Slept Like A King's Daughter For Seven Years

Once a great king's daughter died suddenly, and mourning and wailing filled all the land. On the day when the dead was about to be coffined, a wise man came from a distant land (Magician) to the mourning royal city. He concluded from the general Concern that something special must have happened here and asked what was bothering the residents so much. When he received information He went to the royal palace and called himself a wise man doctor and asked for access to the king. He called out as soon as he reached the threshold strong voice: "The virgin is not dead, just tired, leave her alone." rest for a while." When the king heard this saying, he ordered the stranger to come closer. But the magician said: “The Virgin may not be buried. I'll make a glass box We want to bed her in it and let her sleep peacefully until she arrives The time of awakening is approaching."

The king was extremely pleased with this speech and promised it Magician rich reward if his promise would be fulfilled. He made a large glass box on it and placed silk cushions in it, laid the king's daughter on it, closed the lid and left it Carry the box into a large room, but place guards in front of the door, so that no one wakes the sleeping person.

After this was done, the magician said to the king: “Send now Everywhere and let everyone buy up glass supplies, then I will have one Build an oven that will be bigger than your royal city, and in which one we want to melt our glass into a mountain. If six years have passed and the larksong announces the seventh summer, then send messengers in all directions and let it be known, that every young man is allowed to present himself as a suitor for your daughter to find. Which of the suitors then, be it on horseback or on his If you climb the glass mountain's summit with your own feet, it must be yours become a son-in-law. When the chosen man comes, what? will happen within seven years and seven days, then yours will be Daughter awakens from sleep and gives the young man a golden ring give. Whoever brings you this ring, even if it is the least of you You must give your daughter to your subjects, even to the son of a hired hand as a wife, otherwise she will sink into eternal sleep."

The king promised to follow this rule in every respect and immediately gave the order to all neighboring countries Buy glass supplies. By the time the sixth year ended, there was so much glass together that it is an area of ​​one mile seven fathoms high covered.

Meanwhile the magician had finished his furnace, which was so high was that it almost reached the lowest layer of clouds. The king provided him with two thousand workers who put the glass into the Oven did. Here it melted and the heat became so intense that swamps, Rivers and small lakes dried up, even in springs and deep ones A decrease in water was noticed in the fountain.

While the magician is melting his glass mountain together, we want to get in step into a farmer's hut that is not far from the royal city, and where an old father lives with his three sons. The two older ones Brothers were shy, well-mannered boys, but the youngest was a little bit simple. When the father fell ill and felt his end approaching, He brought his sons to stand in front of his bed and said as follows: "I I feel that my homecoming is approaching, that's why I want you my last Make your wishes known. You, my dear older sons, should Cultivate house and field together, as long as you don't both married. The rule of two herd queens would cause a crack in it bring house creatures. For an old true saying says: “Where seven unmarried brothers live peacefully together, there will be two wives too tight; They have to fight.” But if this happens, then you should share their house and fields among each other. But your youngest brother, Anyone who is neither fit to be a host nor a servant will have shelter with you Find food as long as he lives. For this purpose I bequeath you both my money box. Your youngest brother is a bit short Understand, but he has a good heart and will be just as willing for you obey as he has always obeyed me." The older brothers promised the Father's will with dry eyes and a fluent tongue fulfill, the youngest didn't say a word and cried bitterly. "One more thing I want to say," continued the father - "when I am dead and you are me If you buried me, then as a last little service of love, do this to me Each of you will watch one night at my grave." Both older brothers promised with a dry eye and a fluent tongue, the Father's will to fulfill, the youngest did not say a word and cried bitterly. Soon After this conversation the father lost his sight forever closed.

The two older brothers prepared a large banquet and invited people invited many guests so that the dead father could be buried with full honors. They themselves were in good spirits and ate and drank as if they were at one Wedding, while her third brother wept silently at her father's coffin was standing; When the coffin was carried away and lowered into the grave, it was there the youngest son felt as if all joys had now died out and buried with his father.

Late in the evening, when the last guests had left, he asked youngest brother, who would watch over his father's grave the first night. The others said, "We are tired of attending to the funeral, We can't wake up tonight, but you have nothing better to do do, so you go and keep watch.”

The youngest brother went to his father's grave without saying a word Everything was quiet and only the cricket was chirping. In order not to fall asleep, went he quietly steps up and down. It might have been midnight when it happened as if a mournful voice came from the grave:

“Whose step is it that’s pouring?
Coarse gravel sand on the eyes,
Black earth on the brows.”

The son understood the question and answered:

"That's your youngest boy,
It's his step that pours the water
Coarse gravel sand on the eyes,
Black earth on the brows.”

The voice continued to ask why the older brothers didn't come first came awake, whereupon the youngest excused them that they had, tired from the funeral, can't come today.

