The Two Brothers
Once upon a time there were two brothers; the one rich and the other poor. The rich man was a Goldsmith and of an evil disposition; but the poor brother maintained himself by mending brooms, and withal was honest and pious. He had two children,—twins, as like one another as two drops of water,—who used often to go into their rich uncle’s house and receive a meal of the fragments which he left. One day it happened when the poor man had gone into the wood for twigs that he saw a bird which was of gold and more beautiful than he had ever before set eyes on. He picked up a stone and flung it at the bird, and luckily hit it, but so slightly that only a single feather dropped off. This feather he took to his brother, who looked at it and said, “It is of pure gold!” and gave him a good sum of money for it. The next day he climbed up a birch-tree to lop off a bough or two, when the same bird flew out of the branches, and as he looked round he found a nest which contained an egg, also of gold. This he took home as before to his brother, who said it was of pure gold, and gave him what it was worth, but said that he must have the bird itself. For the third time now the poor brother went into the forest, and saw the golden bird sitting again upon the tree, and taking up a stone he threw it at it, and, securing it, took it to his brother, who gave him for it a large pile of gold. With this the man thought he might return, and went home light-hearted.
But the Goldsmith was crafty and bold, knowing very well what sort of a bird it was. He called his wife and said to her, “Roast this bird for me, and take care of what ever falls from it, for I have a mind to eat it by myself.” Now, the bird was not an ordinary one certainly, for it possessed this wonderful power, that whoever should eat its heart and liver would find henceforth every morning a gold piece under his pillow. The wife made the bird ready, and putting it on a spit set it down to roast. Now it happened that while it was at the fire, and the woman was gone out of the kitchen on some other necessary work, the two children of the poor Broom-mender ran in, and began to turn the spit round at the fire for amusement. Presently two little titbits fell down into the pan out of the bird, and one of the boys said, “Let us eat these two little pieces, I am so hungry, and nobody will find it out.” So they quickly despatched the two morsels, and presently the woman came back, and, seeing at once they had eaten something, asked them what it was. “Two little bits which fell down out of the bird,” was the reply. “They were the heart and liver!” exclaimed the woman, quite frightened, and, in order that her husband might not miss them and be in a passion, she quickly killed a little chicken, and, taking out its liver and heart, put it inside the golden bird. As soon as it was done enough she carried it to the Goldsmith, who devoured it quite alone, and left nothing at all on the plate. The next morning, however, when he looked under his pillow, expecting to find the gold pieces, there was not the smallest one possible to be seen.
The two children did not know what good luck had fallen upon them, and, when they got up the next morning, something fell ringing upon the ground, and as they picked it up they found it was two gold pieces. They took them to their father, who wondered very much, and considered what he should do with them, but as the next morning the same thing happened, and so on every day, he went to his brother and narrated to him the whole story. The Goldsmith perceived at once what had happened, that the children had eaten the heart and liver of his bird; and in order to revenge himself, and because he was so covetous and hard hearted, he persuaded the father that his children were in league with the devil, and warned him not to take the gold, but to turn them out of the house, for the Evil One had them in his power, and would make them do some mischief. Their father feared the Evil One, and, although it cost him a severe pang, he led his children out into the forest and left them there with a sad heart.
Now, the two children ran about the wood, seeking the road home, but could not find it, so that they only wandered farther away. At last they met a Huntsman, who asked them to whom they belonged. “We are the children of the poor Broom-mender,” they replied, and told him that their father could no longer keep them at home, because a gold piece lay under their pillows every morning. “Well,” replied the Huntsman, “that does not seem right, if you are honest, and not idle.” And the good man, having no children of his own, took home with him the twins, because they pleased him, and told them he would be their father and bring them up. With him they learnt all kinds of hunting, and the gold pieces, which each one found at his uprising, they laid aside against a rainy day.
When now they became quite young men the Huntsman took them into the forest, and said, “To-day you must perform your shooting trial, that I may make you free-huntsmen like myself.” So they went with him, and waited a long time, but no wild beast approached, and the Huntsman, looking up, saw a flock of wild geese flying over in the form of a triangle. “Shoot one from each corner,” said he to the twins, and, when they had done this, another flock came flying over in the form of a figure of two, and from these they were also bid to shoot one at each corner. When they had likewise performed this deed successfully, their foster-father said, “I now make you free; for you are capital marksmen.”
