Herr Lazarus and the Draken

Herr Lazarus and the Draken

Once upon a time there was a cobbler called Lazarus, who was very

fond of honey. One day, as he ate some while he sat at work, the flies

collected in such numbers that with one blow he killed forty. Then he

went and ordered a sword to be made for him, on which he had written

these words: ‘With one blow I have slain forty.’ When the sword was

ready he took it and went out into the world, and when he was two days’

journey from home he came to a spring, by which he laid himself down and

slept.

Now in that country there dwelt Draken, one of whom came to the spring

to draw water; there he found Lazarus sleeping, and read what was

written on his sword. Then he went back to his people and told them

what he had seen, and they all advised him to make fellowship with this

powerful stranger. So the Draken returned to the spring, awoke Lazarus,

and said that if it was agreeable to him they should make fellowship

together.

Lazarus answered that he was willing, and after a priest had blessed

the fellowship, they returned together to the other Draken, and Lazarus

dwelt among them. After some days they told him that it was their custom

to take it in turns to bring wood and water, and as he was now of their

company, he must take his turn. They went first for water and wood, but

at last it came to be Lazarus’s turn to go for water. The Draken had a

great leathern bag, holding two hundred measures of water. This Lazarus

could only, with great difficulty, drag empty to the spring, and

because he could not carry it back full, he did not fill it at all, but,

instead, he dug up the ground all round the spring.

As Lazarus remained so long away, the Draken sent one of their number

to see what had become of him, and when this one came to the spring,

Lazarus said to him: ‘We will no more plague ourselves by carrying water

every day. I will bring the entire spring home at once, and so we shall

be freed from this burden.’

But the Draken called out: ‘On no account, Herr Lazarus, else we shall

all die of thirst; rather will we carry the water ourselves in turns,

and you alone shall be exempt.’

Next it comes to be Lazarus’s turn to bring the wood. Now the Draken,

when they fetched the wood, always took an entire tree on their

shoulder, and so carried it home. Because Lazarus could not imitate them

in this, he went to the forest, tied all the trees together with a thick

rope, and remained in the forest till evening. Again the Draken sent one

of them after him to see what had become of him, and when this one asked

what he was about, Lazarus answered: ‘I will bring the entire forest

home at once, so that after that we may have rest.’

But the Draken called out: ‘By no means, Herr Lazarus, else we shall all

die of cold; rather will we go ourselves to bring wood, and let you be

free.’ And then the Draken tore up one tree, threw it over his shoulder,

and so carried it home.

When they had lived together some time, the Draken became weary of

Lazarus, and agreed among themselves to kill him; each Draken, in the

night while Lazarus slept, should strike him a blow with a hatchet. But

Lazarus heard of this scheme, and when the evening came, he took a

log of wood, covered it with his cloak, laid it in the place where he

usually slept, and then hid himself. In the night the Draken came, and

each one hit the log a blow with his hatchet, till it flew in pieces.

Then they believed their object was gained, and they lay down again.

Thereupon Lazarus took the log, threw it away, and laid himself down in

its stead. Towards dawn, he began to groan, and when the Draken heard

that, they asked what ailed him, to which he made answer: ‘The gnats

have stung me horribly.’ This terrified the Draken, for they believed

that Lazarus took their blows for gnat-stings, and they determined at

any price to get rid of him. Next morning, therefore, they asked him if

he had not wife or child, and said that if he would like to go and visit

them they would give him a bag of gold to take away with him. He agreed

willingly to this, but asked further that one of the Draken should go

with him to carry the bag of gold. They consented, and one was sent with

him.

When they had come to within a short; distance of Lazarus’s house, he

said to the Draken: ‘Stop here, in the meantime, for I must go on in

front and tie up my children, lest they eat you.’

So he went and tied his children with strong ropes, and said to them:

‘As soon as the Draken comes in sight, call out as loud as you can,

“Drakenflesh! Drakenflesh!”’

So, when the Draken appeared, the children cried out: ‘Drakenflesh!

Drakenflesh!’ and this so terrified the Draken that he let the bag fall

and fled.

On the road he met a fox, which asked him why he seemed so frightened.

He answered that he was afraid of the children of Herr Lazarus, who had

been within a hair-breadth of eating him up. But the fox laughed, and

said: ‘What! you were afraid of the children of Herr Lazarus? He had

two fowls, one of which I ate yesterday, the other I will go and fetch

now--if you do not believe me, come and see for yourself; but you must

first tie yourself on to my tail.’

The Draken then tied himself on to the fox’s tail, and went back thus

with it to Lazarus’s house, in order to see what it would arrange. There

stood Lazarus with his gun raised ready to fire, who, when he saw the

fox coming along with the Draken, called out to the fox: ‘Did I not tell

you to bring me all the Draken, and you bring me only one?’

When the Draken heard that he made off to the rightabout at once, and

ran so fast that the fox was dashed in pieces against the stones.

When Lazarus had got quit of the Draken he built himself, with their

gold, a magnificent house, in which he spent the rest of his days in

great enjoyment.