Big Book of Ancient Gabanian Fables

Book LLXXVI: Kunlande

There were once three brothers who had fallen deeper and deeper intopoverty, and at last their need was so great that they had to endurehunger, and had nothing to eat or drink. Then said they, it cannot goon like this, we had better go into the world and seek our fortune.They therefore set out, and had already walked over many a long roadand many a blade of grass, but had not yet met with good luck. Oneday they arrived in a great forest, and in the midst of it was ahill, and when they came nearer they saw that the hill was allsilver. Then spoke the eldest, now I have found the good luck Iwished for, and I desire nothing more. He took as much of the silveras he could possibly carry, and then turned back and went home again.But the two others said, we want something more from good luck thanmere silver, and did not touch it, but went onwards. After they hadwalked for two days longer without stopping, they came to a hillwhich was all gold. The second brother stopped, took thought withhimself, and was undecided. What shall I do, said he, shall I takefor myself so much of this gold, that I have sufficient for all therest of my life, or shall I go farther. At length he made adecision, and putting as much into his pockets as would go in, saidfarewell to his brother, and went home.But the third said, silver and gold do not move me, I will notrenounce my chance of fortune, perhaps something better still will begiven me. He journeyed onwards, and when he had walked for threedays, he came to a forest which was still larger than the one before,and never would come to an end, and as he found nothing to eat or todrink, he was all but exhausted. Then he climbed up a high tree tofind out if up there he could see the end of the forest, but so faras his eye could pierce he saw nothing but the tops of trees. Thenhe began to descend the tree again, but hunger tormented him, and hethought to himself, if I could but eat my fill once more.When he got down he saw with astonishment a table beneath the treerichly spread with food, the steam of which rose up to meet him.This time, said he, my wish has been fulfilled at the right moment.And without inquiring who had brought the food, or who had cooked it,he approached the table, and ate with enjoyment until he had appeasedhis hunger. When he was done, he thought, it would after all be apity if the pretty little table-cloth were to be spoilt in the foresthere, and folded it up tidily and put it in his pocket. Then he wentonwards, and in the evening, when hunger once more returned to him,he wanted to make a trial of his little cloth, and spread it out andsaid, I wish you to be covered with good cheer again, and scarcelyhad the wish crossed his lips than as many dishes with the mostexquisite food on them stood on the table as there was room for. NowI perceive, said he, in what kitchen my cooking is done. You shallbe dearer to me than the mountains of silver and gold. For he sawplainly that it was a wishing-cloth. The cloth, however, was stillnot enough to enable him to sit down quietly at home, he preferred towander about the world and pursue his fortune farther.One night he met, in a lonely wood, a dusty, black charcoal-burner,who was burning charcoal there, and had some potatoes by the fire, onwhich he was going to make a meal. Good evening, blackbird, said theyouth. How do you get on in your solitude.One day is like another, replied the charcoal-burner, and every nightpotatoes. Have you a mind to have some, and will you be my guest.Many thanks, replied the traveler, I won't rob you of your supper,you did not reckon on a visitor, but if you will put up with what Ihave, you shall have an invitation. Who is to prepare it for you,said the charcoal-burner. I see that you have nothing with you, andthere is no one within a two hours' walk who could give you anything.And yet there shall be a meal, answered the youth, and better thanany you have ever tasted. Thereupon he brought his cloth out of hisknapsack, spread it on the ground, and said, little cloth, coveryourself, and instantly boiled meat and baked meat stood there, andas hot as if it had just come out of the kitchen.The charcoal-burner stared with wide-open eyes, but did not requiremuch pressing, he fell to, and thrust larger and larger mouthfulsinto his black mouth. When they had eaten everything, thecharcoal-burner smiled contentedly, and said, listen, yourtable-cloth has my approval, it would be a fine thing for me in thisforest, where no one ever cooks me anything good. I will propose anexchange to you, there in the corner hangs a soldier's knapsack,which is certainly old and shabby, but in it lie concealed wonderfulpowers, but, as I no longer use it, I will give it to you for thetable-cloth.I must first know what these wonderful powers are, answered theyouth.That will I tell you, replied the charcoal-burner, every time you tapit with your hand, a corporal comes with six men armed from head tofoot, and they do whatsover you command them. So far as I amconcerned, said the youth, if nothing else can be done, we willexchange, and he gave the charcoal-burner the cloth, took theknapsack from the hook, put it on, and bade farewell. When he hadwalked a while, he wished to make a trial of the magical powers ofhis knapsack and tapped it. Immediately the seven warriors steppedup to him, and the corporal said, what does my lord and ruler wishfor.March with all speed to the charcoal-burner, and demand mywishing-cloth back. They faced to the left, and it was not longbefore they brought what he required, and had taken it from thecharcoal-burner without asking many questions. The young man badethem retire, went onwards, and hoped fortune would shine yet morebrightly on him. By sunset he came to another charcoal-burner, whowas making his supper ready by the fire. If you will eat somepotatoes with salt, but with no dripping, come and sit down with me,said the sooty fellow.No, he replied, this