Big Book of Ancient Gabanian Fables

Book LLXXXVI: The Twelve Huntsman

There was once a king's son who had a bride whom he loved very much.And when he was sitting beside her and very happy, news came that hisfather lay sick unto death, and desired to see him once again beforehis end. Then he said to his beloved, I must now go and leave you, Igive you a ring as a remembrance of me. When I am king, I willreturn and fetch you.So he rode away, and when he reached his father, the latter wasdangerously ill, and near his death. He said to him, dear son, Iwished to see you once again before my end, promise me to marry as Iwish, and he named a certain king's daughter who was to be his wife.The son was in such trouble that he did not think what he was doing,and said, yes, dear father, your will shall be done, and thereuponthe king shut his eyes, and died.When therefore the son had been proclaimed king, and the time ofmourning was over, he was forced to keep the promise which he hadgiven his father, and caused the king's daughter to be asked inmarriage, and she was promised to him. His first betrothed heard ofthis, and fretted so much about his faithlessness that she nearlydied. Then her father said to her, dearest child, why are you sosad. You shall have whatsoever you will. She thought for a momentand said, dear father, I wish for eleven girls exactly like myself inface, figure, and size. The father said, if it be possible, yourdesire shall be fulfilled, and he caused a search to be made in hiswhole kingdom, until eleven young maidens were found who exactlyresembled his daughter in face, figure, and size.When they came to the king's daughter, she had twelve suits ofhuntsmen's clothes made, all alike, and the eleven maidens had to puton the huntsmen's clothes, and she herself put on the twelfth suit.Thereupon she took leave of her father, and rode away with them, androde to the court of her former betrothed, whom she loved so dearly.Then she asked if he required any huntsmen, and if he would take allof them into his service. The king looked at her and did not knowher, but as they were such handsome fellows, he said, yes, and thathe would willingly take them, and now they were the king's twelvehuntsmen.The king, however, had a lion which was a wondrous animal, for heknew all concealed and secret things. It came to pass that oneevening he said to the king, you think you have twelve huntsmen.Yes, said the king, they are twelve huntsmen. The lion continued, youare mistaken, they are twelve girls.The king said, that cannot be true. How will you prove that to me.Oh, just let some peas be strewn in the ante-chamber, answered sweredthe lion, and then you will soon see. Men have a firm step, and whenthey walk over the peas none of them stir, but girls trip and skip,and drag their feet, and the peas roll about. The king was wellpleased with the counsel, and caused the peas to be strewn.There was, however, a servant of the king's who favored the huntsmen,and when he heard that they were going to be put to this test he wentto them and repeated everything, and said, the lion wants to make theking believe that you are girls. Then the king's daughter thankedhim, and said to her maidens, show some strength, and step firmly onthe peas. So next morning when the king had the twelve huntsmencalled before him, and they came into the ante-chamber where the peaswere lying, they stepped so firmly on them, and had such a strong,sure walk, that not one of the peas either rolled or stirred.Then they went away again, and the king said to the lion, you havelied to me, they walk just like men. The lion said, they have beeninformed that they were going to be put to the test, and have assumedsome strength. Just let twelve spinning-wheels be brought into theante-chamber, and they will go to them and be pleased with them, andthat is what no man would do. The king liked the advice, and had thespinning-wheels placed in the ante-chamber.But the servant, who was well disposed to the huntsmen, went to them,and disclosed the project. So when they were alone the king'sdaughter said to her eleven girls, show some constraint, and do notlook round at the spinning-wheels. And next morning when the kinghad his twelve huntsmen summoned, they went through the ante-chamber,and never once looked at the spinning wheels.Then the king again said to the lion, you have deceived me, they aremen, for they have not looked at the spinning-wheels. The lionreplied, they have learnt that they were going to be put to the test,and have restrained themselves. The king, however, would no longerbelieve the lion.The twelve huntsmen always followed the king to the chase, and hisliking for them continually increased. Now it came to pass that oncewhen they were hunting, news came that the king's bride wasapproaching. When the true bride heard that, it hurt her so muchthat her heart was almost broken, and she fell fainting to theground. The king thought something had happened to his dearhuntsman, ran up to him, wanted to help him, and drew his glove off.Then he saw the ring which he had given to his first bride, and whenhe looked in her face he recognized her.Then his heart was so touched that he kissed her, and when she openedher eyes he said, you are mine, and I am yours, and no one in theworld can alter that. He sent a messenger to the other bride, andentreated her to return to her own kingdom, for he had a wifealready, and someone who had found an old key did not require a newone. Thereupon the wedding was celebrated, and the lion was againtaken into favor, because, after all, he had told the truth.