按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
oasted he could do。 And if he failed； his head would pay the penalty。
The poor youth's heart stood still as he listened。 Find the queen？ But how was he to do that； when nobody in the palace had been able to do so！ Slowly he walked to the stable； and laying his head on his horse's shoulder； he said： 'The king has ordered me to bring his wife home again； and how can I do that when she disappeared so long ago； and no one can tell me anything about her？'
'Cheer up！' answered the horse； 'we will manage to find her。 You have only got to ride me back to the same river that we went to yesterday； and I will plunge into it and take my proper shape again。 For I am the king's wife； who was turned into a horse by the magician from whom you saved me。'
Joyfully the young man sprang into the saddle and rode away to the banks of the river。 Then he threw himself off； and waited while the horse plunged in。 The moment it dipped its head into the water its black skin vanished； and the most beautiful woman in the world was floating on the water。 She came smiling towards the youth； and held out her hand； and he took it and led her back to the palace。 Great was the king's surprise and happiness when he beheld his lost wife stand before him； and in gratitude to her rescuer he loaded him with gifts。
You would have thought that after this the poor youth would have been left in peace； but no； his enemy the stableman hated him as much as ever； and laid a new plot for his undoing。 This time he presented himself before the king and told him that the youth was so puffed up with what he had done that he had declared he would seize the king's throne for himself。
At this news the king waxed so furious that he ordered a gallows to be erected at once； and the young man to be hanged without a trial。 He was not even allowed to speak in his own defence； but on the very steps of the gallows he sent a message to the king and begged； as a last favour； that he might play a tune on his zither。 Leave was given him； and taking the instrument from under his cloak he touched the strings。 Scarcely had the first notes sounded than the hangman and his helper began to dance； and the louder grew the music the higher they capered； till at last they cried for mercy。 But the youth paid no heed； and the tunes rang out more merrily than before； and by the time the sun set they both sank on the ground exhausted； and declared that the hanging must be put off till to…morrow。
The story of the zither soon spread through the town； and on the following morning the king and his whole court and a large crowd of people were gathered at the foot of the gallows to see the youth hanged。 Once more he asked a favourpermission to play on his fiddle； and this the king was graciously pleased to grant。 But with the first notes； the leg of every man in the crowd was lifted high； and they danced to the sound of the music the whole day till darkness fell； and there was no light to hang the musician by。
The third day came； and the youth asked leave to play on his flute。 'No； no；' said the king； 'you made me dance all day yesterday； and if I do it again it will certainly be my death。 You shall play no more tunes。 Quick！ the rope round his neck。'
At these words the young man looked so sorrowful that the courtiers said to the king： 'He is very young to die。 Let him play a tune if it will make him happy。' So； very unwillingly； the king gave him leave； but first he had himself bound to a big fir tree； for fear that he should be made to dance。
When he was made fast； the young man began to blow softly on his flute； and bound though he was； the king's body moved to the sound； up and down the fir tree till his clothes were in tatters； and the skin nearly rubbed off his back。 But the youth had no pity； and went on blowing； till suddenly the old magician appeared and asked： 'What danger are you in； my son； that you have sent for me？'
'They want to hang me；' answered the young man； 'the gallows are all ready and the hangman is only waiting for me to stop playing。'
'Oh； I will put that right；' said the magician； and taking the gallows； he tore it up and flung it into the air； and no one knows where it came down。 'Who has ordered you to be hanged？' asked he。
The young man pointed to the king； who was still bound to the fir； and without wasting words the magician took hold of the tree also； and with a mighty heave both fir and man went spinning through the air； and vanished in the clouds after the gallows。
Then the youth was declared to be free； and the people elected him for their king； and the stable helper drowned himself from envy； for； after all； if it had not been for him the young man would have remained poor all the days of his life。
＇From Finnische Mahrchen。＇
The Strong Prince
Once upon a time there lived a king who was so fond of wine that he could not go to sleep unless he knew he had a great flaskful tied to his bed…post。 All day long he drank till he was too stupid to attend to his business； and everything in the kingdom went to rack and ruin。 But one day an accident happened to him； and he was struck on the head by a falling bough； so that he fell from his horse and lay dead upon the ground。
His wife and son mourned his loss bitterly； for； in spite of his faults； he had always been kind to them。 So they abandoned the crown and forsook their country； not knowing or caring where they went。
At length they wandered into a forest； and being very tired； sat down under a tree to eat some bread that they had brought with them。 When they had finished the queen said： 'My son； I am thirsty； fetch me some water。'
The prince got up at once and went to a brook which he heard gurgling near at hand。 He stooped and filled his hat with the water； which he brought to his mother； then he turned and followed the stream up to its source in a rock； where it bubbled out clear and fresh and cold。 He knelt down to take a draught from the deep pool below the rock； when he saw the reflection of a sword hanging from the branch of a tree over his head。 The young man drew back with a start； but in a moment he climbed the tree； cutting the rope which held the sword； and carried the weapon to his mother。
The queen was greatly surprised at the sight of anything so splendid in such a lonely place； and took it in her hands to examine it closely。 It was of curious workmanship； wrought with gold； and on its handle was written： 'The man who can buckle on this sword will become stronger than other men。' The queen's heart swelled with joy as she read these words； and she bade her son lose no time in testing their truth。 So he fastened it round his waist； and instantly a glow of strength seemed to run through his veins。 He took hold of a thick oak tree and rooted it up as easily as if it had been a weed。
This discovery put new life into the queen and her son； and they continued their walk through the forest。 But night was drawing on； and the darkness grew so thick that it seemed as if it could be cut with a knife。 They did not want to sleep in the wood； for they were afraid of wolves and other wild beasts； so they groped their way along； hand in hand； till the prince tripped over s