GermanShortStories2

German Short Stories - 2

German Short Stories - 2

Hensel and Gretel
By The Brothers Grimm

Hard by a great forest dwelt a poor wood-cutter with his wife
and his two children. The boy was called Hansel and the
girl Gretel. He had little to bite and to break, and once when
great dearth fell on the land, he could no longer procure
even daily bread. Now when he thought over this by night in
his bed, and tossed about in his anxiety, he groaned and said
to his wife, what is to become of us. How are we to feed our
poor children, when we no longer have anything even for
ourselves. I'll tell you what, husband, answered the woman,
early to-morrow morning we will take the children out into
the forest to where it is the thickest. There we will light a
fire for them, and give each of them one more piece of
bread, and then we will go to our work and leave them
alone. They will not find the way home again, and we
shall be rid of them. No, wife, said the man, I will not do
that.

How can I bear to leave my children alone in the forest.
The wild animals would soon come and tear them to pieces.
O' you fool, said she, then we must all four die of hunger,
you may as well plane the planks for our coffins, and she left
him no peace until he consented. But I feel very sorry for
the poor children, all the same, said the man.

The two children had also not been able to sleep for hunger,
and had heard what their step-mother had said to their
father. Gretel wept bitter tears, and said to Hansel, now all
is over with us.

Be quiet, Gretel, said Hansel, do not distress yourself, I will
soon find a way to help us. And when the old folks had
fallen asleep, he got up, put on his little coat, opened the
door below, and crept outside. The moon shone brightly,
and the white pebbles which lay in front of the house
glittered like real silver pennies. Hansel stooped and stuffed
the little pocket of his coat with as many as he could get in.
Then he went back and said to Gretel, be comforted,
dear little sister, and sleep in peace, God will not forsake us,
and he lay down again in his bed. When day dawned, but
before the sun had risen, the woman came and awoke the
two children, saying get up, you sluggards. We are going
into the forest to fetch wood. She gave each a little piece of
bread, and said, there is something for your dinner, but do
not eat it up before then, for you will get nothing else. Gretel
took the bread under her apron, as Hansel had the pebbles
in his pocket. Then they all set out together on the way to
the forest. When they had walked a short time, Hansel stood
still and peeped back at the house, and did so again and
again. His father said, Hansel, what are you looking at
there and staying behind for. Pay attention, and do not
forget how to use your legs. Ah, father, said Hansel, I am
looking at my little white cat, which is sitting up on the roof,
and wants to say good-bye to me. The wife said, fool, that is
not your little cat, that is the morning sun which is shining
on the chimneys. Hansel, however, had not been looking
back at the cat, but had been constantly throwing one of the
white pebble-stones out of his pocket on the road.

When they had reached the middle of the forest, the father
said, now, children, pile up some wood, and I will light a fire
that you may not be cold. Hansel and Gretel gathered
brushwood together, as high as a little hill. The brushwood
was lighted, and when the flames were burning very high,
the woman said, now, children, lay yourselves down by the
fire and rest, we will go into the forest and cut some wood.
When we have done, we will come back and fetch you away.

Hansel and Gretel sat by the fire, and when noon came, each
ate a little piece of bread, and as they heard the strokes of the
wood-axe they believed that their father was near. It was
not the axe, however, but a branch which he had fastened to
a withered tree which the wind was blowing backwards and
forwards. And as they had been sitting such a long time,
their eyes closed with fatigue, and they fell fast asleep.
When at last they awoke, it was already dark night. Gretel
began to cry and said, how are we to get out of the
forest now. But Hansel comforted her and said, just wait a
little, until the moon has risen, and then we will soon find the
way. And when the full moon had risen, Hansel took his
little sister by the hand, and followed the pebbles which
shone like newly-coined silver pieces, and showed them the
way.

They walked the whole night long, and by break of day came
once more to their father's house. They knocked at the door,
and when the woman opened it and saw that it was Hansel
and Gretel, she said, you naughty children, why have you
slept so long in the forest. We thought you were never
coming back at all. The father, however, rejoiced, for it had
cut him to the heart to leave them behind alone.

Not long afterwards, there was once more great dearth
throughout the land, and the children heard their mother
saying at night to their father, everything is eaten again, we
have one half loaf left, and that is the end. The children
must go, we will take them farther into the wood, so that
they will not find their way out again. There is no other
means of saving ourselves. The man's heart was heavy, and
he thought, it would be better for you to share the last
mouthful with your children. The woman, however, would
listen to nothing that he had to say, but scolded and
reproached him. He who says a must say b, likewise, and as
he had yielded the first time, he had to do so a second time
also.

