登陆注册
5389200000022

第22章

The goblins arrived just after, but, seeing nobody, waited for a little, then hurried home, leaving the brook and the fish undisturbed. When they were quite out of sight, the brook and the fish returned to their usual shapes and proceeded on their journey.

When the goblins, tired and with empty hands, returned, their master inquired what they had seen, and if nothing strange had befallen them.

'Nothing,' said they; 'the plain was quite empty, save for a brook and a fish swimming in it.'

'Idiots!' roared the master; 'of course it was they!' And dashing open the door of the fifth stall, he told the goblins inside that they must go and drink up the brook, and catch the fish. And the goblins jumped up, and flew like the wind.

The young pair had almost reached the edge of the wood, when the maiden stopped again. 'Something has happened,' said she. 'The ball is moving in my hand,' and looking round she beheld a cloud flying towards them, large and blacker than the first, and striped with red. 'Those are our pursuers,' cried she, and turning the ball three times in her hand she spoke to it thus:

'Listen to me, my ball, my ball.

Be quick and change us both.

Me into a wild rose bush, And him into a rose on my stem.'

And in the twinkling of an eye it was done. Only just in time too, for the goblins were close at hand, and looked round eagerly for the stream and the fish. But neither stream nor fish was to be seen; nothing but a rose bush. So they went sorrowing home, and when they were out of sight the rose bush and rose returned to their proper shapes and walked all the faster for the little rest they had had.

'Well, did you find them?' asked the old man when his goblins came back.

'No,' replied the leader of the goblins, 'we found neither brook nor fish in the desert.'

'And did you find nothing else at all?'

'Oh, nothing but a rose tree on the edge of a wood, with a rose hanging on it.'

'Idiots!' cried he. 'Why, that was they.' And he threw open the door of the seventh stall, where his mightiest goblins were locked in. 'Bring them to me, however you find them, dead or alive!' thundered he, 'for I will have them! Tear up the rose tree and the roots too, and don't leave anything behind, however strange it may be!'

The fugitives were resting in the shade of a wood, and were refreshing themselves with food and drink. Suddenly the maiden looked up. 'Something has happened,' said she. 'The ball has nearly jumped out of my bosom! Some one is certainly following us, and the danger is near, but the trees hide our enemies from us.'

As she spoke she took the ball in her hand, and said:

'Listen to me, my ball, my ball.

Be quick and change me into a breeze, And make my lover into a midge.'

An instant, and the girl was dissolved into thin air, while the prince darted about like a midge. The next moment a crowd of goblins rushed up, and looked about in search of something strange, for neither a rose bush nor anything else was to be seen. But they had hardly turned their backs to go home empty-handed when the prince and the maiden stood on the earth again.

'We must make all the haste we can,' said she, 'before the old man himself comes to seek us, for he will know us under any disguise.'

They ran on till they reached such a dark part of the forest that, if it had not been for the light shed by the ball, they could not have made their way at all. Worn out and breathless, they came at length to a large stone, and here the ball began to move restlessly. The maiden, seeing this, exclaimed:

'Listen to me, my ball, my ball.

Roll the stone quickly to one side, That we may find a door.'

And in a moment the stone had rolled away, and they had passed through the door to the world again.

'Now we are safe,' cried she. 'Here the old wizard has no more power over us, and we can guard ourselves from his spells. But, my friend, we have to part! You will return to your parents, and I must go in search of mine.'

'No! no!' exclaimed the prince. 'I will never part from you.

You must come with me and be my wife. We have gone through many troubles together, and now we will share our joys. The maiden resisted his words for some time, but at last she went with him.

In the forest they met a woodcutter, who told them that in the palace, as well as in all the land, there had been great sorrow over the loss of the prince, and many years had now passed away during which they had found no traces of him. So, by the help of the magic ball, the maiden managed that he should put on the same clothes that he had been wearing at the time he had vanished, so that his father might know him more quickly. She herself stayed behind in a peasant's hut, so that father and son might meet alone.

But the father was no longer there, for the loss of his son had killed him; and on his deathbed he confessed to his people how he had contrived that the old wizard should carry away a peasant's child instead of the prince, wherefore this punishment had fallen upon him.

The prince wept bitterly when he heard this news, for he had loved his father well, and for three days he ate and drank nothing. But on the fourth day he stood in the presence of his people as their new king, and, calling his councillors, he told them all the strange things that had befallen him, and how the maiden had borne him safe through all.

And the councillors cried with one voice, 'Let her be your wife, and our liege lady.'

And that is the end of the story.

[Ehstnische Marchen.]

THE CHILD WHO CAME FROM AN EGG

Once upon a time there lived a queen whose heart was sore because she had no children. She was sad enough when her husband was at home with her, but when he was away she would see nobody, but sat and wept all day long.

Now it happened that a war broke out with the king of a neighbouring country, and the queen was left in the palace alone.

