Konunga-Sonen And Messeri

Once upon a time there was a king and a queen who had no children. Over this they bore great sorrow, and the king desired nothing so willingly as to get an heir to the crown and kingdom. But years went in and years went out, and as yet there was no sign that his hope would come to fruition.
The queen, who was the king's consort, had her greatest desire to go around the lake, when the weather was beautiful. It so happened once, that her shell suddenly stood still out at sea, and the sailors were overwhelmed do not move it, neither forwards nor backwards. Now everyone could well understand that there was someone in the water holding the ship steady. The queen went ahead up on the ship's table, and looked for who hindered their passage. Then a voice was heard under the keel, which said: »You will never find the green one again the earth, if you do not give me what you carry under your belt." The queen willingly agreed to this, because she did not know she was pregnant. She so threw into the sea his bundle of keys, which hung by the belt-city. Immediately the shell became buoyant again, and began to go over waves and waves, until they reached port in the king's kingdom.
Some time after that, the queen noticed that she was with child. Then became great joy over the whole country, and the king was most pleased that he would win his dearest wish. But the queen herself was not happy, for she was afraid within herself that she had unknowingly given away her own fetus. When so the king noticed her sad sorrow, it occurred to him strangely, and he asked why she alone was sad, while all the others rejoiced one. The queen now told how everything had been during the sea voyage. But the king asked her to be comforted and to banish his worries, he would so well, that Hafs's wife never got hold of their child.
When the months were over, the queen fell into child-bed and gave birth to one little flower cheek. The young prince grew in age and strength, and became stronger and more beautiful than other children. Above this, the king knew and the queen a great joy of heart, and they esteemed the journeyman as their own eye-stone. It suffered for a long time, and the prince was in his twelfth year. Then it happened that the king was visited by his brother, who ruled over one another kingdom, and the foreign king had two sons with him. The three The royal children had their greatest desire to play together. One day amused the foreign princes to ride in the yard, which lay outside the house, but the Hungarian friend stood in there, and looked up at their vulture. He felt now a fierce desire to participate in the game, and therefore crept away from his own guard, ran out into the yard, and mounted a horse. The soldiers did so down to the beach, to water their foals. But hardly had the prince's horse came to the water, before he ran out into the lake, and disappeared in the waves. The strange king's children immediately returned home to the king's court, and told of this great calamity. Then you can tell there was a lot of trouble grief, and the king sent his men to look for the prince; but everyone searches were in vain: the arrow was gone and remained gone.
Meanwhile, the Ungersvennen continued his journey, and found a green path which led to a fair castle, far down at the bottom of the sea. The beautiful castle shimmered everywhere with gold and precious stones, so that no man has seen its like; and therein dwelt _Hafs-frun_, she who presides over wind and wave. When the prince entered the castle, the queen looked at him kindly eyes, and greeted and said: "Welcome fair Hungarian friend!" for twelve winters I have been waiting for you. You will now stay here and become my little boy. If you serve me faithfully and well, you shall have leave to return to your relatives; but if you do not do as I command, it will be for your life." At this speech the journeyman became uneasy, for he went home to his own parents, as young lads have for custom. But he has to come to his senses desolate, and so lingered for a while with Hafs-frun, in the beautiful castle at BED.
One day Hafs' wife had the prince called before her, and said: "It is time." that you are starting your service, and this will be your first prof. Here are two yarns, one white and one black. Now you must wash the white the yarn black, and the black yarn white. But everything should be ready in tomorrow morning when I wake up, otherwise it's your life." The journeyman took the two yarns, as Hafs-frun had commanded, went down to the lake, and began to wash as much as he could; but however he may carry himself, the white yarn was and became white, and the black yarn was and became black. When the prince now noticed that he could not fulfill his prof, became he greatly grieved, and wept bitterly. At the same time, someone came walking young, very fair maiden. The beautiful face approached the king's son, greeted kindly, and asked why he was so distressed. The prince replied: »Well, I must cry. Hafs's wife has ordered me to wash the white yarn black, and the black yarn white. If I haven't done it until i tomorrow, when she wakes up, it applies to my young life.» The maiden took over say: "If you promise to be faithful to me, I will help you, and always." be faithful to you again.” The Hungarian friend willingly agreed to this, because it was so fair, that no one can believe how fair she was. They promised never let each other down. Then the young girl went to an earth aunt stone, struck it, and said: "All my wife's mother's crafts come forward and help wash the white yarn until it turns black, and that blacken the yarn until it turns white!” At the same moment a crowd came up small-folk or tinkers, so no one knew their speech; where a tinker took a small thread-end, and began to wash so diligently, so diligently, and they did not turn again with this until the white yarn had turned black, and that the black yarn turned white. When everything was ready, the tinkerers crawled down under the stone, and no one saw them any more. But the young girl sat down conversed with the king's son, and told that she was a princess, and called _Messeria_; she also warned him not to let anyone know how they met each other.
