pierced
through the tree, by which means he could nei-
ther repeat the blow nor retire. Ho, ho ! thought
I, I shall soon have you now ! and immediately I
laid hold of a stone, wherewith I hammered and
bent his tusks in such a manner that he could not
retreat by any means, and must wait my return
from the next village, whither I went for ropes
and a cart, to secure him properly, and to carry
him off safe and alive, in which I perfectly suc-
ceeded.
CHAPTER IV.
REFLECTIONS ON SAINT HUBERT'S STAG. — SHOOTS A STAG
WITH CHERRY-STONES ; THE WONDERFUL EFFECTS OF
IT. — KILLS A BEAR BY EXTRAORDINARY DEXTERITY;
HIS DANGER PATHETICALLY DESCRIBED. — ATTACKED
BY A WOLF, WHICH HE TURNS INSIDE OUT. — IS AS-
SAILED BY A MAD DOG, FROM WHICH HE ESCAPES.
THE baron's CLOAK SEIZED WITH MADNESS, BY
WHICH HIS WHOLE WARDROBE IS THROWN INTO CON-
FUSION.
I DAEE say you have heard of the hunter and
sportsman's saint and protector, St. Hubert, and
of the noble stag which appeared to him in the
forest, with the holy cross between his antlers. I
have paid my homage to that saint every year in
good fellowship, and seen this stag a thousand
times either painted in churches, or embroidered in
the stars of his knights ; so that, upon the honor
and conscience of a good sportsman, I hardly know
whether there may not have been formerly, or
whether there are not such crossed stags even at
this present day. But let me rather tell what I
have seen myself. Having one day spent all my
shot, I found myself unexpectedly in presence of
a stately stag, looking at me as unconcernedly as
if he had known of my empty pouches. I charged
immediately with powder, and upon it a good
handful of cherry-stones, for I had sucked the fruit
as far as the hurry would permit. Thus I let fly at
him, and hit him just on the middle of the forehead
between his antlers ; it stunned him - — he stag-
gered — yet he made off. A year or two after,
being with a party in the same forest, I beheld a
noble stag with a fine full-grown cherry-tree above
ten feet high between his antlers. I immediately
recollected my former adventure, looked upon him
as my property, and brought him to the ground
by one shot, which at once gave me the haunch
398
TRAVELS OF BARON MUNCHAUSEN.
and cherry-sauce ; for the tree was covered with
the richest fruit, the like I had never tasted be-
fore. Who knows but some passionate, holy
sportsman, or sporting abbot or bishop, may have
shot, planted, and fixed the cross between the ant-
lers of St. Hubert's stag, in a manner similar to
this ? They always have been, and still are, fa-
mous for plantations of crosses and antlers ; and
in a case of distress or dilemma, which too often
happens to keen sportsmen, one is apt to grasp at
anything for safety, and to try any expedient
rather than miss the favorable opportunity. I have
many times found myself in that trying situation.
What do you say of this, for example ? Day-
light and powder were spent one day in a Polish
forest. When I was going home a terrible bear
made up to me in great speed, with open mouth,
ready to fall upon me ; all my pockets were
searched in an instant for powder and ball, but in
vain ; I found nothing but two spare flints : one
I flung with all my might into the monster's open
jaws, down his throat. It gave him pain and
made him turn about, so that I could level the
second at his back-door, which, indeed, I did with
wonderful success ; for it flew in, met the first
flint in the stomach, struck fire, and blew up the
bear with a terrible explosion. Though I came
safe off that time, yet I should not wish to try it
again, or venture against bears with no other am-
munition.
There is a kind of fatality in it. The fiercest
and most dangerous animals generally came upon
me when defenseless, as if they had a notion or an
instinctive intimation of it. Thus a frightful wolf
rushed upon me so suddenly, and so close, that I
could do nothing but follow mechanical instinct,
and thrust my fist into his open mouth. For
safety's sake I pushed on and on, till my arm was
fairly in up to the shoulder. How should I dis-
engage myself ? I was not much pleased with my
awkward situation — with a wolf face to face ; our
ogling was not of the most pleasant kind. If I
withdrew my arm, then the animal would fly the
more furiously upon me ; that I saw in his flam-
ing eyes. In short, I laid hold of his taU, turned
him inside out like a glove, and flung him to the
gi'ound, where I left him.
The same expedient would not have answered
against a mad dog, which soon after came running
against me in a narrow street at St. Petersburg.
Run who can, I thought ; and to do this the bet-
ter, I threw off my fur cloak, and was safe within
doors in an instant. I sent my servant for the
cloak, and he put it in the wardrobe with my
other clothes. The day after I was amazed and
frightened by Jack's bawling, " For God's sake,
sir, your fur cloak is mad ! " I hastened up to him,
and found almost all my clothes tossed about and
torn to pieces. The fellow was perfectly right in
his apprehensions about the fur cloak's madness.
I saw him mj'self just then falling upon a fine
full-dress suit, which he shook and tossed in an
unmerciful manner.
CHAPTER V.
THE EFFECTS OF GREAT ACTIVITY AND PRESENCE OP
MIND. — A FAVORITE HOUND DESCRIBED, WHICH PUPS
WHILE PURSUING A HARE ; THE HAR? ALSO LITTERS
WHILE PURSUED BY THE HOUND. — PRESENTED WITH
A FAMOUS HORSE BY COUNT PRZOBOSSKY, WITH WHICH
HE PERFORMS MANY EXTRAORDINARY FEATS.
All these narrow and lucky escapes, gentlemen,
were chances turned to advantage by presence of
mind and vigorous exertions, which, taken to-
gether, as everybody knows, make the fortunate
sportsman, sailor, and soldier ; but he would be
a very blamable and imprudent sportsman, ad-
miral, or genei-al, who would always depend upon
chance and his stars, without troubling himself
about those arts which are their particular pur-
suits, and without providing the very best imple-
ments which insure success. I was not blamable
either way ; for I have always been as remarkable
for the excellency of my horses, dogs, guns, and
swords, as for the proper manner of using and
managing them, so that upon the whole I may
hope to be remembered in the forest, upon the
turf, and in the field. I shall not enter here into
anj' detail of my stables, kennel, or armory ; but
a favorite bitch of mine I cannot help mentioning
TRAVELS OF BARON MUNCHAUSEN.
399
to you ; she was a greyhound, and I never had or
saw a better. She grew old in my service, and
was not remarkable for her size, but rather for
her uncommon swiftness. I always coursed with
her. Had you seen her you must have admired
her, and would not have wondered at my predi-
lection, and at my coursing her so much. She
ran so fast, so much, and so long in my service,
that she actually ran off her legs ; so that, in the
latter part of her life, I was under the necessity
of working and using her only as a terrier, in
which quality she still served me many years.
Coursing one day a hare which appeared to me
uncommonly big, I pitied my poor bitch, being
big with pups, yet she would course as fast as
ever. I could follow her on horseback only at a
great distance. At once I heard a cry as it were
of a pack of hounds — but so weak and faint that
I hardly knew what to make of it. Coming up to
them, I was greatly surprised. The hare had lit-
tered in running ; the same had happened to my
bitch iu coursing, and there wei-e just as many
leverets as pups. By instinct the former ran, the
latter coursed : and thus I found myself in posses-
sion at once of six hares, and as many dogs, at
the end of a course which had only begun with
one.
I remember this, my wonderful bitch, with the
same pleasure and tenderness as a superb Lithu-
anian horse, which no money could have bought.
He became mine by an accident, which gave me
an opportunity of showing my horsemanship to
a great advantage. I was at Count Przobossky's
noble country-seat in Lithuania, and remained
with the ladies at tea in the drawing-room, while
the gentlemen were down in the yai'd to see a
young horse of blood which had just arrived from
the stud. We suddenly heard a noise of distress ;
I hastened down-stairs, and found the horse so un-
ruly that nobody durst approach or mount him.
The most resolute horsemen stood dismayed and
aghast ; despondency was expressed in every coun-
tenance, when, in one leap, I was on his back, took
him by surprise, and worked him quite into gen-
tleness and obedience, with the best display of
horsemanship I was master of. Fully to show this
to the ladies, and save them unnecessary trouble,
I forced him to leap in at one of the open windows ♦
of the tea-room, walked round several times, pace,
trot, and gallop, and at last made him mount the
tea-table, thei-e to repeat his lessons in a pretty
style of miniature which was exceedingly pleasing
to the ladies, for he performed them amazingly
well, and did not break either cup or saucer. It
placed me so high in their opinion, and so well
in that of the noble lord, that, with his usual po-
liteness, he begged I would accept of this young '
horse, and ride him full career to conquest and
honor in the campaign against the Turks, which
was soon to be opened, under the command of
Count Munich.
I could not indeed have received a more agree-
able present, nor a more ominous one at the open-
ing of that campaign, in which I made my appren-
ticeship as a soldier. A horse so gentle, so spirited,
and so fierce — at once a lamb and a Bucepha-
lus — put me always in mind of the soldier's and
the gentleman's duty I of young Alexander, and
of the astonishing things he performed in the
field.
We took the field, among several other reasons,
it seems, with an intention to retrieve the char-
acter of the Russian arms, which had been blem-
ished a little by Czar Peter's last campaign on the
Prutli ; and this we fully accomplished by several
very fatiguing and glorious campaigns under the
command of that great general I mentioned be-
fore.
Modesty forbids individuals to arrogate to them-
selves great successes or victories, the glory of
which is generally engrossed by the commander
— nay, which is rather awkward, by kings and
queens who never smelled gunpowder but at the
field-days and reviews of their troops ; never saw
a field of battle, or an enemj' in battle array.
Nor do I claim any particular share of glory in
the great engagements with the enemy. We all
did our duty, which, in the patriot's, soldier's, and
gentleman's language, is a very comprehensive
word, of great honor, meaning, and import, and of
400
TRAVELS OF BARON MUNCHAUSEN.
which the generality of idle quidnuncs and coffee-
house politicians can hardly form any but a very
mean and contemptible idea. However, having
had the command of a body of hussars, I went
upon several expeditions, with discretionary pow-
ers ; and the success I then met with is, I think,
fairly and only to be placed to my account, and to
that of the brave fellows whom I led on to con-
quest and to victory. We had very hot work
once in the van of the army, when we drove the
Turks into Oczakow. My spirited Lithuanian had
almost brought me into a scrape : I had an ad-
vanced fore-post, and saw the enemy coming
against me in a cloud of dust, which left me
rather uncertain about their actual numbers and
real intentions : to wrap myself up in a similar
cloud was common prudence, but would not have
much advanced my knowledge, or answered the
end for which I had been sent out ; therefore I let
my flankers on both wings spread to the right and
left, and make what dust they could, and I myself
led on straight upon the enemy, to have a nearer
sight of them ; in this I was gratified, for they
stood and fought, till, for fear of my flankers, they
began to move oii rather disorderl}\ This was
the moment to fall upon them with spirit ; we
broke them entirely — made a terrible havoc
amongst them, and drove them not only back to
a walled town in their rear, but even through it,
conti'ary to our most sanguine expectation.
The swiftness of my Lithuanian enabled me to
be foremost in the pursuit; and seeing the enemy
fairly flying through the opposite gate, I thought
it would be prudent to stop in the market-place?
to order the men to rendezvous. I stopped, gen-
tlemen ; but judge of my astonishment when in
this market-place I saw not one of my hussars
about me ! Are they scouring the other streets ?
or what is become of them ? They could not be
far off, and must, at all events, soon join me. In
that expectation I walked my panting Lithuanian
to a spring in this market-place and let him drink.
He drank uncommonly, with an eagerness not to
be satisfied, but natural enough ; for when I looked
round for my men, what should I see, gentlemen !
the hind part of the poor creature — croup and
legs were missing, as if he had been cut in two,
and the water ran out as it came in, without re.
freshing or doing him any good ! How it could
have happened was quite a mystery to me, till I
returned with him to the town gate. There I saw
that when I rushed in pell-mell with the flying
enemy, they had dropped the portcullis (a heavy
falling door, with sharp spikes at the bottom, let
down suddenly to prevent the entrance of an
enemy into a fortified town) unperceived by me,
which had totally cut off his hind part, that still
lay quivering on the outside of the gate. It would
have been an irreparable loss, had not our farrier
contrived to bring both parts together while hot.
He sewed them up with sprigs and young shoots
of laurels that were at hand ; the wound healed,
and, what could not have hajjpened but to so
glorious a horse, the sprigs took root in his body,
grew up and formed a bower over me ; so that
afterwards I could go upon many other expe-
ditions in the shade of my own and my horse's
laurels.
CHAPTER VI.
THE BARON IS MADE A PRISONER OF WAR, AND SOLD
FOR A SLAVE. — KEEPS THE SULTAN'S BEES, WHICH
ARE ATTACKED BY TWO BEARS. — LOSES ONE OF HIS
BEES,; A SILVER HATCHET, WHICH HE THROWS AT
THE BEARS, REBOUNDS AND FLIES UP TO THE MOON;
BRINGS IT BACK BY AN INGENIOUS INVENTION ; FALLS
TO THE EARTH ON HIS RETURN, AND HELPS HIMSELF
OUT OF A PIT. — EXTRICATES HIMSELF FROM A CAR-
RIAGE WHICH MEETS HIS IN A NARROW ROAD, IN A
MANNER NEVER BEFORE ATTEMPTED NOR PRACTICED
SINCE. THE WONDERFUL EFFECTS OF THE FROST
UPON HIS servant's FRENCH HORN.
Success was not alwa3'3 with me. I had the
misfortune to be overpowered by numbers, to be
made prisoner of war ; and, what is worse, but
always usual among the Turks, to be sold for a
slave. [The Baron was afterwards in great favor
with the Grand Seignior, as will appear hereafter.]
In that state of humiliation my daily task was not
very hard and laborious, but rather singular and
irksome. It was to drive the Sultan's bees every
morning to their pasture-grounds, to attend them
TRAVELS OF BARON MUNOHAUSEK
401
all the day long, and against nigbt to drive them
back to their hives. One evening I missed a bee,
and soon observed that two bears had fallen ui^on
her to tear her to pieces for the honey she carried.
I had nothing like an offensive weapon in my
hands but the silver hatchet, which is the badge
of the Sultan's gardeners and farmers. I threw it
at the robbers, with an intention to frighten them
away, and set the
poor bee at liberty ;
but by an unlucky
turn of my arm, it
flew upwards, and
continued rising till
it reached the moon.
How should I re-
cover it ? how fetch
it down again ? I
recollected that Tur-
key-beans grow very
quick, and run up
to an astonishing
height. I planted
one immediately ; it
grew, and actually
fastened itself to one
of the moon's hoi'ns.
I had no more to do
now but to climb up
by it into the moon,
where I safely ar-
rived, and had a
troublesome piece of
business before I
could find my silver
hatchet, in a place
silver :
brightness of
where everything has the
at last, however, I found it
in a heap of chaff and chopped straw. I was
now for returning : but, alas ! the heat of the
sun had dried up my bean ; it was totally useless
for my descent; so I fell to work, and twisted me
a rope of that chopped straw, as long and as well
as I could make it. This I fastened to one of the
moon's horns, and slid down to the end of it.
Here I held myself fast with the left hand, and
51
with the hatchet in my right, I cut the long, now
useless, end of the upper part, which, when tied to
the lower end, brought me a good deal lower :
this repeated splicing and tying of the rope did
not improve its quality, or bring me down to the
Sultan's farm. I was four or five miles from the
earth at least when it broke ; I fell to the ground
with such amazing violence that I found myself
stunned, and in a
hole nine fathoms
deep at least, made
by the weight of ray
body falling from so
great a height : I re-
covered, but knew
not how to get out
again ; however, I
dug slopes or steps
with my finger-nails
(the Baron's nails
were then of forty
years' growth), and
easily accomplished
it.
