The Grateful Beasts

THE GRATEFUL BEASTS[11]

There was once upon a time a man and woman who had three fine-looking

sons, but they were so poor that they had hardly enough food for

themselves, let alone their children. So the sons determined to set

out into the world and to try their luck. Before starting their mother

gave them each a loaf of bread and her blessing, and having taken a

tender farewell of her and their father the three set forth on their

travels.

The youngest of the three brothers, whose name was Ferko, was a

beautiful youth, with a splendid figure, blue eyes, fair hair, and a

complexion like milk and roses. His two brothers were as jealous of

him as they could be, for they thought that with his good looks he

would be sure to be more fortunate than they would ever be.

One day all the three were sitting resting under a tree, for the sun

was hot and they were tired of walking. Ferko fell fast asleep, but

the other two remained awake, and the eldest said to the second

brother, ‘What do you say to doing our brother Ferko some harm? He is

so beautiful that everyone takes a fancy to him, which is more than

they do to us. If we could only get him out of the way we might

succeed better.’

‘I quite agree with you,’ answered the second brother, ‘and my advice

is to eat up his loaf of bread, and then to refuse to give him a bit

of ours until he has promised to let us put out his eyes or break his

legs.’

His eldest brother was delighted with this proposal, and the two

wicked wretches seized Ferko’s loaf and ate it all up, while the poor

boy was still asleep.

When he did awake he felt very hungry and turned to eat his bread, but

his brothers cried out, ‘You ate your loaf in your sleep, you glutton,

and you may starve as long as you like, but you won’t get a scrap of

ours.’

[Footnote 11: From the Hungarian. Kletke.]

Ferko was at a loss to understand how he could have eaten in his

sleep, but he said nothing, and fasted all that day and the next

night. But on the following morning he was so hungry that he burst

into tears, and implored his brothers to give him a little bit of

their bread. Then the cruel creatures laughed, and repeated what they

had said the day before; but when Ferko continued to beg and beseech

them, the eldest said at last, ‘If you will let us put out one of your

eyes and break one of your legs, then we will give you a bit of our

bread.’

At these words poor Ferko wept more bitterly than before, and bore the

torments of hunger till the sun was high in the heavens; then he could

stand it no longer, and he consented to allow his left eye to be put

out and his left leg to be broken. When this was done he stretched out

his hand eagerly for the piece of bread, but his brothers gave him

such a tiny scrap that the starving youth finished it in a moment and

besought them for a second bit.

But the more Ferko wept and told his brothers that he was dying of

hunger, the more they laughed and scolded him for his greed. So he

endured the pangs of starvation all that day, but when night came his

endurance gave way, and he let his right eye be put out and his right

leg broken for a second piece of bread.

After his brothers had thus successfully maimed and disfigured him for

life, they left him groaning on the ground and continued their journey

without him.

Poor Ferko ate up the scrap of bread they had left him and wept

bitterly, but no one heard him or came to his help. Night came on, and

the poor blind youth had no eyes to close, and could only crawl along

the ground, not knowing in the least where he was going. But when the

sun was once more high in the heavens, Ferko felt the blazing heat

scorch him, and sought for some cool shady place to rest his aching

limbs. He climbed to the top of a hill and lay down in the grass, and

as he thought under the shadow of a big tree. But it was no tree he

leant against, but a gallows on which two ravens were seated. The one

was saying to the other as the weary youth lay down, ‘Is there

anything the least wonderful or remarkable about this neighbourhood?’

‘I should just think there was,’ replied the other; ‘many things that

don’t exist anywhere else in the world. There is a lake down there

below us, and anyone who bathes in it, though he were at death’s door,

becomes sound and well on the spot, and those who wash their eyes with

the dew on this hill become as sharp-sighted as the eagle, even if

they have been blind from their youth.’

‘Well,’ answered the first raven, ‘my eyes are in no want of this

healing bath, for, Heaven be praised, they are as good as ever they

were; but my wing has been very feeble and weak ever since it was shot

by an arrow many years ago, so let us fly at once to the lake that I

may be restored to health and strength again.’ And so they flew away.

Their words rejoiced Ferko’s heart, and he waited impatiently till

evening should come and he could rub the precious dew on his sightless

eyes.

