The Twelve Huntsmen

THE TWELVE HUNTSMEN

Once upon a time there was a King's son who was engaged to a Princess

whom he dearly loved. One day as he sat by her side feeling very happy,

he received news that his father was lying at the point of death, and

desired to see him before his end. So he said to his love: 'Alas! I must

go off and leave you, but take this ring and wear it as a remembrance of

me, and when I am King I will return and fetch you home.'

Then he rode off, and when he reached his father he found him mortally

ill and very near death.

The King said: 'Dearest son, I have desired to see you again before my

end. Promise me, I beg of you, that you will marry according to my

wishes'; and he then named the daughter of a neighbouring King who he

was anxious should be his son's wife. The Prince was so overwhelmed with

grief that he could think of nothing but his father, and exclaimed:

'Yes, yes, dear father, whatever you desire shall be done.' Thereupon

the King closed his eyes and died.

After the Prince had been proclaimed King, and the usual time of

mourning had elapsed, he felt that he must keep the promise he had made

to his father, so he sent to ask for the hand of the King's daughter,

which was granted to him at once.

Now, his first love heard of this, and the thought of her lover's

desertion grieved her so sadly that she pined away and nearly died. Her

father said to her: 'My dearest child, why are you so unhappy? If there

is anything you wish for, say so, and you shall have it.'

His daughter reflected for a moment, and then said: 'Dear father, I wish

for eleven girls as nearly as possible of the same height, age, and

appearance as myself.'

Said the King: 'If the thing is possible your wish shall be fulfilled';

and he had his kingdom searched till he found eleven maidens of the same

height, size, and appearance as his daughter.

Then the Princess desired twelve complete huntsmen's suits to be made,

all exactly alike, and the eleven maidens had to dress themselves in

eleven of the suits, while she herself put on the twelfth. After this

she took leave of her father, and rode off with her girls to the court

of her former lover.

Here she enquired whether the King did not want some huntsmen, and if he

would not take them all into his service. The King saw her but did not

recognise her, and as he thought them very good-looking young people, he

said, 'Yes, he would gladly engage them all.' So they became the twelve

royal huntsmen.

Now, the King had a most remarkable Lion, for it knew every hidden or

secret thing.

One evening the Lion said to the King: 'So you think you have got twelve

huntsmen, do you?'

'Yes, certainly,' said the King, 'they are twelve huntsmen.'

'There you are mistaken,' said the Lion; 'they are twelve maidens.'

'That cannot possibly be,' replied the King; 'how do you mean to prove

that?'

'Just have a number of peas strewed over the floor of your

ante-chamber,' said the Lion, 'and you will soon see. Men have a strong,

firm tread, so that if they happen to walk over peas not one will stir,

but girls trip, and slip, and slide, so that the peas roll all about.'

The King was pleased with the Lion's advice, and ordered the peas to be

strewn in his ante-room.

Fortunately one of the King's servants had become very partial to the

young huntsmen, and hearing of the trial they were to be put to, he went

to them and said: 'The Lion wants to persuade the King that you are only

girls'; and then told them all the plot.

The King's daughter thanked him for the hint, and after he was gone she

said to her maidens: 'Now make every effort to tread firmly on the

peas.'

Next morning, when the King sent for his twelve huntsmen, and they

passed through the ante-room which was plentifully strewn with peas,

they trod so firmly and walked with such a steady, strong step that not

a single pea rolled away or even so much as stirred. After they were

gone the King said to the Lion: 'There now--you have been telling

lies--you see yourself they walk like men.'

'Because they knew they were being put to the test,' answered the Lion;

'and so they made an effort; but just have a dozen spinning-wheels

placed in the ante-room. When they pass through you'll see how pleased

they will be, quite unlike any man.'

[Illustration]

The King was pleased with the advice, and desired twelve

spinning-wheels to be placed in his ante-chamber.

But the good-natured servant went to the huntsmen and told them all

about this fresh plot. Then, as soon as the King's daughter was alone

with her maidens, she exclaimed: 'Now, pray make a great effort and

don't even look at those spinning-wheels.'

When the King sent for his twelve huntsmen next morning they walked

through the ante-room without even casting a glance at the

spinning-wheels.'

Then the King said once more to the Lion: 'You have deceived me again;

they are men, for they never once looked at the spinning-wheels.'

The Lion replied: 'They knew they were being tried, and they did

violence to their feelings.' But the King declined to believe in the

Lion any longer.

So the twelve huntsmen continued to follow the King, and he grew daily

fonder of them. One day whilst they were all out hunting it so happened

that news was brought that the King's intended bride was on her way and

might soon be expected. When the true bride heard of this she felt as

though a knife had pierced her heart, and she fell fainting to the

ground. The King, fearing something had happened to his dear huntsman,

ran up to help, and began drawing off his gloves. Then he saw the ring

which he had given to his first love, and as he gazed into her face he

knew her again, and his heart was so touched that he kissed her, and as

she opened her eyes, he cried: 'I am thine and thou art mine, and no

power on earth can alter that.'

To the other Princess he despatched a messenger to beg her to return to

her own kingdom with all speed. 'For,' said he, 'I have got a wife, and

he who finds an old key again does not require a new one.'

Thereupon the wedding was celebrated with great pomp, and the Lion was

restored to the royal favour, for after all he had told the truth.

Grimm.