The children, however, were still awake and had heard the
conversation. When the old folks were asleep, Hansel again
got up, and wanted to go out and pick up pebbles as he had
done before, but the woman had locked the door, and Hansel
could not get out. Nevertheless he comforted his little sister,
and said, do not cry, Gretel, go to sleep quietly, the good God
will help us. Early in the morning came the woman, and took
the children out of their beds. Their piece of bread was
given to them, but it was still smaller than the time before.
On the way into the forest Hansel crumbled his in his pocket,
and often stood still and threw a morsel on the ground.
Hansel, why do you stop and look round. Said the father, go
on. I am looking back at my little pigeon which is sitting on
the roof, and wants to say good-bye to me, answered Hansel.
Fool. Said the woman, that is not your little pigeon, that is
the morning sun that is shining on the chimney. Hansel,
however, little by little, threw all the crumbs on the path.
The woman led the children still deeper into the forest,
where they had never in their lives been before. Then a
great fire was again made, and the mother said, just sit
there, you children, and when you are tired you may sleep a
little. We are going into the forest to cut wood, and in the
evening when we are done, we will come and fetch you away.
When it was noon, Gretel shared her piece of bread with
Hansel, who had scattered his by the way. Then they
fell asleep and evening passed, but no one came to the poor
children. They did not awake until it was dark night, and
Hansel comforted his little sister and said, just wait, Gretel,
until the moon rises, and then we shall see the crumbs of
bread which I have strewn about, they will show us our way
home again. When the moon came they set out, but they
found no crumbs, for the many thousands of birds which fly
about in the woods and fields had picked them all up.
Hansel said to Gretel, we shall soon find the way, but they
did not find it. They walked the whole night and all the next
day too from morning till evening, but they did not get out of
the forest, and were very hungry, for they had nothing to eat
but two or three berries, which grew on the ground. And as
they were so weary that their legs would carry them no
longer, they lay down beneath a tree and fell asleep.

It was now three mornings since they had left their father's
house. They began to walk again, but they always came
deeper into the forest, and if help did not come soon, they
must die of hunger and weariness. When it was mid-day,
they saw a beautiful snow-white bird sitting on a bough,
which sang so delightfully that they stood still and listened to
it. And when its song was over, it spread its wings and flew
away before them, and they followed it until they reached a
little house, on the roof of which it alighted. And when
they approached the little house they saw that it was built of
bread and covered with cakes, but that the windows were of
clear sugar. We will set to work on that, said Hansel, and
have a good meal. I will eat a bit of the roof, and you
Gretel, can eat some of the window, it will taste sweet.
Hansel reached up above, and broke off a little of the roof to
try how it tasted, and Gretel leant against the window and
nibbled at the panes. Then a soft voice cried from the parlor
-
nibble, nibble, gnaw who is nibbling at my little house.
The children answered - the wind, the wind, the heaven-born
wind, and went on eating without disturbing themselves.
Hansel, who liked the taste of the roof, tore down a great
piece of it, and Gretel pushed out the whole of one round
window-pane, sat down, and enjoyed herself with it.
Suddenly the door opened, and a woman as old as the hills,
who supported herself on crutches, came creeping out.
Hansel and Gretel were so terribly frightened that they let
fall what they had in their hands. The old woman, however,
nodded her head, and said, oh, you dear children, who has
brought you here. Do come in, and stay with me. No harm
shall happen to you. She took them both by the hand, and
led them into her little house. Then good food was set before
them, milk and pancakes, with sugar, apples, and nuts.
Afterwards two pretty little beds were covered with clean
white linen, and Hansel and Gretel lay down in them, and
thought they were in heaven.

The old woman had only pretended to be so kind. She was
in reality a wicked witch, who lay in wait for children, and
had only built the little house of bread in order to entice
them there. When a child fell into her power, she killed it,
cooked and ate it, and that was a feast day with her.
Witches have red eyes, and cannot see far, but they have a
keen scent like the beasts, and are aware when
human beings draw near. When Hansel and Gretel came
into her neighborhood, she laughed with malice, and said
mockingly, I have them, they shall not escape me again.
Early in the morning before the children were awake, she
was already up, and when she saw both of them sleeping and
looking so pretty, with their plump and rosy cheeks, she
muttered to herself, that will be a dainty mouthful.

