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Once upon
a time...
A powerful king had, among many other treasures, a wonderful
tree in his garden, which bore every year beautiful golden apples.
But the King was never able to enjoy his treasure, for he might
watch and guard them as he liked, as soon as they began to get ripe
they were always stolen. At last, in despair, he sent for his three
sons, and said to the two eldest, 'Get yourselves ready for a
journey. Take gold and silver with you, and a large retinue of
servants, as beseems two noble princes, and go through the world
till you find out who it is that steals my golden apples, and, if
possible, bring the thief to me that I may punish him as he
deserves.' His sons were delighted at this proposal, for they had
long wished to see something of the world, so they got ready for
their journey with all haste, bade their father farewell, and left
the town.
The youngest Prince was much disappointed that he too was not sent
out on his travels; but his father wouldn't hear of his going, for
he had always been looked upon as the stupid one of the family, and
the King was afraid of something happening to him. But the Prince
begged and implored so long, that at last his father consented to
let him go, and furnished him with gold and silver as he had done
his brothers. But he gave him the most wretched horse in his stable,
because the foolish youth hadn't asked for a better. So he too set
out on his journey to secure the thief, amid the jeers and laughter
of the whole court and town.
His path led him first through a wood, and he hadn't gone very far
when he met a lean-looking wolf who stood still as he approached.
The Prince asked him if he were hungry, and when the wolf said he
was, he got down from his horse and said, 'If you are really as you
say and look, you may take my horse and eat it.'
The wolf didn't wait to have the offer repeated, but set to work,
and soon made an end of the poor beast. When the Prince saw how
different the wolf looked when he had finished his meal, he said to
him, 'Now, my friend, since you have eaten up my horse, and I have
such a long way to go, that, with the best will in the world, I
couldn't manage it on foot, the least you can do for me is to act as
my horse and to take me on your back.'
'Most certainly,' said the wolf, and, letting the Prince mount him,
he trotted gaily through the wood. After they had gone a little way
he turned round and asked his rider where he wanted to go to, and
the Prince proceeded to tell him the whole story of the golden
apples that had been stolen out of the King's garden, and how his
other two brothers had set forth with many followers to find the
thief. When he had finished his story, the wolf, who was in reality
no wolf but a mighty magician, said he thought he could tell him who
the thief was, and could help him to secure him. 'There lives,' he
said, 'in a neighbouring country, a mighty emperor who has a
beautiful golden bird in a cage, and this is the creature who steals
the golden apples, but it flies so fast that it is impossible to
catch it at its theft. You must slip into the Emperor's palace by
night and steal the bird with the cage; but be very careful not to
touch the walls as you go out.'
The following night the Prince stole into the Emperor's palace, and
found the bird in its cage as the wolf had told him he would. He
took hold of it carefully, but in spite of all his caution he
touched the wall in trying to pass by some sleeping watchmen. They
awoke at once, and, seizing him, beat him and put him into chains.
Next day he was led before the Emperor, who at once condemned him to
death and to be thrown into a dark dungeon till the day of his
execution arrived.
The wolf, who, of course, knew by his magic arts all that had
happened to the Prince, turned himself at once into a mighty monarch
with a large train of followers, and proceeded to the Court of the
Emperor, where he was received with every show of honour. The
Emperor and he conversed on many subjects, and, among other things,
the stranger asked his host if he had many slaves. The Emperor told
him he had more than he knew what to do with, and that a new one had
been captured that very night for trying to steal his magic bird,
but that as he had already more than enough to feed and support, he
was going to have this last captive hanged next morning.
'He must have been a most daring thief,' said the King, 'to try and
steal the magic bird, for depend upon it the creature must have been
well guarded. I would really like to see this bold rascal.' 'By all
means,' said the Emperor; and he himself led his guest down to the
dungeon where the unfortunate Prince was kept prisoner. When the
Emperor stepped out of the cell with the King, the latter turned to
him and said, 'Most mighty Emperor, I have been much disappointed. I
had thought to find a powerful robber, and instead of that I have
seen the most miserable creature I can imagine. Hanging is far too
good for him. If I had to sentence him I should make him perform
some very difficult task, under pain of death. If he did it so much
the better for you, and if he didn't, matters would just be as they
are now and he could still be hanged.' 'Your counsel,' said the
Emperor, 'is excellent, and, as it happens, I've got the very thing
for him to do. My nearest neighbour, who is also a mighty Emperor,
possesses a golden horse which he guards most carefully. The
prisoner shall be told to steal this horse and bring it to me.' The
Prince was then let out of his dungeon, and told his life would be
spared if he succeeded in bringing the golden horse to the Emperor.
He did not feel very elated at this announcement, for he did not
know how in the world he was to set about the task, and he started
on his way weeping bitterly, and wondering what had made him leave
his father's house and kingdom. But before he had gone far his
friend the wolf stood before him and said, 'Dear Prince, why are you
so cast down? It is true you didn't succeed in catching the bird;
but don't let that discourage you, for this time you will be all the
more careful, and will doubtless catch the horse.' With these and
like words the wolf comforted the Prince, and warned him specially
not to touch the wall or let the horse touch it as he led it out, or
he would fail in the same way as he had done with the bird.