Thereupon the two brothers went together into the forest, laying plans and consulting with each other; and, when at evening time they sat down to their meal, they said to their foster-father, “We shall not touch the least morsel of food till you have granted our request.”
He asked them what it was, and they replied,
“We have now learned everything: let us go into the world, and see what we can do there, and let us set out at once.”
“You have spoken like brave huntsmen,” cried the old man, overjoyed; “what you have asked is just what I wished; you can set out as soon as you like, for you will be prosperous.”
Then they ate and drank together once more in great joy and hilarity.
When the appointed day arrived, the old Huntsman gave to each youth a good rifle and a dog, and let them take from the gold pieces as many as they liked. Then he accompanied them a part of their way, and at leaving gave them a bare knife, saying, “If you should separate, stick this knife in a tree by the roadside, and then, if one returns to the same point, he can tell how his absent brother fares; for the side upon which there is a mark will, if he die, rust; but as long as he lives it will be as bright as ever.”
The two brothers now journeyed on till they came to a forest so large, that they could not possibly get out of it in one day, so there they passed the night, and ate what they had in their hunters’ pockets. The second day they still walked on, but came to no opening, and, having nothing to eat, one said, “We must shoot something, or we shall die from hunger;” and he loaded his gun and looked around. Just then an old Hare came running up, at which he aimed, but it cried out,
“Dear huntsman, pray now, let me live,
And I will two young lev’rets give.”
So saying, it ran back into the brush-wood and brought out two hares, but they played about so prettily and actively that the Hunters could not make up their mind to kill them. So they took them with them, and the two leverets followed in their footsteps. Presently a Fox came up with them, and, as they were about to shoot it, it cried out,
“Dear hunters, pray now, let me live,
And I will two young foxes give.”
These it brought; and the brothers, instead of killing them, put them with the young hares, and all four followed. In a little while a Wolf came out of the brush-wood, whom the hunters also aimed at, but he cried out as the others,
“Dear hunters, pray now, let me live,
Two young ones, in return, I’ll give.”
The Hunters placed the two wolves with the other animals, who still followed them; and soon they met a Bear, who also begged for his life, saying,
“Dear hunters, pray now, let me live,
Two young ones, in return, I’ll give.”
These two Bears were added to the others; they made eight; and now who came last? A Lion, shaking his mane. The two brothers were not frightened, but aimed at him, and he cried,
“Dear hunters, pray now, let me live,
Two young ones, in return, I’ll give.”
The Lion then fetched his two young cubs, and now the Huntsmen had two lions, two bears, two wolves, two foxes, and two hares following and waiting upon them. Meanwhile their hunger had received no satisfaction, and they said to the foxes. “Here, you slinks, get us something to eat, for you are both sly and crafty.”
The Foxes replied, “Not far from here lies a village, where we can procure many fowls, and thither we will show you the way.”
So they went into the village, and bought something to eat for themselves and their animals, and then went on further, for the Foxes were well acquainted with the country where the hen-roosts were, and so could direct the Huntsmen well.
For some little way they walked on without finding any situations where they could live together, so they said to one another, “It cannot be otherwise—we must separate.” Then the two brothers divided the beasts, so that each one had a lion, a bear, a wolf, a fox, and a hare, and then they took leave of each other, promising to love one another till death; and the knife which their foster-father gave them they stuck in a tree, so that one side pointed to the east, and the other to the west.
The younger brother came afterwards with his animals to a town which was completely hung with black crape. He went into an inn and inquired if he could lodge his beasts, and the landlord gave him a stable, and in the wall was a hole through which the hare crept and seized upon a cabbage; the fox fetched himself a hen, and when he had eaten it he stole the cock also; but the lion, the bear, and the wolf, being too big for the hole, could get nothing. The master, therefore, made the host fetch an ox for them, on which they regaled themselves merrily, and so, having seen after his beasts, he asked the landlord why the town was all hung in mourning. The Landlord replied it was because the next day the King’s only daughter was to die. “Is she then sick unto death?” inquired the Huntsman.
“No,” replied the other, “she is well enough; but still she must die.”
“How is that?” asked the Huntsman.
“Out there before the town,” said the Landlord, “is a high mountain on which lives a Dragon, who must every year have a pure maiden, or he would lay waste all the country. Now, all the maidens have been given up, and there is but one left—the King’s daughter, who must also be given up, for there is no other escape, and to-morrow morning it is to happen.”
The Huntsman asked, “Why is the Dragon not killed?”