At last it began to grow dusk, and the sun sank behind the mountains;

gradually it became cooler on the hill, and the grass grew wet with

dew. Then Ferko buried his face in the ground till his eyes were damp

with dew-drops, and in a moment he saw clearer than he had ever done

in his life before. The moon was shining brightly, and lighted him to

the lake where he could bathe his poor broken legs.

Then Ferko crawled to the edge of the lake and dipped his limbs in the

water. No sooner had he done so than his legs felt as sound and strong

as they had been before, and Ferko thanked the kind fate that had led

him to the hill where he had overheard the ravens’ conversation. He

filled a bottle with the healing water, and then continued his journey

in the best of spirits.

He had not gone far before he met a wolf, who was limping

disconsolately along on three legs, and who on perceiving Ferko began

to howl dismally.

‘My good friend,’ said the youth, ‘be of good cheer, for I can soon

heal your leg,’ and with these words he poured some of the precious

water over the wolf’s paw, and in a minute the animal was springing

about sound and well on all fours. The grateful creature thanked his

benefactor warmly, and promised Ferko to do him a good turn if he

should ever need it.

Ferko continued his way till he came to a ploughed field. Here he

noticed a little mouse creeping wearily along on its hind paws, for

its front paws had both been broken in a trap.

Ferko felt so sorry for the little beast that he spoke to it in the

most friendly manner, and washed its small paws with the healing

water. In a moment the mouse was sound and whole, and after thanking

the kind physician it scampered away over the ploughed furrows.

Ferko again proceeded on his journey, but he hadn’t gone far before a

queen bee flew against him, trailing one wing behind her, which had

been cruelly torn in two by a big bird. Ferko was no less willing to

help her than he had been to help the wolf and the mouse, so he poured

some healing drops over the wounded wing. On the spot the queen bee

was cured, and turning to Ferko she said, ‘I am most grateful for your

kindness, and shall reward you some day.’ And with these words she

flew away humming gaily.

[Illustration: Ferko Healed by Magic Waters]

Then Ferko wandered on for many a long day, and at length reached a

strange kingdom. Here, he thought to himself, he might as well go

straight to the palace and offer his services to the King of the

country, for he had heard that the King’s daughter was as beautiful as

the day.

So he went to the royal palace, and as he entered the door the first

people he saw were his two brothers who had so shamefully ill-treated

him. They had managed to obtain places in the King’s service, and when

they recognised Ferko with his eyes and legs sound and well they were

frightened to death, for they feared he would tell the King of their

conduct, and that they would be hung.

[Illustration: Ferko Before the King]

No sooner had Ferko entered the palace than all eyes were turned on

the handsome youth, and the King’s daughter herself was lost in

admiration, for she had never seen anyone so handsome in her life

before. His brothers noticed this, and envy and jealousy were added to

their fear, so much so that they determined once more to destroy him.

They went to the King and told him that Ferko was a wicked magician,

who had come to the palace with the intention of carrying off the

Princess.

Then the King had Ferko brought before him, and said, ‘You are accused

of being a magician who wishes to rob me of my daughter, and I condemn

you to death; but if you can fulfil three tasks which I shall set you

to do your life shall be spared, on condition you leave the country;

but if you cannot perform what I demand you shall be hung on the

nearest tree.’

And turning to the two wicked brothers he said, ‘Suggest something for

him to do; no matter how difficult, he must succeed in it or die.’

They did not think long, but replied, ‘Let him build your Majesty in

one day a more beautiful palace than this, and if he fails in the

attempt let him be hung.’

The King was pleased with this proposal, and commanded Ferko to set to

work on the following day. The two brothers were delighted, for they

thought they had now got rid of Ferko for ever. The poor youth himself

was heart-broken, and cursed the hour he had crossed the boundary of

the King’s domain. As he was wandering disconsolately about the

meadows round the palace, wondering how he could escape being put to

death, a little bee flew past, and settling on his shoulder whispered

in his ear, ‘What is troubling you, my kind benefactor? Can I be of

any help to you? I am the bee whose wing you healed, and would like to

show my gratitude in some way.’

