Children's stories, German -- Translations into English; Fairy tales; Fairy tales -- Germany
With a heavy heart the youth set out. Yet luckily for him he soon found
the trusty Fox.
“I ought to leave you to your ill-luck,” said the Fox, “but I pity you,
and will help you once more out of your trouble. This road takes you
straight to the Golden Castle. You will reach it by eventide. And at
night, when everything is quiet, the beautiful Princess goes to the
bathing-house to bathe. When she enters it, run up to her and give her
a kiss. Then she will follow you, and you can take her away with you.
Only do not allow her to say farewell to her parents first, or it will
go ill with you.”
Then the Fox stretched out his tail, the King’s Son seated himself upon
it. Away the Fox went, over stock and stone, till his hair whistled in
the wind.
When he reached the Golden Castle it was just as the Fox had said.
He waited until midnight, when everything lay in deep sleep, and the
beautiful Princess was going to the bathing-house. Then he sprang out
and gave her a kiss. She said that she would like to go with him, but
she asked him pitifully, and with tears, to be allowed to take leave of
her parents.
At first he withstood her prayer, but when she wept more and more, and
fell at his feet, he at last gave in. But no sooner had the maiden
reached the bedside of her father, than he and all the rest in the
castle awoke, and the youth was laid hold of and put into prison.
The next morning, the King said to him, “Your life is forfeited, and
you can only find mercy if you take away the hill which stands in
front of my windows, and prevents my seeing beyond it. And you must
finish it all within eight days. If you do that you shall have my
daughter as your reward.”
The King’s Son began, and dug and shovelled without leaving off. But
after seven days when he saw how little he had done, and how all his
work was as good as nothing, he fell into great sorrow and gave up all
hope.
On the evening of the seventh day the Fox appeared and said, “You do
not deserve that I should take any trouble about you. Nevertheless, go
away and lie down to sleep. I will do the work for you.”
The next morning, when he awoke and looked out of the window, the hill
had gone. Full of joy, the youth ran to the King, and told him that the
task was fulfilled. And whether he liked it or not, the King had to
hold to his word and give him his daughter.
So the two set forth together, and it was not long before the trusty
Fox came up with them. “You have certainly got what is best,” said he,
“but the Golden Horse also belongs to the maiden of the Golden Castle.”
“How shall I get it?” asked the youth.
“That I will tell you,” answered the Fox; “first take the beautiful
maiden to the King who sent you to the Golden Castle. There will be
unheard-of rejoicing. They will gladly give you the Golden Horse, and
will bring it out to you.”
All was brought to pass successfully, and the King’s Son carried off
the beautiful Princess on the Golden Horse.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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