Then she seized Hansel with her shrivelled hand, carried
him into a little stable, and locked him in behind a grated
door. Scream as he might, it would not help him. Then she
went to Gretel, shook her till she awoke, and cried, get up,
lazy thing, fetch some water, and cook something good for
your brother, he is in the stable outside, and is to be made
fat. When he is fat, I will eat him. Gretel began to weep
bitterly, but it was all in vain, for she was forced to do what
the wicked witch commanded. And now the best food was
cooked for poor Hansel, but Gretel got nothing but
crab-shells. Every morning the woman crept to the little
stable, and cried, Hansel, stretch out your finger that I may
feel if you will soon be fat. Hansel, however, stretched out a
little bone to her, and the old woman, who had dim eyes,
could not see it, and thought it was Hansel's finger, and was
astonished that there was no way of fattening him. When
four weeks had gone by, and Hansel still remained thin, she
was seized with impatience and would not wait any longer.
Now, then, Gretel, she cried to the girl, stir yourself, and
bring some water. Let Hansel be fat or lean, to-morrow I
will kill him, and cook him. Ah, how the poor little sister did
lament when she had to fetch the water, and how her tears
did flow down her cheeks. Dear God, do help us, she
cried. If the wild beasts in the forest had but devoured us,
we should at any rate have died together. Just keep your
noise to yourself, said the old woman, it won't help you at all.

Early in the morning, Gretel had to go out and hang up the
cauldron with the water, and light the fire. We will bake
first, said the old woman, I have already heated the oven,
and kneaded the dough. She pushed poor Gretel out to the
oven, from which flames of fire were already darting. Creep
in, said the witch, and see if it properly heated, so that we
can put the bread in. And once Gretel was inside, she
intended to shut the oven and let her bake in it, and then she
would eat her, too. But Gretel saw what she had in mind,
and said, I do not know how I am to do it. How do I get in.
Silly goose, said the old woman, the door is big enough. Just
look, I can get in myself, and she crept up and thrust her
head into the oven. Then Gretel gave her a push that
drove her far into it, and shut the iron door, and fastened the
bolt. Oh. Then she began to howl quite horribly, but Gretel
ran away, and the godless witch was miserably burnt to
death.

Gretel, however, ran like lightning to Hansel, opened his little
stable, and cried, Hansel, we are saved. The old witch is
dead. Then Hansel sprang like a bird from its cage when the
door is opened. How they did rejoice and embrace each
other, and dance about and kiss each other. And as they had
no longer any need to fear her, they went into the witch's
house, and in every cornerthere stood chests full of pearls
and jewels. These are far better than pebbles. Said Hansel,
and thrust into his pockets whatever could be got in, and
Gretel said, I, too, will take something home with me, and
filled her pinafore full. But now we must be off, said
Hansel, that we may get out of the witch's forest.

When they had walked for two hours, they came to a great
stretch of water. We cannot cross, said Hansel, I see no
foot-plank, and no bridge. And there is also no ferry,
answered Gretel, but a white duck is swimming there. If I
ask her, she will help us over. Then she cried -
little duck, little duck, dost thou see, Hansel and Gretel are
waiting for thee. There's never a plank, or bridge in sight,
take us across on thy back so white. The duck came to them,
and Hansel seated himself on its back, and told his sister to
sit by him. No, replied Gretel, that will be too heavy for the
little duck. She shall take us across, one after the other.
The good little duck did so, and when they were once
safely across and had walked for a short time, the forest
seemed to be more and more familiar to them, and at length
they saw from afar their father's house. Then they began to
run, rushed into the parlor, and threw themselves round
their father's neck. The man had not known one happy hour
since he had left the children in theforest. The woman,
however, was dead. Gretel emptied her pinafore until pearls
and precious stones ran about the room, and Hansel threw
one handful after another out of his pocket to add to them.
Then all anxiety was at an end, and they lived together in
perfect happiness. My tale is done, there runs a mouse,
whosoever catches it, may make himself a big fur cap out of
it.

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The Three Languages

         By The Brothers Grimm

An aged count once lived in switzerland, who had an only
son, but he was stupid, and could learn nothing. Then said
the father, hark you, my son, try as I will I can get nothing
into your head. You must go from hence, I will give you into
the care of a celebrated master, who shall see what he can do
with you. The youth was sent into a strange town, and
remained a whole year with the master. At the end of this
time, he came home again, and his father asked, now, my
son, what have you learnt. Father, I have learnt what the
dogs say when they bark.