“Ah!” replied the Landlord, “many knights have tried, but every one has lost his life; and the King has promised his own daughter to him who conquers the Dragon, and after his death the inheritance of his kingdom.”
The Huntsman said nothing further at that time, but the next morning, taking with him his beasts, he climbed the Dragon’s mountain. A little way up stood a chapel, and upon an altar therein were three cups, and by them was written, “Whoever drinks the contents of these cups will be the strongest man on earth, and may take the sword which lies buried beneath the threshold.” Without drinking, the Huntsman sought and found the sword in the ground, but he could not move it from its place; so he entered, and drank out the cups, and then easily pulled out the sword, and was so strong that he waved it about like a feather.
When the hour arrived that the maiden should be delivered over to the Dragon, the King and his Marshal accompanied her with all the court. From a distance they perceived the Huntsman upon the mountain, and took him for the Dragon waiting for them, and so would not ascend; but at last, because the whole city must otherwise have been sacrificed, the Princess was forced to make the dreadful ascent. The King and his courtiers returned home full of grief, but the Marshal had to stop and watch it all from a distance.
As the King’s daughter reached the top of the hill, she found there, not the Dragon, but the young Hunter, who comforted her, saying he would save her, and, leading her into the chapel, shut her up therein. In a short time the seven-headed Dragon came roaring up with a tremendous noise, and, as soon as he perceived the Hunter, he was amazed, and asked, “What do you do here on my mountain?”
The Hunter replied that he came to fight him, and the Dragon said, breathing out fire as he spoke from his seven jaws, “Many a knight has already left his life behind him, and you I will soon kill as dead as they.” The fire from its throats set the grass in a blaze, and would have suffocated the Hunter with the smoke, had not his beasts come running up and stamped it out. Then the Dragon made a dart at the Hunter, but he swung his sword round so that it whistled in the air, and cut off three of the beast’s heads. The Dragon now became furious, and raised himself in the air, spitting out fire over his enemy, and trying to overthrow him; but the Hunter, springing on one side, raised his sword again, and cut off three more of his heads. The beast was half killed with this, and sank down, but tried once more to catch the hunter, but he beat him off, and, with his last strength, cut off his tail; and then, being unable to fight longer, he called his beasts, who came and tore the Dragon in pieces.
As soon as the battle was over, he went to the chapel and unlocked the door, and found the Princess lying on the floor; for, from anguish and terror, she had fainted away while the contest was going on. The Hunter carried her out, and, when she came to herself and opened her eyes, he showed her the Dragon torn in pieces, and said she was now safe for ever. The sight made her quite happy, and she said, “Now you will be my husband, for my father has promised me to him who should kill the Dragon.” So saying, she took off her necklace of coral, and divided it among the beasts for a reward, the lion receiving the gold snap for his share. But her handkerchief, on which her name was marked, she presented to the Huntsman, who went and cut out the tongues of the Dragon’s seven mouths, and, wrapping them in the handkerchief, preserved it carefully.
All this being done, the poor fellow felt so weary with the battle with the Dragon and the fire that he said to the Princess, “Since we are both so tired, let us sleep awhile.” She consented, and they lay down on the ground, and the Hunter bid the Lion watch that nobody surprised them. Soon they began to snore, and the Lion sat down near them to watch; but he was also weary with fighting, and said to the Bear, “Do you lie down near me, for I must sleep a bit; but wake me up if any one comes.” So the Bear did as he was bid; but soon getting tired, he asked the Wolf to watch for him. The Wolf consented, but before long he called the Fox, and said, “Do watch for me a little while, I want to have a nap, and you can wake me if any one comes.” The Fox lay down by his side, but soon felt so tired himself that he called the Hare, and asked it to take his place, and watch while he slept a little. The Hare came, and, lying down too, soon felt very sleepy; but he had no one to call in his place, so by degrees he dropped off himself, and began to snore. Here, then, were sleeping the Princess, the Huntsman, the Lion, the Bear, the Wolf, the Fox, and the Hare, and all were very sound asleep.
Meanwhile the Marshal, who had been set to watch below, not seeing the Dragon fly away with the Princess, and all appearing very quiet, took heart and climbed up the mountain. There lay the Dragon, dead and torn in pieces on the ground, and not far off the King’s daughter and a huntsman with his beasts, all reposing in a deep sleep. Now, the Marshal was very wickedly disposed, and, taking his sword, he cut off the head of the Huntsman, and then taking the maiden under his arm, carried her down the mountain. At this she awoke, terrified, and the Marshal cried to her, “You are in my hands: you must say that it was I who have killed the Dragon.”
