The King's Daughter Sprouted From The Egg

Once upon a time there lived a king whose wife had no children very distressed, especially when they saw how lower-ranking people were People were much richer than themselves in this respect. Sadder than usual, the queen was always there when the king wasn't there was home; then she almost always sat in the garden under a wide linden tree, bowed his head and his eyes were full of tears. There she sat again one day when the king was away for a few weeks to visit the military force that stood on the border of the empire, to ward off an impending enemy invasion. That was the queen's Heart so anxious, as if an unexpected misfortune were about to happen to her, and her eyes filled with bitter tears. As she the face When she lifted her up, she saw an old little mother walking along on crutches limped, bent down at the spring to drink, and after her Having quenched her thirst, she limped towards the linden tree where the queen was stayed. The mother bowed her head and said: "Don't take it offended, Dear lady, that I dare to appear before you, and do not be afraid of me, because it would easily be possible for me to “I have come to a good hour and bring you happiness.” The Queen looked at her doubtfully and replied: “You yourself seem to me If you don't have an abundance of happiness, what of it can you give to others?" But the old woman didn't let herself be misled, but said: “Under rougher Shell often contains smooth wood and sweet core. Show me your hand, "So that I can find out what will happen to you." The queen stretched held out her hand so that the old woman could read it. Than these the lines and after looking closely at strokes for a while, she let herself heard as follows: "Your heart is now burdened with two worries, one old and one new. The new worry that torments you is about your husband, who is now far from you; --but believe my words, He is healthy and happy and will be back within two weeks bring you happy newspaper. But your old worry, which is in your hand deeper lines are due to the fact that God has not given you any The queen blushed and asked for her hand from the old woman's hand, but the old woman asked: "You still have one If you don't have much patience, we'll sort everything out at once." The Queen asked: "Tell me, mother, who you are, that you came to me from the can express the thoughts of my heart in the palm of my hand?" The old woman replied: "It's not about my name here, and just as little about what power makes the secret desires of your heart known to me; I am happy I only wish that I have the privilege of getting you on the right path, and to lessen the sorrow of your heart. Your body is by magical power closed, so that you cannot bring children into the world until the straps of the closure are loosened, and the natural Condition is restored. I can make this happen, however only if you follow everything I tell you." "Everything will I would be happy to do so, and reward you royally for your effort, if so "You keep your promises," said the queen. -- The old stood in thought for a while and then continued: “Today over the year you shall see that my prophecies come true." With these words She pulled a bundle wrapped in many rags out of her bosom, and as When the rags were removed, there came a small basket made of birch bark to appear; She gave it to the queen and said: “Find it in the basket you a bird's egg; ​​this will hatch in your womb for three months, until a living doll comes out, that of a human child equals. Put the doll in a wool basket and leave it like that grow until it is the size of a newborn child; food or There is no need for a drink, but the basket must always be in a warm place stand. Nine months after the birth of the doll, you will have a son give birth. On the same day the doll also became the same size of a newborn child, then take it out and lay it down next to the newborn son in bed and let the king know that God has given you twins, a son and a daughter. The Your son will suckle at your breast, but you must have a wet nurse for your daughter take. On the day both children are brought to be baptized, pray me to represent the daughter's sponsorship. Here's what you do: Open At the bottom of the basket you will find a bat mop under the wool, Blow it out the window and I'll get it straight away Message and come to stand with your little daughter, godfather. From that, You are not allowed to say anything to anyone about what has happened to you now.” Before that the queen could say a word in reply, the limping old woman hurried away, and after she had taken ten steps there was no sign of an old woman Trace more, but instead a young woman walked upright Her posture changed so quickly that she seemed to be flying rather than walking. The But the queen could not yet recover from her astonishment, and I would have thought everything was a dream if it wasn't for the basket her hand would have testified that the thing had really happened. She Her heart suddenly felt wonderfully relieved. She entered her Made room, wrapped the basket in which a small egg was wrapped in fine wool lay in silk cloths and put them in her bosom, like the mother had prescribed. She also vowed to fulfill everything else and keep the secret.

