Virgin Swan-White And Virgin Fox-Butt

There was once a wicked woman, who had two daughters, a daughter of her own and a stepdaughter. The own daughter was naughty in appearance and even more naughty to mind-species; but the stepdaughter was fair in appearance and gentle temperament, so that everyone who saw her treated her well. There was resentment over this the stepmother and stepsister, and were always envious of the defenseless the girl.
It happened one day that the young woman was sent by her stepmother to fetch water from the source. As she approached, a small hand was raised over the vattu brow, and a voice was heard saying: "virgin, fager and nice! give me your golden apple, and I will wish you three good wishes.» Then the girl felt sorry for him, who prayed so heartily beautifully, and she then handed the golden apple to the little hand. Then she leaned over down over the spring, and was careful not to cloud the water, while she filled her vessel. When she now returned home, wished The source advised that the friendly girl would become three times more beautiful than she where every time she smiled a gold ring would fall from her mouth, and that red roses would spring up wherever she stepped on the ground. IN at the same moment everything happened as it had been desired; but the girl was called after that day maiden _Swanwhite_, and the rumor of her fairing went far out across the country.
When the wicked stepmother perceived all this, she was greatly resented, and imagined with herself how her own daughter would become just as beautiful as White Swan was. To that end, she carefully explored how everything had obtained, and so sent his daughter to likewise fetch water. When now the wicked girl came to the spring, a small hand was raised above the water's edge, and a voice was heard saying: "virgin, fair and beautiful!" give me your golden apple, and I will wish you three good wishes.» But the maiden's daughter was both wicked and greedy, so that she could never give something as a gift; she then slapped the little hand, cursed Käll-råden, and answered in angry fashion: »don't think you'll get anything golden apple from me.» Then she filled her bucket, clouded the spring water, and went on his way wickedly. Then he who ruled over the spring was angered, and wished her three evil wishes as a reward for her rudeness. He wished that she would become three times as naughty as she already was, that a dead rat would fall out of her mouth every time she laughed, and that fox-butts[1] would grow in her tracks, wherever she trod the ground. And so it happened. From that day on, the mean girl became a spy called maiden _Foxrump_, and there was a great talk among the people, about her strange appearance and nature of mind. But the lady could do badly suffer, that her stepdaughter was more beautiful than her real daughter, and that poor White Swan had to suffer all injustice and reproach after that moment, which can fall on a stepchild.
Maiden White Swan had a brother whom she held very dear, and who loved her back with all my heart. The journeyman had long since moved away home, and now served with a king, far, far away in a foreign land. But the other courtiers were jealous of him for the favor he had won his master, and would gladly bring him down, if they could otherwise get something with him.
The svennen's afundsmen carefully watched everything he might undertake, and so one day went before the king. They said: "Lord, king! we know well that you cannot suffer injustice and injustice from your servants. Therefore have we did not want to hide that the foreign journeyman, who is in your service, every morning and evening bow the knee to an idol.» When the king heard such, he thought it was malice and slander, and put no faith in addition. But the courtiers said that he could see for himself about them had told the truth or not. They then brought the king to the Hungarian friend's chamber, and bade him look through the key-hole. At now the king saw then, he became aware that the journeyman was kneeling before a fair image, and he could not think otherwise than that everything was true like the courtiers had told. The king now became very angry, called the Hungarian friend before himself, and condemned him to death because of his great iniquity. But the journeyman excused himself, and said: "Lord, king! you must not think that I worship some idol; this is my sister's picture, and I pray to God every morning and evening, because he wanted to preserve her she is in the power of a wicked stepmother.» The king was then asked to see the picture, and could not tire of seeing its beauty. He said: »if it is true, as you tell me, that this is your sister, so shall she become my queen, and you yourself shall go and fetch her. But if you have lied, it shall be your punishment to be thrown to the wild beasts in the lion ball.» The king then had a shell fitted to it most magnificent of all ages with crew and precious goods, and sent the journeyman along much pride, to bring his beautiful sister to the royal court.
The Hungarian friend now traveled far across the sea, and finally came home to his country. Here he did his master's business as he was commanded, and then prepared to sail back. Then both his stepmother and stepsister, that they would also be allowed to come on the ship. The journeyman was ill contented with this, and refused their request; but Swan White prayed for them, and so they got their way. When they had now put to sea, and came out on the wandering sea, there arose a fierce storm, so that the sailors thought ships and everything would go down. But the Hungarian friend was wide good courage, and went up high on the robbery, to see if he could not discern country on either side. When he had spied from the mast, he called out White Swan, who was standing on the ship's table: »dear sister! now I see land»; but the wind was so strong that the maiden could not hear his words. Then spurred she her stepmother ate what her brother had said. The fake woman retorted: »well, he says we'll never get on God's green earth, if you don't throw your gold box into the lake." When White Swan heard this, did she did as she was told, and threw her gold casket into the depths of the sea.
After a while the journeyman called out again to his sister, where she was standing on shipboard: »Swan white! it's time for you to adorn yourself as a bride, because we arrive soon»; but the maiden could not hear his words for the fierce one the storm. Then she asked her stepmother what her brother had said. The false woman melted: »well, he says we never find God's green earth, if you don't throw yourself into the sea." This fell White Swan rarely before; but the wicked stepmother ran up, and pushed her away quickly across the table. The young woman was so carried away by the blue waves, and came to Hafsfrun, who rules over all who perish on the lake.