“That I cannot,” she replied, “for a hunter and his animals did it.”
Then he drew his sword, and threatened her with death if she did not obey, till at last she was forced to consent. Thereupon he brought her before the King, who went almost beside himself with joy at seeing again his dear daughter, whom he supposed had been torn in pieces by the monster. The Marshal told the King that he had killed the Dragon, and freed the Princess and the whole kingdom, and therefore he demanded her for a wife, as it had been promised. The King inquired of his daughter if it were true? “Ah yes,” she replied, “it must be so; but I make a condition, that the wedding shall not take place for a year and a day;” for she thought to herself that perhaps in that time she might hear some news of her dear Huntsman.
But up the Dragon’s mountain the animals still laid asleep beside their dead master, when presently a great Bee came and settled on the Hare’s nose, but it lifted its paw and brushed it off. The Bee came a second time, but the Hare brushed it off again, and went to sleep. For the third time the Bee settled, and stung the Hare’s nose so that it woke quite up. As soon as it had risen and shaken itself, it awoke the Fox, and the Fox awoke the Wolf, the Wolf awoke the Bear, and the Bear awoke the Lion. As soon as the Lion got up and saw that the maiden was gone, and his dear master dead, he began to roar fearfully, and asked, “Who has done this? Bear, why did you not wake me?” The Bear asked the Wolf, “Why did you not wake me?” The Wolf asked the Fox, “Why did you not wake me?” and the Fox asked the Hare, “Why did you not wake me?” The poor Hare alone had nothing to answer, and the blame was attached to it; and the others would have fallen upon it, but he begged for his life, saying, “Do not kill me and I will restore our dear master to life. I know a hill where grows a root, and he who puts it in his mouth is healed immediately from all diseases or wounds; but this mountain lies two hundred hours’ journey from hence.”
The Lion said, “In four and twenty hours you must go and return here, bringing the root with you.”
The Hare immediately ran off, and in four and twenty hours returned with the root in his mouth. Now the Lion put the Huntsman’s head again to his body, while the Hare applied the root to the wound, and immediately the Huntsman began to revive, and his heart beat and life returned. The Huntsman now awoke, and was frightened to see the maiden no longer with him, and he thought to himself, “Perhaps she ran away while I slept, to get rid of me.” But, in his haste, the Lion had unluckily set his master’s head on the wrong way, but the Hunter did not find it out till midday, when he wanted to eat, being so occupied with thinking about the Princess. Then, when he wished to help himself, he discovered his head was turned to his back, and, unable to imagine the cause, he asked the animals what had happened to him in his sleep. The Lion told him that from weariness they had all gone to sleep, and, on awaking, they had found him dead, with his head cut off; that the Hare had fetched the life-root, but in his great haste he had turned his head the wrong way, but that he would make it all right again in no time. So saying, he cut off the Huntsman’s head and turned it round, while the Hare healed the wound with the root.
After this the Hunter became very mopish, and went about from place to place, letting his animals dance to the people for show. It chanced, after a year’s time, that he came again into the same town where he had rescued the Princess from the Dragon; and this time it was hung all over with scarlet cloth. He asked the Landlord of the inn, “What means this? a year ago the city was hung with black crape, and to-day it is all in red?” The Landlord replied, “A year ago our King’s daughter was delivered to the Dragon, but our Marshal fought with it and slew it, and this day their marriage is to be celebrated; before the town was hung with crape in token of grief and lamentation, but to-day with scarlet cloth, to show our joy.”
The next day, when the wedding was to take place, the Huntsman said to the Landlord, “Believe it or not, mine host, but to day I will eat bread at the same table with the King!”
“Well,” said he, “I will wager you a hundred pieces that that doesn’t come true.”
The Huntsman took the bet, and laid down his money and then, calling the Hare, he said, “Go, dear Jumper, and fetch me a bit of bread such as the King eats.”
Now, the Hare was the smallest, and therefore could not entrust her business to any one else, but was obliged to make herself ready to go. “Oh!” thought it, “if I jump along the streets alone, the butchers’ dogs will come out after me.”
