The Pink Fairy Book, part 19 · page 21 2101They stopped the vessel right in front of the palace, and the young man went in and bowed low before the king.102‘O Majesty, I have done your bidding, and now is the ship built that can travel over land and sea.103Give me my reward, and let me have your daughter to wife.’104But the king said to himself, ‘What! am I to wed my daughter to a man of whom I know nothing.105Not even whether he be rich or poor--a knight or a beggar.’106And aloud he spake: It is not enough that you have managed to build the ship.107You must find a runner who shall take this letter to the ruler of the Underworld, and bring me the answer back in an hour.’108‘That is not in the bond,’ answered the young man.109‘Well, do as you like,’ replied the king, ‘only you will not get my daughter.’110The young man went out, sorely troubled, to tell his old friend what had happened.111‘Silly boy!’ cried the hermit, ‘Accept his terms at once.112And send off the long-legged man with the letter.113He will take it in no time at all.’114So the youth’s heard leapt for joy, and he returned to the king.115‘Majesty, I accept your terms.116HEre is the messenger who will do what you wish.’117The king had no choice but to give the man the letter, and he strode off, making short work of the distance that lay between the palace and the Underworld.118He soon found the ruler, who looked at the letter, and said to him, ‘Wait a little while i write the answer;’ but the man was soo tired with his quick walk that he went sound asleep and forgot all about his errand.119All this time the youth was anxiously counting the minutes till he could get back, and stood with his eyes fixed on the road down which his messenger must come.120‘What can be keeping him,’ he said to the hermit when the hour was nearly up.121Then the hermit sent for the man who could hit everything he aimed at, and said to him, ‘Just see why the messenger stays so long.’122‘Oh, he is sound asleep in the palace of the Underworld.123However, I can wake him.’124Then he drew his bow, and shot an arrow straight into the man’s knee.125The messenger awoke with such a start, and when he saw that the hour had almost run out he snatched up the answer and rushed back with such speed that the clock had not yet struck when he entered the palace.126Now the young man thought he was sure of his bride, but the king said, “Still you have not done enough.127Before I give you my daughter you must find a man who can drink half the contents of my cellar in one day.’128‘That is not in the bond,’ complained the poor youth.129‘Well, do as you like, only you will not get my daughter.’130The young man went sadly out, and asked the hermit what he was to do.131‘Silly boy!’ said he.132‘Why, tell the man to do it who drinks up everything.’133So they sent for the man and said, ‘Do you think you are able to drink half the royal cellar in one day?’134‘Dear me, yes, and as much more as you want,’ answered he.135‘I am never satisfied.’136The king was not pleased at the young man agreeing so readily, but he had no choice, and ordered the servant to be taken downstairs.137Oh, how he enjoyed himself!138All day long he drank, and drank, and drank, till instead of half the cellar, he had drunk the whole, and there was not a cask but what stood empty.checked by a teacher139And when the king saw this he said to the youth, ‘You have conquered, and I can no longer withhold my daughter.140But, as her dowry, I shall only give so much as one man can carry away.’141‘But,’ answered he, ‘let a man be ever so strong, he cannot carry more than a hundredweight, and what is that for a king’s daughter?’142‘Well, do as you like; I have said my say.143It is your affair--not mine.’1 2← previousThe Pink Fairy Book, part 18next →The Pink Fairy Book, part 20↑ back to The Pink Fairy BookThis page in Markdown → https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg5615/19/page/2/