The Three Crowns

THE THREE CROWNS

THERE was once a king who had three daughters. The two eldest were very

proud and quarrelsome, but the youngest was as good as they were bad.

Well, three princes came to court them, and two of them were exactly

like the eldest ladies, and one was just as lovable as the youngest. One

day they were all walking down to a lake that lay at the bottom of the

lawn when they met a poor beggar. The king wouldn't give him anything,

and the eldest princesses wouldn't give him anything, nor their

sweethearts; but the youngest daughter and her true love did give him

something, and kind words along with it, and that was better than all.

When they got to the edge of the lake what did they find but the

beautifullest boat you ever saw in your life; and says the eldest, 'I'll

take a sail in this fine boat'; and says the second eldest, 'I'll take a

sail in this fine boat'; and says the youngest, 'I won't take a sail in

that fine boat, for I am afraid it's an enchanted one.' But the others

persuaded her to go in, and her father was just going in after her, when

up sprung on the deck a little man only seven inches high, and ordered

him to stand back. Well, all the men put their hands to their swords;

and if the same swords were only playthings, they weren't able to draw

them, for all strength that was left their arms. Seven Inches loosened

the silver chain that fastened the boat, and pushed away, and after

grinning at the four men, says he to them, 'Bid your daughters and your

brides farewell for awhile. You,' says he to the youngest, 'needn't

fear, you'll recover your princess all in good time, and you and she

will be as happy as the day is long. Bad people, if they were rolling

stark naked in gold, would not be rich. Good-bye.' Away they sailed, and

the ladies stretched out their hands, but weren't able to say a word.

Well, they weren't crossing the lake while a cat 'ud be lickin' her ear,

and the poor men couldn't stir hand or foot to follow them. They saw

Seven Inches handing the three princesses out of the boat, and letting

them down by a basket into a draw-well, but king nor princes ever saw an

opening before in the same place. When the last lady was out of sight,

the men found the strength in their arms and legs again. Round the lake

they ran, and never drew rein till they came to the well and windlass;

and there was the silk rope rolled on the axle, and the nice white

basket hanging to it. 'Let me down,' says the youngest prince. 'I'll die

or recover them again.' 'No,' says the second daughter's sweetheart, 'it

is my turn first.' And says the other, 'I am the eldest.' So they gave

way to him, and in he got into the basket, and down they let him. First

they lost sight of him, and then, after winding off a hundred perches of

the silk rope, it slackened, and they stopped turning. They waited two

hours, and then they went to dinner, because there was no pull made at

the rope.

[Illustration: SEVEN INCHES CARRIES AWAY THE PRINCESSES]

[Illustration: IN CAME SEVEN INCHES HAND IN HAND WITH THE YOUNGEST

SISTER]

Guards were set till next morning, and then down went the second prince,

and sure enough, the youngest of all got himself let down on the third

day. He went down perches and perches, while it was as dark about him as

if he was in a big pot with a cover on. At last he saw a glimmer far

down, and in a short time he felt the ground. Out he came from the big

lime-kiln, and, lo! and behold you, there was a wood, and green fields,

and a castle in a lawn, and a bright sky over all. 'It's in Tir-na-n-Oge

I am,' says he. 'Let's see what sort of people are in the castle.' On

he walked, across fields and lawn, and no one was there to keep him out

or let him into the castle; but the big hall-door was wide open. He went

from one fine room to another that was finer, and at last he reached the

handsomest of all, with a table in the middle. And such a dinner as was

laid upon it! The prince was hungry enough, but he was too mannerly to

eat without being invited. So he sat by the fire, and he did not wait

long till he heard steps, and in came Seven Inches with the youngest

sister by the hand. Well, prince and princess flew into one another's

arms, and says the little man, says he, 'Why aren't you eating?' 'I

think, sir,' says the prince, 'it was only good manners to wait to be

asked.' 'The other princes didn't think so,' says he. 'Each o' them fell

to without leave, and only gave me the rough words when I told them they

were making more free than welcome. Well, I don't think they feel much

hunger now. There they are, good marble instead of flesh and blood,'

