Then said the heads one to another: “What shall we weird for this damsel
who has used us so kindly?”
The first said: “I weird her to be so beautiful that she shall charm the
most powerful prince in the world.”
The second said: “I weird her such a sweet voice as shall far exceed the
nightingale.”
The third said: “My gift shall be none of the least, as she is a king's
daughter, I'll weird her so fortunate that she shall become queen to the
greatest prince that reigns.”
She then let them down into the well again, and so went on her journey.
She had not travelled long before she saw a king hunting in the park
with his nobles. She would have avoided him, but the king, having caught
a sight of her, approached, and what with her beauty and sweet voice,
fell desperately in love with her, and soon induced her to marry him.
This king finding that she was the King of Colchester's daughter,
ordered some chariots to be got ready, that he might pay the king, his
father-in-law, a visit. The chariot in which the king and queen rode
was adorned with rich gems of gold. The king, her father, was at first
astonished that his daughter had been so fortunate, till the young
king let him know of all that had happened. Great was the joy at
Court amongst all, with the exception of the queen and her club-footed
daughter, who were ready to burst with envy. The rejoicings, with
feasting and dancing, continued many days. Then at length they returned
home with the dowry her father gave her.
The hump-backed princess, perceiving that her sister had been so lucky
in seeking her fortune, wanted to do the same; so she told her mother,
and all preparations were made, and she was furnished with rich dresses,
and with sugar, almonds, and sweetmeats, in great quantities, and a
large bottle of Malaga sack. With these she went the same road as
her sister; and coming near the cave, the old man said: “Young woman,
whither so fast?”
“What's that to you?” said she.
“Then,” said he, “what have you in your bag and bottle?”
She answered: “Good things, which you shall not be troubled with.”
“Won't you give me some?” said he.
“No, not a bit, nor a drop, unless it would choke you.”
The old man frowned, saying: “Evil fortune attend ye!”
Going on, she came to the hedge, through which she espied a gap, and
thought to pass through it; but the hedge closed, and the, thorns
ran into her flesh, so that it was with great difficulty that she
got through. Being now all over blood, she searched for water to wash
herself, and, looking round, she saw the well. She sat down on the brink
of it, and one of the heads came up, saying: “Wash me, comb me, and lay
me down softly,” as before, but she banged it with her bottle, saying,
“Take that for your washing.” So the second and third heads came up,
and met with no better treatment than the first. Whereupon the heads
consulted among themselves what evils to plague her with for such usage.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account