While it stood considering it happened as it thought for the dogs came behind and were about to seize it for a choice morsel, but it made a spring (had you but seen it!) and escaped into a sentry-box without the soldier knowing it. The dogs came and tried to hunt it out, but, the soldier, not understanding their sport, beat them off with a club so that they ran howling and barking away. As soon as the Hare saw the coast was clear, it ran up to the castle and into the room where the Princess was; and, getting under her stool, began to scratch her foot. The Princess said, “Will you be quiet?” thinking it was her dog. The the Hare scratched her foot a second time, and she said again, “Will you be quiet?” but the Hare would not leave off, and a third time scratched her foot; and now she peeped down and recognised the Hare by its necklace. She took it up in her arms, and carried it into her chamber, saying, “Dear Hare, what do you want?” The Hare replied, “My master who killed the Dragon is here, and sent me: I am come for a piece of bread such as the King eats.”
At these words she became very glad, and bade her servant bring her a piece of bread such as the King was accustomed to have. When it was brought, the Hare said, “The Baker must carry it for me, or the butchers’ dogs will seize it.” So the Baker carried it to the door of the inn, where the Hare got up on its hind legs, and, taking the bread in its forepaws, carried it to his master. Then the Huntsman said, “See here, my host: the hundred gold pieces are mine.”
The Landlord wondered very much, but the Huntsman said further, “Yes, I have got the King’s bread, and now I will have some of his meat.” To this the Landlord demurred, but would not bet again; and his guest, calling the Fox, said, “My dear Fox, go and fetch me some of the meat which the King is to eat to day.”
The Fox was more cunning than the Hare, and went through the lanes and alleys, without seeing a dog, straight to the royal palace, and into the room of the Princess, under whose stool it crept. Presently it scratched her foot, and the Princess, looking down, recognised the Fox with her necklace, and, taking it into her room, she asked, “What do you want, dear Fox?” It replied, “My master who killed the Dragon is here, and sent me to beg a piece of the meat such as the King will eat to-day.”
The Princess summoned the cook, and bade her prepare a dish of meat like the King’s; and, when it was ready, carry it for the Fox to the door of the inn. There the Fox took the dish himself; and, first driving the flies away with a whisk of his tail, carried it in to the Hunter.
“See here, Master Landlord,” said he; “here are the bread and meat: now I will have the same vegetables as the King eats.”
He called the Wolf, and said, “Dear Wolf, go and fetch me some vegetables the same as the King eats to-day.”
The Wolf went straight to the castle like a person who feared nobody, and, when it came into the Princess’s chamber, it plucked at her clothes behind so that she looked round. The maiden knew the Wolf by its necklace, and took it with her into her room, and said, “Dear Wolf, what do you want?”
The beast replied, “My master who killed the Dragon is here, and has sent me for some vegetables like those the King eats to day.”
Then she bade the cook prepare a dish of vegetables the same as the King’s, and carry it to the inn door for the Wolf, who took it of her and bore it in to his master. The Hunter said, “See here, my host: now I have bread, meat, and vegetables the same as the King’s, but I will also have the same sweetmeats.” Then he called to the Bear, “Dear Bear, go and fetch me some sweetmeats like those the King has for his dinner to-day, for you like sweet things.” The Bear rolled along up to the castle, while every one got out of his way; but, when he came to the guard, he pointed his gun at him and would not let him pass into the royal apartments. The Bear, however, got up on his hind legs, and gave the guard right and left boxes on the ears with his paw, which knocked him down; and thereupon he went straight to the room of the Princess, and, getting behind her, growled slightly. She looked round, and perceived the Bear, whom she took into her own chamber, and asked him what he came for. “My master who slew the Dragon is here,” said he, “and has sent me for some sweetmeats such as the King eats.” The Princess let the sugar-baker be called, and bade him prepare sweetmeats like those the King had, and carry them for the Bear to the inn. There the Bear took charge of them; and, first licking off the sugar which had boiled over, he took them into his master.
“See here, friend Landlord,” said the Huntsman; “now I have bread, meat, vegetables, and sweetmeats from the table of the King; but I mean also to drink his wine.”
He called the Lion, and said, “Dear Lion, I should be glad to have a draught: go and fetch me some wine like that the King drinks.”
The Lion strode through the town, where all the people made way for him, and soon came to the castle, where the watchmen attempted to stop him at the gates; but, just giving a little bit of a roar, they were so frightened that they all ran away. He walked on to the royal apartments, and knocked with his tail at the door; and, when the Princess opened it, she was at first frightened to see a Lion; but soon recognising him by the gold snap of her necklace which he wore, she took him into her room, and asked, “Dear Lion, what do you wish?”
