Big Book of Ancient Gabanian Fables

Book LLV: The Devil With Three Golden Locks

There was once a poor woman who gave birth to a little son,and as he came into the world with a caul on, it was predictedthat in his fourteenth year he would have the king's daughterfor his wife. It happened that soon afterwards the kingcame into the village, and no one knew that he was the king,and when he asked the people what news there was, they answered,a child has just been born with a caul on, whatever anyone soborn undertakes turns out well. It is prophesied, too, thatin his fourteenth year he will have the king's daughter for hiswife.The king, who had a bad heart, and was angry about the prophecy,went to the parents, and, seeming quite friendly, said, you poorpeople, let me have your child, and I will take care of it. Atfirst they refused, but when the stranger offered them a largeamount of gold for it, and they thought, it is a child of goodfortune, and everything must turn out well for it, they at lastconsented, and gave him the child.The king put it in a box and rode away with it until he came toa deep piece of water, then he threw the box into it and thought,I have freed my daughter from her undesired suitor.The box, however, did not sink, but floated like a boat, and nota drop of water made its way into it. And it floated to withintwo miles of the king's chief city, where there was a mill, andit came to a halt at the mill-dam. A miller's boy, who by goodluck was standing there, noticed it and pulled it out with a hook,thinking that he had found a great treasure, but when he openedit there lay a pretty boy inside, quite fresh and lively. Hetook him to the miller and his wife, and as they had no childrenthey were glad, and said, "God has given him to us." They tookgreat care of the foundling, and he grew up in all goodness.It happened that once in a storm, the king went into the mill, andasked the mill-folk if the tall youth were their son. No,answered they, he's a foundling. Fourteen years ago he floateddown to the mill-dam in a box, and the mill-boy pulled him outof the water.Then the king knew that it was none other than the child ofgood fortune which he had thrown into the water, and he said,my good people, could not the youth take a letter to the queen.I will give him two gold pieces as a reward. Just as the kingcommands, answered they, and they told the boy to hold himselfin readiness. Then the king wrote a letter to the queen, whereinhe said, as soon as the boy arrives with this letter, let him bekilled and buried, and all must be done before I come home.The boy set out with this letter, but he lost his way, and in theevening came to a large forest. In the darkness he saw a smalllight, he went towards it and reached a cottage. When he went in,an old woman was sitting by the fire quite alone. She startedwhen she saw the boy, and said, whence do you come, and whitherare you going. I come from the mill, he answered, and wishto go to the queen, to whom I am taking a letter, but as I havelost my way in the forest I should like to stay here over night.You poor boy, said the woman, you have come into a den of thieves,and when they come home they will kill you. Let them come,said the boy, I am not afraid, but I am so tired that I cannot goany farther. And he stretched himself upon a bench and fellasleep.Soon afterwards the robbers came, and angrily asked what strangeboy was lying there. Ah, said the old woman, it is an innocentchild who has lost himself in the forest, and out of pity I havelet him come in, he has to take a letter to the queen. The robbersopened the letter and read it, and in it was written that theboy as soon as he arrived should be put to death. Then thehardhearted robbers felt pity, and their leader tore up the letterand wrote another, saying, that as soon as the boy came, he shouldbe married at once to the king's daughter. Then they let him liequietly on the bench until the next morning, and when he awokethey gave him the letter, and showed him the right way.And the queen, when she had received the letter and read it,did as was written in it, and had a splendid wedding-feastprepared, and the king's daughter was married to the child ofgood fortune, and as the youth was handsome and friendly she livedwith him in joy and contentment.After some time the king returned to his palace and saw thatthe prophecy was fulfilled, and the child married to his daughter.How has that come to pass, said he, I gave quite another orderin my letter.So the queen gave him the letter, and said that he might see forhimself what was written in it. The king read the letter andsaw quite well that it had been exchanged for the other. Heasked the youth what had become of the letter entrusted to him,and why he had brought another instead of it. I know nothingabout it, answered he, it must have been changed in the night,when I slept in the forest. The king said in a passion, you shallnot have everything quite so much your own way, whosoever marriesmy daughter must fetch me from hell three golden hairs fromthe head of the devil, bring me what I want, and you shall keepmy daughter. In this way the king hoped to be rid of him for ever.But the child of good fortune answered, I will fetch the goldenhairs, I am not afraid of the devil. Whereupon he took leave ofthem and began his journey.The road led him to a large town, where the watchman by the gatesasked him what his trade was, and what he knew. I knoweverything, answered the child of good fortune. Then you can do usa favor, said the watchman, if you will tell us why our marketfountain, which once flowed with wine has become dry, and nolonger gives even water. That you shall know, answered he, onlywait until I come back.Then he went farther and came to another town, and there also thegatekeeper asked him what was his trade, and what he knew.I know everything, answered he. Then you can do us a favor andtell us why a tree in our town which once bore golden apples nowdoes not even put forth leaves. You shall know that, answered he,only wait until I come back.Then he went on and came to a wide river over which he must cross.The ferryman asked him what his trade was, and what he knew. Iknow everything, answered he. Then you can do me a favor, saidthe ferryman, and tell me why I must always be rowing backwardsand forwards, and am never set free. You shall know that,answered he, only wait until