The Princess Bella-Flor
by Andrew Lang · from The Orange Fairy Book
Adapted Version
Jose is a kind boy. He lives with his people. Jose has a brother. One day, Jose leaves home. He wants to find work. His brother stays home with their father.
Jose comes back after many years. He has no money. His brother is not kind. "Go away," says his brother. He gives Jose only an old box. Jose is sad. He takes the old box.
Jose opens the old box. He finds a secret paper inside. The paper says a man owes money. Jose goes to the grumpy man. "You must pay," says Jose. The grumpy man pays him many coins. Now Jose has money.
Jose walks down a road. He sees a man who needs help. The man is very poor. Jose gives him money. He helps the man and his people. Now Jose has only three gold coins left.
Jose goes to the king's big castle. He works very hard each day. He is always kind and helpful. The king likes Jose very much. Jose gets a good job. He is happy at the castle.
Then Jose's brother comes to the castle. He has no money now. Jose helps his brother get a job. But his brother is not happy. He sees Jose doing well. He tries to make trouble for Jose.
Jose's brother goes to the old king. He tells the king bad things. "Jose can find Princess Bella," he says. The king tells Jose to find her. "Find the princess," says the king. "Or I will be very angry."
Jose is sad. He does not know where to go. Then a big white horse comes. The horse can talk! "I will help you," says the horse. ""Help creatures first." Jose feeds tiny ants. He helps a big eagle. He saves a little fish.
The horse takes Jose far away. They find Princess Bella. She lives in a little castle. "Come with us," says Jose. """King wants you." They ride fast horse.
On the road, Bella drops some bran. "Pick it up, please," she says. "No," says Jose. The horse told him not to stop. She drops a pretty cloth. "Get it, please," she says. "No," says Jose. She drops a ring in the water.
They get to the big castle. Bella sees the old king. "No," she says. She shuts the door. "Bring me my three things back," she says. The king is very angry at Jose. "Find her three things!" he says.
Jose goes to the horse. "Do not worry," says the horse. They ride back down the road. Jose calls the tiny ants. The ants find all the bran. Jose calls the big eagle. The eagle gets the pretty cloth. Jose calls the little fish. The fish finds the ring.
Jose brings back all three things. The king gives them to Bella. But she wants one more thing. "Jose must take a special test," she says. "A test of courage. I want to see if he is brave."
Jose goes to the horse. "Do not worry," says the horse. "Horse gives Jose help and tasks." Jose takes the brave test. Magic happens! He comes out handsome and strong. Bella likes him very much.
The old king sees Jose. He is very sad. He knows Bella likes Jose now. The old king leaves the castle. Jose becomes the new king. He marries Princess Bella. All are happy.
Jose goes to see the horse. "Why did you help me?" he asks. The horse tells Jose a secret. ""I am the man you helped." Horse says. "You were kind to me. So I helped you." The horse smiles. "Good deeds always come back to you. Kind King Jose makes good things happen."
Original Story
The Princess Bella-Flor
[Taken from a Celtic Story. Translated by Doctor Macleod Clarke.]
Once upon a time there lived a man who had two sons. When they grew up the elder went to seek his fortune in a far country, and for many years no one heard anything about him. Meanwhile the younger son stayed at home with his father, who died at last in a good old age, leaving great riches behind him.
For some time the son who stayed at home spent his father’s wealth freely, believing that he alone remained to enjoy it. But, one day, as he was coming down stairs, he was surprised to see a stranger enter the hall, looking about as if the house belonged to him.
‘Have you forgotten me?’ asked the man.
‘I can’t forget a person I have never known,’ was the rude answer.
‘I am your brother,’ replied the stranger, ‘and I have returned home without the money I hoped to have made. And, what is worse, they tell me in the village that my father is dead. I would have counted my lost gold as nothing if I could have seen him once more.’
‘He died six months ago,’ said the rich brother, ‘and he left you, as your portion, the old wooden chest that stands in the loft. You had better go there and look for it; I have no more time to waste.’ And he went his way.
So the wanderer turned his steps to the loft, which was at the top of the storehouse, and there he found the wooden chest, so old that it looked as if it were dropping to pieces.