The Lion replied, “My master who killed the Dragon is here, and has sent me to fetch him wine like that the King drinks at his own table.” The Princess summoned the butler, and told him to give the Lion wine, such as the King drank. But the Lion said, “I will go down with you, and see that I have the right.” So he went with the butler; and, as they were come below, he was about to draw the ordinary wine such as was drunk by the King’s servants, but the Lion cried, “Hold! I will first taste the wine;” and, drawing for himself half a cupful, he drank it, and said, “No; that is not the real wine.” The butler looked at him askance, and went to draw from another mask which was made for the king’s marshal. Then the Lion cried, “Hold! first I must taste;” and, drawing half a flagon full, he drank it off, and said, “This is better; but still not the right wine.” At these words the butler put himself in a passion, and said, “What does such a stupid calf as you know about wine?” The Lion gave him a blow behind the ear, so that he fell down upon the ground; and, as soon as he came to himself, he led the Lion quite submissively into a peculiar little cellar where the King’s wine was kept, of which no one ever dared to taste. But the Lion, first drawing for himself half a cupful, tried the wine, and saying, “This must be the real stuff,” bade the butler fill six bottles with it. When this was done they mounted the steps again, and as the Lion came out of the cellar into the fresh air he reeled about, being a little elevated; so that the butler had to carry the wine-basket for him to the inn, where the Lion, taking it again in his mouth, carried it in to his master. The Hunter called the Landlord and said, “See here: now I have bread, meat, vegetables, sweetmeats, and wine, the very same as the King himself will eat to-day, and so I will make my dinner with my animals.” They sat down and ate and drank away, for he gave the Hare, the Fox, the Wolf, the Bear, and the Lion, their share of the good things, and was very happy, for he felt the King’s daughter still loved him. When he had finished his meal he said to the Landlord, “Now, as I have eaten and drunk the same things as the King, I will even go to the royal palace and marry the Princess.”
The Landlord said, “How can that be, for she is already betrothed, and to-day the wedding is to be celebrated?”
Then the Hunter drew out the handkerchief which the King’s daughter had given him on the Dragon’s mountain, and wherein the seven tongues of the Dragon’s seven heads were wrapped, and said, “This shall help me to it!”
The Landlord looked at the handkerchief and said, “If I believe all that has been done, still I cannot believe that, and will wager my house and garden upon it.”
Thereupon the Huntsman took out a purse with a thousand gold pieces in it, and said, “I will bet you that against your house and garden.”
Meantime the King asked his daughter, “What do all these wild beasts mean who have come to you to-day, and passed and repassed in and out of my castle?”
She replied, “I dare not tell you, but send and let the master of these beasts be fetched, and you will do well.”
The King sent a servant to the inn to invite the strange man to come, and arrived just as the Hunter had concluded his wager with the Landlord. So he said, “See, mine host, the King even sends a servant to invite me to come, but I do not go yet.” And to the servant he said, “I beg that the King will send me royal clothes, and a carriage with six horses, and servants to wait on me.”
When the King heard this answer, he said to his daughter, “What shall I do?” “Do as he desires, and you will do well,” she replied. So the King sent a suit of royal clothes, a carriage with six horses, and some servants to wait upon the man. As the Hunter saw them coming, he said to the Landlord, “See here, I am fetched just as I desired,” and, putting on the royal clothes, he took the handkerchief with him and drove to the King. When the King saw him coming he asked his daughter how he should receive him, and she said, “Go out to meet him, and you will do well.” So the King met him and led him into the palace, the animals following. The King showed him a seat near himself and his daughter, and the Marshal sat upon the other side as the bridegroom. Now, against the walls was the seven-headed Dragon placed, stuffed as if he were yet alive; and the King said, “The seven heads of the Dragon were cut off by our Marshal, to whom this day I give my daughter in marriage.”
Then the Hunter rose up, and, opening the seven jaws of the Dragon, asked where were the seven tongues. This frightened the Marshal, and he turned pale as death, but at last, not knowing what else to say, he stammered out, “Dragons have no tongues!”
