THE GREEN FAIRY BOOK BY ANDREW LANG WITH ILLUSTRATIONS BY HENRY JUSTICE FORD, 2nd Part

 THE ENCHANTED RING

It was dawn when he woke, and he saw before him a beautiful woman seated on a grey horse, with trappings of gold, who looked as if she were preparing for the hunt.

All these crimes, which could be traced to nobody, filled the people with astonishment. The Iving, seeing so many affairs, public and private, exposed, was at first as puzzled as anyone, till Bramintho’s wonderful prosperity and amazing insolence made him suspect that the enchanted ring had become his property

THE SNUFF-BOX

As often happens in this world, there was once a young man who spent all his time in travelling. One day, as he was walking along, he picked up a snuff-box. He opened it, and the snuff-box said to him in the Spanish language, ‘ What do you want ? ’ He was very much frightened, but, luckily, instead of throwing the box away, he only shut it tight, and put it in his pocket.

As he spoke these last words, the moon came in and said he smelt mortal flesh and blood. But his mother told him that it was an unhappy man who had lost everything, and had come all this way to consult him, and bade the young man not to be afraid, but to come forward and show himself. So he went boldly up to the moon, and asked if by any accident he had seen a palace with the laths of gold and the tiles of diamond, and all the furniture of silver and gold.

THE GOLDEN BLACKBIRD

Then they continued their journey, taking with them the Porcelain Maiden, in the firm belief that

their brother was drowned.

THE LITTLE SOLDIER

The little soldier made straight for the fireplace, seized the tongs, and was stooping down to look for a nice red hot coal with which to light his pipe, when clic ! something went, like a spring giving way, and in the very midst of the flames an enormous serpent reared itself up close to his face.

And what was more strange still, this serpent had the head of a woman.

Then John put spurs to his horse, calling with all his might ‘ Stop ! stop ! ’ But the coach drove on as before, and though the little soldier rode after it for a day and a night, he never got one step nearer.

They had six games, and John always lost. The stake was fifty crowns, and each time he emptied his purse, which was full the next instant.

The princess drinks the phial to take away the horns.

THE MAGIC SWAN

Soon Peter saw the towers of the capital in front of him. Just before entering it, a glittering carriage came out to meet him, in which was seated a young lady as beautiful as the day, but with a very solemn and serious expression. But no sooner had she perceived the motley crowd fastened to the swan’s tail than she burst into a loud fit of laughter, in which she was joined by all her servants and ladies in waiting.

THE DIRTY SHEPHERDESS

One day when she was keeping her sheep in a lonely tract of land, she suddenly felt a wish to dress herself in her robes of splendour. She washed herself carefully in the stream, and as she always carried her bundle with her, it was easy to shake off her rags, and transform herself in a few moments into a great lady.

THE ENCHANTED SNAKE

As soon as the snake saw Grannonia, it wound its tail round her and kissed her. Then, leading her into a room, it shut the door.and throwing off its skin, it changed into a beautiful young man with golden locks, and flashing eyes, who embraced Grannonia tenderly, and said all sorts of pretty things to her.

THE BITER BIT

Now it happened that there were three merry rascals hanging about the market-place, who much preferred living on other people’s goods to working for their own living. As soon as they saw that Simon had bought a mule, one of them said to his two boon companions, ‘ My friends, this mule must be ours before we are many hours older.’

An hour had scarcely passed when the three rogues returned to the place where they had left Simon in the sack, and without opening it, one of them seized it and threw it into the river. And so the poor shepherd was drowned instead of Mr. Simon !

KING KOJATA

‘ I can quench my thirst without you,’ and bending over the well he lapped up the w'ater so greedily that he plunged his face, beard and all, right into the crystal mirror. But when he had satisfied his thirst, and wished to raise himself up, he couldn’t lift his head, because someone held his beard fast in the water. ‘ Who’s there ? let me go ! ’ cried King Kojata, but there was no answer; only an awful face looked up from the bottom of the well with two great green eyes, glowing like emeralds, and a wide month reaching from ear to ear showing two rows of gleaming white teeth, and the King’s beard was held, not by mortal hands, but by two claws.

‘ Many thanks, Prince Milan, for your courtesy. I am the daughter of a wicked magician, and my name is Hyacinthia. My father has thirty young daughters, and is a mighty ruler in the underworld, with many castles and great riches. He has been expecting you for ages, but you need have no fear if you will only follow my advice

Now, you genius,’ said the Magician, ‘ look at these beauties three times, and then tell us which is the Princess Hyacinthia.’