‘What use is this old thing to me?’ he said to himself. ‘Oh, well, it will serve to light a fire at which I can warm myself; so things might be worse after all.’
Placing the chest on his back, the man, whose name was Jose, set out for his inn, and, borrowing a hatchet, began to chop up the box. In doing so he discovered a secret drawer, and in it lay a paper. He opened the paper, not knowing what it might contain, and was astonished to find that it was the acknowledgment of a large debt that was owing to his father. Putting the precious writing in his pocket, he hastily inquired of the landlord where he could find the man whose name was written inside, and he ran out at once in search of him.
The debtor proved to be an old miser, who lived at the other end of the village. He had hoped for many months that the paper he had written had been lost or destroyed, and, indeed, when he saw it, was very unwilling to pay what he owed. However, the stranger threatened to drag him before the king, and when the miser saw that there was no help for it he counted out the coins one by one. The stranger picked them up and put them in his pocket, and went back to his inn feeling that he was now a rich man.
A few weeks after this he was walking through the streets of the nearest town, when he met a poor woman crying bitterly. He stopped and asked her what was the matter, and she answered between her sobs that her husband was dying, and, to make matters worse, a creditor whom he could not pay was anxious to have him taken to prison.
‘Comfort yourself,’ said the stranger kindly; ‘they shall neither send your husband to prison nor sell your goods. I will not only pay his debts but, if he dies, the cost of his burial also. And now go home, and nurse him as well as you can.’
And so she did; but, in spite of her care, the husband died, and was buried by the stranger. But everything cost more than he expected, and when all was paid he found that only three gold pieces were left.
‘What am I to do now?’ said he to himself. ‘I think I had better go to court, and enter into the service of the king.’
At first he was only a servant, who carried the king the water for his bath, and saw that his bed was made in a particular fashion. But he did his duties so well that his master soon took notice of him, and in a short time he rose to be a gentleman of the bedchamber.
Now, when this happened the younger brother had spent all the money he had inherited, and did not know how to make any for himself. He then bethought him of the king’s favourite, and went whining to the palace to beg that his brother, whom he had so ill-used, would give him his protection, and find him a place. The elder, who was always ready to help everyone spoke to the king on his behalf, and the next day the young man took up is work at court.
Unfortunately, the new-comer was by nature spiteful and envious, and could not bear anyone to have better luck than himself. By dint of spying through keyholes and listening at doors, he learned that the king, old and ugly though he was, had fallen in love with the Princess Bella-Flor, who would have nothing to say to him, and had hidden herself in some mountain castle, no one knew where.
‘That will do nicely,’ thought the scoundrel, rubbing his hands. ‘It will be quite easy to get the king to send my brother in search of her, and if he returns without finding her, his head will be the forfeit. Either way, he will be out of MY path.’
So he went at once to the Lord High Chamberlain and craved an audience of the king, to whom he declared he wished to tell some news of the highest importance. The king admitted him into the presence chamber without delay, and bade him state what he had to say, and to be quick about it.
‘Oh, sire! the Princess Bella-Flor—’ answered the man, and then stopped as if afraid.
‘What of the Princess Bella-Flor?’ asked the king impatiently.
‘I have heard—it is whispered at court—that your majesty desires to know where she lies in hiding.’
‘I would give half my kingdom to the man who will bring her to me,’ cried the king, eagerly. ‘Speak on, knave; has a bird of the air revealed to you the secret?’
‘It is not I, but my brother, who knows,’ replied the traitor; ‘if your majesty would ask him—’ But before the words were out of his mouth the king had struck a blow with his sceptre on a golden plate that hung on the wall.
‘Order Jose to appear before me instantly,’ he shouted to the servant who ran to obey his orders, so great was the noise his majesty had made; and when Jose entered the hall, wondering what in the world could be the matter, the king was nearly dumb from rage and excitement.
‘Bring me the Princess Bella-Flor this moment,’ stammered he, ‘for if you return without her I will have you drowned!’ And without another word he left the hall, leaving Jose staring with surprise and horror.
‘How can I find the Princess Bella-Flor when I have never even seen her?’ thought he. ‘But it is no use staying here, for I shall only be put to death.’ And he walked slowly to the stables to choose himself a horse.