Early in the morning, before the sun rose, the prince went before his matron, as commanded was. When he entered, Hafs' wife asked if he had complied her request. The journeyman chased here, and showed them both the yarns. Then Mrs. Hafs was greatly astonished, and said: "How did it happen?" have you met any of my daughters?” But the journeyman said he had not seen someone, and so they parted ways for the time being.
Some time after that, Hafs's wife had the king's son called before her again, and said: »I now want to present you with another prof. Here is a thin wheat and a thin grain, mixed with each other. You must change this seed accordingly its different kinds, so that the wheat is separated from the wheat, and the wheat from the chaff the grain. But everything must be ready tomorrow when I wake up, otherwise it applies your life.” The journeyman now took the wheat and the barley as he was commanded, and began to pick as much as he could; but how he had to carry himself ate, when it came to night, he had not yet shifted more than one small part. Then he was greatly grieved, and wept bitterly. In the same the friend Messeria came walking, greeted heartily, and spurred on the cause of his great sorrow. The prince replied: "Well, I may cry and not be happy. Lady Hafs has ordered me to shift all this grain after its different kinds, so that the wheat is separated from the wheat, and the wheat from the chaff the grain. But if I haven't done it by tomorrow when she wakes up, it applies to my young life.» The maiden spoke: »if you promise to be faithful to me, I will help you and always be faithful to you again.» The king's son assured that he would never love anyone else in the world, except only her. Then the girl went to a solid rock, patted on top of it, and said: "all my wife's mother's tinkerers come forward and help to separate the chaff from the wheat, and the wheat from the chaff!" Immediately there came up an innumerable crowd of tinkerers; each tinker took a grain, and they gleaned so diligently, so diligently, until all the grain was shifted, the barley separately and the wheat separately. When everything was ready, crawl the tinkerers went back under the stone, and no one saw them again. Messeria left likewise their journeys; but she warned the king's son not to let anyone know how they met each other.
Early in the morning, before daybreak, the prince went before his matron, as commanded was. When he came in, Hafs' wife asked if he was done her mission. The journeyman hunted here, and showed the grain where it was separated, each type separately. Then the lady was very surprised, and said: »how did it happen? have you met any of my daughters?” But the prince replied that he had seen no one, and so they parted for it the time.
When again some time had passed, Mrs. Hafs sent for the young man the king's son. She said: »I now want to present you with a third prof. IN my stable is a hundred oxen, and there have not been cleaned in twenty year. You must go there and clean. If you have done it until tomorrow when I wake up, I want to give you one of my daughters, and leave to go home to your relatives. But if you don't do as I told you, it applies your life.” The svennen then went over to Hafs-frun's stable, and began shovel, and shovel; but no matter how he might be tempted, it was easy to see that he would never be finished, for the pile was increased rather than decreased. Then became the prince was ill at ease, and wept bitterly. At the same time the friend came Messeria went, and inquired for the cause of his great sorrow. The pilot answered: "Well, I may cry and not be happy." Hafs-wife has commanded me clean the stable, where she has her hundreds of oxen. If I have done it until tomorrow when she wakes up, she wants to give me one of her daughters, and leave to go home to my relatives; but if I haven't that, that applies to my young life.» The girl spoke: »if you promise to be faithful to me, I will help you and always remain faithful to you again." The king's son repeated that he would never love anyone else in the world. Then Messeria went over to a solid rock, clapped on it, and said: "All my wife's mother's tinkerers come forward and help clean." Hafs-wife's stable!' Immediately there came up such a crowd of tinkerers that the whole ground swarmed; and the little men worked so idly and sluggishly, and did not stop until the entire stable was cleaned. When everything was ready, the tinkers crawled back under the stone, and no one saw them again. But Messeria sat down to converse with the prince, and warned him that not letting anyone know how they met each other. She also taught him, that Hafs-frun's daughters were nothing but kings' children, who became white turned into all kinds of animals. "But," she said, "if you don't want to fail." me, then remember that I am changed into a little cat, which is burned on side and cut in one ear.» The Hungarian friend listened carefully to this speech memory, saying he never wanted to forget her advice. Thus they took a fond farewell from each other.