Ferko recognised the queen bee, and said, ‘Alas! how could you help

me? for I have been set to do a task which no one in the whole world

could do, let him be ever such a genius! To-morrow I must build a

palace more beautiful than the King’s, and it must be finished before

evening.’

‘Is that all?’ answered the bee, ‘then you may comfort yourself; for

before the sun goes down to-morrow night a palace shall be built

unlike any that King has dwelt in before. Just stay here till I come

again and tell you that it is finished.’ Having said this she flew

merrily away, and Ferko, reassured by her words, lay down on the grass

and slept peacefully till the next morning.

Early on the following day the whole town was on its feet, and

everyone wondered how and where the stranger would build the wonderful

palace. The Princess alone was silent and sorrowful, and had cried all

night till her pillow was wet, so much did she take the fate of the

beautiful youth to heart.

Ferko spent the whole day in the meadows waiting the return of the

bee. And when evening was come the queen bee flew by, and perching on

his shoulder she said, ‘The wonderful palace is ready. Be of good

cheer, and lead the King to the hill just outside the city walls.’ And

humming gaily she flew away again.

Ferko went at once to the King and told him the palace was finished.

The whole court went out to see the wonder, and their astonishment was

great at the sight which met their eyes. A splendid palace reared

itself on the hill just outside the walls of the city, made of the

most exquisite flowers that ever grew in mortal garden. The roof was

all of crimson roses, the windows of lilies, the walls of white

carnations, the floors of glowing auriculas and violets, the doors of

gorgeous tulips and narcissi with sunflowers for knockers, and all

round hyacinths and other sweet-smelling flowers bloomed in masses, so

that the air was perfumed far and near and enchanted all who were

present.

This splendid palace had been built by the grateful queen bee, who had

summoned all the other bees in the kingdom to help her.

The King’s amazement knew no bounds, and the Princess’s eyes beamed

with delight as she turned them from the wonderful building on the

delighted Ferko. But the two brothers had grown quite green with envy,

and only declared the more that Ferko was nothing but a wicked

magician.

The King, although he had been surprised and astonished at the way his

commands had been carried out, was very vexed that the stranger should

escape with his life, and turning to the two brothers he said, ‘He has

certainly accomplished the first task, with the aid no doubt of his

diabolical magic; but what shall we give him to do now? Let us make it

as difficult as possible, and if he fails he shall die.’

Then the eldest brother replied, ‘The corn has all been cut, but it

has not yet been put into barns; let the knave collect all the grain

in the kingdom into one big heap before to-morrow night, and if as

much as a stalk of corn is left let him be put to death.’

The Princess grew white with terror when she heard these words; but

Ferko felt much more cheerful than he had done the first time, and

wandered out into the meadows again, wondering how he was to get out

of the difficulty. But he could think of no way of escape. The sun

sank to rest and night came on, when a little mouse started out of the

grass at Ferko’s feet, and said to him, ‘I’m delighted to see you, my

kind benefactor; but why are you looking so sad? Can I be of any help

to you, and thus repay your great kindness to me?’

Then Ferko recognised the mouse whose front paws he had healed, and

replied, ‘Alas! how can you help me in a matter that is beyond any

human power! Before to-morrow night all the grain in the kingdom has

to be gathered into one big heap, and if as much as a stalk of corn is

wanting I must pay for it with my life.’

‘Is that all?’ answered the mouse; ‘that needn’t distress you much.

Just trust in me, and before the sun sets again you shall hear that

your task is done.’ And with these words the little creature scampered

away into the fields.

Ferko, who never doubted that the mouse would be as good as its word,

lay down comforted on the soft grass and slept soundly till next

morning. The day passed slowly, and with the evening came the little

mouse and said, ‘Now there is not a single stalk of corn left in any

field; they are all collected in one big heap on the hill out there.’

Then Ferko went joyfully to the King and told him that all he demanded

had been done. And the whole Court went out to see the wonder, and

were no less astonished than they had been the first time. For in a

heap higher than the King’s palace lay all the grain of the country,

and not a single stalk of corn had been left behind in any of the

fields. And how had all this been done? The little mouse had summoned

every other mouse in the land to its help, and together they had

collected all the grain in the kingdom.

