A farmer’s son in Lombardy was having a relationship with a young widow who lived at a neighboring farm, and who was suspected of being a sorceress. They invited each other to meals and lived in a most intimate relationship so that the church finally became angry and forbid their affair.
The young man was ready to begin a respectable life and sought a young maid as partner. This was granted to him, and a wedding day was set, although he innocently continued the relationship with the widow. One time, she again prepared an excellent meal and in her cunning brewed a honey-sweet but very intoxicating beer, because although she said nothing she did not forgive the young man for demeaning her station as widow and instead chose a maid for his wife.
On that evening, she was unusually friendly, encouraging her guest to drink and be merry. She then led him to the bedchamber where they gave themselves to their usual lovemaking. The young man, who saw nothing of her tricks, soon fell into a deathlike sleep in her lap. She then took a thread of yarn from her pocket, tied it around his neck and then threw him forcibly to the floor. He awoke, and at that same moment changed into a crane, flying out of the window of the room.
This bird, which is similar in size with a swan, is not found in the north. The new bird knew immediately where he could find others of his kind and so flew day after day toward the south until he met with a flock of the same species with which he then joined. Cranes have the characteristic of flying together in a large swarm; one flies as leader in the front and determines where to rest or to stay overnight. When the others are sleeping, one is posted to watch near the water on either a high bank or a large rock rising above the water.
The crane on watch must stand on one foot, holding a small stone in the other that he throws into the water to awaken the others as soon as he sees a danger. The others then take off to safety. However, if the watch crane falls asleep and lets the stone drop, a harsh penalty is certain because another bird is selected as “bailiff” to perform punishment.
Coincidentally, it came to be that the transformed farmer soon assumed by game of chance the position of watch crane. But as his nature was not fully transformed and a man needs more sleep than a bird, he fell asleep while on watch, dropping the stone. The whole flock of cranes awoke and made ready to fly, but as they saw that no danger threatened it was clear that the watch crane had not performed his duties and the other crane appointed as punisher made ready to exact the penalty.
The bailiff crane pushed the watch crane to the ground, biting and scratching the delinquent crane with all his strength. As he bit on the throat of the guilty crane, his beak became entangled in the red thread, tearing it loose. At that moment the victim was transformed back to a man, who jumped up angrily and thought to take revenge. But the cranes immediately flew off out of his reach.
The farmer now saw through the trick to which he had fallen victim, and so decided to take the thread with him for safekeeping and for which he would have use later. Far from his homeland but resourceful, he again reached his home and house. He presented himself as though nothing unusual had happened and he had only been away a short time on business. When he again met the widow, he was friendly as always, inviting her to a feast. The old, friendly relationship soon appeared restored and the woman who at first suspected that her lover sought revenge soon lost her concern.
One day, he brewed for her a beer of the same character as before, which she drank heartily until she fell asleep. He then placed the thread around her neck and threw her to the floor. The magic worked its spell, and the widow was transformed into a crane that flew out the window. This time, the farmer had a sword ready and as the crane fluttered away, he cut one of its feet off which fell to the floor.
The lamed crane flew away and the widow was never seen again. Strangely, the severed foot remained a crane’s foot and never regained its old form.
This story proves the old adage: he who digs a grave for the other soon falls in himself.