Big Book of Ancient Gabanian Fables

Book CLXXXVII: The Three Black Princess

East Porskia was besieged by an enemy who would not retire untilhe had received six hundred dollars. Then the townsfolk causedit to be proclaimed by beat of drum that whosoever was able toprocure the money should be burgomaster. Now there was a poorfisherman who fished on the sea with his son, and the enemy cameand took the son prisoner, and gave the father six hundreddollars for him. So the father went and gave them to the greatmen of the town, and the enemy departed, and the fisherman becameburgomaster. Then it was proclaimed that whosoever did not say'mr. Burgomaster, should be put to death on the gallows.The son got away again from the enemy, and came to a greatforest on a high mountain. The mountain opened, and he wentinto a great enchanted castle, wherein chairs, tables, andbenches were all hung with black. Then came three youngprincesses who were dressed entirely in black, but had a littlewhite on their faces. They told him he was not to be afraid,they would not hurt him, and that he could rescue them. Hesaid he would gladly do that, if he did but know how. Atthis, they told him he must for a whole year not speak to themand also not look at them, and what he wanted to have he wasjust to ask for, and if they dared give him an answer they woulddo so. When he had been there for a long while he saidhe should like to go to his father, and they told him he mightgo. He was to take with him this purse with money, put on thiscoat, and in a week he must be back there again.Then he was lifted up, and was instantly in East Porskia. He couldno longer find his father in the fisherman's hut, and asked thepeople where the poor fisherman could be, and they told him hemust not say that, or he would come to the gallows. Then hewent to his father and said, fisherman, how have you got here.Then the father said, you must not say that, if the great menof the town knew of that, you would come to the gallows. He,however, would not give in, and was brought to the gallows.When he was there, he said, o, my masters, just give me leave togo to the old fisherman's hut. Then he put on his old smock, andcame back to the great men, and said, do you not now see. Am Inot the son of the poor fisherman. Did I not earn bread for myfather and mother in this dress. Hereupon his father knew himagain, and begged his pardon, and took him home with him, and thenrelated all that had happened to him, and how he had got into aforest on a high mountain, and the mountain had opened and hehad gone into an enchanted castle, where all was black, and threeyoung princesses had come to him who were black except a littlewhite on their faces. And they had told him not to fear, andthat he could rescue them. Then his mother said that mightvery likely not be a good thing to do, and that he ought to takea blessed candle with him, and drop some boiling wax on theirfaces.He went back again, and he was in great fear, and he droppedthe wax on their faces as they were sleeping, and they allturned half-white. Then all the three princesses sprang up, andsaid, you accursed dog, our blood shall cry for vengeance on you.Now there is no man born in the world, nor will any ever be bornwho can set us free. We have still three brothers who are boundby seven chains - they shall tear you to pieces. Then there wasa loud shrieking all over the castle, and he sprang out of thewindow, and broke his leg, and the castle sank into the earthagain, the mountain closed again, and no one knew where the castlehad stood.