Just as the last day of the second week after the old woman's visit came to an end, the king returned and called to the woman from a distance the good news: “My army has achieved a complete victory carried and sent the enemy home with bloody heads, so that ours Subjects will have peace for the time being." That was the first The prophecy of the ancients came to pass in full and was thereby strengthened There is hope in the queen's heart that the others will too Prophecies would come true. She took care of the basket the egg in her bosom like a jewel, and left a golden box in which she put the basket, so that it doesn't rot would be damaged. After three months, the egg hatched into a live one Doll half the length of a finger, which is placed in the mouth according to the regulations Wool basket was placed to grow. The second one was like that too The prophecy had come true, and the queen was now waiting with excitement Time when her heart should taste the joys of motherhood for the first time. And in In fact, after a year she gave birth to a son like this old mother had predicted. Then she took the girl out of it wool box, put it in the cradle next to his son and left it to the king say that she gave birth to twins, a son and a daughter. The The joy of the king and his subjects knew no bounds. -- All firmly believed that the queen had given birth to twins. On the day the children were to be baptized, the queen opened the door a little the window and let the bat fly to the to get the baptismal mother for the daughter because she was convinced that she was Godmother would be there at the right time. As those invited When the baptismal guests were all together, a magnificent carriage drove along six yolk-colored steeds, and a young one stepped out of the carriage Woman in rose-red, gold-embroidered silk robes that have a shine that rivaled the radiance of the sun; the face she had covered her with a fine veil. As she entered she took the veil off, and everyone had to confess in amazement that she was in her They had never seen a more beautiful maiden in their lives. The beautiful maiden took the little daughter in her arms and carried her to the baptism, in which The name _Dotterine_ was given to the child, which, of course, no one did was understandable than the queen, since the child looked like a baby bird was born from an egg yolk. The son's baptismal father was a noble one Lord, and the little boy was named _Willem_. After baptism has been completed the baptismal mother asked the queen to take the basket with them Give eggshells, put the child in the cradle and secretly said yes Queen: “As long as the little one sleeps in the cradle, the basket must lie next to her so that nothing bad can happen to her, because in that Your happiness rests in the basket. Therefore guard this treasure like the apple of your eye, and also instill in your little daughter, when she begins to understand, that it must pay careful attention to this inconspicuous thing." She then talked a lot with her mother about raising her godfather, kissed them three times, said goodbye, got into the carriage and drove away of that. No one knew where she had come from or where she was going; also When questioned, the queen gave no further information than: it is one I know a king's daughter from a distant land.

The children thrived happily, Willem on mother's milk and yolk at the nurse's breast. She loved the girl as tenderly as if she were It was her biological child, and the queen kept her because of it of weaning as a child caretaker. The little yolk was of days prettier these days, so much so that the older people thought she would one day become like their baptismal mother. The nurse had sometimes noticed that... At night, when everyone was asleep, a strange, beautiful woman appeared to him to look at infant; when she discovered this the queen sharpened her this one not to say anything about the nightly guest to anyone let. When the twins were two years old, the queen became suddenly seriously ill; Doctors came from near and far summoned, but they could not help, because there is no choice for death Herb grown. The queen herself felt that from hour to hour came closer and closer to the grave, and therefore left the caretaker and former Call the yolk nurse. You, as the most faithful of her servants, she handed over the lucky basket with the eggshells and told her to to look carefully at the strange thing. "If mine “Little daughter,” said the queen, “is ten years old, then hand it to her the jewel and admonish them to guard it because it is their happiness future holds. I don't care about my son, him, as the kingdom The king will take the heirs under his care." The guard had to give her then promise under oath to keep the secret from everyone. Then she called the king to her bed and asked him to please Dotterinen's former wet-nurse left her as a nurse and servant, so longer than Dotterine would wish. The king promised; still That same evening his wife gave up the ghost.