says he, pointing to two statues, one in one corner, and the other in

the other corner of the room. The prince was frightened, but he was

afraid to say anything, and Seven Inches made him sit down to dinner

between himself and his bride; and he'd be as happy as the day is long,

only for the sight of the stone men in the corner. Well, that day went

by, and when the next came, says Seven Inches to him, 'Now, you'll

have to set out that way,' pointing to the sun, 'and you'll find the

second princess in a giant's castle this evening, when you'll be tired

and hungry, and the eldest princess to-morrow evening; and you may as

well bring them here with you. You need not ask leave of their masters;

and perhaps if they ever get home, they'll look on poor people as if

they were flesh and blood like themselves.'

Away went the prince, and bedad! it's tired and hungry he was when he

reached the first castle, at sunset. Oh, wasn't the second princess glad

to see him! and what a good supper she gave him. But she heard the giant

at the gate, and she hid the prince in a closet. Well, when he came in,

he snuffed, an' he snuffed, and says he, 'By the life, I smell fresh

meat.' 'Oh,' says the princess, 'it's only the calf I got killed

to-day.' 'Ay, ay,' says he, 'is supper ready?' 'It is,' says she; and

before he rose from the table he ate three-quarters of a calf, and a

flask of wine. 'I think,' says he, when all was done, 'I smell fresh

meat still.' 'It's sleepy you are,' says she; 'go to bed.' 'When will

you marry me?' says the giant. 'You're putting me off too long.' 'St.

Tibb's Eve,' says she. 'I wish I knew how far off that is,' says he; and

he fell asleep, with his head in the dish.

Next day, he went out after breakfast, and she sent the prince to the

castle where the eldest sister was. The same thing happened there; but

when the giant was snoring, the princess wakened up the prince, and they

saddled two steeds in the stables and rode into the field on them. But

the horses' heels struck the stones outside the gate, and up got the

giant and strode after them. He roared and he shouted, and the more he

shouted, the faster ran the horses, and just as the day was breaking he

was only twenty perches behind. But the prince didn't leave the castle

of Seven Inches without being provided with something good. He reined

in his steed, and flung a short, sharp knife over his shoulder, and up

sprung a thick wood between the giant and themselves. They caught the

wind that blew before them, and the wind that blew behind them did not

catch them. At last they were near the castle where the other sister

lived; and there she was, waiting for them under a high hedge, and a

fine steed under her.

But the giant was now in sight, roaring like a hundred lions, and the

other giant was out in a moment, and the chase kept on. For every two

springs the horses gave, the giants gave three, and at last they were

only seventy perches off. Then the prince stopped again, and flung the

second knife behind him. Down went all the flat field, till there was a

quarry between them a quarter of a mile deep, and the bottom filled with

black water; and before the giants could get round it, the prince and

princesses were inside the kingdom of the great magician, where the high

thorny hedge opened of itself to everyone that he chose to let in.

There was joy enough between the three sisters, till the two eldest saw

their lovers turned into stone. But while they were shedding tears for

them, Seven Inches came in, and touched them with his rod. So they

were flesh, and blood, and life once more, and there was great hugging

and kissing, and all sat down to breakfast, and Seven Inches sat at

the head of the table.

When breakfast was over, he took them into another room, where there was

nothing but heaps of gold, and silver, and diamonds, and silks, and

satins; and on a table there was lying three sets of crowns: a gold

crown was in a silver crown, and that was lying in a copper crown. He

took up one set of crowns, and gave it to the eldest princess; and

another set, and gave it to the second youngest princess; and another,

and gave it to the youngest of all; and says he, 'Now you may all go to

the bottom of the pit, and you have nothing to do but stir the basket,

and the people that are watching above will draw you up. But remember,

ladies, you are to keep your crowns safe, and be married in them, all

the same day. If you be married separately, or if you be married without

your crowns, a curse will follow--mind what I say.'

So they took leave of him with great respect, and walked arm-in-arm to

the bottom of the draw-well. There was a sky and a sun over them, and a

great high wall, covered with ivy, rose before them, and was so high

they could not see to the top of it; and there was an arch in this wall,

and the bottom of the draw-well was inside the arch. The youngest pair

went last; and says the princess to the prince, 'I'm sure the two

princes don't mean any good to you. Keep these crowns under your cloak,

and if you are obliged to stay last, don't get into the basket, but put

a big stone, or any heavy thing inside, and see what will happen.'