There were rows upon rows of fine beasts with their names written in gold above their stalls, and Jose was looking uncertainly from one to the other, wondering which he should choose, when an old white horse turned its head and signed to him to approach.
‘Take me,’ it said in a gentle whisper, ‘and all will go well.’
Jose still felt so bewildered with the mission that the king had given him that he forgot to be astonished at hearing a horse talk. Mechanically he laid his hand on the bridle and led the white horse out of the stable. He was about to mount on his back, when the animal spoke again:
‘Pick up those three loaves of bread which you see there, and put them in your pocket.’
Jose did as he was told, and being in a great hurry to get away, asked no questions, but swung himself into the saddle.
They rode far without meeting any adventures, but at length they came to an ant-hill, and the horse stopped.
‘Crumble those three loaves for the ants,’ he said. But Jose hesitated.
‘Why, we may want them ourselves!’ answered he.
‘Never mind that; give them to the ants all the same. Do not lose a chance of helping others.’ And when the loaves lay in crumbs on the road, the horse galloped on.
By-and-by they entered a rocky pass between two mountains, and here they saw an eagle which had been caught in a hunter’s net.
‘Get down and cut the meshes of the net, and set the poor bird free,’ said the horse.
‘But it will take so long,’ objected Jose, ‘and we may miss the princess.’
‘Never mind that; do not lose a chance of helping others,’ answered the horse. And when the meshes were cut, and the eagle was free, the horse galloped on.
The had ridden many miles, and at last they came to a river, where they beheld a little fish lying gasping on the sand, and the horse said:
‘Do you see that little fish? It will die if you do not put it back in the water.’
‘But, really, we shall never find the Princess Bella-Flor if we waste our time like this!’ cried Jose.
‘We never waste time when we are helping others,’ answered the horse. And soon the little fish was swimming happily away.
A little while after they reached a castle, which was built in the middle of a very thick wood, and right in front was the Princess Bella-Flor feeding her hens.
‘Now listen,’ said the horse. ‘I am going to give all sorts of little hops and skips, which will amuse the Princess Bella-Flor. Then she will tell you that she would like to ride a little way, and you must help her to mount. When she is seated I shall begin to neigh and kick, and you must say that I have never carried a woman before, and that you had better get up behind so as to be able to manage me. Once on my back we will go like the wind to the king’s palace.’
Jose did exactly as the horse told him, and everything fell out as the animal prophesied; so that it was not until they were galloping breathlessly towards the palace that the princess knew that she was taken captive. She said nothing, however, but quietly opened her apron which contained the bran for the chickens, and in a moment it lay scattered on the ground.
‘Oh, I have let fall my bran!’ cried she; ‘please get down and pick it up for me.’ But Jose only answered:
‘We shall find plenty of bran where we are going.’ And the horse galloped on.
They were now passing through a forest, and the princess took out her handkerchief and threw it upwards, so that it stuck in one of the topmost branches of a tree.
‘Dear me; how stupid! I have let my handkerchief blow away,’ said she. ‘Will you climb up and get it for me?’ But Jose answered:
‘We shall find plenty of handkerchiefs where we are going.’ And the horse galloped on.
After the wood they reached a river, and the princess slipped a ring off her finger and let it roll into the water.
‘How careless of me,’ gasped she, beginning to sob. ‘I have lost my favourite ring; DO stop for a moment and look if you can see it.’ But Jose answered:
‘You will find plenty of rings where you are going.’ And the horse galloped on.
At last they entered the palace gates, and the king’s heart bounded with joy at beholding his beloved Princess Bella-Flor. But the princess brushed him aside as if he had been a fly, and locked herself into the nearest room, which she would not open for all his entreaties.
‘Bring me the three things I lost on the way, and perhaps I may think about it,’ was all she would say. And, in despair, the king was driven to take counsel of Jose.
‘There is no remedy that I can see,’ said his majesty, ‘but that you, who know where they are, should go and bring them back. And if you return without them I will have you drowned.’
Poor Jose was much troubled at these words. He thought that he had done all that was required of him, and that his life was safe. However, he bowed low, and went out to consult his friend the horse.