After a few years the widowed king married again and brought A young woman comes into the house who doesn't mind her older husband but had only taken it out of ambition. The children of the First wife she couldn't see in her eyes why the king looked at her was raised in a separate place where Dotterinen's former wet nurse motherly cared for her. The children came by chance When she saw her stepmother, she hit them like young dogs Walk away, so that the children fear her like fire. As yolk When she reached the age of ten, her wet nurse gave it to her Godfather's gift and warned her to take good care of it. But since the present seemed so unsightly to the child, it was given not much on it, put it with the rest inherited from her mother Stuff in the box and didn't think about it any further. About that were Went there again for a couple of years, when one day the king came had removed, the stepmother Dotterine in the garden under a linden tree found sitting: like a hawk she rushed at the child and grabbed him ears and hit it so that blood flowed from its mouth and nose. It was crying girl went into her room, and when she didn't find the nurse there, she fell all at once the godfather's gift. She took it out of the box and Now, to distract herself, I wanted to see what was in there. But She found no greater treasure in the basket than a handful of fine ones Sheep's wool and a few empty eggshells. Under the wool on the At the bottom of the basket was a bat. Now when the girl Looking at the worthless things in the open window caused it a draft that blew the bat away. Instantly one stood Strange beautiful woman next to yolks, stroked her head and cheeks and said kindly: “Do not be afraid, dear child, I am yours baptismal mother, and I came here to see you. Yours from crying swollen eyes tell me that you are sad. I know that that The life you lead under the yoke of your stepmother is not is easy, but endure and remain good in all trials, then Better days will one day dawn for you. When you grow up, your stepmother no longer has any power over you, and just as little other bad people can harm you if you don't take your basket let get lost; You shouldn't lose the eggshells either let them come, in due time they will become an oak tree again put together, and then your happiness will blossom. Sew yourself a silk one Bag, put the basket in it and keep it in it day and night Breasts, neither your stepmother nor other people can do anything to you do evil. But if anything happens to you without you If you don't think you can get through my advice, take the bat out of the basket and blow it into the open air; then I will immediately be there to help you. Now come to the garden, we can meet there Continuing to talk under the linden tree without anyone else hearing." Under They sat down on a grassy bench near the linden tree and the baptismal mother knew to shorten the little one's time so well through graceful conversation that she didn't notice how the sun had long since set and the Night fell. Then the baptismal mother said: “Hand me the basket, I want to get some dinner so you don't have an empty stomach "You need to go to sleep." She then spoke secret words about it Baskets on which a table with tasty food comes from the ground rose. They both ate their fill, then the baptismal mother accompanied Dotterinen again to the king's house, and taught her during this journey secret words that she had to whisper to the basket when she wanted something would have to desire. It was strange that from then on her stepmother She no longer gave her stepdaughter a bad word, but was almost always friendly was against her.

After a few years, Dotterine had grown into a mature virgin, and her beauty and shape were so dazzling that one believed it do not give others like them in the world. Then a serious war broke out, which got worse from day to day, until finally the enemy came before them moved to the royal city and surrounded it with military force, so that not a soul was lost could still come in. Hunger began to affect the inhabitants torment, and the king's house was also threatened within a few days to run out of supplies. -- Then one day Dotterine left hers Bat fly, and lo and behold! The baptismal mother was there immediately her. When the king's daughter complained of her distress and misery, said the baptismal mother: “I can probably get you out of this, dear child save the danger, but my help is not enough for the others, they We'll have to see for ourselves how they get through." Then she took yolks by the hand and led them out of the city through the midst of the army Enemies whose eyes she had so blinded that no one could see the refugees could see. The next day the city fell into the hands of the enemy, and the king and all his household were taken captive, his son But Willem escaped happily. The queen had through one killed by an enemy spear. The baptismal mother had for Dotterine She got peasant clothes and changed her face so that no one could see her could recognize. "When better times come again," she said baptismal mother, “and you long to be in front of them in your former form To kick people, then whisper the secret words to the basket and command him to transform you back into your own form; and it will happen like that. Now patiently endure difficult days for a while, until the situation improves." As she left, she warned the girl To pay close attention to the basket and then walked away. Dotterine wandered from one place to another for several days, but there the enemy After the entire area was devastated, she initially found no shelter still on duty. Although the basket provided her with her daily food, she He didn't want to continue living on his own, so he took him with him Enjoy a job as a maid in a farm where she has been working for so long remain imaginary until things turn around. Initially it was unusual rough work yolks very difficult because they are still had never given it away. But it was now that her limbs really hardened so quickly, or that the miracle basket was hers secretly helped - after three days everything was going so smoothly for her she would have grown up there from childhood. Things became old about her Word to shame that says: “You can turn a farmer into one Rule, but don't make a pawn out of a rule." Then it hit remember that one day a noblewoman was driving through the village as Dotterine was scrubbing wooden vessels in the yard. The girl's nimble action and The woman was captivated by her graceful nature; she stopped, called the girl approached and asked: “Don’t you feel like serving the good guys with me?” step?" "Gladly," answered the king's daughter, "if my current one Brotherhood gives me permission." The woman promised to take the matter with me To put things in order for the host, the girl left the seat behind her took the carriage and drove with it to the estate. Here it had yolk easier again, because all their work consisted of cleaning the rooms tidy up and help the woman and the young ladies get dressed be. After half a year the happy news came that the old one King's son, who had happily escaped from the enemies, went abroad gathered an army, with which he restored his kingdom to the enemy and that he himself had now been made king. But the message of joy was at the same time a message of death accompanied: the old king had died in prison. Now there's yolk She wasn't allowed to show her grief to others, so she secretly cried bitterly Tears over her father's death, because someone other than her father could but not the deceased king.

