95 lines
5.7 KiB
Text
95 lines
5.7 KiB
Text
The Twelve Huntsmen
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There was once a King's son who was betrothed to a maiden whom he loved
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very much. And when he was sitting beside her and very happy, news came
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that his father lay sick unto death, and desired to see him once again
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before his end. Then he said to his beloved, "I must now go and leave
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thee, I give thee a ring as a remembrance of me. When I am King, I will
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return and fetch thee." So he rode away, and when he reached his
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father, the latter was dangerously ill, and near his death. He said to
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him, "Dear son, I wished to see thee once again before my end, promise
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me to marry as I wish," and he named a certain King's daughter who was
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to be his wife. The son was in such trouble that he did not think what
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he was doing, and said, "Yes, dear father, your will shall be done,"
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and thereupon the King shut his eyes, and died.
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When therefore the son had been proclaimed King, and the time of
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mourning was over, he was forced to keep the promise which he had given
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his father, and caused the King's daughter to be asked in marriage, and
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she was promised to him. His first betrothed heard of this, and fretted
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so much about his faithlessness that she nearly died. Then her father
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said to her, "Dearest child, why art thou so sad? Thou shalt have
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whatsoever thou wilt." She thought for a moment and said, "Dear father,
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I wish for eleven girls exactly like myself in face, figure, and size."
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The father said, "If it be possible, thy desire shall be fulfilled,"
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and he caused a search to be made in his whole kingdom, until eleven
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young maidens were found who exactly resembled his daughter in face,
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figure, and size.
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When they came to the King's daughter, she had twelve suits of
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huntsmen's clothes made, all alike, and the eleven maidens had to put
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on the huntsmen's clothes, and she herself put on the twelfth suit.
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Thereupon she took leave of her father, and rode away with them, and
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rode to the court of her former betrothed, whom she loved so dearly.
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Then she inquired if he required any huntsmen, and if he would take the
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whole of them into his service. The King looked at her and did not know
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her, but as they were such handsome fellows, he said, "Yes," and that
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he would willingly take them, and now they were the King's twelve
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huntsmen.
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The King, however, had a lion which was a wondrous animal, for he knew
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all concealed and secret things. It came to pass that one evening he
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said to the King, "Thou thinkest thou hast twelve huntsmen?" "Yes,"
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said the King, "they are twelve huntsmen." The lion continued, "Thou
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art mistaken, they are twelve girls." The King said, "That cannot be
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true! How wilt thou prove that to me?" "Oh, just let some peas be
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strewn in thy ante-chamber," answered the lion, "and then thou wilt
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soon see it. Men have a firm step, and when they walk over the peas
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none of them stir, but girls trip and skip, and drag their feet, and
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the peas roll about." The King was well pleased with the counsel, and
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caused the peas to be strewn.
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There was, however, a servant of the King's who favored the huntsmen,
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and when he heard that they were going to be put to this test he went
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to them and repeated everything, and said, "The lion wants to make the
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King believe that you are girls." Then the King's daughter thanked him,
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and said to her maidens, "Put on some strength, and step firmly on the
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peas." So next morning when the King had the twelve huntsmen called
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before him, and they came into the ante-chamber where the peas were
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lying, they stepped so firmly on them, and had such a strong, sure
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walk, that not one of the peas either rolled or stirred. Then they went
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away again, and the King said to the lion, "Thou hast lied to me, they
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walk just like men." The lion said, "They have got to know that they
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were going to be put to the test, and have assumed some strength. Just
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let twelve spinning-wheels be brought into the ante-chamber some day,
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and they will go to them and be pleased with them, and that is what no
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man would do." The King liked the advice, and had the spinning-wheels
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placed in the ante-chamber.
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But the servant, who was well disposed to the huntsmen, went to them,
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and disclosed the project. Then when they were alone the King's
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daughter said to her eleven girls, "Put some constraint on yourselves,
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and do not look round at the spinning-wheels." And next morning when
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the King had his twelve huntsmen summoned, they went through the
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ante-chamber, and never once looked at the spinning wheels. Then the
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King again said to the lion, "Thou hast deceived me, they are men, for
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they have not looked at the spinning-wheels." The lion replied, "They
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have learnt that they were going to be put to the test, and have
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restrained themselves." The King, however, would no longer believe the
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lion.
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The twelve huntsmen always followed the King to the chase, and his
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liking for them continually increased. Now it came to pass that once
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when they were out hunting, news came that the King's betrothed was
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approaching. When the true bride heard that, it hurt her so much that
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her heart was almost broken, and she fell fainting to the ground. The
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King thought something had happened to his dear huntsman, ran up to
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him, wanted to help him, and drew his glove off. Then he saw the ring
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which he had given to his first bride, and when he looked in her face
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he recognized her. Then his heart was so touched that he kissed her,
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and when she opened her eyes he said, "Thou art mine, and I am thine,
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and no one in the world can alter that." He sent a messenger to the
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other bride, and entreated her to return to her own kingdom, for he had
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a wife already, and a man who had just found an old dish did not
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require a new one. Thereupon the wedding was celebrated, and the lion
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was again taken into favour, because, after all, he had told the truth.
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