Martin Pippin in the Apple OrchardFarjeon, Eleanor
General
Martin Pippin in the Apple Orchard
Farjeon, Eleanor
Fairy tales; Minstrels -- Fiction
In due course they reached the Doves, and at the sound of Pepper's
hoofs the Brothers flocked out to meet them.
"Is all well?" cried the Ringdove, seeing the King only. "And have you
returned to us for the final blessing?"
"I have," replied the King, "for I bring my bride behind me, and now
you must make us one."
The gentle Brothers, rejoicing at the sight of their happiness and
their beauty, led them in; and there they were wedded. The Doves
offered them to eat, but the King was impatient to reach his Barn by
nightfall; so they got again on Pepper's back, and as they were about
to leave the Ringdove said:
"I have something of yours which is in itself a thing of no moment;
yet, because it is of good augury, take it with you."
And he gave the King Pepper's third shoe.
"Thank you," said the King, "I will hang it over my Barn door."
Now he urged Pepper to her full speed, and they went at a gallop past
the Hawking Sopers, who, hearing the clatter, came running into the
road.
"Stay, gallopers, stay!" they cried, "and make merry with us."
"We cannot," called the King, "for we are newly married."
"Good luck to you then!" shouted the Sopers, and with huzzas and
laughter flung something after them. Viola stretched out her hand and
caught it in mid-air, and it was a horseshoe.
"The tale is complete," she laughed, "and now you know where Pepper
picked up her stones."
Soon after the King said, "Here is my Barn." And he sprang down and
lifted his bride from the nag's back and brought her in.
"It is a poor place," he said gently, "but it is all I have. What can I
do for you in such a home?"
"I will tell you," said Viola, and putting her hand into her left
pocket, she drew out the ruby winking with the wine of mirth. "You can
dance in it." And suddenly they caught each other by the hands and went
capering and laughing round the Barn like children.
"Hurrah!" cried William, "now I know what a King should do in a Barn!"
"But he should do more than dance in it," said Viola; and putting her
hand into her right pocket she gave him the pearl, as pure as a prayer;
"beloved, he should pray in it too."
And William looked at her and knelt, and she knelt by him, and in
silence they prayed the same prayer, side by side.
Then William rose and said simply, "Now I know."
But she knelt still, and took from her girdle the diamond, as bright as
power, and she put it in his hand, saying very low, "Oh, my dear King!
but he should also rule in it." And she kissed his hand. But the King
lifted her very quickly so that she stood equal with his heart, and
embracing her he said, with tears in his eyes:
"And you, beloved! what will a Queen do in a Barn?"
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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