At the end of the year of mourning, the young king announced that he decided to get married. That's why they came from near and far all the maidens of noble birth come to the king's house for a feast invited to choose a young woman from among them could do as her eyes and heart desired. Also the lady's daughters which served Dotterine, and all three of them were young and blooming, prepared for the festival. Dotterine now had a few weeks of tomorrow busy with the lady's cleaning until the evening. In these times She dreamed every night that her baptismal mother came to her bed and said: “First dress up your lady for the party, and then follow along yourself. No one there can be as pretty and as beautiful as you!” The closer the day As the festival approached, Dotterinen's mood became more restless, and When the woman drove away with her daughters, she threw herself along face down on the bed and shed bitter tears. There it was as if you a voice called out: “Pick up your basket and you will become everything find what you need.” Dotterine jumped up and took out the basket the breast, spoke about it the secret words which she had learned, and see the miracle! Immediately there were magnificent gold-worked things Robes on the bed. Then when she washed her face, she received her former appearance again, and when she put on the magnificent clothes and then stepped in front of the mirror, she was shocked by her own Beauty. When she came downstairs she found one in front of the door stately carriage drawn by four yolk-colored horses. She sat himself and drove away with the speed of the wind, so that in less than an hour before the gate of the royal house. Just like her When she wanted to get out, she found to her horror that she was speeding I had forgotten the lucky basket at home while getting dressed. What now begin? She already decided to go back, as a little one Swallow came flying to the carriage window with the basket in its beak. Delighted, Dotterine took the basket out of her beak and put it in her breasts and hopped lightly up the stairs like a squirrel.

In the banquet chamber everything sparkled with the splendor and beauty of the noble Misses had put on their most precious jewelry, each in the Hope that the young king's eye would fall on her. As but Suddenly the door opened and Dotterine entered, and he turned pale Other splendor like that of the stars at the rising of the sun, so that the The king's son only saw this maiden. Some older people who are still remembered what had happened when the king with his The sister who later disappeared was baptized and said to each other: "This maiden may very well be the daughter of that unknown lady, who stood with our old king's daughter's godfather." The king came Dotterins no longer left the side and didn't care about them other guests. At midnight something wonderful happened: the chamber was suddenly as if enveloped in clouds, so that you can neither see the shine of the lights still saw the people. After a little while it developed The fog regained brightness and a woman appeared, unlike any other was, as Dotterinen's baptismal mother. She said to the young king: “This The girl standing next to you is your supposed sister, who was baptized with you, and disappeared on the day where the city fell into the hands of the enemy. But the virgin is not your sister, but the daughter of a king who is far away I released myself from the enchantment and returned to your deceased mother “Then there was a crash that shook the walls and in At the same moment the baptismal mother disappeared without anyone saw where she had gone. The young king left the following day with yolks, which was followed by a magnificent wedding celebration. The King lived happily ever after with his wife, but Nobody ever heard where the lucky basket went. It means, The baptismal mother secretly took it with her when she told her godfather last time seen.