After a somewhat lengthy journey the Prince and the wolf came to the
kingdom ruled over by the Emperor who possessed the golden horse.
One evening late they reached the capital, and the wolf advised the
Prince to set to work at once, before their presence in the city had
aroused the watchfulness of the guards. They slipped unnoticed into
the Emperor's stables and into the very place where there were the
most guards, for there the wolf rightly surmised they would find the
horse. When they came to a certain inner door the wolf told the
Prince to remain outside, while he went in. In a short time he
returned and said, 'My dear Prince, the horse is most securely
watched, but I have bewitched all the guards, and if you will only
be careful not to touch the wall yourself, or let the horse touch it
as you go out, there is no danger and the game is yours. The Prince,
who had made up his mind to be more than cautious this time, went
cheerfully to work. He found all the guards fast asleep, and,
slipping into the horse's stall, he seized it by the bridle and led
it out; but, unfortunately, before they had got quite clear of the
stables a gadfly stung the horse and caused it to switch its tail,
whereby it touched the wall. In a moment all the guards awoke,
seized the Prince and beat him mercilessly with their horse-whips,
after which they bound him with chains, and flung him into a
dungeon. Next morning they brought him before the Emperor, who
treated him exactly as the King with the golden bird had done, and
commanded him to be beheaded on the following day.
When the wolf-magician saw that the Prince had failed this time too,
he transformed himself again into a mighty king, and proceeded with
an even more gorgeous retinue than the first time to the Court of
the Emperor. He was courteously received and entertained, and once
more after dinner he led the conversation on to the subject of
slaves, and in the course of it again requested to be allowed to see
the bold robber who had dared to break into the Emperor's stable to
steal his most valuable possession. The Emperor consented, and all
happened exactly as it had done at the court of the Emperor with the
golden bird; the prisoner's life was to be spared only on condition
that within three days he should obtain possession of the golden
mermaid, whom hitherto no mortal had ever approached.
Very depressed by his dangerous and difficult task, the Prince left
his gloomy prison; but, to his great joy, he met his friend the wolf
before he had gone many miles on his journey. The cunning creature
pretended he knew nothing of what had happened to the Prince, and
asked him how he had fared with the horse. The Prince told him all
about his misadventure, and the condition on which the Emperor had
promised to spare his life. Then the wolf reminded him that he had
twice got him out of prison, and that if he would only trust in him,
and do exactly as he told him, he would certainly succeed in this
last undertaking. Thereupon they bent their steps towards the sea,
which stretched out before them, as far as their eyes could see, all
the waves dancing and glittering in the bright sunshine. 'Now,'
continued the wolf, 'I am going to turn myself into a boat full of
the most beautiful silken merchandise, and you must jump boldly into
the boat, and steer with my tail in your hand right out into the
open sea. You will soon come upon the golden mermaid. Whatever you
do, don't follow her if she calls you, but on the contrary say to
her, "The buyer comes to the seller, not the seller to the buyer."
After which you must steer towards the land, and she will follow
you, for she won't be able to resist the beautiful wares you have on
board your ship.'
The Prince promised faithfully to do all he had been told, whereupon
the wolf changed himself into a ship full of most exquisite silks,
of every shade and colour imaginable. The astonished Prince stepped
into the boat, and, holding the wolf's tail in his hand, he steered
boldly out into the open sea, where the sun was gilding the blue
waves with its golden rays. Soon he saw the golden mermaid swimming
near the ship, beckoning and calling to him to follow her; but,
mindful of the wolf's warning, he told her in a loud voice that if
she wished to buy anything she must come to him. With these words he
turned his magic ship round and steered back towards the land. The
mermaid called out to him to stand still, but he refused to listen
to her and never paused till he reached the sand of the shore. Here
he stopped and waited for the mermaid, who had swum after him. When
she drew near the boat he saw that she was far more beautiful than
any mortal he had ever beheld. She swam round the ship for some
time, and then swung herself gracefully on board, in order to
examine the beautiful silken stuffs more closely. Then the Prince
seized her in his arms, and kissing her tenderly on the cheeks and
lips, he told her she was his for ever; at the same moment the boat
turned into a wolf again, which so terrified the mermaid that she
clung to the Prince for protection.
So the golden mermaid was successfully caught, and she soon felt
quite happy in her new life when she saw she had nothing to fear
either from the Prince or the wolf--she rode on the back of the
latter, and the Prince rode behind her. When they reached the
country ruled over by the Emperor with the golden horse, the Prince
jumped down, and, helping the mermaid to alight, he led her before
the Emperor. At the sight of the beautiful mermaid and of the grim
wolf, who stuck close to the Prince this time, the guards all made
respectful obeisance, and soon the three stood before his Imperial
Majesty. When the Emperor heard from the Prince how he had gained
possession of his fair prize, he at once recognized that he had been
helped by some magic art, and on the spot gave up all claim to the
beautiful mermaid. 'Dear youth,' he said, 'forgive me for my
shameful conduct to you, and, as a sign that you pardon me, accept
the golden horse as a present. I acknowledge your power to be
greater even than I can understand, for you have succeeded in
gaining possession of the golden mermaid, whom hitherto no mortal
has ever been able to approach.' Then they all sat down to a huge
feast, and the Prince had to relate his adventures all over again,
to the wonder and astonishment of the whole company.