As soon as they were inside the dark cave, they put in the eldest

princess first, and stirred the basket, and up she went. Then the basket

was let down again, and up went the second princess, and then up went

the youngest; but first she put her arms round her prince's neck, and

kissed him, and cried a little. At last it came to the turn of the

youngest prince, and instead of going into the basket he put in a big

stone. He drew on one side and listened, and after the basket was drawn

up about twenty perches, down came it and the stone like thunder, and

the stone was broken into little bits.

Well, the poor prince had nothing for it but to walk back to the castle;

and through it and round it he walked, and the finest of eating and

drinking he got, and a bed of bog-down to sleep on, and long walks he

took through gardens and lawns, but not a sight could he get, high or

low, of Seven Inches. He, before a week, got tired of it, he was so

lonesome for his true love; and at the end of a month he didn't know

what to do with himself.

One morning he went into the treasure room, and took notice of a

beautiful snuff-box on the table that he didn't remember seeing there

before. He took it in his hands and opened it, and out Seven Inches

walked on the table. 'I think, prince,' says he, 'you're getting a

little tired of my castle?' 'Ah!' says the other, 'if I had my princess

here, and could see you now and then, I'd never know a dismal day.'

'Well, you're long enough here now, and you're wanted there above. Keep

your bride's crowns safe, and whenever you want my help, open this

snuff-box. Now take a walk down the garden, and come back when you're

tired.'

The prince was going down a gravel walk with a quick-set hedge on each

side, and his eyes on the ground, and he was thinking of one thing and

another. At last he lifted his eyes, and there he was outside of a

smith's gate, that he often passed before, about a mile away from the

palace of his betrothed princess. The clothes he had on him were as

ragged as you please, but he had his crowns safe under his old cloak.

Then the smith came out, and says he, 'It's a shame for a strong, big

fellow like you to be lazy, and so much work to be done. Are you any

good with hammer and tongs? Come in and bear a hand, an I'll give you

diet and lodging, and a few pence when you earn them.' 'Never say't

twice,' says the prince. 'I want nothing but to be busy.' So he took the

hammer, and pounded away at the red-hot bar that the smith was turning

on the anvil to make into a set of horse-shoes.

They hadn't been long at work when a tailor came in, and he sat down and

began to talk. 'You all heard how the two princesses were loth to be

married till the youngest would be ready with her crowns and her

sweetheart. But after the windlass loosened accidentally when they

were pulling up her bridegroom that was to be, there was no more sign of

a well, or a rope, or a windlass, than there is on the palm of your

hand. So the princes that were courting the eldest ladies wouldn't give

peace or ease to their lovers nor the king till they got consent to the

marriage, and it was to take place this morning. Myself went down out o'

curiosity, and to be sure I was delighted with the grand dresses of the

two brides, and the three crowns on their heads--gold, silver, and

copper, one inside the other. The youngest was standing by mournful

enough, and all was ready. The two bridegrooms came in as proud and

grand as you please, and up they were walking to the altar rails, when

the boards opened two yards wide under their feet and down they went

among the dead men and the coffins in the vaults. Oh, such shrieks as

the ladies gave! and such running and racing and peeping down as there

was! but the clerk soon opened the door of the vault, and up came the

two princes, their fine clothes covered an inch thick with cobwebs and

mould.

[Illustration: DOWN WENT THE TWO BRIDEGROOMS]

So the king said they should put off the marriage. 'For,' says he, 'I

see there is no use in thinking of it till the youngest gets her three

crowns, and is married with the others. I'll give my youngest daughter

for a wife to whoever brings three crowns to me like the others; and if

he doesn't care to be married, some other one will, and I'll make his

fortune.'

'I wish,' says the smith, 'I could do it; but I was looking at the

crowns after the princesses got home, and I don't think there's a black

or a white smith on the face of the earth that could imitate them.'