The King could not hide his amazement, but at the same time his wrath

increased, and he was more ready than ever to believe the two

brothers, who kept on repeating that Ferko was nothing more nor less

than a wicked magician. Only the beautiful Princess rejoiced over

Ferko’s success, and looked on him with friendly glances, which the

youth returned.

The more the cruel King gazed on the wonder before him, the more angry

he became, for he could not, in the face of his promise, put the

stranger to death. He turned once more to the two brothers and said,

‘His diabolical magic has helped him again, but now what third task

shall we set him to do? No matter how impossible it is, he must do it

or die.’

The eldest answered quickly, ‘Let him drive all the wolves of the

kingdom on to this hill before to-morrow night. If he does this he may

go free; if not he shall be hung as you have said.’

At these words the Princess burst into tears, and when the King saw

this he ordered her to be shut up in a high tower and carefully

guarded till the dangerous magician should either have left the

kingdom or been hung on the nearest tree.

Ferko wandered out into the fields again, and sat down on the stump of

a tree wondering what he should do next. Suddenly a big wolf ran up to

him, and standing still said, ‘I’m very glad to see you again, my kind

benefactor. What are you thinking about all alone by yourself? If I

can help you in any way only say the word, for I would like to give

you a proof of my gratitude.’

Ferko at once recognised the wolf whose broken leg he had healed, and

told him what he had to do the following day if he wished to escape

with his life. ‘But how in the world,’ he added, ‘am I to collect all

the wolves of the kingdom on to that hill over there?’

‘If that’s all you want done,’ answered the wolf, ‘you needn’t worry

yourself. I’ll undertake the task, and you’ll hear from me again

before sunset to-morrow. Keep your spirits up.’ And with these words

he trotted quickly away.

Then the youth rejoiced greatly, for now he felt that his life was

safe; but he grew very sad when he thought of the beautiful Princess,

and that he would never see her again if he left the country. He lay

down once more on the grass and soon fell fast asleep.

All the next day he spent wandering about the fields, and toward

evening the wolf came running to him in a great hurry and said, ‘I

have collected together all the wolves in the kingdom, and they are

waiting for you in the wood. Go quickly to the King, and tell him to

go to the hill that he may see the wonder you have done with his own

eyes. Then return at once to me and get on my back, and I will help

you to drive all the wolves together.’

Then Ferko went straight to the palace and told the King that he was

ready to perform the third task if he would come to the hill and see

it done. Ferko himself returned to the fields, and mounting on the

wolf’s back he rode to the wood close by.

Quick as lightning the wolf flew round the wood, and in a minute many

hundred wolves rose up before him, increasing in number every moment,

till they could be counted by thousands. He drove them all before him

on to the hill, where the King and his whole Court and Ferko’s two

brothers were standing. Only the lovely Princess was not present, for

she was shut up in her tower weeping bitterly.

The wicked brothers stamped and foamed with rage when they saw the

failure of their wicked designs. But the King was overcome by a sudden

terror when he saw the enormous pack of wolves approaching nearer and

nearer, and calling out to Ferko he said, ‘Enough, enough, we don’t

want any more.’

[Illustration: Ferko leads the wolves on.]

But the wolf on whose back Ferko sat, said to its rider, ‘Go on! go

on!’ and at the same moment many more wolves ran up the hill, howling

horribly and showing their white teeth.

The King in his terror called out, ‘Stop a moment; I will give you

half my kingdom if you will drive all the wolves away.’ But Ferko

pretended not to hear, and drove some more thousands before him, so

that everyone quaked with horror and fear.

Then the King raised his voice again and called out, ‘Stop! you shall

have my whole kingdom, if you will only drive these wolves back to the

places they came from.’

But the wolf kept on encouraging Ferko, and said, ‘Go on! go on!’ So

he led the wolves on, till at last they fell on the King and on the

wicked brothers, and ate them and the whole Court up in a moment.

Then Ferko went straight to the palace and set the Princess free, and

on the same day he married her and was crowned King of the country.

And the wolves all went peacefully back to their own homes, and Ferko

and his bride lived for many years in peace and happiness together,

and were much beloved by great and small in the land.