Peace was soon
after concluded with
the Turks, and gain-
ing my liberty, I left
St. Petersburg at
the time of that sin-
g u 1 a r revolution,
when the emperor in
his cradle, his moth-
er, the Duke of
Brunswick, her
father. Field-marshal Munich, and many others
were sent to Siberia. The winter was then so un-
commonly severe all over Europe, that ever since
the sun seems to be frost-bitten. At my return
to this place, I felt on the road greater inconven-
iences than those I had experienced on my setting
out.
I traveled post, and finding myself in a narrow
lane, bid the postilion give a signal with his horn,
that other travelers might not meet us in the nar-
402
TRAVELS OF BARON MUNCHAUSEN.
row passage. He blew with all his might ; but
his endeavors were in vain, he could not make the
horn sound, which was unaccountable and rather
unfortunate, for soon after we found ourselves in
the presence of another coach coming the other
way : there was no proceeding ; however, I got
out of my carriage, and being pretty strong, placed
it, wheels and all, upon my head : I then jumped
over a hedge about nine feet high (which, consid-
ering the weight of the coach, was rather difficult)
into a field, and came out again by another jump
into the road beyond the other carriage : I then
went back for the horses, and placing one upon
my head, and the other under my left arm, by the
same means brought them to ni}' coach, put to,
and proceeded to an inn at the end of our stage.
I should have told you that the horse under my
arm was very spirited, and not above four years
old ; in making my second spring over the hedge
he expressed great dislike to that violent kind of
motion by kicking and snorting ; however, I con-
fined his hind legs by putting them into my coat-
pocket. After we arrived at the inn my postilion
and I refreshed ourselves : he hung his horn on a
peg near the kitchen fire ; I sat on the other side.
Suddenly we heard a tereng .' tereng ! teng !
teng ! We looked round, and now found the rea-
son why the postilion had not been able to sound
his horn ; his tunes were frozen up in the horn,
and came out now by thawing, plain enough, and
much to the credit of the driver ; so that the hon-
est fellow entertained us for some time with a va-
riety' of tunes, without putting his mouth to the
horn — The King of Prussia's March — Over the
Hill and over the Dale — with many other favor-
ite tunes ; at length the thawing entertainment
concluded, as I shall this short account of my Rus-
sian travels.
THE BOOK OF POETRY.
THE PET LAMB.
The dew was falling fast, the stars began to blink ;
I heard a voice : it said, " Drink, pretty creature
drink ! "
And, looking o'er the hedge, before me I espied
A snow-white mountain lamb, with a maiden at its
side.
No other sheep were near, the lamb was all alone,
And by a slender cord was tethered to a stone ;
With one knee on the grass did the little maiden kneel,
"While to that mountain lamb she gave its evening
meal.
The lamb, while from her hand he thus his supper
took.
Seemed to feast with head and ears ; and his tail with
pleasure shook,
" Drink, pretty creature, drink," she said in such a tone,
That I almost received her heart into my own.
'T veas little Barbara Lewthwaite, a child of beauty
rare !
I watched them with delight : they were a lovely pair.
Now with her empty can the maiden turned away ;
But, ere ten yards were gone, her footsteps did she
stay.
Towards the lamb she looked ; and from that shady
place
I, unobserved, could see the workings of her face :
If Nature to her tongue could measured numbers
bring.
Thus, thought I, to her lamb that little maid might
sing : —
" What ails thee, young one ? What ? Why pull so
at thy cord ?
Is it not well with thee ? well both for bed and board ?
Thy plot of grass is soft, and green as grass can be ;
Rest, little young one, rest : what is 't that aileth
thee?
" Rest, little young one, rest ; thou hast forgot the day
When my father found thee first in places far away :
Many flocks were on the hills, but thou wert owned
by none,
And thy mother from thy side for evermore was gone.
" He took thee in his arms, and in pity brought thee
home :
A blessed day for thee ! Then whither wouldst thou
roam ?
A faithful nurse thou hast : the dam that did thee
yean
Upon the mountain-tops no kinder could have been.
" Thou knowest that twice a day I have brought thee in
this can
Fresh water from the brook, as clear as ever ran ;
And twice in the day, when the ground is wet with
dew,
I bring thee draughts of milk, — warm milk it is and
new.
" It will not, will not rest ! — poor creature, can it be
That 't is thy mother's heart which is working so in
thee ?
Things that I know not of belike to thee are dear,
And dreams of things which thou canst neither see
nor hear."
As homeward through the lane I went with lazy feet,
This song to myself did I oftentimes repeat ;
And it seemed, as I retraced the ballad line by line.
That but half of it was hers, and one half of it was
mine.
404
THE BOOK OF POETRY.
Again, and once again, did I repeat the song ;
" Nay," said I, " more than half to the damsel must be-
long.
For she looked with such a look, and she spake with
such a tone,
That I almost received her heart into mine own."
William Woedsworth.
POOR SUSAN.
At the corner of Wood Street, when daylight appears,
There 's a thrush that sings loud, — it has sung for three
years ;
Poor Susan has passed by the spot, and has heard
In the silence of morning the song of the bird.
'Tis a note of enchantment : what ails her ? She sees
A mountain ascending, a vision of trees ;
Bright volumes of vapor through Lothbury glide.
And a river flows on through the vale of Cheapside.
Green pastures she views in the midst of the dale,
Down which she so often has tripped with her pail ;
And a single small cottage, a nest like a dove's,
The one only dwelling on earth that she loves.
She looks, and her heart is in heaven ; but they fade, —
The mist and the river, the hill and the shade :
The stream will not flow, and the hill will not rise.
And the colors have all passed away from her eyes.
William Wordsworth.
EPITAPH ON A HARE.
Here lies, whom hound did ne'er pursue,
Nor swifter greyhound follow.
Whose foot ne'er tainted morning dew,
Nor ear heard huntsman's hallo !
Old Tiney, surliest of his kind,
Who, nursed with tender care,
And to domestic bounds confined,
Was still a wild Jack-hare.
Though duly from my hand he took
His pittance every night,
He did it with a jealous look,
And, when he could, would bite.
His diet was of wheaten bread,
And milk, and oats, and straw ;
Thiatles, or lettuces instead,
With sand to scour his maw.
On twigs of hawthorn he regaled.
On pippin's russet peel.
And when his juicy salads failed.
Sliced carrot pleased him well.
A Turkey carpet was his lawn,
Whereon he loved to bound,
To skip and gambol like a fawn
And swing himself around.
His frisking was at evening hours,
For then he lost his fear.
But most before approaching showers.
Or when a storm drew near.
Eight years and five round-rolling moons
He thus saw steal away.
Dozing out all his idle noons,
And every night at play.
I kept him for his humors' sake.
For he would oft beguile
My heart of thoughts that made it ache,
And force me to a smile.
But now, beneath this walnut shade,
He finds his long last home.
And waits, in snug concealment laid,
TiU gentler Puss shall come.
He, still more aged, feels the shocks
From which no care can save,
And, partner once of Tiney's box.
Must soon partake his grave.
William Cowper.
LLEWELLYN AND HIS DOG.
405
LLEWELLYN AND HIS DOG.
The spearmen heard the bugle sound,
And cheer'ly smiled the morn ;
And many a dog, and many a hound.
Attend Llewellyn's horn.
And still he blew a louder blast,
And gave a louder cheer ;
" Come, Gelert ! why art thou the last
Llewellyn's horn to hear ?
'' Oh, where does faithful Gelert roam,
The flower of all his race?
So true, so brave — a lamb at home,
A lion in the chase."
That day Llewellyn little loved
The chase of hart or hare.
And scant and small the booty proved.
For Gelert was not there.
Unpleased, Llewellyn homeward hied,
When, near the portal seat.
His truant Gelert he espied.
Bounding his lord to greet.
But when he gained the castle door.
Aghast the chieftain stood ;
The hound was smeared with gouts of gore,
His lips and fangs ran blood !
Llewellyn gazed with wild surprise ;
Unused such looks to meet,
His fav'rite checked his joyful guise,
And crouched, and licked his feet.
Onward in haste Llewellyn passed
(And on went Gelert too).
And still, where'er his eyes were cast,
Fresh blood-gouts shocked his view !
O'erturned his infant's bed he found.
The blood-stained cover rent ;
And all around the walls and ground
With recent blood besprent.
He called his child — no voice replied ;
He searched with terror wild ;
Blood ! blood ! he found on every side,
But nowhere found his child !
" Hell-hound ! by thee my child 's devoured ! "
The frantic father cried ;
And to the hilt his vengeful sword
He plunged in Gelert's side.
His suppliant, as to earth he fell,
No pity could impart ;
But still his Gelert's dying yell
Passed heavy o'er his heart.
Aroused by Gelert's dying yell.
Some slumberer wakened nigh ;
What words the parent's joy can tell.
To hear his infant cry !
Concealed beneath a mangled heap,
His hurried search had missed,
All glowing from his rosy sleep,
His cherub boy he kissed !
Nor scratch had he, nor harm, nor dread,
But the same couch beneath
406
THE BOOK OF POETRY.
Lay a great wolf, all torn and dead, —
Tremendous still in death !
Ah, what was then Llewellyn's pain !
For now the truth was clear ;
The gallant hound the wolf had slain,
To save Llewellyn's heir.
Vain, vain was all Llewellyn's woe;
" Best of thy kind, adieu !
The frantic deed which laid thee low
This heart shall ever rue ! "
And now a gallant tomb they raised,
With costly sculpture decked ;
And marbles storied with his praise
Poor Gelert's bones protect.
Here never could the spearman pass,
Or forester, unmoved.
Here oft the tear-besprinkled grass
Llewellyn's sorrow proved.
And here he hung his horn and spear,
And oft, as evening fell.
In fancy's piercing sounds would hear
Poor Gelert's dying yell.
ROBKRT SOUTHEY.
PAUL REVERE'S RIDE.
Listen, my children, and you shall hear
Of the midnight ride of Paul Revere,
On the eighteenth of April, in Seventy-five ;
Hardly a man is now alive
Who remembers that famous day and year.
He said to his friend, " If the British march
By land or sea from the town to-night,
Hang a lantern aloft in the belfry arch
Of the North Church tower as a signal light, -
One, if by land, and two, if by sea ;
And I on the opposite shore will be,
Ready to ride and spread the alarm
Through every Middlesex village and farm.
For the country-folk to be up and to arm."
Then he said. " Good-night ! " and with muffled oar
Silently rowed to the Charlestown shore.
Just ds the moon rose over the bay,
Where swinging wide at her moorings lay
The Somerset, British man-of-war ;
A phantom ship, with each mast and spar
Across the moon like a prison bar.
And a huge black hulk, that was magnified
By its own reflection in the tide.
Meanwhile, his friend, through alley and street,
Wanders and watches with eager ears,
Till in the silence around him he hears
The muster of men at the barrack door,
The sound of arms, and the tramp of feet,
And the measured tread of the grenadiers.
Marching down to their boats on the shoie.
Then he cli;u -[ l:__ l ,. r ot the Old North Church,
By the wooden stairs, with stealthy tread.
To the belfry-chamber overhead,
And startled the pigeons from their perch
PAUL REVERES RIDE.
407
On the sombre rafters, that round him made
Masses and moving shapes of shade, —
By the trembling ladder steep and tall.
To the highest window in the wall,
Where he paused to listen and look down
A moment on the roofs of the town,
And the moonlight flowing over all.
Beneath, in the church-
yard, lay the dead,
In their night encamp-
ment on the hill.
Wrapped in silence so
deep and still
That he could hear, like
a sentinel's tread.
The watchful night-
wind, as it went
Creeping along from
tent to tent,
And seeming to whis-
per, "All is well ! "
A moment only he
feels the spell
Of the place and the
hour, and the
secret dread
Of the lonely belfry
and the dead ;
For suddenly all his
thoughts are bent
On a shadowy some-
thing far away.
Where the river widens
to meet the bay, —
A line of black that
bends and floats
On the rising tide, like
a bridge of boats.
The belfry-tower of the Old North Cinirch,
As it rose above the graves on the hill,
Lonely and spectral and sombre and still.
And lo ! as he looks, on the belfry's height
A glimmer, and then a gleam of light !
He springs to the saddle, the bridle he turns,
till full on his sight
A second lamp in
belfry burns !
the
r%-
Meanwhile, impatient to mount and ride,
Booted and spurred, with a heavy stride
On the opposite shore walked Paul Kevere.
Now he patted his horse's side.
Now gazed at the landscape far and near.
Then, impetuous, stamped the earth,
And turned and tightened his saddle-girth ;
But mostly he watched with eager search
But lingers and gazes
A hurry of hoofs in a
village street,
A shape in the moon-
light, a bulk in the
dark,
And beneath, from the
pebbles, in pass-
ing, a spark
Sti'uck out by a steed
flying fearless and
fleet:
That was all ! And
yet, through the
gloom and the
light,
The fate of a nation
was riding that
night :
And the spark struck
out by that steed,
in his flight.
Kindled the land into
flame with its heat.
He has left the village
and mounted the
steep.
And beneath him,
tranquil and broad
and deep,
Is the Mystic, meeting the ocean tides ;
And under the alders, that skirt its edge.
Now soft on the sand, now loud on the ledge.
Is heard the tramp of his steed as he rides.
It was twelve by the village clock
When he crossed the bridge into Medford town.
He heard the crowing of the cock.
LOCHINVAR.
409
And the barking of the farmer's dog,
And felt the damp of the river fog,
That rises after the sun goes down.
It was one by the village clock
When he galloped into Lexington.
He saw the gilded weathercock
Swim in the moonlight as he passed,
And the meeting-house windows, blank and bare,
Gaze at him with a spectral glare.
As if they already stood aghast
At the bloody work they would look upon.
It was two by the village clock
When he came to the bridge in Concord town.
He lieard the bleating of the flock,
And the twitter of birds among the trees,
And felt the breath of the morning breeze
Blowing over the meadows brown.
And one was safe and asleep in bis bed
Who at the bridge would be first to fall,
Who that day would be lying dead,
Pierced by a British musket-ball.
You know the rest. In the books you have read,
How the British Regulars fired and fled, —
How the farmers gave them ball for ball,
From behind each fence and farm-yard wall,
Chasing the red-coats down the lane.
Then crossing the fields to emerge again
Under the trees at the turn of the road.
And only pausing to flre and load.
So through the night rode Paul Revere ;
And so through the night went his cry of alarm
To every Middlesex village and farm, —
A cry of defiance and not of fear,
A voice in the darkness, a knock at the door.
And a word that shall echo for evermore !
For, borne on the night-wind of the Past,
Through all our history, to the last,
In the hour of darkness and peril and need,
The people will waken and listen to hear
The hurrying hoof-beats of that steed.
And the midnight message of Paul Revere.
Henry Wadsworth T;Ongfellow
52
LOCHINVAR.
On, young Lochinvar is come out of the west ;
Through all the wide Border his steed was the best,
And save his good broadsword he weapons had none ;
He rode all unarmed, and he rode all alone.
So faithful in love, and so dauntless in war.
There never was knight l;ke the young Lochinvar.
He stayed not for brake, and he stopped not for stone,
He swam the Eske river where ford there was none ;
But, ere he alighted at Netherby gate.
The bride had consented, the gallant came late :
For a laggard in love and a dastard in war
Was to wed the fair Ellen of brave Lochinvar.
So boldly he entered the Netherby hall.