Prince Milan went past them and looked at them closely. But they were all so precisely alike that they looked like one face reflected in thirty mirrors, and the fly was nowhere to be seen ; the second time he passed them he stil saw nothing ; but the third time he perceived a little fly stealing down one cheek, causing it to blush a faint pink. Then the Prince seized the girl’s hand and cried out, ‘ This is the Princess Hyacinthia ! ’

The King and Queen came out to meet him as she had said, leading with them a lovely fair-haired little girl, whose eyes shone like two clear stars. The child at once caressed the Prince, who, carried away by its beauty, bent down and kissed it on the cheek. From that moment his memory became a blank, and he forgot all about the beautiful Hyacinthia.

PRINCE FICKLE AND FAIR HELENA

 She bowed her head in her hands and cried, ‘ Is there no one under heaven who will take pity on me ? ’Suddenly a soft voice replied, ‘ Be comforted, my child : I have come to help you.’

Terrified to death, Helena looked up and saw a Eairy standing in front of her, who asked in the kindest way possible, ‘ Why are you crying, my dear ? ’

When Prince Fickle heard her voice it seemed to him to remind him of something, but of what he couldn’t remember, for he hadn’t heard the words distinctly, as Helena had only spoken them very low and with a shaky voice. Helena herself had been far too moved to let her see what impression her words had made on the Prince, and when she looked round he was already far away. But she noticed how slowly he was riding, and how deeply sunk he was in thought, so she didn’t quite give herself up as lost.

PUDDOCKY

One day three Princes, whom their father had sent abroad to travel, came to the town where Parsley lived and perceived the beautiful girl combing and plaiting her long black hair at the window. In one moment they all fell hopelessly in love with her, and longed ardently to have the girl for their wife ; but hardly had they with one breath expressed their desire than, mad with jealousy, they drew their swords and all three set upon each other.

‘ Prince, I will help you,’ said the toad again, and crawled back into her swamp as fast as her short little legs would carry her. She returned, dragging a hazel-nut behind her, which she laid at the Prince’s feet and said, ‘ Take this nut home with you and tell your father to crack it very carefully, and you’ll see then what will happen.’

THE STORY OF HOK LEE AND THE DWARFS

When Hok Lee heard this he came forward and bent down to the ground before the dwarfs, who came crowding round, and laughed heartily at his comical appearance with his two big cheeks.

‘ What dost thou want ? ’ they asked ; and Hok Lee proceeded to tell them of his fresh misfortunes, and begged so hard to be allowed one more trial at dancing that the dwarfs consented, for there is nothing they love so much as being amused.

TEE STORY OF THE THREE BEARS

But when she heard the little, small, wee voice of the Little, Small, Wee Bear, it was so sharp, and so shrill, that it awakened her at once. Up she started...

PRINCE VIVIEN AND THE PRINCESS PL ACIDA

King Gridelin insisted that the affairs of the kingdom should be explained to lier, and that she should attend all tlie councils and give her opinion upon the matter in hand whenever it was asked of her, and this made iier life such a burden to her that she implored Lolotte to take her away from a country where too much was required of an unhappy Princess.

After supper, they returned as they had come to the ebony room, where he was compelled to look on while his companions played interminable games of chess, and not until he was nearly dying of weariness did they, slowly and ceremoniously as before, conduct him to his sleeping apartment.

Thereupon he rushed at the Prince, brandishing an immense serpent which was coiled about his wrist. Vivien, without losing his coolness, aimed a terrific blow at it with his sword, but no sooner did he touch the snake than it changed into a Giant and the Giant into a snake, with such rapidity that the Prince felt perfectly giddy, and this happened at least half-a-dozen times, until at last with a fortunate stroke he cut the serpent in halves, and picking up one morsel flung it with all his force at the nose of the Giant, who fell insensible on top of the lion, and in an instant a thick black cloud rolled up which hid them from view, and when it cleared away they had all disappeared.

‘ What ! I ride a snail ! ’ cried the Prince ; ‘ you are laughhig at me, and beside we should not get there for a year.’

‘ Oh ! well then don’t do it,’ replied the gazelle, ‘ I am quite willing to stay here. The grass is green, and the water clear. But if I were you I should take the advice that was given me and ride the snail.’