Lord have mercy on us, cried the father, is that all you have
learnt. I will send you into another town, to another master.
The youth was taken thither, and stayed a year with this
master likewise. When he came back the father again asked,
my son, what have you learnt. He answered, father, I have
learnt what the birds say. Then the father fell into a rage
and said, oh, you lost man, you have spent the precious time
and learnt nothing, are you not ashamed to appear before my
eyes. I will send you to a third master, but if you learn
nothing this time also, I will no longer be your father. The
youth remained a whole year with the third master also, and
when he came home again, and his father inquired, my son,
what have you learnt. He answered, dear father, I have this
year learnt what the frogs croak. Then the father fell into
the most furious anger, sprang up, called his people thither,
and said, this man is no longer my son, I drive him forth,
and command you to take him out into the forest, and kill
him. They took him forth, but when they should have killed
him, they could not do it for pity, and let him go, and they
cut the eyes and the tongue out of a deer that they might
carry them to the old man as a token.

The youth wandered on, and after some time came to a
fortress where he begged for a night's lodging. Yes, said the
lord of the castle, if you will pass the night down there in the
old tower, go thither, but I warn you, it is at the peril of your
life, for it is full of wild dogs, which bark and howl without
stopping, and at certain hours a man has to be given to them,
whom they at once devour. The whole district was in sorrow
and dismay because of them, and yet no one could do
anything to stop this. The youth, however, was without fear,
and said, just let me go down to the barking dogs, and give
me something that I can throw to them, they will do nothing
to harm me.

As he himself would have it so, they gave him some food for
the wild animals, and led him down to the tower. When he
went inside, the dogs did not bark at him, but wagged their
tails quite amicably around him, ate what he set before them,
and did not hurt one hair of his head. Next morning, to the
astonishment of everyone, he came out again safe and
unharmed, and said to the lord of the castle, the dogs have
revealed to me, in their own language, why they dwell there,
and bring evil on the land. They are bewitched, and are
obliged to watch over agreat treasure which is below in the
tower, and they can have no rest until it is taken away, and I
have likewise learnt, from their discourse, how that is to be
done. Then all who heard this rejoiced, and the lord of the
castle said he would adopt him as a son if he accomplished it
successfully. He went down again, and as he knew what he
had to do, he did it thoroughly, and brought a chest full of
gold out with him.

The howling of the wild dogs was henceforth heard no more,
they had disappeared, and the country was freed from the
trouble. After some time he took it into his head that he
would travel to Rome. On the way he passed by a marsh, in
which a number of frogs were sitting croaking. He listened
to them, and when he became aware of what they were
saying, he grew very thoughtful and sad. At last he arrived
in Rome, where the Pope had just died, and there was great
doubt among the cardinals as to whom they should appoint
as his successor. They at length agreed that the person
should be chosen as Pope who should be distinguished
by some divine and miraculous token. And just as that was
decided on, the young count entered into the church, and
suddenly two snow-white doves flew on his shoulders and
remained sitting there. The ecclesiastics recognized therein
the token from above, and asked him on the spot if he would
be Pope. He was undecided, and knew not if he were worthy
of this, but the doves counselled him to do it, and at length
he said yes. Then was he anointed and consecrated, and
thus was fulfilled what he had heard from the frogs on his
way, which had so affected him, that he was to be his
holiness the Pope. Then he had to sing a mass, and did not
know one word of it, but the two doves sat continually on his
shoulders, and said it all in his ear.

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The King of the Golden Mountain

         By The Brothers Grimm

There was a certain merchant who had two children, a boy
and a girl, they were both young, and could not walk. And
two richly-laden ships of his sailed forth to sea with all his
property on board, and just as he was expecting to win much
money by them, news came that they had gone to the bottom,
and now instead of being a rich man he was a poor one, and
had nothing left but one field outside the town. In order to
drive his misfortune a little out of his thoughts, he went
out to this field, and as he was walking to and fro in it, a little
black mannikin stood suddenly by his side, and asked why he
was so sad, and what he was taking so much to heart.

Then said the merchant, if you could help me I would
willingly tell you. Who knows, replied the black dwarf.
Perhaps, I can help you. Then the merchant told him that
all he possessed had gone to the bottom of the sea, and that
he had nothing left but this field. Do not trouble yourself,
said the dwarf. If you will promise to give me the first thing
that rubs itself against your leg when you are at home again,
and to bring it here to this place in twelve years, time,
you shall have as much money as you will. The merchant
thought, what can that be but my dog, and did not remember
his little boy, so he said yes, gave the black man a written
and sealed promise, and went home.