Among bridesmen and kinsmen, and brothers and all:
Then spoke the bride's father, his hand on his sword
(For the poor craven bridegroom said never a word),
" Oh, come ye in peace here, or come ye in war.
Or to dance at our bridal, young Lord Lochinvar ? "
" I long wooed your daughter, my suit you denied ; —
Love swells like the Solway, but ebbs like its tide ;
410
THE BOOK OF POETRY.
And now I am come, with this lost love of mine
To lead but one measure, drink one cup of wine.
There are maidens in Scotland more lovely by far
That would gladly be bride to the j'oung Lochinvar."
The bride kissed the goblet ; the knight took it up :
He quaffed off the wine, and he threw down the cup.
She looked down to blush, and she looked up to sigh,
With a smile on her lips and a tear in her eye.
He took her soft hand ere her mother could bar, —
" Now tread we a measure ! " said young Lochinvar.
. So stately his form, and so lovely her face.
That never a hall such a galliard did grace ;
While her mother did fret, and her father did fume.
And the bridegroom stood dangling his bonnet and
plume ;
And the bride-maidens whispered, " 'T were better by
far
To have matched our fair cousin with young Lochinvar."
One touch to her hand, and one word in her ear,
When they reached the hall door and the charger stood
near ;
So light to the croup the fair lady he swung.
So light to the saddle before her he sprung !
" She is won ! we are gone, over bank, bush, and scaur !
They '11 have fleet steeds that follow ! " quoth young
Lochinvar.
There was mounting 'mong Grsemes of the Netherby
clan ;
Forsters, Fenwicks, and Musgraves, they rode and
they ran ;
There was racing and chasing on Cannobie Lee ;
But the lost bride of Netherby ne'er did they see.
So daring in love, and so dauntless in war.
Have ye e'er heard of gallant like young Lochinvar ?
Walter Scott.
GOODY BLAKE AND HARRY GILL.
A TEUE STORY.
Oh ! what 's the matter? what 's the matter ?
What is't that ails young Harry Gill,
That evermore his teeth they chatter,
Chatter, chatter, chatter still ?
Of waistcoats Harry has no lack.
Good duffil gray, and flannel fine ;
He has a blanket on his back.
And coats enough to smother nine.
In March, December, and in .July,
'T is all the same with Harry Gill ;
The neighbors tell, and tell you truly,
His teeth they chatter, chatter still.
At night, at morning, and at noon,
'T is all the same with Harry Gill ;
Beneath the sun, beneath the moon,
His teeth they chatter, chatter still.
Young Harry was a lusty drover,
And who so stout of limb as he ?
His cheeks were red as ruddy clover ;
His voice was like the voice of three.
Old Goody Blake was old and poor ;
111 fed she was and thinly clad ;
And any man who passed her door
Might see how poor a hut she had.
All day she spun in her poor dwelling :
And then her three hours' work at night,
Alas ! 't was hardly worth the telling.
It would not pay for candle-light.
Remote from sheltered village green.
On a hill's northern side she dwelt,
Where from sea-blasts the hawthorns lean,
And hoary dews are slow to melt.
By the same fire to boil their pottage.
Two poor old dames, as I have known,
Will often live in one small cottage ;
But she, poor woman ! housed alone.
'T was well enough when summer came,
The long, warm, lightsome summer day.
Then at her door the scanty dame
Would sit, as any linnet gay.
But when the ice our streams did fetter,
Oh, then how her old bones would shake !
You would have said, if you had met her,
'T was a hard time for Goody Blake.
Her evenings then were dull and dead :
Sad case it was, as j'ou may think,
For very cold to go to bed.
And then for cold not sleep a wink.
GOODY BLAKE AND BARRY GILL.
411
O joy for her! whene'er in winter
The winds at night had made a rout ;
And scattered many a lusty splinter,
And many a rotten bouirli about.
Yet never had she, well or sick.
As every man who knew her says,
A pile beforehand, turf or stick.
Enough to warm her for three days.
412
THE BOOK OF POETRY.
Now, when the frost was past enduring,
And made her poor old bones to ache,
Could anything be more alluring
Than an old hedge to Goody Blake?
And now and then, it must be said,
When her old bones were cold and chill,
She left her fire, or left her bed,
To seek the hedge of Harry Gill.
Now Harry he had long suspected
This trespass of old Goody Blake ;
And vowed that she should be detected —
That he on her would vengeance take ;
And oft from his warm fire he 'd go.
And to the fields his road would take ;
And there at night, in frost and snow.
He watched to seize old Goody Blake.
And once behind a rick of barley.
Thus looking out did Harry stand ;
The moon was full and shining clearly.
And crisp with frost the stubble land.
— He hears a noise — he 's all awake —
Again ? — on tiptoe down the hill
He softly creeps — 't is Goody Blake ;
She 's at the hedge of Harry Gill !
Right glad was he when he beheld her ;
Stick after stick did Goody pull :
He stood behind a bush of elder.
Till she had fill'd her apron full
When with her load she turned about
The by-way back again to take ;
He started forward with a shout,
And sprang upon poor Goody Blake.
" God, who art never out of hearing,
Oh may he never more be warm ! "
The cold, cold moon above her head,
Thus on her knees did Goody pray ;
Young Harry heard what she had said,
And icy cold he turned away.
He went complaining all the morrow
That he was cold and very chill :
His face was gloom, his heart was sorrow,
Alas ! that day for Harry Gill !
That day he wore a riding-coat,
But not a whit the warmer he :
Another was on Thursday bought ;
And ere the Sabbath he had three.
'T was all in vain, a useless matter,
And blankets were about him pinned ;
Yet still his jaws and teeth they chatter,
Like a loose casement in the wind.
And Harry's flesh it fell away ;
And all who see him say 't is plain.
That, live as long as live he may.
He never will be warm again.
No word to any man he utters,
A-bed or up, to young or old ;
But ever to himself he mutters,
" Poor Harry Gill is very cold ! "
A-bed or up, by night or day.
His teeth they chatter, chatter still.
Now think, ye farmers all, I pray,
Of Goody Blake and Harry Gill !
William Wordsworth.
And fiercely by the arm he took her,
And by the arm he held her fast.
And fiercely by the arm he shook her.
And cried, " I 've caught you then at last ! '
Then Goody, who had nothing said.
Her bundle from her lap let fall,
And kneeling on the sticks she prayed
To God that is the judge of all.
She prayed, her withered hand uprearing,
While Harry held her by the arm —
HOW THEY BROUGHT THE GOOD NEWS
FROM GHENT TO AIX.
I SPRANG to the stirrup, and Joris, and he ;
I galloped, Dirck galloped, we galloped all three ;
" Good speed \ " cried the watch, as the gate-bolts un-
drew ;
" Speed ! " echoed the wall to us galloping through ;
Behind shut the postern, the lights sank to rest.
And into the midnight we galloped abreast.
LUCT GRAY.
413
Not a word to each other ; we kept the great pace
Neck by ueck, stride by stride, never changing our
place ;
I turned in my saddle and made its girths tight,
Then shortened each stirrup, and set the pique right,
Rebuckled the check-strap, chained slacker the bit.
Nor galloped less steadily Roland a whit.
" How they '11 greet us ! " and all in a moment his roan
Rolled neck and croup over, lay dead as a stone ;
And there was my Roland to bear the whole weight
Of the news which alone could save Aix from her
fate,
With his nostrils like pits full of blood to the brim,
And with circles of red for his eye-sockets' rim.
'T was moonset at starting ; but, while we drew neai-
Lokeren, the cocks crew and twilight dawned clear ;
At Boon, a great yellow star came out to see ;
At Diilfeld, 't was morning as plain as could be ;
And from Mecheln church-steeple we heard the half-
chime.
So Joris broke silence with, "Yet there is time!"
At Aerschot, up leaped of a sudden the sun,
And against him the cattle stood black every one,
To stare through the mist at us galloping past.
And I saw my stout galloper, Roland, at last,
With resolute shoulders each butting away
The haze, as some bluff river headland its spray ;
And his low head and crest, just one sharp ear bent
back
For my voice, and the other pricked out on his track ;
And one eye's black intelligence, — ever that glance
O'er its white edge at me, his own master, askance !
And the thick heavy spume-flakes which aye and anon
His fierce lips shook upwards in galloping on.
By Hasselt, Dirck groaned ; and cried Joris, " Stay
spur !
Your Roos galloped bravely, the fault 's not in her,
We '11 remember at Aix " — for one heard the quick
wheeze
Of her chest, saw the stretched neck, and staggering
knees,
And sunk tail, and horrible heave of the flank.
As down on her haunches she shuddered and sank.
So we were left galloping, Joris and I,
Past Loos and past Tongres, no cloud in the sky ;
The broad sun above laughed a pitiless laugh,
'Neath our feet broke the brittle bright stubble-like
chaff;
Till over by Dalhem a dome-tower sprang white.
And " Gallop," cried Joris. " for Aix is in sight ! "
Then I cast my loose buiF-coat, each holster let fall,
Shook off both my jack-boots, let go belt and all.
Stood up in the stirrup, leaned, patted his ear.
Called my Roland his pet name, my horse without
peer ;
Clapped my hands, laughed and sang, any noise, bad
or good.
Till at length into Aix Roland galloped and stood.
And all I remember is friends flocking round
As I sat with his head 'twixt my knees on the
ground.
And no voice but was praising this Roland of mine,
As I poured down his throat our last measure of
wine.
Which (the burgesses voted by common consent)
Was no more than his due who brought good news
from Ghent.
Robert Browning.
LUCY GRAY.
OR SOLITUDE.
Oft I had heard of Lucy Gray :
And, when I crossed the wild,
I chanced to see at break of day
The solitary child.
No mate, no comrade Lucy knew ;
She dwelt on a wide moor, —
The sweetest thing that ever grew
Beside a human door I
You yet may spy the fawn at play,
The hare upon the green ;
But the sweet face of Lucy Gray
Will never more be seen.
414
THE BOOK OF POETRY.
" To-night will be a stormy night —
You to the town must go ;
And take a lantern, child, to light
Your mother through the snow."
' That, father, will 1 gladly tlu :
'T is scarcely afternoon —
The minster-clock has just struck
two,
Anil vender is the moon ! "
At this the father raised his hook,
And snapped a fagot-band ;
He jilied his work ; — and Lucy
took
The lantern in her hand.
Not blither is the mountain roe :
With many a wanton stroke
Her feet disperse the jiowdery snow,
That rises up like smoke.
The storm came on before its time :
She wandered up and down ;
And many a hill did Lucy climb ;
But never reached the town.
The wretched parents all that night
Went shouting far and wide ;
But there was neither sound nor sight
To serve them for a guide.
At daybreak on a hill they stood
That overlooked the moor ;
And thence they saw the bridge of wood,
A furlong from their door.
They wept, and, turning homeward, cried,
" In heaven we all shall meet ! " —
AVhen in the snow the mother spied
The print of Lucy's feet.
Then downward from the steep hill's edge
They tracked the footmarks small ;
And through the broken hawthorn hedge,
And by the long stone wall ;
And then an open field they ci-ossed ;
The marks were still the same ;
The}' tracked them on, nor ever lost ;
And to the bridge thev came.
They followed from the snowy bank
Those footmarks, one by one,
Into the middle of the plank ;
And further there were none !
Yet some maintain that to this day
She is a living child ;
That you may see sweet Lucy Gray
Upon the lonesome wild.
O'er rough and smooth she trips along,
And never looks behind;
And sings a solitary song
That whistles in the wind.
William Wordsworth.
OLD IRONSIDES.
Ay, tear her tattered ensign down !
Long has it waved on high,
And many an eye has danced to see
That banner in the sky ;
Beneath it rung the battle shout,
And burst the cannon's roar ;
The meteor of the ocean air
Shall sweep the clouds no more !
HORATIUS.
415
Her deck, once red with heroes' blood,
Where knelt the vanquished foe,
When winds were hurrying o'er the flood.
And waves were white below,
No more shall feel the victor's tread,
Or know the conquered knee ; —
The harpies of the shore shall pluck
The eagle of the sea !
Oh better that her shattered hulk
Should sink beneath the wave;
Her thunders shook the mighty
deep.
And there should be her grave ;
That the great house of Tarquin
Should suffer wrong no more.
By the Nine Gods he swore it
And named a trysting day.
And bade his messenger ride forth.
East and west and south and north.
To summon his array.
East and west and south and north
The messengers ride fast.
And tower and town and cottage
Have heard the trumpet's blast.
Shame on the false Etruscan
Who lingers in his home,
AYhen Porsena of Clusium
Is on the march for Rome.
And now hath every city
Sent up her tale of men ;
The foot are fourscore thousand,
The horse are thousands ten.
Before the gates of Sutrium
Is met the great array.
A proud man was Lars Porsena
Upon the trysting day.
Nail to the mast her holy flag.
Set every threadbare sail,
And give her to the god of storms,
The lightning and the gale !
Oliver Wendell Holmes.
HORATIUS.
Lars Porsena of Clusium
By the Nine Gods he swore
For all the Etruscan armies
Were ranged beneath his eye.
And many a banished Roman,
And many a stout ally ;
And with a mighty following
To join the muster came
The Tusculan Mamilius,
Prince of the Latian name.
But by the yellow Tiber
Was tumult and affright :
From all the spacious champaign
To Rome men took their flight.
A mile around the city
The throng stopped up the ways ;
A fearful sight it was to see
Through two long nights and days.
To eastward and to westward
Have spread the Tuscan band ;
Nor house, nor fence, noi- dove-cote
In Crustumerium stands.
416
THE BOOK OF POETRY.
Verbenna down to Ostia
Hath wasted all the plain ;
Astur hath stormed Janiciilum,
And the stout guards are slain.
I wis, in all the Senate,
There was no heart so bold.
But sore it ached and fast it beat.
When that ill news was told.
Forthwith up rose the Consul,
Up rose the Fathers all ;
In haste they girded up their gowns,
And hied tliem to the wall.
By the right wheel rode Mamilius,
Prince of the Latian name ;
And by the left false Sextus,
That wrought the deed of shame.
But when the face of Sextus
Was seen among the foes,
A yell that rent the firmament
From all the town arose.
On the house-tops was no woman
But spat towards him and hissed,
No child but screamed out curses.
And shook its little fist.
They held a council standing
Before the River- Gate ;
Short time was there, ye well may guess,
For musing or debate.
Out spake the Consul roundly :
" The bridge must straight go down ;
For, since Janiculum is lost,
Nought else can save the town."
Just then a scout came flying,
All wild with haste and fear :
" To arms ! to arms ! Sir Consul :
Lars Porsena is here ! "
On the low hills to westward
The Consul fixed his eye.
And saw the swarthy storm of dust
Rise fast along the sky.
And nearer fast and nearer
Doth the red whirlwind come ;
And louder still and still more loud,
From underneath that rolling cloud,
Is heard the trumpet's war-note proud,
The trampling and the hum.
And plainly and more plainly
Now through the gloom appears.
Far to left and far to right,
In broken gleams of dark-blue light,
The long array of helmets bright,
The long array of spears.
Fast by the royal standard,
O'erlooking all the war,
Lars Porsena of Clusium
Sat in his ivory car.
But the Consul's brow was sad.
And the Consul's speech was low,
And darkly looked he at the wall,
And datkly at the foe.
" Their van will be upon us
Before the bridge goes down ;
And if they once may win the bridge,
What hope to save the town ? "
Then out spake brave Horatius,
The Captain of the Gate :
"To every man upon this earth
Death cometh soon or late.
And how can man die better
Than facing fearful odds.
For the ashes of his fathers,
And the temples of his Gods,
" And for the tender mother
Who dandled him to rest,
And for the wife who nurses
His baby at her breast.
