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SORIA MORIA CASTLE
THERE was once upon a time a couple of folks who had a son
called Halvor。 Ever since he had been a little boy he had been
unwilling to do any work； and had just sat raking about among the
ashes。 His parents sent him away to learn several things； but
Halvor stayed nowhere； for when he had been gone two or three
days he always ran away from his master； hurried off home； and
sat down in the chimney corner to grub among the ashes again。
One day； however； a sea captain came and asked Halvor if he
hadn't a fancy to come with him and go to sea； and behold foreign
lands。 And Halvor had a fancy for that； so he was not long in
getting ready。
How long they sailed I have no idea； but after a long； long time
there was a terrible storm； and when it was over and all had become
calm again； they knew not where they were； for they had been
driven away to a strange coast of which none of them had any
knowledge。
As there was no wind at all they lay there becalmed； and Halvor
asked the skipper to give him leave to go on shore to look about
him； for he would much rather do that than lie there and sleep。
‘Dost thou think that thou art fit to go where people can see
thee？' said the skipper； ‘thou hast no clothes but those rags thou
art going about in！'
Halvor still begged for leave； and at last got it； but he was to
come back at once if the wind began to rise。
So he went on shore； and it was a delightful country；
whithersoever he went there were wide plains with fields and meadows；
but as for people； there were none to be seen。 The wind began to
rise； but Halvor thought that he had not seen enough yet； and that
he would like to walk about a little longer； to try if he could not
meet somebody。 So after a while he came to a great highway； which
was so smooth that an egg might have been rolled along it without
breaking。 Halvor followed this； and when evening drew near he
saw a big castle far away in the distance； and there were lights in
it。 So as he had now been walking the whole day and had not
brought anything to eat away with him； he was frightfully hungry。
Nevertheless； the nearer he came to the castle the more afraid
he was。
A fire was burning in the castle； and Halvor went into the kitchen；
which was more magnificent than any kitchen he had ever yet beheld。
There were vessels of gold and silver； but not one human
being was to be seen。 When Halvor had stood there for some time；
and no one had come out； he went in and opened a door； and inside
a Princess was sitting at her wheel spinning。
‘Nay！' she cried； ‘can Christian folk dare to come hither？ But
the best thing that you can do is to go away again； for if not the
Troll will devour you。 A Troll with three heads lives here。'
‘I should have been just as well pleased if he had had four heads
more； for I should have enjoyed seeing the fellow；' said the youth；
‘and I won't go away； for I have done no harm； but you must give
me something to eat； for I am frightfully hungry。'
When Halvor had eaten his fill； the Princess told him to try if
he could wield the sword which was hanging on the wall； but he
could not wield it； nor could he even lift it up。
‘Well； then； you must take a drink out of that bottle which is
hanging by its side； for that's what the Troll does whenever he goes
out and wants to use the sword；' said the Princess。
Halvor took a draught； and in a moment he was able to swing
the sword about with perfect ease。 And now he thought it was
high time for the Troll to make his appearance； and at that very
moment he came； panting for breath。
Halvor got behind the door。
‘Hutetu！' said the Troll as he put his head in at the door。 ‘It
smells just as if there were Christian man's blood here！'
‘Yes； you shall learn that there is！' said Halvor； and cut off all
his heads。
The Princess was so rejoiced to be free that she danced and sang；
but then she remembered her sisters； and said： ‘If my sisters were
but free too！'
‘Where are they？' asked Halvor。
So she told him where they were。 One of them had been taken
away by a Troll to his castle； which was six miles off； and the other
had been carried off to a castle which was nine miles farther off still
‘But now；' said she； ‘you must first help me to get this dead
body away from here。'
Halvor was so strong that he cleared everything away； and made
all clean and tidy very quickly。 So then they ate and drank； and
were happy； and next morning he set off in the grey light of dawn。
He gave himself no rest； but walked or ran the livelong day。
When he came in sight of the castle he was again just a little afraid。
It was much more splendid than the other； but here too there was
not a human being to be seen。 So Halvor went into the kitchen；
and did not linger there either； but went straight in。
‘Nay！ do Christian folk dare to come here？' cried the second
Princess。 ‘I know not how long it is since I myself came； but during
all that time I have never seen a Christian man。 It will be better for
you to depart at once； for a Troll lives here who has six heads。'
‘No； I shall not go；' said Halvor； ‘even if he had six more I
would not。'
‘He will swallow you up alive；' said the Princess。
But she spoke to no purpose； for Halvor would not go； he was
not afraid of the Troll； but he wanted some meat and drink； for he
was hungry after his journey。 So she gave him as much as he
would have； and then she once more tried to make him go away。
‘No；' said Halvor； ‘I will not go； for I have not done anything
wrong； and I have no reason to be afraid。'
‘He won't ask any questions about that；' said the Princess； ‘for
he will take you without leave or right； but as you will not go； try
if you can wield that sword which the Troll uses in battle。'
He could not brandish the sword； so the Princess said that he
was to take a draught from the flask which hung by its side； and
when he had done that he could wield the sword。
Soon afterwards the Troll came； and he was so large and stout
that he was forced to go sideways to get through the door。 When
the Troll got his first head in he cried： ‘Hutetu！ It smells of a
Christian man's blood here！'
With that Halvor cut off the first head； and so on with all the
rest。 The Princess was now exceedingly delighted； but then she
remembered her sisters； and wished that they too were free。 Halvor
thought that might be managed； and wanted to set off immediately；
but first he had to help the Princess to remove the Troll's body； so
it was not until morning that he set forth on his way。
It was a long way to the castle； and he both walked and ran to
get there in time。 Late in the evening he caught sight of it； and it
was very much more magnificent than either of the others。 And
this time he was not in the least afraid； but went into the kitchen；
and then straight on inside the castle。 Th