The father's voice rose again: "Every worker is his own wage worth, that's why I don't want to withhold your reward from you. It will There will soon come a time when you will want better clothes to wear to be able to join the company of noble people. Then come to mine Dig, stomp the burial mound three times with your left heel and say: “Dear father, I ask for my wages for the _first_ of the night Watch.” Then you will receive a suit and a horse. But say “Don’t tell your brothers about it.”

At daybreak the gravekeeper went home and had some breakfast to strengthen, and then lay down to rest.

When the time came in the evening, he asked the brothers who would watch them at night at their father's grave. The brothers answered mockingly: “Well, no one will come to rescue the father from the grave to steal. But if you feel like it, you can do it tonight too guard there. But with all your vigilance you will not return to your father "The youngest brother was over this loveless He spoke even more sadly and left the room with tears in his eyes.

On the father's grave everything was quiet, like last night, except for her Cricket chirped in the grass. So that he wouldn't fall asleep, he went quietly Steps up and down. It must have been midnight, the roosters had it had already crowed twice when a wailing voice rose from the grave heard:

“Whose step is it that’s pouring?
Coarse gravel sand on the eyes,
Black earth on the brows?”

The son understood the question and replied:

"That's your youngest boy,
It's his step that pours the water
Coarse gravel sand on the eyes,
Black earth on the brows.”

The voice continued to ask why none of the older brothers had come, and the youngest excused them because they were over from the day's work tired to keep awake.

The father's voice rose again: "Every worker is his own wage worth, therefore I will not withhold your reward from you. Soon There will come a time when you will want an even better suit than what you earned yesterday. Then just step boldly go to my grave, stomp on it three times with your left heel burial mound and say: “Dear father, I ask for my reward for them _second_ night watch!« You will immediately wear a more splendid suit and Get a nicer horse so that people don't take their eyes off you like to turn away. But don’t tell your brothers.”

At daybreak he went home from the grave vigil and found them both older brothers still sleeping, had some breakfast to strengthen themselves, then stretched out on the stove bench and slept until the sun came out was a little over midday.

When the time approached again in the evening, he asked the brothers who would watch them at night at their father's grave? They laughed and answered mockingly: "Whoever did the cheap work for two nights, She can also do this the third night. The father rises from his grave not run away, and even less people will come to him steal. If he had still had his wits about him, he would have one No wish of this kind was expressed at all." The youngest brother was very saddened by her unloving speech, and left again with teary eyes of that.

On the father's grave everything was quiet, like the two nights before, only the cricket chirped in the grass and the snipe bleated high sky. In order not to fall asleep, the gravekeeper went quietly Steps up and down. It might be midnight, but the roosters were already there crowed twice, then the mournful voice called again from the grave:

“Whose step is it that’s pouring?
Coarse gravel sand on the eyes,
Black earth on the brows?”

The son understood the question and replied:

"That's your youngest boy,
It's his step that pours the water
Coarse gravel sand on the eyes,
Black earth on the brows.”

The voice asked again why the older brothers hadn't come and received the same answer as yesterday.

But the father's voice rose again: "Every worker has his own wages." worth, I don't want to withhold yours from you. There will be a time soon come where you will experience for yourself that the more the person has, the more desired. But a good son, like his father too If love is shown after death, all wishes must be fulfilled. At first I wanted to divide my hidden treasures among your brothers, now you are my only heir. If you like your splendid clothes and... Horses that I will reward you for the first and second nightly watches promised not to fall any more, then come boldly to my grave and stomp with your left heel three times on the burial mound and say: “Dear Father, I ask for my wages for the _third_ watch of the night!" and Immediately you will have the most magnificent clothes and the the most precious horses. All the world will wake up with admiration look at you, your older brothers will envy you and a big one King will choose you as son-in-law. But tell your brothers none of that.”

At daybreak the gravekeeper went home and thought to himself himself: such a time will probably never come for me, poor man. As he After he had eaten a little breakfast to fortify himself, he stretched on the stove bench, fell asleep and only woke up when the sun was already in stood at the top of the forest.

While he slept, the older brothers said among themselves, “This one Night watchers and day sleepers will never be of any use to us, why do we feed them? him? We would do better to give the food to a pig that we too Be able to slaughter Christmas." The eldest brother added: "Throwing let him out of the house, he can eat his bread in front of strangers' doors beg." But the other guy said that wouldn't go well, and would bring them shame if, as wealthy people, they let the brother go begging. »We would rather give him the crumbs Throw it at our table, he shouldn't get full, but also "Don't die of hunger."

In the meantime the magician had finished melting his mountain of glass and... the king had made it known everywhere that every young man was allowed to come and apply for his daughter, but only to him the maiden would extend her hand to the one on horseback or on her own feet would climb to the top of the glass mountain.

The king now ordered a large banquet to be prepared for all the guests would come together. The feast was to last three days; for every day A hundred oxen and seven hundred pigs were slaughtered, and Five hundred barrels of beer were brewed. The stacked sausages stood out straight away Walls, the yeast bread and cakes formed heaps as high as the largest haystack.

