The third daughter says to her mother: "Mother, bake me a bannock, and
roast me a collop, for I'm going away to seek my fortune." Her mother
did so; and away she went to the old witch. She bade her look out of her
back-door, and see what she could see She did so; and when she came
back, said she saw nought. The second day she did the same, and saw
nought. The third day she looked again, and on coming back said to the
old wife she saw nought but a great Black Bull coming crooning along the
road. "Well," quoth the old witch, "yon's for you." On hearing this she
was next to distracted with grief and terror; but she was lifted up and
set on his back, and away they went.
Aye they travelled, and on they travelled, till the lady grew faint with
hunger. "Eat out of my right ear," says the Black Bull, "and drink out
of my left ear, and set by your leaving." So she did as he said, and was
wonderfully refreshed. And long they rode, and hard they rode, till
they came in sight of a very big and bonny castle. "Yonder we must be
this night," quoth the Bull; "for my elder brother lives yonder;" and
presently they were at the place. They lifted her off his back, and took
her in, and sent him away to a park for the night. In the morning, when
they brought the Bull home, they took the lady into a fine shining
parlour, and gave her a beautiful apple, telling her not to break it
till she was in the greatest strait ever mortal was in the world, and
that would bring her out of it. Again she was lifted on the Bull's back,
and after she had ridden far, and farther than I can tell, they came in
sight of a far bonnier castle, and far farther away than the last. Says
the Bull to her: "Yonder we must be this night, for my second brother
lives yonder;" and they were at the place directly. They lifted her down
and took her in, and sent the Bull to the field for the night. In the
morning they took the lady into a fine and rich room, and gave her the
finest pear she had ever seen, bidding her not to break it till she was
in the greatest strait ever mortal could be in, and that would get her
out of it. Again she was lifted and set on his back, and away they went.
And long they rode, and hard they rode, till they came in sight of the
far biggest castle and far farthest off, they had yet seen. "We must be
yonder to-night," says the Bull, "for my young brother lives yonder;"
and they were there directly. They lifted her down, took her in, and
sent the Bull to the field for the night. In the morning they took her
into a room, the finest of all, and gave her a plum, telling her not to
break it till she was in the greatest strait mortal could be in, and
that would get her out of it. Presently they brought home the Bull, set
the lady on his back, and away they went.
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.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account