When he reached home, his little boy was so delighted that
he held himself by a bench, trotted up to him and seized him
fast by the legs. The father was shocked, for he remembered
his promise, and now knew what he had pledged himself to
do, as however, he still found no money in his chest, he
thought the dwarf had only been jesting. A month
afterwards he went up to the garret, intending to gather
together some old tin and to sell it, and saw lying there a
great heap of money. Then he was happy again, made
purchases, became a greater merchant than before, and felt
that God was good to him. In the meantime the boy grew
tall, and at the same time bright and clever. But the nearer
the twelfth year approached the more anxious grew the
merchant, so that his distress might be seen in his face.
One day his son asked what ailed him, but the father would
not say. The boy, however, persisted so long, that at last he
told him that without being aware of what he was doing, he
had promised him to a black dwarf, and had received much
money for doing so. He said likewise that he had set his
hand and seal to this, and that now when twelve years had
gone by he would have to give him up.

Then said the son, oh, father, do not be uneasy, all will go
well.   The black man has no power over me. The son had
himself blessed by the priest, and when the time came, father
and son went together to the field, and the son made a circle
and placed himself inside it with his father. Then came the
black dwarf and said to the old man, have you brought with
you that which you have promised me. He was
silent, but the son asked, what do you want here? Then said
the black dwarf, I have to speak with your father, and not
with you. The son replied, you have betrayed and misled my
father, give back the writing. No, said the black dwarf, I
will not give up my rights. They spoke together for a long
time after this, but at last they agreed that the son, as he did
not belong to the enemy of mankind, nor yet to his father,
should seat himself in a small boat, which should lie on
water which was flowing away from them, and that the
father should push it off with his own foot, and then the son
should remain given up to the water. So he took leave of his
father, placed himself in a little boat, and the father had to
push it off with his own foot. The boat capsized so that the
keel was uppermost and the deck under water, and the
father believed his son was lost, and went home and
mourned for him.

The boat, however, did not sink, but floated quietly away,
and the boy sat safely inside it, and it floated thus for a long
time, until at last it ran into an unknown shore. Then he
landed and saw a beautiful castle before him, and set out to
go to it. But when he entered it, he found that it was
bewitched. He went through every room, but all were empty
until he reached the last, where a snake lay coiled in a ring.
The snake, however, was an enchanted maiden, who
rejoiced to see him, and said, have you come, oh, my
deliverer. I have already waited twelve years for you, this
kingdom is bewitched, and you must set it free. How can I
do that, he inquired. To-night come twelve black men,
covered with chains who will ask what you are doing here,
but be silent, give them no answer, and let them do what
they will with you, they will torment you, beat you, stab you,
let everything pass, only do not speak, at twelve o'clock, they
must go away again. On the second night twelve others will
come, on the third, four-and-twenty, who will cut off your
head, but at twelve o'clock their power will be over, and
then if you have endured all, and have not spoken the
slightest word, I shall be released. I will come to you, and
will have, in a bottle, some of the water of life. I will rub
you with that, and then you will come to life again, and
be as healthy as before. Then said he, I will gladly set you
free. And everything happened just as she had said, the
black men could not force a single word from him, and on
the third night the snake became a beautiful princess, who
came with the water of life and brought him back to life
again.

So she threw herself into his arms and kissed him, and there
was joy and gladness in the whole castle. After this their
marriage was celebrated, and he was king of the golden
mountain.

They lived very happily together, and the queen bore a fine
boy. Eight years had already gone by, when the king
bethought him of his father, his heart was moved, and he
wished to visit him. The queen, however, would not let him
go away, and said, I know beforehand that it will cause my
unhappiness, but he suffered her to have no rest until she
consented. At their parting she gave him a wishing-ring,
and said, take this ring and put it on your finger, and then
you will immediately be transported whithersoever you
would be, only you must promise me not to use it in wishing
me away from this place and with thy father. That he
promised her, put the ring on his finger, and wished himself
at home, just outside the town where his father lived.
Instantly he found himself there, and made for the town, but
when he came to the gate, the sentries would not let him in,
because he wore such strange and yet such rich and
magnificent clothing. Then he went to a hill where a
shepherd was watching his sheep, changed clothes with him,
put on his old shepherd's-coat, and then entered the town
without hindrance.