‘Do not vex yourself,’ said the horse, when he had heard the story; ‘jump up, and we will go and look for the things.’ And Jose mounted at once.
They rode on till they came to the ant-hill, and then the horse asked:
‘Would you like to have the bran?’
‘What is the use of liking?’ answered Jose.
‘Well, call the ants, and tell them to fetch it for you; and, if some of it has been scattered by the wind, to bring in its stead the grains that were in the cakes you gave them.’ Jose listened in surprise. He did not much believe in the horse’s plan; but he could not think of anything better, so he called to the ants, and bade them collect the bran as fast as they could.
Then he saw under a tree and waited, while his horse cropped the green turf.
‘Look there!’ said the animal, suddenly raising its head; and Jose looked behind him and saw a little mountain of bran, which he put into a bag that was hung over his saddle.
‘Good deeds bear fruit sooner or later,’ observed the horse; ‘but mount again, as we have far to go.’
When they arrived at the tree, they saw the handkerchief fluttering like a flag from the topmost branch, and Jose’s spirits sank again.
‘How am I to get that handkerchief?’ cried he; ‘why I should need Jacob’s ladder!’ But the horse answered:
‘Do not be frightened; call to the eagle you set free from the net, he will bring it to you.’
So Jose called to the eagle, and the eagle flew to the top of the tree and brought back the handkerchief in its beak. Jose thanked him, and vaulting on his horse they rode on to the river.
A great deal of rain had fallen in the night, and the river, instead of being clear as it was before, was dark and troubled.
‘How am I to fetch the ring from the bottom of this river when I do not know exactly where it was dropped, and cannot even see it?’ asked Jose. But the horse answered: ‘Do not be frightened; call the little fish whose life you saved, and she will bring it to you.’
So he called to the fish, and the fish dived to the bottom and slipped behind big stones, and moved little ones with its tail till it found the ring, and brought it to Jose in its mouth.
Well pleased with all he had done, Jose returned to the palace; but when the king took the precious objects to Bella-Flor, she declared that she would never open her door till the bandit who had carried her off had been fried in oil.
‘I am very sorry,’ said the king to Jose, ‘I really would rather not; but you see I have no choice.’
While the oil was being heated in the great caldron, Jose went to the stables to inquire of his friend the horse if there was no way for him to escape.
‘Do not be frightened,’ said the horse. ‘Get on my back, and I will gallop till my whole body is wet with perspiration, then rub it all over your skin, and no matter how hot the oil may be you will never feel it.’
Jose did not ask any more questions, but did as the horse bade him; and men wondered at his cheerful face as they lowered him into the caldron of boiling oil. He was left there till Bella-Flor cried that he must be cooked enough. Then out came a youth so young and handsome, that everyone fell in love with him, and Bella-Flor most of all.
As for the old king, he saw that he had lost the game; and in despair he flung himself into the caldron, and was fried instead of Jose. Then Jose was proclaimed king, on condition that he married Bella-Flor which he promised to do the next day. But first he went to the stables and sought out the horse, and said to him: ‘It is to you that I owe my life and my crown. Why have you done all this for me?’
And the horse answered: ‘I am the soul of that unhappy man for whom you spent all your fortune. And when I saw you in danger of death I begged that I might help you, as you had helped me. For, as I told you, Good deeds bear their own fruit!’
Story DNA
Moral
Acts of kindness, no matter how small or inconvenient, will eventually be repaid and lead to good fortune.
Plot Summary
Jose, a kind but disinherited younger brother, uses a hidden inheritance to help a dying man, leaving him poor but gaining the favor of a magical white horse. His envious brother plots his downfall, forcing Jose on an impossible quest to find Princess Bella-Flor. Aided by the horse and animals he previously helped, Jose succeeds, but Bella-Flor demands he retrieve items she 'lost' and then be fried in oil. Jose survives the oil, transforming into a handsome youth, leading to the king's demise and Jose's ascension to the throne and marriage to Bella-Flor. The horse reveals it was the soul of the man Jose helped, demonstrating that good deeds are always rewarded.