'Faint heart never won fair lady,' says the prince. 'Go to the palace

and ask for a quarter of a pound of gold, a quarter of a pound of

silver, and a quarter of a pound of copper. Get one crown for a pattern,

and my head for a pledge, I'll give you out the very things that are

wanted in the morning.' 'Are you in earnest?' says the smith. 'Faith, I

am so,' says he. 'Go! you can't do worse than lose.'

To make a long story short, the smith got the quarter of a pound of

gold, and the quarter of a pound of silver, and the quarter of a pound

of copper, and gave them and the pattern crown to the prince. He shut

the forge door at nightfall, and the neighbours all gathered in the

yard, and they heard him hammering, hammering, hammering, from that to

day-break; and every now and then he'd throw out through the window bits

of gold, silver, and copper; and the idlers scrambled for them, and

cursed one another, and prayed for the good luck of the workman.

Well, just as the sun was thinking to rise, he opened the door, and

brought out the three crowns he got from his true love, and such

shouting and huzzaing as there was! The smith asked him to go along with

him to the palace, but he refused; so off set the smith, and the whole

townland with him; and wasn't the king rejoiced when he saw the crowns!

'Well,' says he to the smith, 'you're a married man. What's to be

done?' 'Faith, your majesty, I didn't make them crowns at all. It was a

big fellow that took service with me yesterday.' 'Well, daughter, will

you marry the fellow that made these crowns?' 'Let me see them first,

father,' said she; but when she examined them she knew them right well,

and guessed it was her true love that sent them. 'I will marry the man

that these crowns came from,' says she.

'Well,' says the king to the eldest of the two princes, 'go up to the

smith's forge, take my best coaches, and bring home the bridegroom.' He

did not like doing this, he was so proud, but he could not refuse. When

he came to the forge he saw the prince standing at the door, and

beckoned him over to the coach. 'Are you the fellow,' says he, 'that

made these crowns?' 'Yes,' says the other. 'Then,' says he, 'maybe you'd

give yourself a brushing, and get into that coach; the king wants to see

you. I pity the princess.' The young prince got into the carriage, and

while they were on the way he opened the snuff-box, and out walked

Seven Inches, and stood on his thigh. 'Well,' says he, 'what trouble

is on you now?' 'Master,' says the other, 'please let me go back to my

forge, and let this carriage be filled with paving stones.' No sooner

said than done. The prince was sitting in his forge, and the horses

wondered what was after happening to the carriage.

When they came into the palace yard, the king himself opened the

carriage door, for respect to his new son-in-law. As soon as he turned

the handle, a shower of small stones fell on his powdered wig and his

silk coat, and down he fell under them. There was great fright and some

laughter, and the king, after he wiped the blood from his forehead,

looked very cross at the eldest prince. 'My lord,' says he, 'I'm very

sorry for this accident, but I'm not to blame. I saw the young smith

get into the carriage, and we never stopped a minute since.' 'It's

uncivil you were to him. Go,' says he to the other prince, 'and bring

the young smith here, and be polite.' 'Never fear,' says he.

But there's some people that couldn't be good-natured if they tried, and

not a bit civiller was the new messenger than the old, and when the king

opened the carriage door a second time, it's a shower of mud that came

down on him. 'There's no use,' says he, 'going on this way. The fox

never got a better messenger than himself.'

So he changed his clothes, and washed himself, and out he set to the

prince's forge and asked him to sit along with himself. The prince

begged to be allowed to sit in the other carriage, and when they were

half-way he opened his snuff-box. 'Master,' says he, 'I'd wish to be

dressed now according to my rank.' 'You shall be that,' says _Seven

Inches_. 'And now I'll bid you farewell. Continue as good and kind as

you always were; love your wife; and that's all the advice I'll give

you.' So Seven Inches vanished; and when the carriage door was opened

in the yard, out walks the prince as fine as hands could make him, and

the first thing he did was to run over to his bride and embrace her.

Every one was full of joy but the two other princes. There was not much

delay about the marriages, and they were all celebrated on the one day.

Soon after, the two elder couples went to their own courts, but the

youngest pair stayed with the old king, and they were as happy as the

happiest married couple you ever heard of in a story.

From 'West Highland Tales.'