And for the holy maidens
Who feed the eternal flame.
To save them from false Sextus
That wrought the deed of shame ?
" Hew down the bridge, Sir Consul,
With all the speed ye may ;
I, with two more to help me,
Will hold the foe in play.
In yon straight path a thousand
May well be stopped by three.
Now who will stand on either hand,
And keep the bridge with me ? "
HORATIUS.
417
Then out spake Spuriiis Lartius ;
A Eamnian proud was he :
" Lo, I will stand at thy right hand,
And keep the bridge with thee."
And out spake strong Herminius ;
Of Titian blood was he :
" I will abide on thy left side,
And keep the bridge with thee."
" Horatius, quoth the Consul,"
"As thou sayest, so let it be."
And straight against that great array
Forth went the dauntless Three.
For Komans in Rome's quarrels
Spared neither land nor gold,
Nor son nor wife, nor limb nor life,
In the brave days of old.
Then none was for a party ;
Then all were for the state ;
Then the great man helped the poor.
And the poor man loved the great ;
Then lands were fairly portioned ;
Then spoils were fairly sold :
The Romans were like brothers
In the brave days of old.
Now Roman is to Roman
More hateful than a foe.
And the Tribunes beard the high,
And the Fathers grind the low.
As we wax hot in faction.
In battle we wax cold :
"Wherefore men fight not as they fought
In the brave days of old.
Now while the Three were tightening
Their harness on their backs.
The Consul was the foremost man
To take in hand an axe :
And Fathers mixed with Commons
Seized hatchet, bar, and crow.
And smote upon the planks above.
And loosed the props below.
Meanwhile the Tuscan army,
Right glorious to behold,
53
Came flashing back the noonday light.
Rank behind rank, like surges bright
Of a broad sea of gold.
Four hundred trumpets sounded
A peal of warlike glee.
As that great host with measured tread,
And spears advanced, and ensigns spread.
Rolled slowly towards the bridge's head.
Where stood the dauntless Three.
The Three stood calm and silent,
And looked upon the foes.
And a great shout of laughter
From all the vanguard rose :
And forth three chiefs came spurring
Before that deep array ;
To earth they sprang, their swords they drew,
And lifted high their shields, and flew
To win the narrow way ;
Annus from green Tifernura,
Lord of the Hill of Vines :
And Seius, whose eight Imndred slaves
Sicken in Ilva's mines;
And Picus, long to Clusium
Vassal in peace and war.
Who led to fight his Umbrian powers
From that gray crag where, girt with towers,
The fortress of Nequinum lowers
O'er the pale waves of Nar.
Stout Lartius hurled down Annus
Into the stream beneath ;
Herminius struck at Seius
And clove him to the teeth ;
At Picus brave Horatius
Darted one fiery thrust ;
And the proud Umbrian's gilded arms
Clashed in the bloody dust.
Then Ocnus of Falerii
Rushed on the Roman Three ;
And Lausulus of Urgo,
The rover of the sea ;
And Aruns of Volsinium,
Who slew the great wild boar, —
The great wild boar that had hia den
418
THE BOOK OF POETRY.
Amidst the reeds of Cosa's fen,
And wasted fields, and slaughtered men,
Along Albinia's shore.
Herminius smote down Aruns ;
Lartius laid Ocnus low ;
Right to the heart of Lausulus
Horatius sent a blow.
" Lie there," he cried, " fell pirate !
No more, aghast and pale,
From Ostia's walls the crowd shall mark
The track of thy destroying bark.
No more Campania's hinds shall fly
To woods and caverns when they spy
Thy thrice accursed sail."
With shield and blade Horatius
Right deftly turned the blow.
The blow, though turned, came yet too nigh;
It missed his helm, but gashed his thigh :
The Tuscans raised a joyful cry
To see the red blood flow.
He reeled, and on Herminius
He leaned one breathing-space ;
Then, like a wild-cat mad with wounds,
Sprang right at Astur's face.
Through teeth, and skull, and helmet.
So fiei'ce a thrust he sped.
The good sword stood a hand-breath out
Behind the Tuscan's head.
But now no sound of laughter
Was heard among the foes.
A wild and wrathful clamor
From all the vanguard rose.
Six spears' length from the entrance
Halted that deep array.
And for a space no man came forth
To win the narrow way.
And the great Lord of Luna
Fell at that deadly stroke.
As falls on Mount Alvernus
A thunder-smitten oak.
Far o'er the crashing forest
The giant arms lie spread ;
And the pale augurs, muttering low.
Gaze on the blasted head.
But hark ! the cry is Astur :
And lo ! the ranks divide ;
And the great Lord of Luna
Comes with his stately stride.
Upon his ample shoulders
Clangs loud the four-fold shield.
And in his hand he shakes the brand
Which none but he can wield.
On Astur's throat Horatius
Right firmly pressed his heel.
And thrice and four times tugged amain,
Ere he wrenched out the steel.
" And see," he cried, " the welcome.
Fair guests, that waits you here !
What noble Lucumo comes next
To taste our Roman cheer ? "
He smiled on those bold Romans
A smile serene and high ;
He eyed the flinching Tuscans,
And scorn was in his eye.
Quoth he, " The she-wolf's litter
Stand savagely at bay :
But will ye dare to follow,
If Astur clears the way ? "
But at his haughty challenge
A sullen murmur ran.
Mingled of wrath, and shame, and dread.
Along that glittering vau.
There lacked not men of prowess.
Nor men of lordly race ;
For all Etruria's noblest
Were round the fatal place.
Then, whirling up his broadsword
With both hands to the height.
He rushed against Horatius,
And smote with all his might.
But all Etruria's noblest
Felt their hearts sink to see
On the earth the bloody corpses.
In the path the dauntless Three :
HORATIUS.
419
And, from the ghostly entrance
Where those bold Romans stood,
All shrank, like bojs who unaware,
Ranging the woods to start a hare,
Come to the mouth of tlie dark lair
Where, growling low, a fierce old bear
Lies amidst bones and blood.
Was none who would be foremost
To lead such dire attack ;
But those behind cried " Forward ! "
And those before cried " Back ! "
And backward now and forward
Wavers tlie deep array ;
And on the tossing sea of steel,
" To and fro the standards reel ;
And the victorious trumpet-peal
Dies fitfully away.
Yet one man for one moment
Strode out before the crowd ;
Well known was lie to all the Three,
And they gave him greeting loud.
" Now welcome, welcome, Sextus !
Now welcome to thy home !
Why dost thou stay, and turn away ?
Here lies the road to Kome."
Thrice looked he at the city ;
Thrice looked he at the dead ;
And thrice came on in fury,
And thrice turned back in dread ;
And, white with fear and hatred,
Scowled at the narrow way
Where, wallowing in a pool of blood,
The bravest Tuscans lay.
But meanwhile axe and lever
Have manfully been plied ;
And now the bridge hangs tottering
Above the boiling tide.
" Come back, come back, Horatius ! "
Loud cried the Fathers all.
" Back, Lartius ! Back, Herminius !
Back, ere the ruin fall ! "
Back darted Spurius Lartius ;
Herminius darted back :
And, as they passed, beneath their feet
They felt the timbers crack.
But when they turned their faces,
And on the farther shore
Saw brave Horatius stand alone,
They would have crossed once more.
But with a crash like thunder
Fell every loosened beam,
And, like a dam, the mighty wreck
Lay right athwart the stream ;
And a long shout of triumph
Rose from the walls of Rome,
As to the highest turret-tops
Was splashed the yellow foam.
And, like a horse unbroken
When first he feels the rein,
The furious river struggled hard.
And tossed his tawny mane.
And burst the curb, and bounded.
Rejoicing to be free.
And, whirling down, in fierce career,
Battlement, and plank, and pier,
Rushed headlong to the sea.
Alone stood brave Horatius,
But constant still in mind;
Thrice thirty thousand foes before,
And the broad flood behind.
" Down with him ! " cried false Sextus,
With a smile on his pale face.
" Now yield thee," cried Lars Porsena,
" Now yield thee to our grace."
Round turned he, as not deigning
Those craven ranks to see ;
Nought spake he to Lars Porsena,
To Sextus nought spake he ;
But he Siiw on Palatinus
The white porch of his home ;
And he spake to the noble river
That rolls by the towers of Rome.
" O Tiber ! father Tiber !
To whom the Romans pray,
A Roman's life, a Roman's arms,
Take thou in charge this day ! "
420
THE BOOK OF POETRT.
So he spake, and speaking sheathed
The good sword by his side,
And, with his harness on his back,
Plunged headlong in the tide.
No sound of joy or sorrow
Was heard from either bank ;
But friends and foes in dumb surprise,
With parted lips and straiuiog eyes,
Stood gazing where he sank ;
And when above the surges
They saw his crest appear,
All Rome sent forth a rapturous cry,
And even the ranks of Tuscany
Could scarce forbear to cheer.
But fiercely ran the current.
Swollen high by mouths of rain,
And fast his blood was flowing,
And he was sore in pain,
And heavy with his armor,
And spent with changing blows :
And oft they thought him sinking,
But still again he rose.
Never, I ween, did swimmer.
In such an evil case.
Struggle through such a raging flood
Safe to the landing place :
But his limbs were borne up bravely
By the brave heart within,
And our good father Tiber
Bare bravely up his chin.
" Curse on him ! " quoth false Sextus ;
" Will not the villain drown ?
But for this stay, ere close of day
We should have sacked the town ! "
" Heaven help him ! " quoth Lars Porsena,
"And bring him safe to shore;
For such a gallant feat of arms
Was never seen before."
And now he feels the bottom ;
Now on dry earth he stands ;
Now round him throng the Fathers,
To press his gory hands ;
And now, with shouts and clapping,
And noise of weeping loud.
He enters through the River-Gate,
Borne by the joyous crowd.
They gave him of the corn-land.
That was of public right.
As much as two strong oxen
Could plow from morn till night ;
And they made a molten image.
And set it up on high,
And there it stands unto this day
To witness if I lie.
It stands in the Comitium,
Plain for all folk to see :
Horatius iu his harness.
Halting upon one knee :
And underneath is written.
In letters all of gold.
How valiantly he kept the bridge
In the brave days of old.
And still his name sounds stirring
Unto the men of Rome,
As the trumpet-blast that cries to them
To charge the Volscian home ;
And wives still pray to Juno
For boys with hearts as bold
As his who kept the bridge so well
In the brave days of old.
Thomas Babington Macaulay.
THE SKELETON IN ARMOR.
'' Speak ! speak ! thou fearful guest !
Who, with thy hollow breast
Still in rude armor drest,
Comest to daunt me !
Wrapt not in Eastern balms,
But with thy fleshless palms
Stretched, as if asking alms,
Why dost thou haunt me ? "
Then, from those cavernous eyes
Pale flashes seemed to rise.
As when the Northern skies
Gleam in December ;
THE SKELETON IN ARMOR.
421
And, like the water's flow
Under December's snow,
Came a dull voice of woe
From the heart's chamber.
" I was a Viking old !
M}' deeds, though manifold,
No Skald in song
has told,
No Saga taught
thee !
Take heed, that in
thy verse
Thou dost the tale
rehearse.
Else dread a dead
man's curse ;
For this I sought
thee.
" Far inthe North-
ern Land,
By the wild Baltic's
strand,
I, with my childish
hand.
Tamed the ger-
falcon ;
And, with my skates
fast-bound,
Skimmed the half-
frozen Sound,
That the poor whim-
pering hound
Trembled to walk
on.
" Oft to his frozen
lair
Tracked I the grisly
bear.
While from my path
the hare
Fled like a shadow ;
Oft through the forest dark
Followed the were-wolf's bark
Until the soaring lark
Sang from tlie meadow.
But when I older grew.
Joining a corsair's crew.
O'er the dark sea I flew
With the marauders.
Wild was the life we led ;
Many the souls that sped,
Many the hearts that bled.
By our stern or-
ders.
" Many a wassail-
bout
Wore the long win-
ter out ;
Often our midnight
shout
Set the cocks
crowing.
As we the Berserk's
tale
Measured in cups
of ale.
Draining the oaken
pail.
Filled to o'er-
flowing.
" Once as I told in
glee
Tales of the stormy
sea.
Soft eyes did gaze
on me.
Burning yet ten-
der ;
And as the white
stars shine
On the dark Nor-
way pine,
On that dark heart
of mine
Fell their soft
splendor.
" I wooed the blue-eyed maid,
Yielding, yet half afraid.
And in the forest's shade
Our vows were plighted.
422
THE BOOK OF POETRY.
Under its loosened vest
Fluttered her little breast,
Like birds within their nest
By the hawk frightened.
" Bright in her father's hall
Shields gleamed upon the wall,
Loud sang the min-
strels all,
Chanting his
glory ;
When of old Hilde-
brand
I asked his daugli
ter's hand,
Mute did the min-
strels stand
To hear my story.
" While the brown
ale he quaffed
Loud then the cham-
pion laughed,
And as the wind-
gusts waft
The sea-foam
brightly,
So the loud laugli
of scorn.
Out of those lips
unshorn.
From the deep
drinking - horn
Blew the foam
lightly.
'■ She was a Prince's
child,
I but a Viking
wild,
And though she
blushed and
smiled,
I was discarded !
Should not the dove so white
Follow the sea-mew's flight.
Why did they leave that night
Her nest unguarded ?
" Scarce had I put to sea,
Bearing the maid with me.
Fairest of all was she
Among the Norsemen !
When on the white sea-strand.
Waving his armed hand.
Saw we old Hildebrand,
With twenty horse.
" Then launched
they to the
blast.
Bent like a reed
each mast,
Yet we were gain-
ing fast.
When the wind
failed us ;
And with a sudden
flaw
Came round the
gusty Skaw,
So that our foe we
saw
Laugh as he
hailed us.
•' And as to catch
the gale
Round veered the
flapping sail.
Death ! was the
helmsman's hail,
Death without
quarter !
Mid-ships with iron
keel
Struck we her ribs
of steel ;
Down her black
hulk did reel
Through the bhick water!
'• As with his wings aslant.
Sails the fierce cormorant.
Seeking some rocky haunt.
With his prey laden.
THE BURIAL OF SIR JOHN MOORE.
423
So toward the open
main,
Beating to sea
again,
Through the wild
hurricane,
Bore I the maid-
en.
" Three weeks we
westward bore,
And when the storm
was o'er,
Cloudlike we saw
the shore
Stretching to lee-
ward ;
There for my lady's
bower
Built I the lofty
tower.
Which, to this very
hour.
Stands looking sea-
ward.
" There lived we
many years ;
Time dried the
maiden's tears ;
She had forgot her
fears.
She was a moth-
er ;
Death closed her
mild blue eyes,
Under that tower she lies ;
Ne'er shall the sun
arise
On such another !
" Still grew my
bosom then,
Still as a stagnant
fen!
Hateful to me were
men,
The sun - light
hateful !
In the vast forest
here.
Clad in my warlike
gear.
Fell I upon my
spear,
Oh, death was
grateful !
" Thus, seamed with
many scars.
Bursting these
prison bars,
Up to his native
stars
My soul ascend-
ed!
There from the
flowing bowl
Deep drinks the
warrior's soul.
Skoal! to the North-
land ! skoal ! "
Thus the tale ended.
Henry Wadsw^okth Longfellow.
THE BURIAL OF SIR JOHN MOORE.
By the struggling moonbeams' misty light.
And the lantern dimly burning.
Not a drum was heard, not a funeral note.
As his corse to the ramparts we hurried ;
Not a soldier discharged his farewell shot
O'er the grave where our hero we buried.
No useless coffin inclosed his breast.