The sleeping king's daughter was in her glass box on the summit of the glass mountain. Strangers streamed in from all sides to try the dare, partly to witness the miracle. The The shining mountain shone like a second sun, so that one could already see it seen many miles away.

Our old acquaintances, the two older brothers, had each other We had festive clothes made and also went to the banquet. The youngest had to stay at home so that he could look pretty in his miserable outfit Don't disgrace brothers. But as soon as the older brothers met set out, the youngest went to his father's grave, did as he did the voice had taught him and said: “Dear father, I ask for my reward for the _first_ watch of the night!« -- In the same one Moments when the request came from his lips, there stood a bronze horse there with a brazen bridle, and on the saddle lay the most beautiful, shining one Armor, complete from head to toe, and everything fit so well, as if it were made on his body.

At noon the bronze man came to the glass mountain on his bronze horse, where hundreds and thousands stood, but not a single one was able to just a few steps up the smooth mountain. The Bronze Horseman pushed his way through the crowd, rode a third of the way up the mountain, when if it were wasted land, then turned back, greeted the king and disappeared again. Some viewers wanted to have noticed that the... The sleeping king's daughter stirred her hand when the bronze man rode up.

That evening both brothers couldn't get enough of the wonderful deed about the man of bronze and his horse of bronze. The youngest brother listened to their speeches in silence, but did not let on that he was had been the man himself.

The next morning the brothers went away again at sunrise to see Not to be missed. The sun was in the southeast, the youngest brother came to his father's grave; he did according to the regulations and said: “Dear father, I ask for my wages for the _second_ night Watch!” At the very moment when the request passed his lips came, a silver horse stood there with a silver bridle and saddle, and on the saddle lay the most magnificent, shining silver armor, complete from head to toe, and everything fit as well as if it were made it on his body.

At noon the silver man came to the glass mountain with his silver horse, where hundreds and thousands stood; but not a single one was able to do so just a few steps up the smooth mountain. The silver one Rider pushed his way through the crowd, riding well over half of it up the glass mountain, which was like waste for his horse's hooves What seemed to be the country turned back, greeted the king and was there immediately disappeared again. Today people had clearly seen that the... sleeping king's daughter when the silver man approaches her head had moved.

The brothers came home that evening and couldn't get enough Boasting of the silver man and his silver horse wonderful deed, but ultimately thought that no one really could do it be human, but everything is just a magical illusion. The youngest Brother listened quietly to their speeches, but didn't notice anything, that he himself had been the man.

The next morning both older brothers were back at daybreak gone. Even more people had gathered that day because Today the seven years and seven days were over, after which the The king's daughter should wake up from her long sleep. The sun was standing was already quite high when the youngest brother went to his father's grave. He did according to the rule and said: “Dear father, I ask for mine Reward for the _third_ night watch." At the same moment where When this request came from his lips, a golden horse stood there with him golden bridle and saddle, and on the saddle lay the most beautiful golden one Armor, complete from head to toe, and everything fit so well, as if it were made on his body.

At noon the golden man came with his golden horse to the glass mountain, where Hundreds and thousands stood, but not a single one was able to do so just a few steps up the smooth mountain. Neither the bronze one Riders and the silver ones had left traces on the mountain remained smooth as before. The golden rider pushed his way through the Crowd, rode up the mountain to the summit, and the mountain shone for them His horse's hooves seem like wasted land. As he above arrived, the lid of the box popped open by itself The sleeping king's daughter rose and pulled out a golden ring from her finger and gave it to the golden rider. But this one raised it The maiden mounted his golden horse and rode her slowly down the mountain. Then he placed her in the king's arms, greeted him gracefully and was in the disappeared the next moment, as if it had sunk into the earth.

You can easily imagine the king's joy. The next day had he, according to the wise man's advice, let it be known everywhere, that the one who would bring back the princess's golden ring would be his should become a son-in-law. Most of the guests were at night stayed behind to see how things would go. Also ours old friends, the older brothers, were among them and had them Excellent hospitality. But her astonishment was not small when They saw a poorly dressed man in which they would soon have theirs recognized his spurned brother, approached the king. This beggar actually wore the king's daughter's ring on his hand. Then repented the king confirmed his promise, because he could not have foreseen something like that.

But the magician said to the king: “The youth you have If you think you're a beggar because of a bad move, you're the son of one powerful king whose land is far away. He was three days after his birth from an evil wife of Rõugutaja with one farmer's son swapped; However, he died in the first month, while the stolen king's son grew up in a farmer's hut and was always obedient to his supposed father.”

The king was satisfied by this information and let one threw a big wedding feast that lasted four weeks. Later He bequeathed all his wealth to his son-in-law. As soon as this one After only taking off his peasant clothes, he no longer behaved at all simple, but according to his status and as a wise gentleman. His He wasn't born simple, but the evil woman gave it to him attached. On Sundays he appeared to the people in his gold armor his golden horse. His supposed brothers were filled with envy and anger died.