The Hunter replied, “Liars should have none, but the Dragon’s tongues are the trophies of the Dragon-slayer;” and so saying he unwrapped the handkerchief, and there lay all seven, and he put one into each mouth of the monster, and they fitted exactly. Then he took the handkerchief upon which her name was marked and showed it to the maiden, and asked her to whom she had given it, and she replied, “To him who slew the Dragon.” Then he called his beasts, and taking from each the necklace, and from the Lion the golden snap, he put them together, and, showing them to the Princess too, asked her to whom they belonged. The Princess said, “The necklace and the snap were mine, and I shared it among the animals who helped to conquer the Dragon.” Then the Huntsman said, “When I was weary and rested after the fight, the Marshal came and cut off my head, and then took away the Princess, and gave out that it was he who had conquered the Dragon. Now that he has lied, I show these tongues, this necklace and this handkerchief for proofs.” And then he related how the beasts had cured him with a wonderful root, and that for a year he had wandered and at last had come hither again, where he had discovered the deceit of the Marshal through the innkeeper’s tale. Then the King asked his daughter, “Is it true that this man killed the Dragon?”
“Yes,” she replied, “it is true, for I dared not disclose the treachery of the Marshal, because he threatened me with instant death. But now it is known without my mention, and for this reason have I delayed the wedding a year and a day.”
After these words the King ordered twelve councillors to be summoned who should judge the Marshal, and they condemned him to be torn in pieces by four oxen. So the Marshal was executed, and the King gave his daughter to the Huntsman, and named him Stadtholder over all his kingdoms. The wedding was celebrated with great joy and the young King caused his father and foster-father to be brought to him, and loaded them with presents. He did not forget either the Landlord, but bade him welcome, and said to him, “See you here, my host: I have married the daughter of the King, and thy house and garden are mine.” The Landlord said that was according to right; but the young King said, “It shall be according to mercy;” and he gave him back not only his house and garden, but also presented him with the thousand gold pieces he had wagered.
Now the young King and Queen were very happy, and lived together in contentment. He often went out hunting, because he delighted in it; and the faithful animals always accompanied him.
In the neighbourhood there was a forest which it was said was haunted, and that if one entered it he did not easily get out again. The young King, however, took a great fancy to hunt in it, and he let the old King have no peace till he consented to let him. Away then he rode with a great company; and as he approached the forest, he saw a snow-white hind
n going into it; so, telling his companions to wait his return, he rode off among the trees, and only his faithful beasts accompanied him. The courtiers waited and waited till evening, but he did not return; so they rode home, and told the young Queen that her husband had ridden into the forest after a white doe, and had not again come out. The news made her very anxious about him. He, however, had ridden farther and farther into the wood after the beautiful animal without catching it; and when he thought it was within range of his gun, with one spring it got away, till at last it disappeared altogether. Then he remarked for the first how deeply he had plunged into the thickets; and, taking his horn, he gave a blast, but there was no answer, for his people could not hear it. Presently night began to close in; and, perceiving that he could not get home that day, he dismounted, and, making a fire, prepared to pass the night. While he sat by the fire, with his beasts lying near all around him, he thought he heard a human voice, but, on looking round, he could see nobody. Soon after he heard again a groan, as if from a box; and, looking up, he saw an old Woman sitting upon the tree, who was groaning and crying, “Oh, oh, oh, how I do freeze!” He called out, “Come down and warm yourself if you freeze.” But she said, “No; your beasts will bite me.” He replied, “They will not harm you, my good old lady, if you like to come down.” But she was a Witch, and said, “I will throw you down a twig, which if you beat on their backs they will then do nothing to me.” He did as he was requested; and immediately they laid down quietly enough, for they were changed into stones. Now, when the old Woman was safe from the animals, she sprang down, and, touching the King too with a twig, converted him also into a stone. Thereupon she laughed to herself, and buried him and his beasts in a grave where already were many more stones.
Meantime the young Queen was becoming more and more anxious and sad when her husband did not return; and just then it happened that the other brother, who had traveled towards the east when they separated, came into the territory. He had been seeking and had found no service to enter, and was, therefore, travelling through the country, and making his animals dance for a living. Once he thought he would go and look at the knife which they had stuck in the tree at their separation, in order to see how his brother fared. When he looked at it, lo! his brother’s side was half rusty and half bright! At this he was frightened, and thought his brother had fallen into some great misfortune; but he hoped yet to save him, for one half of the knife was bright. He therefore went with his beasts towards the west; and, as he came to the capital city, the watch went out to him, and asked if he should mention his arrival to his bride, for the young Queen had for two days been in great sorrow and distress at his absence, and feared he had been killed in the enchanted wood. The watchman thought certainly he was no one else than the young King, for he was so much like him, and had also the same wild beasts returning after him. The Huntsman perceived he was speaking of his brother, and thought it was all for the best that he should give himself out as his brother, for so, perhaps, he might more easily save him. So he let himself be conducted by the watchman into the castle, and was there received with great joy, for the young Queen took him for her husband also, and asked him where he had stopped so long. He told her he had lost his way in a wood, and could not find his way out earlier.