Nor in sheet or in shroud we wound him ;
But he lay like a warrior taking his rest,
With his martial cloak around him.
We buried him darkly at dead of night.
The sods with our bayonets turning,
Few and short were the prayers we said,
And we spoke not a word of sorrow ;
424
THE BOOK OF POETRY.
But we steadlustly gazed on the face of the dead,
Aud we bitterly thouglit of the morrow.
We thought, as we liollowed his narrow bed,
And smoothed down his lonely pillow.
That the foe and the stranger would tread o'er his head,
And we far away on tlie billow.
Lightly they '11 talk of the spirit that 's gone,
Aud o'er his cold ashes upbraid him ;
But little he'll reck, if they let him sleep on
lu the grave where a Briton has laid him.
But half of our heavy task was done,
When the clock struck tlie hour for retiring :
And we heard the distant and random gun
That the foe was sullenly firing.
Slowly and sadly we laid him down,
From the field of his fame fresh and gory ;
We carved not a line, and we raised not a stone,
But we left him alone with his glory.
Charles Wolfe.
LORD ULLIN'S DAUGHTER.
A CHIEFTAIN to the Highlands bound
Cries, " Boatman, do not tarry !
And I'll give thee a silver pound
To row us o'er the ferry."
'' Now who be ye, would cross Lochgyle,
This dark and stormy water ? "
' Oh, I'm the chief of Ulva's isle.
And this Lord Ullin's daughter.
■ And fast before her father's men
Three days we 've fled together.
For should he tind us in the glen,
My blood would stain the heather.
' His horsemen hard behind us ride ;
Should they our steps discover,
Then who will cheer my bonny bride
When they have slain her lover ? "
Out spoke the hardy Higliland wight,
" I '11 go. my chief, I 'm ready :
Ami by my word! the bonny bird
In danger shall not tarry :
So though the waves are raging white,
I '11 row you o'er the ferry."
By this the storm grew loud apace,
The water-wraith was shrieking ;
THE WRECK OF THE HESPERUS.
425
And iu the scowl of Heaven each face
Grew dark as they were speaking.
But still as wilder blew the wind,
And as the night grew drearer,
Adown the glen rode armed men,
Their trampling souilded nearer.
" Oh haste thee, haste ! " the lady cries,
" Though tempests round us gather ;
I '11 meet the raging of the skies,
But not an angry father."
The boat has left the stormy land,
A stormy sea before her, —
When, oh ! too strong for human hand
The tempest gathered o'er her.
And still they rowed amidst the roar
Of waters fast prevailing :
Lord Ulliu reached that fatal shore ;
His wrath was changed to wailing.
For, sore dismaj'ed, through storm and shade
His child he did discover :
One lovelj' hand she stretched for aid,
And one was round her lover.
" Come back ! come back ! " he cried in grief,
" Across this stormy water :
And I '11 forgive your Highland chief,
My daughter ! oh, my daughter ! "
'T was vain ; the loud waves lashed the shore,
Return or aid preventing ;
The waters wild went o'er his chOd,
And he was left lamenting.
Thomas Campbell.
Blue were her eyes as the fairy flax.
Her cheeks like the dawn of day.
And her bosom white as the hawthorn buds.
That ope in the month of May.
The skipper he stood beside the helm,
His pipe was in his mouth.
And he watched how the veering flaw did blow
The smoke now west, now south.
Then up and spake an old sailor,
Had sailed the Spanish Main,
"I pray thee put into yonder port.
For I fear the hurricane.
THE WRECK OF THE HESPERUS.
It was the schooner Hesperus,
That sailed the wintry sea;
And the skipper had taken his little daughter,
To bear him company.
" Last night the moon had a golden ring,
And to-night no moon we see ! "
The skipper he blew a whiff from his pipe,
And a scornful laugh laughed he.
Colder and louder blew the wind,
A gale from the northeast ;
54
426
THE BOOK OF POETRY.
The i?now fell liissing in the brine,
And the billows frothed like yeast.
Down came the storm and smote amain
The vessel in its strength ;
She shuddered and paused like a frighted steed,
Then leaped her cable's length.
" Come hither ! come hither ! my little daughter,
And do not tremble so ;
For I can weather the roughest gale
That ever wind did blow."
He wrapped her warm in his seaman's coat. ~.
Against the stinging blast ;
He cut a rope from a broken spar,
And bound her to the mast.
" O father ! I hear the church bells ring,
Oh say, what may it be ? "
" 'T is a fog-bell on a rook-bound coast ! "
And he steered for the open sea.
" O father ! I see a gleaming light.
Oh say, what may it be ? "
But the father answered never a word, —
A frozen corpse was he.
Lashed to the helm, all stiff and stark,
With his face turned to the skies.
The lantern gleamed through the gleaming snow
On his fixed and glassy eyes.
Then the maiden clasped her hands and prayed
That saved she might be ;
And she thought of Christ who stOled the waves
On the Lake of Galilee.
And fast through the midnight dark and drear.
Through the whistling sleet and snow,
Like a sheeted ghost the vessel swept
Towards the reef of Norman's Woe.
And ever the fitful gusts between
A sound came from the land ;
It was the sound of the trampling surf
On the rocks and the hard sea-sand.
The breakers were right beneath her bows,
She drifted a dreary wreck.
And a whooping billow swept the crew
Like icicles from her deck.
" 0 father ! I hear the sound of guns.
Oh say, what may it be ? "
" Some ship in distress that cannot live
In such an angry sea ! "
She struck where the white and fleecy waves
Looked soft as carded wool.
But the cruel rocks they gored her sides
Like the horns of an angry bull.
THE BEGGAR MAID.
427
Her rattling shrouds all sheathed lu ice,
With the masts went by the board ;
Like a vessel of glass she stove and sank,
Ho ! ho ! the breakers roared.
At day-break on the bleak sea-beach,
A fisherman stood aghast,
To see the form of a maiden fair
Lashed close to a drifting mast.
The salt sea was frozen on her breast,
The salt tears in her eyes ;
And he saw her hair, like the brown sea-weed,
On the billows fall and rise.
Such was the wreck of the Hesperus,
In the midnight and the snow ;
Heaven save us all from a death like this.
On the reef of Norman's Woe !
Henry Wadswoeth Longfellow.
THE BEGGAR MAID.
Her arms across her breast she laid ;
She was more fair than words can say ;
Barefooted came the beggar maid
Before the King Cophetua.
In robe and crown the king stept down,
To meet and greet her on her way ;
' It is no wonder," said the lords,
" She is more beautiful than day."
As shines the moon in clouded skies.
She in her poor attire was seen :
One praised her ankles, one her eyes,
One her dark hair and lovesome mien.
So sweet a face, such angel grace,
In all that land had never been :
Cophetua swore a royal oath :
" This beggar maid shall be my queen."
Alfred Tennyson.
THE BOOK OF ANCIENT STOEIES.
THE HORSE OF WOOD.
FROM CHURCH S STORIES FROM VIEGIL.
Foe ten years King Agamemnon and the men
of Greece laid siege to Troy. But though sen-
tence had gone forth against the city, yet the day
of its fall tarried, because certain of the gods
loved it well and defended it, as Apollo, and
Mars, the god of war, and Father Jupiter him-
self. Wherefore Minerva put it into the heart of
Epeius, Lord of the Isles, that he should make a
cunning device wherewith to take the city. Now
the device was this : he made a great horse of
wood, feigning it to be a peace-offering to Mi-
nerva, that the Greeks might have a safe return to
their homes. In the belly of this there hid them-
selves certain of the bravest of the chiefs, as Men-
elaus, and Ulysses, and Thoas the ^tolian and
Machaon, the great ph3'sician, and Pja-rhus, son of
Achilles (but Achilles himself was dead, slain by
Paris, Apollo helping, even as he was about to
take the city), and others also, and with them
Epeius himself. But the rest of the people made
as if they had departed to their homes ; only they
went not farther than Tenedos, which was an
island near to the coast.
Gi-eat joy was there in Troy when it was noised
abroad that the men of Greece had departed.
The gates were opened, and the people went forth
to see the plain and tlie camp. And one said to
another, as they went, " Here they set the battle
in array, and thei-e were the tents of the fierce
Achilles, and there lay the ships." And some
stood and marveled at the great peace-offering to
Minerva, even the horse of wood. And Thy-
mcetes, who was one of the elders of the city, was
the first who advised that it should be brought
within the walls and set in the citadel. But
whether he gave this counsel out of a false heart,
or because the gods would have it so, no man
knows. And Capys, and others with him, said
that it should be drowned in water, or burned
with fire, or that men should pierce it and see
whether there were aught within. And the people
were divided, some crying one thing and some
another. Then came forward the priest Laocoon,
and a great company with him, crying, '• What
madness is this ? Think ye that the men of Greece
are indeed departed, or that there is any profit in
their gifts? Surely, there are armed men in this
mighty horse ; or haply they have made it that
they may look down upon our walls. Touch it
not, for as for these men of Greece. I fear them,
even though they bi'ing gifts in their hands."
And as he spake he cast his great spear at the
horse, so that it sounded again. But the gods
would not that Troy should be saved.
Meanwhile there came certain shej^herds, drag-
ging with them one whose hands were bound be-
hind his back. He had come forth to them, they
said, of his own accord, when they were in the
field. And first the j'oung men gathered about
him mocking him, but when he cried aloud,
" What place is left for me, for the Greeks suffer
me not to live, and the men of Troy cry for ven-
geance upon me?" they rather pitied him, and
bade him speak, and say whence he came and
what he had to tell.
Then the man spake, tui'ning to King Priam :
THE HORSE OF WOOD.
429
" I Avill speak the truth, whatever befall me. My
name is Sinoii, and I deny not that I am a Greek.
Haply thou hast heard the name of Palamedes,
whom the Greeks slew, but now, being dead,
lament ; and the cause was that, because he coun-
seled peace, men falsely accused him of treason.
Now, of this Palamedes I was a poor kinsman,
and followed him to Troy. And when he was
dead, through the false witness of Ulysses, I lived
in great grief and trouble, nor could I hold my
peace, but sware that if ever I came back to Argos
I would avence me of him that had done this
deed. Then did Ulysses seek occasion against
me, whispering evil things, nor rested till at the
last, Calchas the soothsayer helping him — but
what profit it that I should tell these things? For
doubtless ye hold one Greek to be even as another.
Wherefore slay me, and doubtless ye will do a
pleasure to Ulysses and the sons of Atreus."
Then they bade him tell on, and he said, —
" Often would the Greeks have fled to their
homes, being weary of the w^r, but still the stormy
sea hindered them. And when this horse that
ye see had been built, most of all did the dreadful
thunder roll from the one end of the heaven to
the other. Then the Greeks sent one who should
inquire of Apollo ; and Apollo answered them
thus : ' Men of Greece, even as ye appeased the
winds with blood when ye came to Troy, so must
ye appease them with blood now that ye would go
from thence.' Then did men tremble to think
on whom the doom should fall, and Ulysses, with
much clamor, drew forth Calchas the soothsayer
into the midst, and bade him say who it was that
the gods would have as a sacrifice. Then did
many forebode evil for me. Ten days did the
sootlisayer keep silence, saying that he would not
give any one to death. But then, for in truth
the two had planned the matter beforehand, he
spake, appointing me to die. And to this thing
they all agreed, each being glad to turn to another
that which he feared for himself. But when the
day was come, and all things wei'e ready, the salted
meal for the sacrifice and the garlands, lo ! I burst
my bonds and fled, and hid myself in the sedges
of a pool, waiting till they should have set sail, if
haply that might be. But never shall I see coun-
try, or father, or children again. For doubtless
on these will they take vengeance for my flight.
Only do thou, O king, have pity on me, who have
suffered many things, and yet have harmed no
man."
And King Priam had pity on him, and bade
them loose his bonds, saying, " Whoever thou art,
forget now thy country. Henceforth thou art one
of us. But tell me true : why made they this
huge horse ? Who contrived it ? What seek
they by it ? to please the gods or to further their
siege ? "
Then said Sinon, and as he spake he stretched
his hands to the sk)', " I call you to witness, ye
everlasting fires of heaven, that with good right I
now break my oath of fealty and reveal the se-
crets of my countrymen. Listen then, O king.
All our hope has ever been in the heljo of Mi-
nerva. But, from the day when Diomed and
Ulysses dared, having bloody hands, to snatch her
image from her holy place in Ti-oy, her face was
turned from us. Well do I remember how the
eyes of the image, well-nigh before they had set it
in the camp, blazed with wrath, and how the salt
sweat stood upon its limbs, aye, and how it thrice
leaped from the ground, shaking shield and spear.
Then Calchas told us that we must cross the
seas again, and seek at home fresh omens for our
war. And this, indeed, they are doing even now,
and will return anon. Also the soothsayer said,
' Meanwhile ye must make the likeness of a horse,
to be a peace-ofl^ering to Minerva. And take heed
that ye make it huge of bulk, so that the men of
Troy may not receive it into their gates, nor bring
it within their walls, and get safety for themselves
thereby. For if,' he said, ' the men of Troy harm
this image at all, they shall surely perish ; but if
they bring it into their city, then shall Asia lay
siege hereafter to the city of Pelops, and our chil-
dren shall suffer the doom which we would fain
have brought on Troy.' "
These words wrought much on the men of Troy,
and as they pondered on them, lo ! the gods sent
430
THE BOOK OF ANCIENT STORIES.
another marvel to deceive them. For while Lao-
cocin, the priest of Neptune, was slaying a bull
at the altar of his god, there came two serpents
across the sea from Tenedos, whose heads and,
necks whereon were thick manes of hair, were
high above the
waves, and
many scaly
coils trailed be-
ll i ii d in the
waters. And
when they
reached the
land they still
sped forward.
Their eyes were
red as blood and
blazed with fire,
and their forked
tongues hissed
loud for rage.
Then all the
men of Troy
grew pale with
fear and fled
away, but these
turned not aside
this way or that,
seeking Laoco-
on where he
stood. And first
they wrapped
themselves
about his little
sons, one ser-
pent about
each, and be-
gan to devour
them. And
when the father would have given help to his chil-
dren, having a sword in his hand, they seized upon
himself, and bound him fast with their folds. Twice
they compassed about his body, and twice his neck,
lifting their heads far above him. And all the
while he strove to tear them away with his hands,
his priest's garlands dripping with blood. Nor did
he cease to cry horribly aloud, even as a bull bel-
lows when after an ill stroke of the axe it flees
from the altar. But when their work was done,
the two glided to the citadel of Minerva, and hid
themselves beneath the feet and the shield of the
goddess. And men said one to another, " Lo ! the
priest Laocoon has been judged according to his
deeds ; for he cast his spear against this holy
thing, and now the gods have slain him." Then
all cried out together that the horse of wood must
be drawn to the citadel. Whereupon they opened
the Sc£ean Gate, and pulled down the wall that
was thereby, and put rollers under
the feet of the horse, and joined
ropes thereto. So, in much joj%
,\ , they drew it into the city,^'ouths
and maidens
i^inging about it
the while, and
laying their
liands to the
ropes with great
gladness. And
yet there want-
ed not signs and
tokens of evilto
come. Four
times it halted
on the thresh-
old of the
gate, and men
m i g h t have
heard the clash-
i n g of a r m s
within. Cas-
sandra also
opened her
mouth, proph-
esying evil : but no man heeded her, for that was
ever the doom upon her, not to be believed speak-
ing truth. So the men of Troy drew the horse into
the city. And that night they kept a feast to all
the gods with great joy, not knowing that the last
day of the great city had come.
THE CYCLOPS.
431
THE CYCLOPS.
FROM CHTTBCHS STORIES FROM HOMER.