Early in the morning, the first day dawned, the prince went before his food mother, as he was told. When Hafs's wife became aware of him, she asked if he had completed her mission. The journeyman hunted here, and they went together to where the stable was. At this point the lady saw that everything was fine ready as she commanded, she was astonished beyond measure, and asked: »how did it happen? Has anyone helped you?” The king's son replied that he had not met anyone. Mrs. Hafs spoke up: "If so." is, I want to stick to my word and promise that I gave. You shall receive choose one from among my daughters, and then return home to your kinsmen.»
The king's son now went with Hafs's wife, and they came to a large hall, from each side the prince had never been possessed. The hall was very beautiful and decorated the most precious of the ages with gold and silver, and inside were gathered a large crowd of animals of all kinds, snakes, toads, lizards, cats, weasels, and others, which no one can enumerate. Hafsfrun spoke up: »here you see all my daughters, now choose which one you want!' But when the journeyman saw the nasty animals, he became ill at ease, and did not properly know where would he turn, so abominable did they seem to him. Best it now was, he got to see a little cat, which was burned on the side and had one ear cut off; but the cat walked about the room, wagging its tail, and looked very worried. Then the prince remembered what Messeria had said, he then went over to the little cat, stroked her with his hand, and said: »I want this and no one else.» At the same moment the animal shifted its port, there ran up a fair maiden, and the journeyman recognized the friendly girl, who helped him. But Mrs. Hafs was very disappointed, and said: "Hafføre." would you choose her? She was dearest to me of all my daughters.»
When some time had passed again, Hafs-frun had it re-sent the king's son, and said: "I now want to prepare your wedding; but first should you look for wedding clothes for your young bride. Gack therefore to my sister, and say hello from me, and you will get everything you need.» When now the prince was told that he was to go to Hafs-frun's sister, he stayed very distressed, for he could well understand that it was a dangerous journey. He therefore sat down and wept bitterly. When he sat at his best, come the fair Messeria went, and asked why he was so distressed. The prince replied: »Well, I must cry. The Hafs lady has commanded me to draw away to her sister after wedding clothes, and I can imagine there will be one dangerous journey.” Messeria said: "If you want to promise to be faithful to me, you shall." I will help you and always be faithful to you again.» The king's son assured and renewed that he would never betray his faith and promise to her. Then took listen to the words: »when you set out on your way, you first come to a gate, which stands in the same land-lake where Hafs-frun's egos end. The gate is old and sluggish. Anoint her with butter from this butter-horn. Since you come to two men, who are cutting an oak by the road. The men have axes of wood, give them these axes of iron. Next you come to two other men, who stand by the farm and thresh. They have sledgehammers of iron, give them these blows of wood. Then you come to two eagles, which yell and threaten as you pass by. Give them both these pieces of meat. But I have never been to Mrs. Hafs's sister, and therefore cannot advise you. Just be careful, and don't eat anything." The prince was very grateful these good advices, and promised to follow them closely. Then he said goodbye Messeria, and began his journey.
After he had traveled for a while, he came to a gate that stood by itself the land lake where Hafs-frun's egos ended. But the gate was old, and run sluggishly on their haunches. Then the prince did as Messeria had taught him; he took up his grease-horn and greased the hooks. Then he left further on, and came to two men who were cutting. They had _an_ ax of wood; but the king's son gave them each his iron axe. He got there, from where the threshing-men stood. They had heavy iron clubs, but the prince gave them blows of trees. Further on, he came to two eagles, who were boasting and threatening when he passed by. But the prince gave them each a piece of meat, and so came without hindrance to the farm, where he watched his journey.