For a couple of days he rested at home, but was always asking about the enchanted wood: and at last he said, “I must hunt there once more.” The King and the young Queen tried to dissuade him, but he was resolved, and went out with a great number of attendants. As soon as he got into the wood it happened to him as to his brother: he saw a white hind, and told his people to wait his return where they were, while he hunted the wild animal, and immediately rode off, his beasts following his footsteps. But he could not catch the hind any more than his brother; and he went so deep into the wood that he was forced to pass the night there. As soon as he had made a fire he heard some one groaning above him, and saying, “Oh, oh, oh, how I do freeze!” Then he looked up, and there sat the same old Witch in the tree, and he said to her, “If you freeze, old Woman, why don’t you come down and warm yourself?” She replied, “No, your beasts would bite me; but if you will beat them with a twig which I will throw down to you they can do me no harm.” When the Hunter heard this he doubted the old Woman, and said to her, “I do not beat my beasts; so come down, or I will fetch you.” But she called out, “What are you thinking of, you can do nothing to me!” He answered, “Come down, or I will shoot you.” The old Woman laughed, and said, “Shoot away! I am not afraid of your bullets!”
He knelt down and shot, but she was bullet-proof; and, laughing till she yelled, called out, “You cannot catch me!” However, the Hunter knew a trick or two, and, tearing three silver buttons from his coat, he loaded his gun with them; and while he was ramming them down the old Witch threw herself from the tree with a loud shriek, for she was not proof against such shot. He placed his foot upon her neck, and said, “Old Witch, if you do not quickly tell me where my brother is, I will tie your hands together, and throw you into the fire.”
She was in great anguish, begged for mercy, and said, “He lies with his beasts in a grave turned into stone.” Then he forced her to go with him, threatening her, and saying, “You old cat! now turn my brother and all the creatures which lie here into their proper forms, or I will throw you into the fire!”
The old Witch took a twig, and changed the stone back to what it was, and immediately his brother and the beasts stood before the Huntsman, as well as many merchants, work-people, and shepherds, who, delighted with their freedom, returned home. But the twin brothers, when they saw each other again, kissed and embraced, and were very glad. They seized the old Witch, bound her, and laid her on the fire; and, when she was consumed, the forest itself disappeared, and all was clear and free from trees, so that one could see the royal palace, three miles off.
Now the two brothers went together home; and on the way told each other their adventures. And, when the younger one said he was lord over the whole land in place of the King, the other one said, “All that I was well aware of; for when I went into the city I was taken for you. And all kingly honour was paid to me, the young Queen even mistaking me for her true husband, and making me sit at her table, and sleep in her room.” When the first one heard this he became very angry, and so jealous and passionate, that, drawing his sword, he cut off the head of his brother. But as soon as he had done so, and saw the red blood flowing from the dead body, he repented sorely, and said, “My brother has saved me, and I have killed him for so doing;” and he groaned pitifully. Just then the Hare came up, and offered to fetch the healing root, and then, running off, brought it just at the right time, so that the dead man was restored to life again, and not even the mark of his wound was to be seen.
After this adventure they went on, and the younger brother said, “You see that we have both got on royal robes, and have both the same beasts following us; we will, therefore, enter the city at opposite gates, and arrive from the two quarters the same time, before the King.”
So they separated; and at the same moment the watchman from each gate came to the King, and informed him that the young Prince with the beasts had returned from the hunt. The King said, “It is not possible, for your two gates are a mile asunder!” But in the mean time the two brothers had arrived in the castle-yard, and began to mount the stairs. When they entered the King said to his daughter, “Tell me which is your husband, for one appears to me the same as the other, and I cannot tell.” The Princess was in great trouble, and could not tell which was which; but at last she bethought herself of the necklace which she had given to the beasts, and she looked and found on one of the Lions her golden snap, and then she cried exultingly, “He to whom this Lion belongs is my rightful husband.” Then the young King laughed and said, “That is right;” and they sat down together at table, and ate, and drank, and were merry. At night when the young King went to bed his wife asked him why he had placed on the two previous nights a sword in the bed, for she thought it was to kill her. Then the young King knew how faithful his brother had been.