But the Prince was wearying now to return to his own kingdom, so as
soon as the feast was over he took farewell of the Emperor, and set
out on his homeward way. He lifted the mermaid on to the golden
horse, and swung himself up behind her--and so they rode on merrily,
with the wolf trotting behind, till they came to the country of the
Emperor with the golden bird. The renown of the Prince and his
adventure had gone before him, and the Emperor sat on his throne
awaiting the arrival of the Prince and his companions. When the
three rode into the courtyard of the palace, they were surprised and
delighted to find everything festively illuminated and decorated for
their reception. When the Prince and the golden mermaid, with the
wolf behind them, mounted the steps of the palace, the Emperor came
forward to meet them, and led them to the throne room. At the same
moment a servant appeared with the golden bird in its golden cage,
and the Emperor begged the Prince to accept it with his love, and to
forgive him the indignity he had suffered at his hands. Then the
Emperor bent low before the beautiful mermaid, and, offering her his
arm, he led her into dinner, closely followed by the Prince and her
friend the wolf; the latter seating himself at table, not the least
embarrassed that no one had invited him to do so.
As soon as the sumptuous meal was over, the Prince and his mermaid
took leave of the Emperor, and, seating themselves on the golden
horse, continued their homeward journey. On the way the wolf turned
to the Prince and said, 'Dear friends, I must now bid you farewell,
but I leave you under such happy circumstances that I cannot feel
our parting to be a sad one.' The Prince was very unhappy when he
heard these words, and begged the wolf to stay with them always; but
this the good creature refused to do, though he thanked the Prince
kindly for his invitation, and called out as he disappeared into the
thicket, 'Should any evil befall you, dear Prince, at any time, you
may rely on my friendship and gratitude.' These were the wolf's
parting words, and the Prince could not restrain his tears when he
saw his friend vanishing in the distance; but one glance at his
beloved mermaid soon cheered him up again, and they continued on
their journey merrily.
The news of his son's adventures had already reached his father's
Court, and everyone was more than astonished at the success of the
once despised Prince. His elder brothers, who had in vain gone in
pursuit of the thief of the golden apples, were furious over their
younger brother's good fortune, and plotted and planned how they
were to kill him. They hid themselves in the wood through which the
Prince had to pass on his way to the palace, and there fell on him,
and, having beaten him to death, they carried off the golden horse
and the golden bird. But nothing they could do would persuade the
golden mermaid to go with them or move from the spot, for ever since
she had left the sea, she had so attached herself to her Prince that
she asked nothing else than to live or die with him.
For many weeks the poor mermaid sat and watched over the dead body
of her lover, weeping salt tears over his loss, when suddenly one
day their old friend the wolf appeared and said, 'Cover the Prince's
body with all the leaves and flowers you can find in the wood.' The
maiden did as he told her, and then the wolf breathed over the
flowery grave, and, lo and behold! the Prince lay there sleeping as
peacefully as a child. 'Now you may wake him if you like,' said the
wolf, and the mermaid bent over him and gently kissed the wounds his
brothers had made on his forehead, and the Prince awoke, and you may
imagine how delighted he was to find his beautiful mermaid beside
him, though he felt a little depressed when he thought of the loss
of the golden bird and the golden horse. After a time the wolf, who
had likewise fallen on the Prince's neck, advised them to continue
their journey, and once more the Prince and his lovely bride mounted
on the faithful beast's back.
The King's joy was great when he embraced his youngest son, for he
had long since despaired of his return. He received the wolf and the
beautiful golden mermaid most cordially too, and the Prince was made
to tell his adventures all over from the beginning. The poor old
father grew very sad when he heard of the shameful conduct of his
elder sons, and had them called before him. They turned as white as
death when they saw their brother, whom they thought they had
murdered, standing beside them alive and well, and so startled were
they that when the King asked them why they had behaved so wickedly
to their brother they could think of no lie, but confessed at once
that they had slain the young Prince in order to obtain possession
of the golden horse and the golden bird. Their father's wrath knew
no bounds, and he ordered them both to be banished, but he could not
do enough to honour his youngest son, and his marriage with the
beautiful mermaid was celebrated with much pomp and magnificence.
When the festivities were over, the wolf bade them all farewell, and
returned once more to his life in the woods, much to the regret of
the old King and the young Prince and his bride.
And so ended the adventures of the Prince with his friend the wolf.
The Golden Mermaid
from the Green Fairy Book
Story Edited
by Andrew Lang |