When the king's son came in, he stood before Hafs-frun's sister, and presented his case. He was so received in the best way; but the lady had a mean appearance, and the journeyman could well understand that she didn't mean everything she said. Hafs's wife now asked him to sit down, me'ns she prepared the wedding things, and had food brought in for him to eat. But the prince heeded his lover's advice, and did not want to taste the food, but took the opportunity and hid it in the bed. After a while, Hafsfrun entered, and asked if her guest had eaten. The Hungarian friend chased here. Then the lady smiled under her skin, and said:
»manna-hufvud where do you eat?»
The food replied:
'I stand at the foot of the bed,
I stand at the foot of the bed.'
Now the journeyman became uneasy, for he noticed the wickedness of the maiden; but Hafs-wife became angry, went for the food, and said that the prince should eat hence, whether he wanted to or not.
The lady went out like that for the second time, and the journeyman looked around for one new hiding place. He now put the food in the oven hole, and thus hid it well he managed. But it didn't last long, until Mrs. Hafs came back, and asked if he had eaten. The prince chased after this. Then the lady smiled in his false heart, and said:
»manna-hufvud where do you eat?»
The food replied:
'I stand in the oven hole,
I'm standing in the oven hole.'
At this the Lady Hafs perceived that the journeyman was on his guard against her scheming, she was angry beyond measure, went for the food, and said the prince would eat of it, or did it concern his life.
The lady then went away for the third time. Then the journeyman knew in his heart He didn't bother where to hide the food, but tucked it in the bosom underneath their clothes. When Hafsfrun came back, she asked as before, about him had eaten. The boy chased after this. Then the lady said:
»manna-hufvud where do you eat?»
The food replied:
'I sit in the bosom,
I sit in the bosom.'
Now Hafs's wife smiled, and melted:
»are you sitting in the bosom,
you will soon be in the gut.»
After that she gave the journeyman many greetings to his food mother, that was enough him a box of wedding favors, wished him luck on the journey, and so on were they separated from each other.
The Hungarian friend now set off on his way home, and he was happy, as he cannot be seems strange. But »it is not worth shouting Hi! until you arrive over the stream», as the old saying goes; for the prince had not had time longer than the two eagles, before the maiden called out:
» eagles! ripped him to death.”
Then he was very frightened. But when the eagles saw who it was, they did not want to harm him, but answered:
'no, he has given us food,
he has given us food.'
The prince then passed by, and came to the men who were threshing. Then shouted Hafs-wife:
"thresher! kill him.”
Now the journeyman was again very afraid; but when the men saw who it was, they did not want to do him any harm, but answered:
'no, he has given us wooden sledgehammers for iron sledgehammers,
tree-beats for iron-beats.'
The king's son then escaped, and came to the men who cut the tree. Then cried Hafsfrun:
»chopper men! stabbed him to death.”
But when the men saw who it was, they didn't want to do anything to him but said:
'no, he has given us iron axes for wood axes,
iron-axes for tree-axes.'
Now the prince turned on his heels, and ran as fast as he could, until he came into the lake. Then Hafs's wife called out:
"gate! squeeze him to death.”
But the gate answered:
'no he has anointed me,
he has anointed me.'
The svennen got so into his food mother's egos, and teaches no one to wonder that he was very tired after such a journey.
After the king's son had rested for a while, he began to walk towards again the home. While he was now traveling up the path, it occurred to him that it well, it would be fun to find out what wedding things were hidden in the box. He thought so of his lover and her warnings; but as usual happen, "youth and wisdom are not followed together", and the more he founded, the greater became his curiosity. Finally, he could no longer control his attention, but gaped at the ash-lid by one brim. But now he saw a great news, for the ashes were full of sparks, as it seemed to him, and when he opened the lid, it stood like a stream of fire out of the opening, and the sparks flew about in all directions. Then regretted the prince's recklessness; but it was too late, and finally could he, being afraid, neither went forward nor back, but sat down and cried bitterly. At last it occurred to him that he could tempted if Messeria's tinkerers wanted to help him. He then proceeded to the solid stone, clapped on it, and cried: "all my wife's mother." little tinkerers come over and help me put in the bride things!» Immediately an innumerable number of tinkerers came forth, and the little men scattered in all directions, and chased the sparks over both mountains and valleys. When After a while, the whole crowd came back, each one having caught another spark, and put it back in the ash. Then the tinkerers crawled under the stone. But the king's son made up his mind to be another time wiser, and so wandered with joy and delight home to the castle, where his food mother lived.