Themes
Emotional Arc
suffering to triumph
Writing Style
Narrative Elements
Cultural Context
This story reflects common European fairy tale tropes of brothers, quests, magical helpers, and moral lessons, often found in oral traditions before being written down.
Plot Beats (16)
- A man has two sons; the elder, Jose, leaves to seek his fortune, while the younger stays and inherits everything.
- Jose returns home poor, is cruelly rejected by his rich younger brother, and given only an old wooden chest as his inheritance.
- Jose discovers a secret drawer in the chest containing a debt acknowledgment, which he uses to collect a large sum from a miser.
- Jose uses most of his money to help a poor, dying man and his family, leaving him with only three gold pieces.
- Jose enters the king's service and quickly rises to a position of trust and favor.
- Jose's envious younger brother, now poor, seeks his brother's help, is given a position at court, and immediately plots Jose's demise.
- The younger brother manipulates the king into ordering Jose to find the reclusive Princess Bella-Flor, threatening death if he fails.
- Jose, despairing, is guided by a magical white horse, which instructs him to perform three acts of kindness: feeding ants, freeing an eagle, and saving a fish.
- The horse leads Jose to Bella-Flor, and they trick her into riding with them back to the palace.
- Bella-Flor, realizing she's captured, 'loses' three items (bran, handkerchief, ring) on the way, which Jose ignores at the horse's instruction.
- At the palace, Bella-Flor refuses the king until the three lost items are returned, and the king again threatens Jose with death.
- Jose, with the help of the magical horse and the animals he previously aided, successfully retrieves the three items.
- Bella-Flor then demands that Jose, her 'bandit' captor, be fried in oil.
- The magical horse instructs Jose to rub its sweat on himself, allowing him to survive the boiling oil and emerge as a handsome youth, winning Bella-Flor's love.
- The old king, seeing he has lost, throws himself into the oil and dies; Jose is proclaimed king and marries Bella-Flor.
- The horse reveals itself to be the soul of the man Jose helped, explaining that Jose's kindness was repaid.
Characters
Jose
Initially appears as a wanderer, suggesting a lean, perhaps weather-beaten build from his travels. After the transformation in the oil, he becomes remarkably young and handsome, implying a strong, athletic physique with a youthful glow.
Attire: Initially, simple, worn traveler's clothes, likely made of coarse wool or linen in muted earth tones, perhaps a tunic and trousers. As a king's servant, he would wear a modest livery. As a gentleman of the bedchamber, more refined but still functional court attire, possibly a doublet and hose in rich but not ostentatious fabrics. After becoming king, he would wear regal attire, possibly a tunic of fine silk or velvet, embroidered with gold thread, and a cloak.
Wants: Initially, to find his fortune and later, to serve the king and survive the challenges set before him. Ultimately, to do good and fulfill his destiny.
Flaw: His initial naivety and trusting nature make him vulnerable to his brother's schemes. He also sometimes doubts the advice of his magical horse.
Transforms from a penniless wanderer to a respected courtier, then a condemned man, and finally a handsome, wise king. He learns that good deeds are always rewarded and that true value lies not in inherited wealth but in character.
Kind, generous, resourceful, humble, brave, and somewhat naive. He consistently helps others, even at personal cost, and follows advice from unexpected sources.
Princess Bella-Flor
Described as beautiful enough to be desired by a king. She is graceful and delicate, with a presence that commands attention.
Attire: Elegant and refined, but not overly ostentatious, as she is hiding. Perhaps a gown of fine linen or silk in soft, natural colors, possibly with subtle embroidery. When captured, she wears an apron, suggesting a simpler, more domestic attire while in hiding. After returning to the palace, she would wear more elaborate court gowns.
Wants: To avoid marrying the old king and to find a partner worthy of her. She seeks true affection and respect.
Flaw: Her stubbornness and demanding nature, which initially alienate her from the king and put Jose in danger.
Starts as a defiant princess in hiding, becomes a captive, and then a demanding figure who tests Jose. She ultimately falls in love with the transformed Jose and accepts him as king.
Strong-willed, defiant, clever, and somewhat demanding. She refuses to marry for convenience or power and tests those who seek her favor.