同类推荐
  • 雨航杂录

    雨航杂录

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 佛顶尊胜陀罗尼经

    佛顶尊胜陀罗尼经

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 量知篇

    量知篇

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 对床夜语

    对床夜语

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 北行日录

    北行日录

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
热门推荐
  • 佛说象腋经

    佛说象腋经

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 异界之暗夜箭神

    异界之暗夜箭神

    带着前世魔法师和射手双职业的最高成长值和四系生活职业宗师渊博的知识来到了这个世界,这个世界的规矩杨进很熟悉,就是网游《陨落》又名:神磷,的现实体验版,当然,杨进不可能將这个世界当作真实感100%的网游来玩游戏,这是一个真实的世界,死了就是死了,并不可能因为你信春哥而满血满状态原地复活。
  • 我要我的心情(好看系列)

    我要我的心情(好看系列)

    叙事艺术的时尚化表达,是王钢作品最受儿童读者欢迎的一个重要的因素。王钢小说呈现了今天儿童生活的时尚性的一面,而且用很新鲜的、具有当下气息的语言准确地表现了校园生活和儿童内心。王钢的时尚化表达,是从两个方面进行的:一是用幽默的场景和夸张而富有情感冲击力的语言来展现形象的特征。二是小说里每一个小角色的性格和语言都是很独立性的,作家给每一个孩子都画下了一幅喜剧化的脸谱。值得注意的是,王钢意识到了儿童生活时尚化的一面,将这种时尚化加以艺术的呈现,给予审美的观照,赋予爱的色彩。
  • 王爷难挡:专宠傲娇王妃

    王爷难挡:专宠傲娇王妃

    出任务时遭到组织出卖的颜卿被敌手暗算,死于深山老林之中。再度苏醒的时候,已经穿越到了身为商殷国左丞千金的身体里。痴傻的前任颜卿被四王爷溺死,而苏醒后的后任颜卿誓将震惊整个国度!身为傲娇王妃,王爷要挡请靠边!身为绝世杀手,惊世降临我为尊!【情节虚构,请勿模仿】
  • 总经理把私营公司做精做久的299条真经

    总经理把私营公司做精做久的299条真经

    《总经理把私营公司做精做久的299条真经》通过299个世界长青企业做精做久的经典商战实例,深刻地剖析了总经理把私营公司做精做久所需要具备的个人素养和管理金律,给总经理们提供了最具代表性、最具说服力、最有实战性的299条真经。融深刻的哲理和切实可行的操作方法于一体,细致具体却不教条死板。总经理们可以在畅快淋漓地饱览企业发展经典实例的同时,学会让公司精于竞争的提升之道,掌握令公司久于生存的顽强能力。
  • 废柴重生:妖孽王妃倾天下

    废柴重生:妖孽王妃倾天下

    待那倾城绝色的女子再次睁眼,便是世间风云变换。她将逆转天下!天行第一废柴?众人唾弃?被逐出家门?棋子一枚?通通都给我滚开!变异冰系,紫级天赋,如此惊才何为废柴。另得神秘界镯,练顶级丹药,取至上功法,拿神级武器。重生归来,这一世她要同日月争辉,乱世间风云!某女笑着说道:“不过这位王爷你不是死了吗?”某男:“我放弃上古之躯遁入轮回只为寻你。如今暖香在怀我又怎么舍得死去。但若是为你便是死那又如何!”
  • 机器人侦探阿熏①

    机器人侦探阿熏①

    地铁是现代都市人最便捷的交通工具,发明地铁的人一定想不到那小小的铁皮盒子居然能容纳那么多被挤得变了形的人类。像我这样的地铁一族,早已习惯了在任何狭窄拥挤的环境中处变不惊。一踏出地铁,我便自然地朝左拐弯。距离地铁口五米远的地方,伫立着一座四平米大小的书报亭,两扇朝外敞开的铁皮门上挂满了花花绿绿的杂志。每天早晨在书报亭买一份早报,是我雷打不动的习惯。习惯这种东西很可怕,一旦长年累月地坚持同一个行为,这个行为就会成为你生活中的一部分。
  • 河流带走雨水

    河流带走雨水

    伍阳独自坐在河边,天空没有下雨,但河水仍在涨。他想不明白,河水为什么还在涨,刘芳为什么就不回来了呢。河面上又漂来了一大团的杂物,在伍阳前面的河坝上旋转了一下,然后猛地冲下去,发出巨大的声响,溅起一大片水花,溅到伍阳的脸上,同时闻到一股药剂的味道。上游的选矿厂经常趁着河水上涨时,直接把污水排到河里;天晴时,又停止排放。现在是七月份,太阳还是好好的,有些烈。伍阳离开了河边,往家里走去。伍阳走到自己家那块田埂的旁边停下,仔细看看了这块田。
  • 她是个笨女孩

    她是个笨女孩

    “疏远不一定是讨厌,可能是太喜欢。”任娆觉得这句话太符合她的现况了,于是就发到朋友圈。朋友们的评论都很有趣,但任娆看见一条“清新脱俗”的评论:“原来你喜欢我”。任娆一下子就后悔发这条朋友圈了
  • 曳清时夜寒

    曳清时夜寒

    天帝之女曳寒出生时便被人设下封印,从此灭情绝爱。从小天赋异禀的她,仙龄三万四千余岁时便是这天上地下所有女仙里最早飞升为上神的人,在前风神陨身后不久,她便成了新一任风神。夜神长子莳夜生来性情冷淡,后其父母夜神风神不知被何人暗算,重伤致死。不知谁挑起的风声,外界暗下皆传天忌惮夜神威震六界、功高盖主,派高手追捕并将其夫妇二人秘密格杀,只留下夜神长子继夜神位。后来仙魔大战,夜神莳夜领兵百万奔赴忘川,两年之间大大小小百余战乱无一败绩生擒魔族统帅,令六界闻风丧胆。“曳寒”莳夜清寒的下巴抵在她肩上、。“嗯?”曳寒挑了挑眉应声。“我爱你”(新人新文!!本文男女主1v1?男强女强?放心入坑?前期超甜!请大家多多支持!)(原创?)(更新不稳定,写作纯属爱好,但!!绝不会弃文!不弃文!不弃文!重要的事说三遍~)(好啦!回归正题~曳寒和莳夜都是大佬,有马甲,但本文不注重扒马。)就酱~五百字简介奉上~(原创,抄袭必究)