When now Hafs's wife noticed him, and perceived that he had passed well all dangers, she was greatly surprised, and escaped him at that top. She then had the prince's wedding celebrated with great pomp and ceremony, and all her daughters were among the guests. But Messeria was the friendliest among all the king's children, and the bridegroom loved her above all precious things, which he saw in the beautiful castle.
After the wedding was over, the prince and his beautiful bride took their leave to trace their journeys. They then took leave of Hafs-frun, and wished away with all my heart that they would never happen to her again. Then they sat down a gilding frame, and went over many green plains, until they came out of the sea not far from the king's farm. But now the Hungarian friend knew one great longing to see how things were at his relatives' house. Messeria laid down on the contrary, and said that there would be more boating if they went first her father, who was also a king. The prince, however, stood his ground meaning, and so he had to prevail. When they were about to part, Messeria took a promise from her groom that he would not taste any food while he was gone, without immediately turning back. The king's son promised to obey her out here, and then went to town. But the young bride sat down, and wept bitterly, for she could well foresee how his journey would be expire.
When the young friend came to his father's farm, there was great joy one can well imagine, and the king and his consort were most pleased, the queen. A splendid banquet was arranged, and everyone wished the prince welcome home again. But the journeyman didn't want to eat either or drink, but said he would go his way at once. This fell the queen rarely before, and she did not want to let him go while fasting away from himself. The prince was thus persuaded with many prayers, and let finally managed to taste a peppercorn. Then his mind changed, so he forgot his fair bride, and all that had befallen him while he was with Mrs. Hafs. He then began to eat and drink, and to make himself merry with his cousins. But Messeria sat in the forest and waited until the sun went down down. Then with great sorrow she dragged him to a small hut, and prayed get to borrow a house from the poor people who lived there.
It suffered some time away, and the king wished that his son would attach a spouse. The prince had nothing against this, but went away to another kingdom, and proposed to a fair king's daughter. After that was prepared for guests, and the wedding was drunk with lust and play and all sorts of things. But fair Messeria wandered up to the king's court, and was asked to join as maid of honor. She then went out and in the wedding hall, and one can well imagine that it was with a heavy heart. But she hid her tears, and under the general rejoicing there was none who paid attention to her grief.
When the wedding had stood for some time, tables were set before the guests, and Messeria assisted in carrying in the food. She had two pigeons with her, which flew back and forth in the hall. At now the first establishment was carried in, took the maiden trenne grains of wheat and threw for the doves; but the male flew forward, picked all three grains, and left nothing to her husband. Then what it little dove:
»Be careful!
because you betrayed me
as the king's son betrayed Messeria.»
It was now quiet in the hall, and the guests marveled at the little ones the birds. But the bridegroom became very thoughtful, attracted the doves himself, and caressed them.
After a while, the second dish was put on the table, and Messeria helped to carry in the food. She now again threw three grains of wheat for hers pigeons; but it went like last time, the male picked all three grains, and left nothing else to her husband. Then what did the little dove:
»Be careful!
because you betrayed me
as the king's son betrayed Messeria.»
Now there was silence in the hall again, and all the guests listened to the bird's words. But the king's son became strangely at ease, and attracted the little pigeons, and caressed them.
When the third dish was brought in, Messeria again threw in three grains of wheat their pigeons. But the male flew forward and picked all three grains, without leave something for your spouse. Then what did the little dove:
»Be careful!
because you betrayed me
as the king's son betrayed Messeria.»
Now there was a deep silence over the entire guest hall, and no one knew what he would think of this zodiac sign. But when the king's son heard the dove's words, he awoke as from a dream, and it ran through his mind, how badly he rewarded fair Messeria for all her love. He ran then got up from the table, took the young maid in her arms, and said that she and no one else would become his bride. Derhos told about all that fidelity Messeria had shown him, and what else had been done to him while he was with Hafs' wife.
When the king and queen and the rest of the wedding party heard such, they could hardly recover from their surprise. The the alien princess was now sent back to her kinsmen; but Messeria was adorned as a bride, and was given to the young king's son. They lived so together for many a good day, with discipline and honor. But the prince forgot never again the beautiful Messeria.