When the great city of Troy was taken, all
the chiefs who had fought against it set sail for
their homes. But there was wratli in heaven
against them, for indeed they had borne them-
selves haughtily and cruelly in the day of their
victory. Few, therefore, found a safe and happy
return. For one was shipwrecked, and another
was shamefully slain by his false wife in his pal-
ace, and others found all things at home troubled
and changed, and were driven to seek new dwell-
ings elsewhere. And some, whose wives and
friends and people had been still true to them
through those ten long years of absence, were
driven far and wide about the world before they
saw their native land again. And of all, the wise
Ulysses was he who wandered farthest and suf-
fered most.
He was well-nigh the last to sail, for he had tar-
ried many days to do pleasure to Agamemnon,
lord of all the Greeks. Twelve ships he had with
him — twelve he had brought to Troy — and in
each there were some fifty men, being scarce half
of those that had sailed in them in the old days,
so many valiant heroes slept the last sleep by
Simoi's and Scamander, and in the plain and on
the sea-shore, slain in battle or by the shafts of
Apollo.
First they sailed northwest to the Thracian
coast, where the Ciconians dwelt, who had helped
the men of Troy. Their city they took, and in it
much plunder, slaves and oxen, and jars of fra-
grant wine, and might have escaped unhurt, but
that they stayed to hold revel on the shore. For
the Ciconians gathered their neighbors, being men
of the same blood, and did battle with the invad-
ers, and drove them to their ship. And when
Ulysses numbered his men, he found that he had
lost six out of each ship.
Scarce had he set out again when the wind be-
gan to blow fiercely; so, seeing a smooth sandy
beach, they drave the ships ashore and dragged
them out of reach of the waves, and waited till
the storm should abate. And the third morning
being fair, they sailed again, and journeyed pros-
perously till they came to the very end of the
great Peloponnesian land, where Cape Malea
looks out upon the southern sea. But contrary
currents baffled them, so that they could not round
it, and the north wind blew so strongly that they
must fain drive before it. And on the tenth day
they came to the land where the lotus grows — a
wondrous fruit, of which whosoever eats cares not
to see country or wife or children again. Now the
lotus-eaters, for so they called the people of the
land, were a kindly folk, and gave of the fruit to
some of the sailors, not meaning them any harm,
but thinking it to be the best that they had to
give. These, when they had eaten, said that they
would not sail any more over the sea ; whicii, when
the wise Ulysses heard, he bade their comrades
bind them and carry them, sadly complaining, to
the ships.
Then, the wind having abated, they took to
their oars, and rowed for many days till they came
to the country where the Cyclopes dwell. Now, a
mile or so from the shore there was an island, very
fair and fertile, but no man dwells there or tills
the soil, and in the island a harbor where a ship
may be safe from all winds, and at the head of
the harbor a stream falling from a rock, and whis-
pering alders all about it. Into this the ships
passed safely, and were hauled ujd on the beach,
and the crews slept by them, waiting for the
morning. And the next day they hunted the
wild goats, of which there was great store on
the island, and feasted right merrily on what they
caught, with draughts of red wine which they had
carried off from the town of the Ciconians.
But on the morrow Ulysses, for he was ever
fond of adventure, and would know of every land
432
THE BOOK OF ANCIENT STORIES.
to which he came what manner of men they were
that dwelt there, took one of his twelve ships and
bade row to the land. There was a great hill
sloping to the shore, and there rose up here and
there a smoke from the caves where the Cyclopes
dwelt apart, holding no converse with each other,
for they were a rude and savage folk, but ruled
each his own household, not caring for others.
Now very close to the shore was one of these
caves, very huge and deep, with laurels round
about the mouth, and in front a fold with walls
built of rough stone, and shaded by tall oaks and
pines. So Ulysses chose out of the crew tlie
twelve bravest, and bade the rest guard the ship,
and went to see what manner of dwelling this
was, and who abode there. He had his sword by
his side, and on his shoulder a mighty skin of
wine, sweet-smelling and strong, with which he
might win the heart of some fierce savage, should
he chance to meet with such, as indeed his pru-
dent heart forecasted that he might.
So they entered the cave, and judged that it
was the dwelling of some rich and skillful shep-
herd. For within there were pens for the young
of the sheep and of the goats, divided all accord-
ing to their age, and there were baskets full of
cheeses, and full milk pails ranged along the wall.
But the Cyclops himself was away in the past-
ures. Then the companions of Ulysses besought
hira that he would depart, taking with him, if he
would, a store of cheeses and sundry of the lambs
and of the kids. But he would not, for he wished
to see, after his wont, what manner of host this
strange shepherd might be. And truly he saw it
to his cost !
It was evening when the Cyclops came home, a
mighty giant, twenty feet in height, or more. On
his shoulder he bore a vast bundle of pine logs
for his fire, and threw them down outside the cave
with a great crash, and drove the flocks within,
and closed the entrance with a huge rock, which
twenty wagons and more could not bear. Then
he milked the ewes and all the she-goats, and half
of the milk he curdled for cheese, and half he set
ready for himself, when he should sup. Next he
kindled a fire with the pine logs, and the flame
lighted up all the cave, showing him Ulysses and
his comrades.
" Who are ye ? " cried Polyphemus, for that was
the giant's name. " Are ye traders, or, haply, pi-
rates?"
For in those days it was not counted shame to
be called a pirate.
Ulysses shuddered at the dreadful voice and
shape, but bore him bravely, and answered, " We
are no pirates, mighty sir, but Greeks, sailing back
from Troy, and subjects of the great King Aga-
memnon, whose fame is spread from one end of
heaven to the other. And we are come to beg
hospitality of thee in the name of Zeus, who re-
wards or punishes hosts and guests according as
they be faithful the one to the other, or no."
"Nay," said the giant, "it is but idle talk to
tell me of Zeus and the other gods. We Cyclopes
take no account of gods, holding ourselves to be
much better and stronger than they. But come,
tell me where have you left your ship ? "
But Ulysses saw his thought when he asked
about the ship, how he was minded to break it,
and take from them all hope of flight. Therefore
he answered him craftily, —
" Ship have we none, for that which was ours
King Poseidon brake, driving it on a jutting rock
on this coast, and we whom thou seest are all that
are escaped from the waves."
Polyphemus answered nothing, but without
more ado caught up two of the men, as a man
might catch up the whelps of a dog, and dashed
them on the ground and tore them, with huge
draughts of milk between, limb fi-om limb, and
devoured them, leaving not a morsel, not even
the very bones. But the others, when they saw
the dreadful deed, could only weep and pray to
Zeus for help. And when the giant had ended
his foul meal, he lay down among his sheep and
slept.
Then Ulysses questioned much in his heart
whether he should slay the monster as he slept,
for he doubted not that his good sword would
pierce to the giant's heart, mighty as he was.
THE OYOLOPS.
433
But, being very wise, he remembered that, should
he slay him, he and his comrades would yet perish
miserably. For who should move away the great
rock that lay against the door of the cave ? So
they waited till the morning. And the monster
woke, and milked his flocks, and afterwards, seiz-
ing two men. devoured them for his meal. Then
he went to the pastures, but put the great rock
on the mouth of the cave, just as a man puts down
the lid upon his quiver. All that day the wise
Ulysses was thinking what he might do to save
himself and his companions, and the end of his
thinking was this : There was a mighty pole in the
cave, green wood of an olive tree, big as a ship's
mast, which Polj'phemus purposed to use, when
the smoke should have dried it, as a walking staff.
Of this he cut off a fathom's length, and his com-
rades sharpened it and hardened it in the fire, and
then hid it away. At evening the giant came
back, and drove his sheep into the cave, nor left
the rams outside, as he had been wont to do be-
fore, but shut them in. And having duly done
his shepherd's work, he made his cruel feast as be-
fore. Then Ulysses came forward with the wine-
skin in his hand, and said, —
" Drink, Cyclops, now that thou hast feasted.
Drink, and see what precious things we had in
our ship. But no one hereafter will come to thee
55
with such like, if thou dealest with strangers as
cruelly as thou hast dealt with us."
Then the Cyclops drank, and was mightily
pleased, and said, " Give me again to drink, and
tell me thy name, stranger, and I will give thee a
gift such as a host should give. In good truth this
is a rare liquor. We, too, have vines, but they
bear not wine like this, which indeed must be
such as the gods drink in heaven."
Then Ulysses gave him the cup again, and he
434
THE BOOK OF ANCIENT STORIES.
drank. Thrice he gave it to him, and thrice he
drank, not knowing what it was, and how it
would work within his brain.
Then Ulysses spake to him. " Thou didst ask
my name, Cyclops. Lo ! my name is No Man.
And now that thou knowest my name, thou
shouldst give me thy gift."
A nd he said, " My gift shall be that I will eat
thee last of all thy company."
And as he spoke he fell back in a drunken
sleep. Then Ulysses bade his comrades be of
good courage, for the time was come when they
should be delivered. And they thrust the stake
of olive wood into the fire till it was ready, green
as it was, to burst into flame, and they thrust it
into the monster's eye; for he had but one eye,
and that in the midst of his forehead, with the
eyebrow below it. And Ulysses leaned with all
his force upon the stake, and thrust it in with
might and main. And the burning wood hissed
in the eye, just as the red-hot iron hisses in the
water when a man seeks to temper steel for a
sword.
Then the giant leaped up, and tore away the
stake, and cried aloud, so that all the Cyclopes
who dwelt on the mountain side heard him and
came about his cave, asking him, " What aileth
thee, Polyphemus, that thou makest this uproar
iu the peaceful night, driving away sleep ? Is any
one robbing thee of thy sheep, or seeking to slay
thee by craft or force ? "
And the giant answered, " No Man slays me by
craft."
"Nay, but," they said, "if no man does thee
wrong, we cannot help thee. The sickness which
great Zeus may send, who can avoid ? Pray to
our father, Poseidon, for help."
Then they departed ; and Ulysses was glad at
heart for the good success of his device, when he
said that he was No Man.
But the Cyclops rolled away the great stone
from the door of the cave, and sat in the midst,
stretching out his hands, to feel whether perchance
the men within the cave would seek to go out
among the sheep.
Long did Ulysses think how he and his com-
rades should best escape. At last he lighted upon
a good device, and much he thanked Zeus for that
tins once the giant had driven the rams with the
other sheep into the cave. For, these being great
and strong, he fastened his comrades under the
bellies of the beasts, tying them with osier twigs,
of which the giant made his bed. One ram he
took, and fastened a man beneath it, and two oth-
ers he set, one on either side. So he did with the
six, for but six were left out of the twelve who
had ventured with him from the ship. And there
was one mighty ram, far larger than all the others,
and to this Ulysses clung, grasping the fleece tight
with both his hands. So they waited for the
morning. And when the morning came, the rams
rushed forth to the pasture ; but the giant sat in
the door and felt the back of each as it went by,
nor thought to try what might be underneath.
Last of all went the great ram. And the Cyclops
knew him as he passed, and said, —
" How is this, thou, who art the leader of the
flock ? Thou art not wont thus to lag behind.
Thou hast always been the first to run to the past-
ures and streams in the morning, and the first to
come back to the fold when evening fell ; and now
thou art last of all. Perhaps thou art troubled
about thy master's eye, which some wretch — No
Man, they call him — has destroyed, having first
mastered me with wine. He has not escaped, I
ween. I would that thou couldst speak, and tell
me where he is lurking. Of a truth I would dash
out his brains upon the ground, and avenge me of
this No Man."
So speaking, he let him pass out of the cave.
But when they were out of reach of the giant,
Ulysses loosed his hold of the ram, and then un-
bound his comrades. And they hastened to their
ship, not forgetting to drive before them a good
store of the Cyclops' fat sheep. Right glad were
those that had abode by the ship to see them.
Nor did they lament for those that had died,
though they were fain to do so, for Ulysses for-
bade, fearing lest the noise of their weeping should
betray them to the giant, where they were. Then
THE CYCLOPS.
435
they all climbed into the ship, and sitting well in
ordei' on the benches, smote the sea with their oars,
laying to right lustily, that they might the sooner
get away from the accursed land. And when they
had rowed a hundred yards or so, so that a man's
voice could yet be heard by one who stood upon
the shore, Ulysses stood up in the ship and
shouted : —
" He was no coward, O Cyclops, whose com-
rades thou didst so foully slay in thy den. Justly
ai-t thou punished, monster, that devourest thy
guests in thy dwelling. May the gods make thee
suffer j'et worse things than these I "
Then the Cyclops, in his wrath, broke off the
top of a great hill a mighty rock, and hurled it
where he had heard the voice. Right in front of
the ship's bow it fell, and a great wave rose as it
sank, and washed the ship back to the shore. But
Ulysses seized a long pole with both hands and
pushed the ship from the land, and bade his com-
rades ply their oars, nodding with his head, for he
was too wise to speak, lest the Cyclops should
know where they were. Then they rowed with
all their might and main.
And when they had gotten twice as far as be-
fore, Ulysses made as if he would speak again ;
but his comrades sought to hinder him, saying,
" Nay, my lord, anger not the giant any more.
Surely we thought before we were lost, when he
threw the great rock, and washed our ship back to
the shore. And if he hear thee now, he may crush
our ship and us, for the man throws a mighty bolt
and throws it far."
But Ulysses would not be persuaded, but stood
up and said, " Hear, Cyclops ! If any man ask
who blinded thee, say that it was the warrior
Ulysses, son of Laertes, dwelling in Ithaca."
And the Cyclops answered with a groan, " Of
a truth, the old oracles are fulfilled, for long ago
there came to this land one Telemus, a prophet,
and dwelt among us even to old age. This man
foretold to me that one Ulysses would rob me of
my sight. But I looked for a great man and a
strong, who should subdue me by force, and now
a weakling has done the deed, having cheated me
with wine. But come thou hither, Ulysses, and I
will be a host indeed to thee. Or, at least, may
Poseidon give thee such a voyage to thy home as
I would wish thee to have. For know that Posei-
don is my sire. May be that he may heal me of
my grievous wound."
And Ulysses said, " Would to God I could send
thee down to the abode of the dead, where thou
wouldst be past all healing, even from Poseidon's
self."
Then Cyclops lifted up his hands to Poseidon
and prayed : —
" Hear me, Poseidon, if I am indeed thy son and
thou my father. May this Ulysses never reach
his home ! or, if the Fates have ordered that he
should reach it, may he come alone, all his com-
rades lost, and come to find sore trouble in his
house ! "
And as he ended he hui'led another mighty
rock, which almost lighted on the rudder's end,
yet missed it, as by a hair's breadth. So Ulysses
and his comrades escaped, and came to the island
of the wild goats, where they found their com-
rades, who indeed had waited long for them, in
sore fear lest they had perished. Then Ulysses
divided amongst his company all the sheep which
they had taken from the Cyclops. And all, with
one consent, gave him for his share the great ram
which had carried him out of the cave, and he sac-
rificed it to Zeus. And all that day they feasted
right merrily on the flesh of sheep and on sweet
wine, and when the night was come they lay down
upon the shore and slept.
436
THE BOOK OF ANCIENT STORIES.
THE STORY OF KING CRCESUS.
FKOM CHURCH S STOEIES OF THE EAST.
CrcesUS, the son of Alyattes, began to reign
over Lydia, being thirty and five years old. This
Ci'oesus made war upon all the Greeks that dwelt
in the western parts of Asia, seeking some oc-
casion of quarrel with every city. And if he
could find some great matter, he used it gladly ;
but if not, a little thing would serve his turn.