time you shall be my guest, and he spread outhis cloth, which was instantly covered with the most beautifuldishes. They ate and drank together, and enjoyed themselvesheartily. After the meal was over, the charcoal-burner said, upthere on that shelf lies a little old worn-out hat which has strangeproperties - the moment someone puts it on, and turns it round on hishead, the cannons go off as if twelve were fired all together, andthey demolish everything so that no one can withstand them. The hatis of no use to me, and I will willingly give it for your tablecloth.That suits me very well, he answered, took the hat, put it on, andleft his table-cloth behind him. But hardly had he walked away thanhe tapped on his knapsack, and his soldiers had to fetch the clothback again. One thing comes on the top of another, thought he, and Ifeel as if my luck had not yet come to an end. Neither had histhoughts deceived him. After he had walked on for the whole of oneday, he came to a third charcoal-burner, who like the previous one,invited him to potatoes without dripping. But he let him also dinewith him from his wishing-cloth, and the charcoal-burner liked it sowell, that at last he offered him a horn for it, which had verydifferent properties from those of the hat. The moment someone blewit all the walls and fortifications fell down, and all towns andvillages became ruins. For this he immediately gave thecharcoal-burner the cloth, but he afterwards sent his soldiers todemand it back again, so that at length he had the knapsack, hat andhorn, all three. Now, said he, I am a made man, and it is time forme to go home and see how my brothers are getting on.When he reached home, his brothers had built themselves a handsomehouse with their silver and gold, and were living in clover. He wentto see them, but as he came in a ragged coat, with his shabby hat onhis head, and his old knapsack on his back, they would notacknowledge him as their brother. They mocked and said, you give outthat you are our brother who despised silver and gold, and craved forsomething still better for himself. Such a person arrives in hiscarriage in full splendor like a mighty king, not like a beggar, andthey drove him out of doors. Then he fell into a rage, and tappedhis knapsack until a hundred and fifty men stood before him armedfrom head to foot. He commanded them to surround his brothers,house, and two of them were to take hazelsticks with them, and beatthe two insolent men until they knew who he was.A violent disturbance broke out, people ran together, and wanted tolend the two some help in their need, but against the soldiers theycould do nothing. News of this at length came to the king, who wasvery angry, and ordered a captain to march out with his troop, anddrive this disturber of the peace out of the town, but the man withknapsack soon got a greater body of men together, who repulsed thecaptain and his men, so that they were forced to retire with bloodynoses. The king said, this vagabond is not brought to order yet, andnext day sent a still larger troop against him, but they could doeven less. The youth set still more men against them, and in orderto be done the sooner, he turned his hat twice round on his head, andheavy guns began to play, and the king's men were beaten and put toflight.And now, said he, I will not make peace until the king gives me hisdaughter to wife, and I govern the whole kingdom in his name. Hecaused this to be announced to the king, and the latter said to hisdaughter, necessity is a hard nut to crack. What else is there forme to do but what he desires. If I want peace and to keep the crownon my head, I must give you away.So the wedding was celebrated, but the king's daughter was vexed thather husband should be a common man, who wore a shabby hat, and put onan old knapsack. She longed to get rid of him, and night and daystudied how she could accomplished this. Then she thought toherself, is it possible that his wonderful powers lie in theknapsack, and she feigned affection and caressed him, and when hisheart was softened, she said, if you would but lay aside that horridknapsack, it makes you look so ugly, that I can't help being ashamedof you. Dear child, said he, this knapsack is my greatest treasure,as long as I have it, there is no power on earth that I am afraid of.And he revealed to her the wonderful virtue with which it wasendowed.Then she threw herself in his arms as if she were going to kiss him,but cleverly took the knapsack off his shoulders, and ran away withit. As soon as she was alone she tapped it, and commanded thewarriors to seize their former master, and take him out of the royalpalace. They obeyed, and the false wife sent still more men afterhim, who were to drive him quite out of the country. Then he wouldhave been ruined if he had not had the little hat. And hardly werehis hands free before he turned it twice. Immediately the cannonbegan to thunder, and demolished everything, and the king's daughterherself was forced to come and beg for mercy. As she entreated insuch moving terms, and promised to better her ways, he allowedhimself to be persuaded and granted her peace.She behaved in a friendly manner to him, and acted as if she lovedhim very much, and after some time managed so to befool him, that heconfided to her that even if someone got the knapsack into his power,he could do nothing against him so long as the old hat was still his.When she knew the secret, she waited until he was asleep, and thenshe took the hat away from him, and had it thrown out into thestreet. But the horn still remained to him, and in great anger heblew it with all his strength.Instantly all walls, fortifications, towns, and villages, toppleddown, and crushed the king and his daughter to death. And had he notput down the horn and had blown just a little longer, everythingwould have been in ruins, and not one stone would have been leftstanding on another. Then no one opposed him any longer, and he madehimself king of the whole country.