‘ I went nearer, and saw a silken cord hanging down to the ground, and pulled it just because it was so close to my hand. Instantly the whole meadow resounded to the melodious chiming of a peal of silver bells, and they sounded so pretty that I sat down to listen, and to watch them as they swung shining in the sunbeams. 

King Gridelin had no sooner set eyes upon the lady than with a cry of joy he clasped her in his arms, for it was no other than his long-lost wife, Santorina, about whose imprisonment in Fairyland you may perhaps read some day.

LITTLE ONE-EYE, LITTLE TWO-EYES, AND LITTLE THREE-EYES

She went on singing,

‘ Little Three-eyes, are you awake ?

Little Two-eyes, are you asleep ? ’

so that the two eyes of Little Three-eyes fell asleep, but the third, which was not spoken to in tlie little rliynie, did not fall asleep. Of course Little Tliree-eyes shut that eye also out of cunning, to look as if she were asleep, but it was blinking and could see everything quite well.

Then the knight said, ‘ It is very strange that the tree should belong to you, and yet that you have not the power to break anything from it ! ’ But they would have that the tree was theirs ; and while they were saying this. Little Two-eyes rolled a couple of golden apples from under the cask, so that they lay at the knight’s feet, for she was angry with Little One-eye and Little Three-eyes for not speaking the truth. When the knight saw the apples he was astonished, and asked where they came from. Little One-eye and Little Three-eyes answered that they had another sister, but she could not be seen because she had only two eyes, like ordinary people. But the knight demanded to see her, and called out, ‘ Little Two-eyes, come forth.’ Then Little Two-eyes came out from under the cask quite happily, and the knight was astonished at her great beauty, and said, ‘ Little Two-eyes, I am sure you can break me off a twig from the tree.’ ‘ Yes,’ answered Little Two-eyes, ‘I can, for the tree is mine.’ So she climbed up and broke off a small branch with its silver leaves and golden fruit without any trouble, and gave it to the knight.

JORINDE AND JORINGEL

Joringel looked up at Jorinde. She had been changed into a nightingale, who was singing ‘jug, jug.’ A night-owl with glowing eyes flew three times round her, and screeched three times ‘tu-whit, tu-whit, tu-whoo.’ Joringel could not stir; he stood there like a stone ; he could not weep, or speak, or move hand or foot.

ALLERLEIRAUH ; OR, THE MANY-FURRED CREATURE

When his dogs came to the tree, they sniffed, and ran round and round it, barking. The King said to the huntsmen, ‘ See what sort of a wild beast is in there.’

Then he took her hand and held her tightly, and as she was trying to get away, she undid the fur-cloak a little bit and the star-dress shone out. The King seized the cloak and tore it off her. Her golden hair came down, and she stood there in her full splendour, and could not hide herself away any more. And when the soot and ashes had been washed from her face, she looked more beautifid than anyone in the world.

THE TWELVE HUNTSMEN

Next morning, when the King sent for his twelve huntsmen, and they passed through the ante-room which was plentifully strewn with peas, they trod so firmly and walked with such a steady, strong step that not a single pea rolled away or even so much as stirred. After they were gone the King said to the Lion ; ‘ There now — you have been telling lies — you see yourself they walk like men.’

SPINDLE, SHUTTLE, AND NEEDLE

The needle had barely put in its last stitch when the girl, glancing at the window, spied the white plumed hat of the King’s son who was being led back by the spindle with the golden thread.

THE CRYSTAL COFFIN

What was his amazement at seeing a girl of surpassing loveliness lying in it ! She lay as though sleeping, and her long, fair hair seemed to wrap her round like some costly mantle. Her eyes were closed, but the bright colour in her face, and the movement of a ribbon, which rose and fell with her breath, left no doubt as to her being alive.

Instead of answering he began to laugh, and I flew into such a rage that I drew a pistol and fired at him ; but the bullet rebounded from his breast and struck my horse in the forehead.

THE THREE SNAKE-LEAVES

It seemed, however, as if a change had come over the young Queen after she had been restored to life, and as if all her love for her husband had faded from her heart

THE RIDDLE

They had hardly taken a couple of spoonfuls when they all fell down dead, for the poison had passed from the horse to the raven and so into the broth. So there was no one left belonging to the house but the landlord’s daughter, who was a good, well-meaning girl, and had taken no part in all the evil doings.