Now, the first of all the cities which he fought
against was Ephesus ; and when the Ephesians
were besieged by him they offered their city as
an offering to the goddess Artemis, fastening a
rope to the wall from her temple. (The space
between the temple and the wall was seven fur-
longs.) All the cities of the Greeks that are on
the main-land did Croesus subdue, so tha't they
paid tribute to him. And when he had ended
this business, he purposed in his heart to build
ships, and to make war on the Greeks that dwelt
in the islands. But when all things were now
ready for the building of the ships, there came to
Sardis a certain Greek, a man renowned for wis-
dom. Some say that this Greek was Bias, the wise
man of Priene, and some that he was Pittacus of
Mitylene. This Greek caused Croesus to cease
from his sliipbuilding, for when the king would
know whether he had any news from Greece, he
said to him, "O king, the islanders are buying
ten thousand horses, that they may set riders
upon them, and so march against thee and thy
city of Sardis." When CrcEsus heard this he was
glad, hoping that the man spake truth, and said,
" Now may the gods put this into the hearts of
the islanders, that they should make war with
horses against the sons of the Lydians." Then
the Greek answered and said, " O king, I see that
thou prayest with all thy heart that thou mayest
find the islanders coming against thee here on the
main-land with horses, and verily thou doest well.
What then dost thou think that the islanders pray
for now that they know thee to be building ships ?
Surely that they may find the Lydians coming
against them on the sea, that so they may take
vengeance on thee for their brethren on the main-
land, whom thou hast brought into slavery."'
This saying pleased King Croesus mightily ; and
because the Greek seemed to him to speak truly,
he ceased straightway from his shipbuilding, and
made alliance with the Greeks that dwelt in the
islands.
Now after certain years, when all Asia that
lieth to the westward of the river Halys had been
subdued by Croesus (only Lydia and Cilicia were
not subdued), and his kingdom flourished with
great wealth and honor, there came to Sardis all
the wise men of the Greeks, as many as there
were in those days. But the greatest of all that
came was Solon of Athens. This Solon had made
laws for the Athenians, for they would have him
make them, and afterwards he dwelt abroad for
ten years. And he said that he did this that he
might see foreign countries ; but in truth he de-
parted that he might not be compelled to change
any of the laws that he had made. For the Athe-
nians themselves could not change anj', having
bound themselves with great oaths to Solon, that
they would live for the space of ten years under
the laws which he had made for them.
Solon therefore came to Sardis, and Croesus en-
tertained him in his palace. And on the third or
fourth day after his coming the King commanded
his servants that they should show Solon all the
royal treasures. So the servants showed him all
the things that the king possessed, a very great
store of riches. And when he had seen every-
thing and considered it, and a fitting time was
come, the king said to him, " Man of Athens, I
have heard much of thee in time past, of thy wis-
dom and of thy journeyings to and fro, for they
say that thou wanderest over many lands, seeking
for knowledge. I have therefore a desire to ask
THE STORY OF KING GR(ESUS.
437
of thee one question : ' Whom thinkest thou to be
the happiest of all the men that thou hast seen ? ' "
And this he said hoping that Solon would answer,
" Thou, O king, art the happiest man that I have
seen." But Solon flattered him not a whit, but
spake the truth, saying, " O king, the happiest
man that I have seen was Tellus the Athenian."
Then Croesus, marveling much at these words,
said, '' And why thinkest thou that Tellus the
Athenian was the happiest of men ? " Then Solon
answered, " Tellus saw his country in great pros-
perity, and he had children born to him that were
fair and noble, and to each of these also he saw
children born, of wdiom there died not one. Thus
did all things prosper with him in life, as we
count prosperity, and the end of his days also was
great and glorious ; for when the Athenians fought
■with certain neighbors of theirs in Eleusis, he
came to the help of his countrymen against their
enemies, and put these to flight, and so died with
great honor ; and the whole people of the Athe-
nians buried him in the same place wherein he
fell, and honored him greatly."
But when Solon had ended speaking to the
king of Tellus, how happy he was, the king asked
him again, " Whom, then, hast thou seen that
was next in happiness to this Tellus ? " For he
thought to himself, " Surelj' now he will give me
the second place." Then Solon said, " I judge
Cleobis and Biton to have been second in happi-
ness to Tellus."
Cleobis and Biton were youths of the city of
Argos. They had a livelihood such as sufficed
them ; and their strength was greater than that
of other men. For not only did they win prizes
of strength, but also they did this thing that shall
now be told. The men of Argos held a feast to
Her^, who hath a great and famous temple in
their city ; and it must needs be that the mother
of the two young men, being priestess of Her6,
should be drawn in a wagon from the city to the
temple ; but the oxen that should have drawn the
wagon were not yet come from the fields. Then,
as the time pressed and the matter was urgent,
the young men harnessed themselves to the wagon
and dragged it, and their mother the priestess sat
upon it. And the space for which they dragged
it was forty and five furlongs ; and so they came
to the temple. And when they had done this
in the eyes of all the assembly, there befell them
such a death that nothing could be more to be
desired ; the gods, indeed, making it manifest
that it is far better for a man to die than to live.
For indeed the thing fell out thus. When all the
people of Argos came about the woman and her
sons, and the men praised the youths for their
great strength, and the women praised the mother
that she had borne such noble sons, the mother
in the joy of her heart stood before the image and
prayed that the goddess would give to her sons,
even Cleobis and Biton, that which the gods
judge it best for a man to have. And when the
priestess had so prayed, and the young men had
offered sacrifice, and made merry with their com-
panions, they lay down to sleep in the temple,
and woke not again, but so ended their daj's. And
the men of Argos commanded the artificers that
they should make statues of the young men, and
these they offered to the god at Delphi.
But when Solon thus gave the second place of
happiness to these young men. King Croesus was
very wroth, and said, " Man of Athens, thou
countest my happiness as nothing worth, not
deeming me fit to be compared even with com-
mon men." Then Solon made answer, " O' Croe-
sus, thou askest me about mortal life to say
whether it be happy or no, but I know that the
gods are jealous and apt to bring trouble upon
men. I know also that if a man's years be pro-
longed he shall see many things that he would
fain not see, aye, and suffer many things also.
Now I reckon that the years of a man's life are
tlireescore and ten, and that in these years there
are twenty and five thousand days and two hun-
dred. For this is the number, if a man reckon
not the intercalated month. But if he reckon
this, seeing that in threescore and ten years are
thirty and five such months, and the daj's of these
months are one thousand and fift j', then the whole
sum of the days of a man's life is twenty and six
438
THE BOOK OF ANCIENT STORIES.
thousand two hundred and fifty. Now of these
days, being so many, not one bringeth to a man
things like to those which another hath bi'ought.
Wherefore, O king, the whole life of man is full
of chance. I see indeed that thou hast exceeding
great wealth and art king of many men. But as
to that which thou askest of me, I call thee not
happy, tilM shall know that thou hast ended thy
days prosperously. For the man that hath ex-
ceeding great riches is in no wise happier than he
that hath sufficient only for the day, unless good
fortune also remain with him, and give him all
things that are to be desired, even unto the end of
his days. For many men that are wealthy beyond
measure are nevertheless unhappj', and many that
have neither poverty nor riclies have yet great hap-
piness, and he that is exceeding rich and unhappy
withal, excelleth him that hath moderate posses-
sions with happiness in two things only, but the
other excelleth in many things. For the first hatli
the more strength to satisfy the desires of his soul,
and also to bear up against any misfortune that
cometh upon him ; but the second hath not this
strength ; and indeed he needeth it not, for his
good fortune keepeth such things far from hira.
Also he is whole in body, and of good health, nei-
ther doth misfortune trouble him, and he hath good
children, and is fair to look upon. And if, over
and above these things, he also end his life well,
then I judge him to be the happy man whom thou
seekest. But till he die, so long do I hold my
judgment, and call him not happy indeed, but
fortunate. It is impossible also that any man
should comprehend in his life all things that be
good. For even as a country sufficeth not for
itself nor produceth all things, but hath certain
things of its own and receiveth certain from others,
and as that country which produceth the most is
counted the best, even so is it with men, for no
man's body sufficetli for all things, but hath one
thing and lacketh another. Whosoever, O king,
keepeth ever the greatest store of things, and so
endeth his life in a seemly fashion, this man de-
serveth in my judgment to be called happy. But
we must needs regard the end of all things, how
they shall turn out ; for the gods give to many
men some earnest of happiness, but yet in the end
overthrow them utterly."
These were the words of Solon. But they
pleased not King Croesus by any means. There-
fore the king made no account of him, and dis-
missed him as being a foolish and ignorant person,
seeing that he took no heed of the blessings that
men have in their hands, bidding them always
have regard unto their end.
Now it came to pass after Solon had departed
ivom Sardis that there came great wrath from the
gods upon King Croesus, and this, doubtless, be-
cause he judged himself to be the happiest of all
men. And it happened in this wise : He saw a
vision in his sleej), that told him of the trouble
that should come upon him with respect to his
son. For the king had two sons ; but the one
was afflicted of the gods, being dumb from his
birth, but the other far surpassed his equals of age
in all things. And the name of his son was Atys.
Now the vision that he saw in his sleep showed
him that Atys should be smitten with a spear-
point of iron, and so die. Therefore when he
woke from his sleep and considered the matter,
being much terrified by the dream, he sought how
he might best keep his son from this peril. First,
then, he married him to a wife ; and next, he
suffered him not to go forth any more to battle,
thousli he had been wont aforetime to be the
captain of the host ; and, besides all this, he took
away all javelins and spears, and such like things
that men are wont to use in battle, from the
chambers of the men, and stored them elsewhere,
lest perchance one of them should fall from its
place where it hung upon the wall and give the
youth a hurt.
Now it chanced that while the matter of the
young man's marriage was in hand, there came to
Sardis a certain stranger, upon whom there had
come the great trouble of blood-guiltiness. The
man was a Phrygian by birth, and of the royal
house : and he came into the palace of Croesus,
after the custom, of that countrj', and sought for
one that should cleanse him from his guilt ; and
THE STORY OF KING CRCESUS.
439
Crcesus cleansed him. (Now the manner of cleans-
ing is the same, for the most part, among the
Lydians as it is among the Greeks.) And when
the king had done for him according to all that
was prescribed in the law, he would fain know
who he was, and whence he had come. Where-
fore he asked him, saying, "My friend, who art
thou? and from what city of Phrj'gia — for that
thou art a Plirygian I know — art thou come,
taking sanctuary at my hearth ? And what man
or woman didst thou slay ? " And the man an-
swered, " O king, I am the son of Gordias, the
son of Midas, and my name is Adrastus, and I slew
my own brother, not wittingly. For this cause am
I come to thee, for my father drave me out from
my home, and I am utterly bereft of all things."
To this King Crcesus made repl}', " Thou art the
son of friends, and to a friend art thou come.
Verily as long as thou abidest here thou shalt
lack for nothing that I can give thee. And as for
thy trouble, it will be best for thee to bear it as
easily as may be." So the man lived thenceforth
in the king's palace.
Now about this time there was a mighty wild
boar in Olympus, that is a mountain of Mysia. It
had its den in the mountain, and going out thence
did much damage to the possessions of the Mj's-
ians ; and the Mysians had often sought to slay
him, but harmed him not at all, but rather re-
ceived harm themselves. At the last they sent
messengers to the king ; who stood before him,
and said, " O king, a mighty monster of a wild
boar hath his abode in our country and destroyeth
our possessions, and though we would fain kill
him we cannot. Now, therefore, we pray thee that
thou wilt send thy son, and chosen youths with
him, and dogs for hunting, that they may go with
us, and that we may drive this great beast out of
our land." But when they made this request
Croesus remembered the dream which he had
dreamed, and said, " As to my son, talk no more
about him, for I will by no means let him go, see-
ing that the youth is newly married to a wife, and
careth now for other things. But chosen youths
of the Lydians shall go with you, and all the hunt-
56
ing dogs that I have ; and I will bid them do their
utmost to heljD you, that ye may drive this wild
beast out of your land." This was the king's
answer ; and the Mysians were fain to be content
with it. But in the meanwhile the youth came in,
for he had heard what the Mysians demanded of
his father ; and he spake to the king, saying, " O
my father, I was wont aforetime to win for myself
great credit and honor going forth to battle and to
hunting. But now thou forbiddest me both the
one and the other, not having seen any cowardice
in me or lack of spirit. Tell me, my father, what
countenance can I show to mj^ fellows when I go
to the mai-ket, or when I come from thence ?
What manner of man do I seem to be to my
countrymen ? and what manner of man to the wife
that I have newly married ? What thinketh she
of her husband ? Let me therefore go to this hunt-
ing, or, if not, prove to me that it is better for me
to live as I am living this day." To this Croesus
made answei', " My son, I have seen no cowardice
or baseness or any such thing in thee ; but there
appeared to me a vision in my sleep, and it stood
over me and said that thy days should be few, for
that thou shouldest die being smitten by a spear-
point of iron. For this reason I made this mar-
riage for thee, and send thee not forth on such oc-
casions as I was wont to send thee on, keeping
thee under guard, if so be that I may shield thee
from thy fate at the least so long as I shall live.
For thou art now my only son, for of him whom
the gods have afflicted, making him dumb, I take
no count." To this the young man made answer,
" Thou hast good reason, my father, to keep guard
over me, seeing that thou hast had such a dream
concerning me ; yet I will tell thee a thing that
thou hast not understood nor comprehended in the
dream. Thou sayest that the vision told thee that
I should perish by a spear-point of iron. Consider
now, therefore, what hands hath a wild boar and
what spear-point of iron, that thou shouldest fear
for me ? For if indeed the vision had said that I
should perish by a tooth, or by any other thing
that is like to a tooth, then thou mightest well do
what thou doest ; but seeing that it spake of a
440
THE BOOK OF ANCIENT STORIES.
spear-poiut, not so. Now, therefore, that we have
not to do battle with men, but with beasts, I pray
thee that thou let lue go." Then said King Croe-
sus, " It is well said, my son ; as to the dream,
thou hast persuaded me. Therefore I have changed
my purpose, and suffer thee to go to this hunting."
When he had said this, he sent for Adrastus the
Phrygian ; and when the man was come into his
presence, he spake, saying, " Adrastus, I took thee
when thou wast afflicted with a grievous trouble,
though indeed with this I upbraid thee not, and I
cleansed thee from thy guilt, and received thee
into my palace, and sustained thee without any
cost of thine. Now, therefore, it is well that thou
shouldest make me some return for all these bene-
fits. I would make thee keeper of my son now
that he goeth forth to this hunting, if it should
chance that any robbers or such folk should be
found on the way to do him hurt. Moreover, it
becometh thee, for thine own sake, to go on an er-
rand from which thou mayest win renown ; for
thou art of a royal house and art besides valiant
and strong." To this Adrastus made answer, " O
king, I had not indeed gone to this sport but for
thy words. For he to whom such trouble hath
come as hath come to me should not company with
happy men : nor indeed hath he the will to do it.
But now, as thou art earnest in this matter, I
must needs yield to thy request. Therefore I am
ready to do as thou wilt ; be sure, therefore, that
I will deliver thee thy son, whom thou biddest me
keep, safe and unliurt, so far as his keeper may so
do." So the young men departed, and chosen
youths with them, and dogs for hunting. And
when they were come to the mountain of Olympus
they searched for the wild boar, and when they
had found it, they stood in a circle about it, and
threw their spears at it. And so it fell out that
this stranger, the same that had been cleansed
from the guilt of manslaying, whose name was
Adrastus, throwing his spear at the wild boar and
missing his aim, smote the son of Croesus. And
the youth died of the wound, so that the vision of
the king was fulfilled, that he should die by a
spear-point. And straightway there ran one to tell
the thing to Croesus. And when he had come to
Sardis, he told the king how they had fought with
the wild boar, and how his son had died.
