There was once a king's son who was seized
with a desire to travel about the world, and took no one with him
but a faithful servant. One day he came to a great forest, and when
darkness overtook him he could find no shelter, and knew not where
to pass the night. Then he saw a girl who was going towards a small
house, and when he came nearer, he saw that the maiden was young and
beautiful. He spoke to her, and said, dear child, can I and my
servant find shelter for the night in the little house. Oh, yes,
said the girl in a sad voice, that you certainly can, but I do not
advise you to venture it. Do not go in. Why not, asked the king's
son.
The maiden sighed and said, my step-mother
practises wicked arts. She is ill-disposed toward strangers. Then he
saw very well that he had come to the house of a witch, but as it
was dark, and he could not go farther, and also was not afraid, he
entered. The old woman was sitting in an armchair by the fire, and
looked at the stranger with her red eyes. Good evening, growled she,
and pretended to be quite friendly. Take a seat and rest yourselves.
She fanned the fire on which she was cooking something in a small
pot. The daughter warned the two to be prudent, to eat nothing, and
drink nothing, for the old woman brewed evil drinks. They slept
quietly until early morning.
When they were making ready for their departure,
and the king's son was already seated on his horse, the old woman
said, stop a moment, I will first hand you a parting draught. Whilst
she fetched it, the king's son rode away, and the servant who had to
buckle his saddle tight, was the only one present when the wicked
witch came with the drink. Take that to your master, said she. But
at that instant the glass broke and the poison spirted on the horse,
and it was so strong that the animal immediately fell down dead. The
servant ran after his master and told him what had happened, but as
he did not want to leave his saddle behind, he ran back to fetch it.
When he came to the dead horse, however, a raven was already sitting
on it devouring it. Who knows whether we shall find anything better
to-day, said the servant. So he killed the raven, and took it with
him. And now they journeyed onwards into the forest the whole day,
but could not get out of it. By nightfall they found an inn and
entered it. |