JACK MY HEDGEHOG

Not long after this his wife gave birth to a child, but though the lower half of the little creature was a fine boy, from the waist upwards it was a hedgehog, so that when his mother first saw him she was quite frightened, and said to her husband, ‘ There now, you have cursed the child yourself.’

When Jack had got his bagpipes he said, ‘ Daddy, do go to the smithy and have the house cock shod for me ; then I’ll ride off and trouble you no more.’ His father, who was delighted at the prospect of getting rid of him, had the cock shod, and when it was ready Jack my Hedgehog mounted on its back and rode off to the forest, followed by all the pigs and asses which he had promised to look after.

When the King’s daughter saw Jack my Hedgehog, she was a good deal startled, for lie certainly was very peculiar looking ; but after all she considered that she had given her word and it couldn’t be helped.

THE GOLDEN LADS

One day it happened that when the fisherman drew in his net he found in it a remarkable fish, for it was entirely of gold. As he was inspecting it with some surprise, the fish opened its mouth and said : 

`' Listen to me, fisher ; if you will just tlirow me back into the water I’ll turn your poor little cottage into a splendid castle.’

Then the witch flew into a great rage, and screamed out, ‘ What ! you’ll kill my dog, will you ? ’ and the next moment he was turned to stone and lay there immovable, whilst his bride waited for him in vain and thought to herself, ‘ Alas ! no doubt the evil I feared, and which has made my heart so heavy, has befallen him.’

Meantime, the other brother was standing near the golden lilies at home, when suddenlj^ one of them bent over and fell to the ground. ‘ Good heavens ! ’ cried he, ‘ some great misfortune has befallen my brother. I must set off at once ; perhaps I may still be in time to save him.’

THE WHITE SNAKE

Here were a number of ducks resting near a little stream, and pluming themselves with their bills, whilst they kept up an animated conversation amongst themselves. The servant stood still listening to them. They were talking of where they had been waddling about all the morning, and of the good food they had found, but one of them remarked rather sadly, ‘ There’s something lying very heavy on my stomach, for in my haste I’ve swallowed a ring, which was lying just under the Queen’s window.’

At the same moment three ravens flew down to him, perched on his knee and said, ‘ We are the three young ravens whom you saved from starvation.

THE STORY OF A CLEVER TAILOR

Presently the tailor took out a little fiddle and began playing on it. When the bear heard the music he could not help dancing, and after he had danced some time he was so pleased that he said to the tailor, ‘ I say, is fiddling dificult ? ’

THE GOLDEN MERMAID

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.

 ‘ 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.’

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.

For many weeks the poor mermaid sat and watched over the dead body of her lover, weeping salt tears over his loss,...

THE WAR OF THE WOLF AND THE FOX

Now it was the bear’s turn to be alarmed, and with a mighty growl he jumped down from the oak and fell right on the top of the wolf and killed him as dead as a stone.

All the emperors and kings were on their knees before her, and were kissing her foot.

 The sky was as black as ink, it w\as thundering and lightening, and the sea was tossing in great waves as high as church towers and mountains, and each had a white crest of foam.

So he shouted, not able to hear his own voice :

‘ Once a prince, but changed you be Into a flounder in the sea.

Come ! for my wife, Ilsebel,

Wishes what I dare not tell.’

THE THREE MUSICIANS

The good-natured fiddler bent down to pick it up, but in the twinkling of an eye the little man had jumped on to his back, and beat him till he was black and blue all over his head and body.

The little grey man lifted the curtains from the bed and beckoned the youth to approach. On the rich silk cushions embroidered with gold a lovely maiden lay sleeping. She was as beautiful as an angel, with golden hair whicli fell in curls over her marble shoulders, and a diamond crown sparkled on her forehead

Then they threw his beard to the old man across the river, but they kept his wand, so that the wicked dwarf could never again enter their kingdom.

THE THREE DOGS

Then the shepherd called, ‘ Pepper, come to the rescue,’ and the second dog set upon the dragon, and after a fierce struggle bit it so sharply in the neck that the monster rolled over, and in a few moments breathed its last.

The King had just seated himself at the wedding-feast with all his Court, when the dog appeared and licked the Princess’s hand in an appealing manner. With a joyful start she recog¬ nised the beast, and bound her own table-napkin round his neck.