Croesus was verj' grievously troubled by the
death of his son ; and this the more because he
had been slain by the man whom he had himself
cleansed from the guilt of blood. And in his
great grief he cried out very vehemently against
the gods, and specially against Zeus, the god of
cleansing, seeing that he had cleansed this stranger,
and now suffered grievous wrong at his hands.
He reproached him also as the god of hosjjitality
and of friendship — of hospitality, because he had
entertained this man, and knew not that he was
entertaining the slayer of his own son ; and of
friendship, because he had sent him to be a keeper
and friend to his son, yet had found him to be an
eneni}' and destroyer. And when he had done
speaking there came Lydians bearing the dead
body of the young man, and the slayer followed
behind. So soon, therefore, as the man was come
into the presence of the king, he gave himself up,
stretching forth his hands, and bidding the king
slay him on the dead body. And he spake of the
dreadful deed that he had done before, and that
now he had added to it a worse thing, bringing
destruction on him that had cleansed him ; and he
cried out that he was not fit to live. But when
CrcBSus heard him speak, he pitied him, for all
that he was in grievous trouble of his own, and
spake to him, " I have had from thee, O my
friend, all the vengeance that I need, seeing that
thou hast pronounced sentence of death against
thyself. But indeed thou art not the cause of this
trouble, save only that thou hast brought it to pass
unwittingly ; some god is the cause, the same that
long since foretold to me this very thing that hath
now befallen me." So Crcesiis buried his son with
all due rites. But Adrastus the son of Gordias the
son of Midas, that had been the slayer of his own
brother, and had now slain the son of him that had
cleansed him, waited behind till all men had left
the sepulchre, and then slew himself upon it ; for
he knew that of all the men in the world he was
the most unhappy.
THE EXPEDITION OF THE ARGONAUTS.
441
THE EXPEDITION OF THE ARGONAUTS.
BY B. G. NIEBUHK.
Theee was a king in Greece whose name was
Atbamas, and his wife's name was Nephela. They
had two children, a son and a daughter, who were
very good, and loved each other very much. The
son's name was Phrixus, and the daughter's Helle.
But the father was wicked and put away his wife,
the mother of the good children, and married an-
other wife whose name was Ino, and who was
very wicked. She treated the poor children very
badly, gave them bad things to eat, and bad
clothes, and beat them, although they were good,
because they wept after their mother. Ino veas a
very bad stepmother. At last both Athamas and
Ino sought to kill Phrixus and to offer him as a
sacrifice.
But when he was brought to the altar, the god
Hermes brought a fine large ram who had wool of
gold and could walk on the clouds. On this ram
with the golden fleece, Hermes placed Phrixus
and also his sister Helle, and told them to go
through the air to the country of Colchis.
The ram knew his way. The children were
told to cling with one hand to one of the horns,
and they bent their other arm about each other's
waists : but Helle let go her hold, and fell down
into the sea. Phrixus wept very much because
his good sister was dead, but went on riding until
he came to Colchis. There he sacrificed his ram,
and nailed the fleece against an oak-tree.
Afterwards there was in Thessaly another king,
whose name was Pelias. He had a brother whose
name was JiJson, and ^son a son whose name
was Jason. Jason was a young and brave war-
rior who dwelt with his father out of the town.
Now it had been said to King Pelias, that if a
man with only one shoe should come to him, he
would take away his kingdom. Then it happened
that King Pelias gave a great dinner, to which he
invited also Jason. Jason was obliged to wade
through a brook in coming to the town, for there
66
was no bridge over the brook. There had been in
the night a heavy thunder-storm, and it had rained
very heavily ; the brook was full of water, and
flowed strongly when the heavy rain happened.
Then the ties of one of Jason's shoes were loosened
so that he lost it in the water, and he came with
only one shoe into the king's house. When King
Pelias saw this, he was greatly frightened, and
told Jason he should depart out of the country,
and not come back unless he brought him the
golden fleece at Colchis.
Jason was not at all afraid, and sent an invita-
tion to all brave warriors to go with him. In or-
der to get the fleece, it was necessary to fight
with evil beasts and with evil men.
Jason built a large ship for himself and for his
comi-ades. Then the goddess Minerva, who loved
him, lent him assistance, and made him a present
of a tree for his mast, which, if Jason questioned
it, told him what he was to do.
The ship's name was Argo, and they who went
in her were called Argonauts. Amongst the Ar-
gonauts there was one Hercules, and two brothers
who had wings and could fly through the air : and
another hero's name was Pollux : he knocked
every man down who boxed with him.
Then the Argonauts came with their ship to a
country where there was a king whose name was
Amycus ; and whenever strangers came to his
country they were compelled to fight him, and he
was very strong and struck all dead. But Pollux
knocked him down and struck him dead ; for
Amycus had been very wicked.
After that, the Argonauts came in their ship
to the town of Salmydessus, where there lived a
king whose name was Phineus. He had rendered
Jupiter angry, and Jupiter, to punish him, made
him blind. Whenever Phineus sat down to his
dinner, there came nasty great birds which they
called harpies. These harpies had a skin of iron
442
THE BOOK OF ANCIENT STORIES.
like a coat of mail, and if the attendants of the
blind king shot after them or struck at them, they
could not wound them. The harpies had also
long shai'p iron claws, with which they tore the
people to pieces who wished to drive them away.
As soon as dinner was served, they would come
and carry it away, and if they could not carry
away all, they dirtied the dishes and the table, so
that it stank most detestably. Thus, as poor
Phineus could never dine comfortably, he was
very near starving. When the heroes came to
him, he related to them his misfortunes, and wept
sorely, and begged them to help him. The heroes
sat down with him at the table, and when the
meals were brought in, then the harpies came fly-
ing in. Jason and his comrades drew their swords
and struck at them, but it availed not a bit. The
two sons of Boreas, Zetes and Calais, who had
wings, jumped into the air ; then the harpies lost
courage and flew away, and the two heroes flew
after them : the harpies at last became quite
weary and still more frightened, and fell into the
sea and were drowned. Then Zetes and Calais
came back, and now poor Phineus had rest and
could eat.
When the wind was favorable, the heroes went
back to their ship Argo, to sail towards Colchis,
and when they bade farewell to Phineus, he took
them into his arms and kissed them, and thanked
them a great many times that they had helped
him out of his disagreeable trouble ; and as a
recompense for the service, he gave them good
advice. In the great sea over which they were to
sail there floated two great rocks, as icebergs float
in the sea where there is no summer, but always
winter. Those mountains were as high as Monte
Cavo, and whenever they struck against each
other they crushed everything to pieces that had
got between them ; if fishes swam in the water
they crushed them to death ; and if birds flew
through the air, when the rocks dashed together
they crushed them to death ; and if a ship was
about to sail through, they rushed together when
the ship was in the middle, and crushed it into
small pieces, and all that were in it died. Jupiter
had placed these rocks in the sea. lest any ship
should come to Colchis. Phineus, however, knew
that the rocks always parted very widely from
each other after having crushed together, and
they always came together whenever a fish was
about to swim through, or a bird fly through, or a
ship sail between them.
Thereforg he gave clever advice to the Ai-go-
nauts, and they did what he advised them and got
safely through, and I will tell you how they man-
aged it.
When they came near the place where the rocks
swam, the rocks were lying widely asunder (about
fifteen miles), but they immediately prepared to
meet each other. The Argonauts sailed straight
towards the middle of them, and when they were
close to them, one of the heroes stood up on the
ship and held a dove in his hand, and he let it fly ;
whenever any living thing got between the rocks,
they were obliged to crush together, and then
again they parted widely asunder. The dove was
quick, and the goddess Minerva helped her, be-
cause she was a very good dove : she was quite
white. When the rocks had crushed together,
only her tail was left behind, which was torn out,
but the feathers soon grew again. Then the rocks
again parted widely asunder, and then the heroes
rowed with all their might and got happily
through : when the rocks crushed together again,
they could only catch a small bit of the ship's
stern, which they knocked off. The dove sat
again down on the ship, and was not angry at all
at the Argonauts; and afterwards Minerva took
her and placed her in the firmament, where she is
now a beautiful constellation.
When the Argonauts had passed happily
through the Symplegades (as these rocks were
called), they entered at last the i-iver Pliasis,
which flows through Colchis. Some remained in
the ship ; but Jason and Pollux and many other
heroes went into the town where the king dwelt.
The king's name was ^etes, and he had a
daughter whose name was Medea. Jason told
King jEetes that Pelias had sent him to fetch the
golden fleece, and requested him that he would
THE EXPEDITION OF THE ARGONAUTS.
443
give it to him. ^etes was unwilling to lose the
fleece, but could not refuse it to Jason, it having
been predestined that he must give it whenever
any one came from Greece and asked for it. He
therefore told Jason that he should have it, but
first, that he must yoke certain brazen bulls to
a plow, and plow up a great tract of land, and
then sow the teeth of a certain dragon. The
brazen bulls had been made by Vulcan ; they
walked and moved and were living like real bulls,
but they belched out fire from nose and mouth,
and were far more fierce and strong than real
bulls. Therefore there was built a stable of great
stones and iron for them, in which they were
bound with strong iron chains.
And when the dragon's teeth got under the
earth, as corn gets under the earth when it has
been sowed, there would grow out of the earth
iron men with lances and swords, who would kill
him who had sown them. Thus the king wished
that the bulls should kill Jason ; and if the bulls
should not kill him, then he thought that the iron
men would do it.
Medea, the daughter of the king, saw Jason at
her father's, and conceived a fondness for him ;
and she was sorry that Jason should perish. She
was able to brew magic liquors : and placed her-
self on a chariot drawn by flying serpents : and
thus she flew through the air and collected herbs
on many mountains and in many vales, on the
brinks of brooks, and from all these herbs she
pressed out the juice and prepared it; and then
she went to Jason without her father knowing it,
and brought him the juice, and told him to rub his
face and his hands, and arms and legs, and also his
armor, his sword and lance, with the juice, where-
by he would become for a whole day stronger
than all the other heroes together, and fire would
not burn him, and steel would not wound him, or
go through his shield or armor, but his sword and
his lance would pierce steel as if it were butter.
Then a day was appointed when Jason should
yoke the bulls and sow the teeth ; and early in
the morning, before the sun rose, there came
King ^etes, with his daughter, and his ministers,
generals, chamberlains, and his courtiers, and sat
down on a throne near the place where Jason was
to plow, and the others sat down on benches as
they do on the Corso at the races, and all people
went out of the town to see how it would happen,
and the boys climbed up the trees in order to see
better.
Jason rubbed himself and his weapons with the
juice as Medea had told him, and came to the
place. The stall in which the bulls were shut up
stood on the place. Then the doors were opened
with a key, and Jason courageously stepped in and
was not at all afraid. He loosened the bulls from
the chain, and seized each with one hand by its
horn, and dragged them out. The bulls bellowed
most horribly, and all that time fire came out from
their noses and mouths ; and as much smoke as
when a house is burning, or when Mount Vesuvius
is spitting fire. Then the wicked King ^etes felt
quite glad : but when the good among the specta-
tors saw what a beautiful man and how courageous
Jason was, they were grieved and feared he would
die ; for they did not know that Medea was helping
him. Jason, however, pressed the heads of both
the bulls down to the ground ; then they kicked
with their hind legs, but Jason pressed them down
so strongly that they fell on their knees.
The plow to which they were to be yoked was
all of iron ; Pollux brought it near and threw the
yoke over their necks and the chain around their
horns ; whilst Jason kept their mouths and noses
so close to the ground that they could not belch
out fire. When Pollux had done and the bulls
were yoked, he leaped quickly away, and Jason
then seized the chain in one hand and the handle
of the plow in the other, and let loose his grasp
of the horns ; the bulls jumped up meaning to run
away, but Jason held the chain so fast that they
were obliged to walk quite slowly, and to plow
quite orderly. It was sunrise when they were
j'oked, and when it was noon Jason had plowed
up the whole field. Then he unyoked the bulls and
let them loose ; but the bulls were as shy as a cat
after a beating, and they ran without looking
behind them to the mountains. There they would
444
THE BOOK OF ANCIENT STORIES.
have set all the woods on fire if Vulcan had not
appeared, and caught them and led them away.
When Jason had done plowing, he went to King
-^etes, telling him he must now give him the dra-
gon's teeth. Dragons and serpents have their
mouths full of small teeth, and ^etes gave to
Jason a helmet all filled with their teeth. Jason
took them out with his hand and went up and
down the field and threw them in all directions ;
and then he took his large spear and beat the
clods, the large lumps of earth, into small pieces,
and then he smoothed the soil as the gardener
does after having sowed. And then he went away
and lay down to rest until the evening, for he was
very weary.
Towards sunset he returned to the field, and
iron men were everywhere growing out of the
soil. Some had grown out to the feet, others to
the knees, others to the hips, others to the mider
part of the shoulders, of some only the helmet or
forehead could be seen, whilst the remainder of
their bodies stuck in the ground. Those who had
their arms already out of the earth and could move
them, shook their lances, and brandished their
swords. Some were just freeing their feet and pre-
paring to come against Jason.
Then Jason did what his friend Medea had
told him, and taking a big stone, he threw it on
the field just in the midst of them. When the
iron men saw the stone, they sprang quick to take
it. I suppose that it must have been a fine great
marble stone. Then they began to bicker amongst
each other, because each wished to have it, and to
cut and thrust at each other, and as soon as one
got his feet out of the soil, he ran to join the
others, and all of them fought together, until every
one of them was killed. Jason meanwhile leis-
urely walked over the field and cut off the heads
of those that were about to grow out. In this way
all the iron men perished, and the King jiEetes
became furious like a madman : but Medea and
the heroes and the spectators were uncommonly
pleased.
The next morning, Jason went to King iEetes
and asked him now to give him the fleece ; but
the king did not give it to him, and said that he
should come again : he wished to have Jason
murdered. Medea told that to Jason, and told
him also that he must fetch the fleece himself, or
else he would never get it. The fleece was nailed
to an oak, and at the foot of the oak there lay a
dragon that never slept, and ate all men, excepting
King ^etes, that should touch the fleece. As the
dragon was immortal, Medea could not help Jason
to kill him. But the dragon ate sweet cakes with
delight, and Medea gave to Jason honey-cakes, in
which she had mixed a juice which obliged the
dragon to go fast asleep. Jason came with his
cakes and threw them before him ; the stupid
dragon ate all of them, and fell asleep immedi-
ately. Then Jason stej^ped over him and drew
out with pincers the nails with which the fleece
was fastened to the oak, and then taking down the
fleece, he wrapped it in his cloak and carried it
off to the ship. Medea came also and became
Jason's wife, and went with him to Greece.
-Setes thinking the Argonauts would go back
in the Argo the same way they had come, sent a
great many vessels to attack them ; but thej' took
another way and went up the large river Ister,
and then the heroes carried the Argo into the
Ocean (which goes all around the earth), and
then they came again to lolcos : but the Colchlahs
always waited at the Symplegades, which now
stood fastened, and the Argo never coming, they
returned at last home again ; and King jEetes
was terribly angry ; for he had lost the fleece,
and the brazen bulls, and the dragon's teeth ; and
his daughter was gone, and had also taken with
her all her jewels, and everybody laughed at him.
When Medea arrived with Jason in Thessaly,
she made old ^son young again, so that his white
hair became black again, and all his teeth came
again ; he grew as strong as any young man, and
lived a great many more years : but she killed
Pelias, and ^son became king in his stead.
CBr:TP • L CIRCULATION
/o
i.
^.-R!ti.iiii-.^^i£LJi'^
"^.jS^injyiti'