The Twelve Huntsmen

There was once a King's son who was betrothed to a maiden whom he loved
very much. And when he was sitting beside her and very happy, news came
that his father lay sick unto death, and desired to see him once again
before his end. Then he said to his beloved, "I must now go and leave
thee, I give thee a ring as a remembrance of me. When I am King, I will
return and fetch thee." So he rode away, and when he reached his
father, the latter was dangerously ill, and near his death. He said to
him, "Dear son, I wished to see thee once again before my end, promise
me to marry as I wish," and he named a certain King's daughter who was
to be his wife. The son was in such trouble that he did not think what
he was doing, and said, "Yes, dear father, your will shall be done,"
and thereupon the King shut his eyes, and died.

When therefore the son had been proclaimed King, and the time of
mourning was over, he was forced to keep the promise which he had given
his father, and caused the King's daughter to be asked in marriage, and
she was promised to him. His first betrothed heard of this, and fretted
so much about his faithlessness that she nearly died. Then her father
said to her, "Dearest child, why art thou so sad? Thou shalt have
whatsoever thou wilt." She thought for a moment and said, "Dear father,
I wish for eleven girls exactly like myself in face, figure, and size."
The father said, "If it be possible, thy desire shall be fulfilled,"
and he caused a search to be made in his whole kingdom, until eleven
young maidens were found who exactly resembled his daughter in face,
figure, and size.

When they came to the King's daughter, she had twelve suits of
huntsmen's clothes made, all alike, and the eleven maidens had to put
on the huntsmen's clothes, and she herself put on the twelfth suit.
Thereupon she took leave of her father, and rode away with them, and
rode to the court of her former betrothed, whom she loved so dearly.
Then she inquired if he required any huntsmen, and if he would take the
whole of them into his service. The King looked at her and did not know
her, but as they were such handsome fellows, he said, "Yes," and that
he would willingly take them, and now they were the King's twelve
huntsmen.

The King, however, had a lion which was a wondrous animal, for he knew
all concealed and secret things. It came to pass that one evening he
said to the King, "Thou thinkest thou hast twelve huntsmen?" "Yes,"
said the King, "they are twelve huntsmen." The lion continued, "Thou
art mistaken, they are twelve girls." The King said, "That cannot be
true! How wilt thou prove that to me?" "Oh, just let some peas be
strewn in thy ante-chamber," answered the lion, "and then thou wilt
soon see it. Men have a firm step, and when they walk over the peas
none of them stir, but girls trip and skip, and drag their feet, and
the peas roll about." The King was well pleased with the counsel, and
caused the peas to be strewn.

There was, however, a servant of the King's who favored the huntsmen,
and when he heard that they were going to be put to this test he went
to them and repeated everything, and said, "The lion wants to make the
King believe that you are girls." Then the King's daughter thanked him,
and said to her maidens, "Put on some strength, and step firmly on the
peas." So next morning when the King had the twelve huntsmen called
before him, and they came into the ante-chamber where the peas were
lying, they stepped so firmly on them, and had such a strong, sure
walk, that not one of the peas either rolled or stirred. Then they went
away again, and the King said to the lion, "Thou hast lied to me, they
walk just like men." The lion said, "They have got to know that they
were going to be put to the test, and have assumed some strength. Just
let twelve spinning-wheels be brought into the ante-chamber some day,
and they will go to them and be pleased with them, and that is what no
man would do." The King liked the advice, and had the spinning-wheels
placed in the ante-chamber.

But the servant, who was well disposed to the huntsmen, went to them,
and disclosed the project. Then when they were alone the King's
daughter said to her eleven girls, "Put some constraint on yourselves,
and do not look round at the spinning-wheels." And next morning when
the King had his twelve huntsmen summoned, they went through the
ante-chamber, and never once looked at the spinning wheels. Then the
King again said to the lion, "Thou hast deceived me, they are men, for
they have not looked at the spinning-wheels." The lion replied, "They
have learnt that they were going to be put to the test, and have
restrained themselves." The King, however, would no longer believe the
lion.

The twelve huntsmen always followed the King to the chase, and his
liking for them continually increased. Now it came to pass that once
when they were out hunting, news came that the King's betrothed was
approaching. When the true bride heard that, it hurt her so much that
her heart was almost broken, and she fell fainting to the ground. The
King thought something had happened to his dear huntsman, ran up to
him, wanted to help him, and drew his glove off. Then he saw the ring
which he had given to his first bride, and when he looked in her face
he recognized her. Then his heart was so touched that he kissed her,
and when she opened her eyes he said, "Thou art mine, and I am thine,
and no one in the world can alter that." He sent a messenger to the
other bride, and entreated her to return to her own kingdom, for he had
a wife already, and a man who had just found an old dish did not
require a new one. Thereupon the wedding was celebrated, and the lion
was again taken into favour, because, after all, he had told the truth.