Now when the journeyman went down from robbery and asked if his sister was adorned, told the stepmother, with many false tears, that Swan White had fallen in the lake. Then the Hungarian friend was horrified, and with him all the ship's people, for they knew well what punishment awaited them, that they had been so ill-considered the king's bride. But the false woman came up with another trick; she said that they would adorn her own daughter as a bride, no one could know that White Swan was gone. The journeyman denied this; but the ship's men feared for their lives, and forced him to do as the stepmother had said. Jungfru Foxrump was now decorated in the most magnificent way with red rings and golden belt; but the Hungarian friend was ill at ease, and could not forgetting what misfortune had befallen his true sister.
While all this was going on, the ship ran into the land, whence the king was there to meet with all his court and much rich equipment. It was widened now precious quilts, and the royal bride was carried away from the ship with great honor. But when the king got to see maiden Foxrump, and heard that she would be his bride, he felt uneasy, and became extremely angry. He sounded so throw the Hungarian friend for the animals in the lion ball, but he himself wanted to did not go back on his king's word, but took the naughty maiden to wife, and so she became queen in her sister's place.
Maiden White Swan owned a small dog, which she loved very much. He was called _Snow White_. Since the young man was gone, there was no one like him cared for the faithful animal, but he went up to the royal court, and took refuge in the ladder house, where he lay down in front of the fireplace. In the evening, after everyone had gone to rest, the chef noticed how the door was was opened by itself, and a little fair spirit, who was imprisoned with one chain, jumped into the kitchen. Wherever the little bird trod the ground, originated the most beautiful roses of all ages. But the spirit went to where the dog was lying the fireplace mine, and what:
»Poor little Snow White!
in the past you had to lie on blue silk cushions,
now you can lie in the ashes, the gray one.
My poor brother! he sits in the lion ball.
Tvy be maiden Foxbutt! she sleeps on my master's arm.»
The spirit added: "Poor me!" I'll be here two more nights, then may I never see you again.” Then she stroked the little dog, and the dog befriended her back. But when it has suffered for a while, the door opened by itself, and the little bird went on its way.
The second morning, when it was light, the chef took the beautiful roses which were strewn on wheat wheat, and placed around the casks on which the cages were served the king's table. But the king could not marvel enough at the flowers, but sent for the chef, and asked why he had got such beautiful roses. Then the cook told how everything had happened during the night, and what the spirit had spoke to the little dog. When the king heard this he was astonished at ease, and commanded the cook to send messengers, when the bird next time would appear.
The second night the little spirit went up into the kitchen again, and spoke to his dog as before. Then messengers were sent to the king, and he came there, just then the bird jumped out of the door. But everywhere on in the kitchen-golf were beautiful roses, which spread a lovely smell, so that no one had ever sported their like.
The king now made up his mind that if the bird would once more show itself, it would not escape. He therefore stood guard outside the ladder house. When he had now prayed for a long time, and it suffered midnight, came the little bird as was his custom, hopped up to the dog, where he lay by the hearth, and what:
»Poor little Snow White!
in the past you had to lie on blue silk cushions,
now you can lie in the ashes, the gray one.
My poor brother! he sits in the lion ball.
Tvy be maiden Foxbutt! she sleeps on my master's arm.»
The spirit added: "Poor me!" now I must never see you again.” After that she stroked the little dog, and the dog nuzzled against her again. When now the bird wanted to go on its way, the king ran forward and seized it by the foot. Then the spirit changed its port, and became a naughty dragon; but the king still held fast. She changed again, and became snakes, wolves and other dangerous animals; but the king did not let go. Now Mrs. Hafs jerked hard on his chain; but the king held fast, and the chain broke with great force grumbling and rattling. In the same there stood a friend maiden, far more beautiful than the beautiful qvinno image, and she thanked the king for saving her out of Hafs-frun's violence. Then the king was overjoyed; he took the beautiful one the maiden in his arms, kissed her and said: "You or no one in the world." I want for my queen; and now I see that your brother was innocent.” Then he immediately sent his men to the lion ball, to see if the Hungarian friend was alive; but the journeyman sat completely in the middle among the wild beasts, and they had done him no harm. Then became the king was happy at ease, and rejoiced that everything had turned out so well. But the two siblings told him carefully how the treacherous stepmother acted against them.
When the day was light, the king had a large banquet prepared, and invited the foremost men in their kingdom to come to the royal court. While now all sat at the table and were happy, the king began to tell the story about the two siblings, who were betrayed by their stepmother; but he told everything as it had time, from beginning to end. When the story was lit, the king's men looked at each other, and all thought that it was a tremendous deed. But the king turned to his mother-in-law, and said: »it is höfves that someone pays my saga. I want to know what punishment it deserves, which betrayed so meaningless a life». The fake woman did not notice that her betrayal had been discovered, but answered boldly: "yes, he would be well worth boiling in boiling lead». The king then turned to maiden Foxrump, and said: "I would also like to hear your opinion." What punishment does he deserve, who betrayed such a senseless life?' The Wicked Maiden retorted hastily: »well, he would be well worth boiling in boiling tar». Then when the king was angry, got up from the table, and said: "I have fallen." judge yourselves; that judgment shall J also undergo». He now gave way both women to death, as they themselves had said, and that was it none but White Swan who was begged for mercy for them. Then the king celebrated his wedding with the beautiful maiden, and it seemed to everyone that he did not could see a friendlier queen. But he gave his own sister to the quick one the young friend, and so there was joy over the whole king's court, and there may they live happily and well, yes, even to this day.
[1] A kind of weed (Aker-horseradish: _Equisetum Arvense_).