When he came to his father, he made himself known to him,
but he did not at all believe that the shepherd was his son,
and said he certainly had had a son, but that he was dead
long ago, however, as he saw he was a poor, needy shepherd,
he would give him something to eat. Then the shepherd said
to his parents, I am verily your son. Do you know of no mark
on my body by which you could recognize me. Yes, said his
mother, our son had a raspberry mark under his right
arm. He slipped back his shirt, and they saw the raspberry
under his right arm, and no longer doubted that he was their
son. Then he told them that he was king of the golden
mountain, and a king's daughter was his wife, and that they
had a fine son of seven years old.

Then said the father, that is certainly not true, it is a fine
kind of a king who goes about in a ragged shepherd's-coat.
On this the son fell in a passion, and without thinking of his
promise, turned his ring round, and wished both his wife and
child with him. They were there in a second, but the queen
wept, and reproached him, and said that he had broken his
word, and had brought misfortune upon her. He said, I
have done it thoughtlessly, and not with evil intention, and
tried to calm her, and she pretended to believe this, but she
had mischief in her mind.

Then he led her out of the town into the field, and showed
her the stream where the little boat had been pushed off, and
then he said, I am tired, sit down, I will sleep awhile on your
lap. And he laid his head on her lap, and she picked his lice
for a while until he fell asleep. When he was asleep, she first
drew the ring from his finger, then she drew away the foot
which was under him, leaving only the slipper behind her,
and she took her child in her arms, and wished herself back
in her own kingdom.

When he awoke, there he lay quite deserted, and his wife
and child were gone, and so was the ring from his finger, the
slipper only was still there as a token. Home to your parents
you cannot return, thought he, they would say that you were
a wizard, you must be off, and walk on until you arrive in
your own kingdom. So he went away and came at length to a
hill by which three giants were standing, disputing with each
other because they did not know how to divide their father's
property.

When they saw him passing by, they called to him and said
little men had quick wits, and that he was to divide their
inheritance for them. The inheritance, however, consisted of
a sword, which, if anyone took it in his hand, and said, all
heads off but mine, every head would lie on the ground,
secondly, of a cloak which made any one who put it
on invisible, thirdly, of a pair of boots which could transport
the wearer to any place he wished in a moment. He said,
give me the three things that I may see if they are still in
good condition.

They gave him the cloak, and when he had put it on, he was
invisible and changed into a fly. Then he resumed his own
form and said, the cloak is a good one, now give me the
sword. They said, no, we will not give you that, if you were
to say, all heads off but mine, all our heads would be off,
and you alone would be left with yours. Nevertheless they
gave it to him on the condition that he was only to
try it against a tree. This he did, and the sword cut in two the
trunk of a tree as if it had been a blade of straw. Then he
wanted to have the boots likewise, but they said, no, we will
not give them, if you had them on your feet and were to
wish yourself at the top of the hill, we should be left down
here with nothing. Oh, no, said he, I will not do that. So
they gave him the boots as well. And now when he had got
all these things, he thought of nothing but his wife
and his child, and said as though to himself, oh, if I were but
on the golden mountain, and at the same moment he
vanished from the sight of the giants, and thus their
inheritance was divided.

When he was near his palace, he heard sounds of joy, and
fiddles, and flutes, and the people told him that his wife was
celebrating her wedding with another. Then he fell into a
rage, and said, false woman, she betrayed and deserted me
whilst I was asleep. So he put on his cloak, and unseen by
all went into the palace. When he entered the dining-hall a
great table was spread with delicious food, and the guests
were eating and drinking, and laughing, and jesting.
She sat on a royal seat in the midst of them in splendid
apparel, with a crown on her head.

He placed himself behind her, and no one saw him. When
she put a piece of meat on a plate for herself, he took it away
and ate it, and when she poured out a glass of wine for
herself, he took it away and drank it. She was always
helping herself to something, and yet she never got anything,
for plate and glass disappeared immediately. Then dismayed
and ashamed, she arose and went to her chamber and
wept, but he followed her there. She said, has the devil
power over me, or did my deliverer never come? Then he
struck her in the face, and said, did your deliverer never
come. It is he who has you in his power, you traitor. Have I
deserved this from you.

Then he made himself visible, went into the hall, and cried,
the wedding is at an end, the true king has returned. The
kings, princes, and councillors who were assembled there,
ridiculed and mocked him, but he did not trouble to answer
them, and said, will you go away, or not. On this they tried
to seize him and pressed upon him, but he drew his sword
and said, all heads off but mine, and all the heads rolled on
the ground, and he alone was master, and once
more king of the golden mountain.

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