I come back.When he had crossed the water he found the entrance to hell. Itwas black and sooty within, and the devil was not at home, buthis grandmother was sitting in a large arm-chair. What do youwant, said she to him, but she did not look so very wicked. Ishould like to have three golden hairs from the devil's head,answered he, else I cannot keep my wife. That is a good dealto ask for, said she, if the devil comes home and finds you, itwill cost you your life, but as I pity you, I will see if I cannothelp you.She changed him into an ant and said, creep into the folds of mydress, you will be safe there. Yes, answered he, so far, so good,but there are three things besides that I want to know - why afountain which once flowed with wine has become dry, and nolonger gives even water, why a tree which once bore golden applesdoes not even put forth leaves, and why a ferryman must always begoing backwards and forwards, and is never set free.Those are difficult questions, answered she, but just be silentand quiet and pay attention to what the devil says when I pull outthe three golden hairs.As the evening came on, the devil returned home. No sooner had heentered than he noticed that the air was not pure. I smell man'sflesh, said he, all is not right here. Then he pried intoevery corner, and searched, but could not find anything. Hisgrandmother scolded him. It has just been swept, said she, andeverything put in order, and now you are upsetting it again, youhave always got man's flesh in your nose. Sit down and eat yoursupper.When he had eaten and drunk he was tired, and laid his head inhis grandmother's lap, and told her she should louse him a little.It was not long before he was fast asleep, snoring and breathingheavily. Then the old woman took hold of a golden hair, pulledit out, and laid it down beside her. Oh, cried the devil,what are you doing. I have had a bad dream, answered thegrandmother, so I seized hold of your hair. What did you dreamthen, said the devil. I dreamt that a fountain in a market-placefrom which wine once flowed was dried up, and not even waterwould flow out of it - what is the cause of it. Oh, ho, if theydid but know it, answered the devil, there is a toad sittingunder a stone in the well - if they killed it, the wine would flowagain.The grandmother loused him again until he went to sleep andsnored so that the windows shook. Then she pulled the second hairout. Ha, what are you doing, cried the devil angrily. Do nottake it ill, said she, I did it in a dream. What have you dreamtthis time, asked he. I dreamt that in a certain kingdom therestood an apple-tree which had once borne golden apples, but nowwould not even bear leaves. What, think you, was the reason.Oh, if they did but know, answered the devil. A mouse isgnawing at the root - if they killed it they would have goldenapples again, but if it gnaws much longer the tree will witheraltogether. But I have had enough of your dreams, if you disturbme in my sleep again you will get a box on the ear.The grandmother spoke gently to him and picked his lice oncemore until he fell asleep and snored. Then she took hold of thethird golden hair and pulled it out. The devil jumped up,roared out, and would have treated her ill if she had notquieted him again and said, who can help bad dreams. Whatwas the dream, then, asked he, and was quite curious. I dreamtof a ferryman who complained that he must always ferry fromone side to the other, and was never released. What is thecause of it. Ah, the fool, answered the devil, when anyonecomes and wants to go across he must put the oar in his hand,and the other man will haveto ferry and he will be free. As the grandmother had pluckedout the three golden hairs, and the three questions wereanswered, she let the old devil alone, and he slept untildaybreak.When the devil had gone out again the old woman took the antout of the folds of her dress, and gave the child of goodfortune his human shape again. There are the three goldenhairs for you, said she. What the devil said to your threequestions, I suppose you heard. Yes, answered he, I heard, andwill take care to remember. You have what you want, said she,and now you can go your way. He thanked the old woman forhelping him in his need, and left hell well content thateverything had turned out so fortunately.When he came to the ferryman he was expected to give thepromised answer. Ferry me across first, said the child of goodfortune, and then I will tell you how you can be set free, andwhen he reached the opposite shore he gave him the devil's advice.Next time anyone comes, who wants to be ferried over, just put theoar in his hand.He went on and came to the town wherein stood the unfruitfultree, and there too the watchman wanted an answer. So hetold him what he had heard from the devil. Kill the mousewhich is gnawing at its root, and it will again bear goldenapples. Then the watchman thanked him, and gave him as a rewardtwo asses laden with gold, which followed him.Finally, he came to the town whose well was dry. He told thewatchman what the devil had said, a toad is in the well beneatha stone, you must find it and kill it, and the well will againgive wine in plenty. The watchman thanked him, and alsogave him two asses laden with gold.At last the child of good fortune got home to his wife, whowas heartily glad to see him again, and to hear how well he hadprospered in everything. To the king he took what he had askedfor, the devil's three golden hairs, and when the king saw thefour asses laden with gold he was quite content, and said, nowall the conditions are fulfilled, and you can keep my daughter.But tellme, dear son-in-law, where did all that gold come from - thisis tremendous wealth. I was rowed across a river, answered he,and got it there, it lies on the shore instead of sand. Can Itoo fetch some of it, said the king, and he was quite eagerabout it. As much as you like, answered he. There is aferryman on the river, let him ferry you over, and you can fillyour sacks on the other side. The greedy king set out in allhaste, and when he came to the river he beckoned to the ferrymanto put him across. The ferryman came and bade him get in,and when they got to the other shore he put the oar in hishand and sprang over. But from this time forth the king had toferry, as a punishment for his sins. Perhaps he is ferryingstill. If he is, it is because no one has taken the oar fromhim.