The Magical Horse
A powerful and swift horse, capable of great speed and endurance. Its appearance is not explicitly described beyond being a horse, but its magical nature suggests a noble and perhaps unusually intelligent or striking equine form.
Attire: A saddle and bridle, likely simple and functional for travel, but perhaps of fine leather or with subtle embellishments befitting a magical creature.
Wants: To repay Jose for his past kindness, as it is the soul of the man whose burial Jose paid for. It seeks to ensure Jose's success and well-being.
Flaw: None explicitly stated, as it is a powerful magical entity.
Remains a steadfast guide and protector throughout Jose's trials, fulfilling its purpose of repaying kindness.
Wise, loyal, prophetic, and deeply grateful. It acts as Jose's mentor and protector, guiding him through impossible tasks.
The Younger Brother
Likely of average build, perhaps a bit soft from a life of ease and indulgence. His appearance might reflect his envious and spiteful nature, perhaps a slightly sneering or calculating expression.
Attire: Initially, fine clothes befitting a wealthy heir, likely of good quality fabrics like wool or silk in fashionable colors, but perhaps worn with an air of entitlement. Later, as he loses his wealth, his clothes might become slightly less opulent, but he would still try to maintain an appearance of status.
Wants: To maintain his wealth and status without effort, and to eliminate anyone he perceives as a rival or threat, especially his elder brother.
Flaw: His overwhelming envy and malice, which drive him to destructive actions and ultimately lead to his downfall (though his specific fate is not detailed, his schemes fail).
Starts as a wealthy, arrogant heir, becomes a penniless schemer, and ultimately fails in his attempts to destroy his brother.
Selfish, greedy, rude, spiteful, envious, and lazy. He resents his brother's success and actively seeks to harm him.
The Old King
Described as 'old and ugly,' suggesting a frail or perhaps stooped posture, with the physical signs of advanced age. He might have a gaunt or wrinkled appearance.
Attire: Regal attire, but perhaps slightly ill-fitting or worn, reflecting his age and perhaps a lack of personal care despite his power. Robes of rich fabric like velvet or brocade, possibly in deep reds or purples, with a crown or circlet.
Wants: To possess Princess Bella-Flor and to maintain his royal authority.
Flaw: His age, ugliness, impatience, and desperate desire for Bella-Flor make him vulnerable to manipulation and lead to his downfall.
Starts as a powerful but frustrated king, becomes increasingly desperate, and ultimately meets a tragic end due to his own actions and despair.
Impatient, demanding, easily manipulated, desperate in his desire for Bella-Flor, and ultimately despairing. He is quick to anger and makes rash decisions.
Locations
Jose's Father's House
A large, inherited house, likely a traditional Celtic dwelling, with a prominent hall at the entrance and a loft at the top of a storehouse. The hall is where the brothers first meet, and the loft is a dusty, neglected space containing an old, dilapidated wooden chest.
Mood: Initially grand but quickly becomes tense and unwelcoming due to the younger brother's rudeness; the loft is dusty and forgotten.
Jose returns home, is rejected by his brother, and discovers the secret of the wooden chest, leading to his initial fortune.
The King's Palace
A royal residence, likely a stone castle or a grand manor house, with a presence chamber for audiences, and stables for horses. It has golden plates hanging on walls and rooms that can be locked from within. Later, a great cauldron is brought in for the execution.
Mood: Initially formal and powerful, becoming tense with intrigue and later despair, then ultimately celebratory.
Jose rises in service, the younger brother plots against him, Jose brings Bella-Flor, and later faces the boiling oil, ultimately becoming king.
The Forest Path
A winding path through a dense forest, likely with tall, ancient trees, where a handkerchief gets caught in a topmost branch. It leads to a river.
Mood: Initially a place of hurried travel and trickery, later a place of magical assistance and quiet reflection.
Bella-Flor tries to leave clues by throwing her handkerchief into a tree, and later Jose returns here to retrieve it with the eagle's help.
The River
A river, initially clear, but later dark and troubled after heavy rain. It has a bottom with big and little stones.
Mood: Initially a place of despair and loss, later transformed into a scene of magical retrieval and hope.
Bella-Flor drops her ring into the river, and later Jose returns to retrieve it with the fish's help.