🧚 How Six Men Travelled Through the Wide World, part 2 · page 2

The parrot, finding she was not much alarmed, told her who he was, all that her mother had promised him and the help he had already received from a Fairy who had assured him that she would give him means to transport the Princess to her mother’s arms.47

When he found her listening attentively to him, he implored the Princess to allow him to resume his natural shape.48 She did not speak, so he drew a feather from his wing, and she beheld before her a Prince of such surpassing beauty that it was impossible not to hope that she might owe her liberty to so charming a person.49

Meantime the Fairy had prepared a chariot, to which she harnessed two powerful eagles; then placing the cage, with the parrot in it, she charged the bird to conduct it to the window of the Princess’s dressing-room.50 This was done in a few minutes, and the Princess, stepping into the chariot with the Prince, was delighted to find her parrot again.51

As they rose through the air the Princess remarked a figure mounted on an eagle’s back flying in front of the chariot.52 She was rather alarmed, but the Prince reassured her, telling her it was the good Fairy to whom she owed so much, and who was now conducting her in safety to her mother.53

That same morning the King woke suddenly from a troubled sleep.54 He had dreamt that the Princess was being carried off from him, and, transforming himself into an eagle, he flew to the palace.55 When he failed to find her he flew into a terrible rage, and hastened home to consult his books, by which means he discovered that it was his son who had deprived him of this precious treasure.56 Immediately he took the shape of a harpy, and, filled with rage, was determined to devour his son, and even the Princess too, if only he could overtake them.57

He set out at full speed; but he started too late, and was further delayed by a strong wind which the Fairy raised behind the young couple so as to baffle any pursuit.58

You may imagine the rapture with which the Queen received the daughter she had given up for lost, as well as the amiable Prince who had rescued her.59 The Fairy entered with them, and warned the Queen that the Wizard King would shortly arrive, infuriated by his loss, and that nothing could preserve the Prince and Princess from his rage and magic unless they were actually married.60

The Queen hastened to inform the King her husband, and the wedding took place on the spot.61

As the ceremony was completed the Wizard King arrived.62 His despair at being so late bewildered him so entirely that he appeared in his natural form and attempted to sprinkle some black liquid over the bride and bridegroom, which was intended to kill them, but the Fairy stretched out her wand and the liquid dropped on the Magician himself.63 He fell down senseless, and the Princess’s father, deeply offended at the cruel revenge which had been attempted, ordered him to be removed and locked up in prison.64

Now as magicians lose all their power as soon as they are in prison, the King felt himself much embarrassed at being thus at the mercy of those he had so greatly offended.65 The Prince implored and obtained his father’s pardon, and the prison doors were opened.66

No sooner was this done than the Wizard King was seen in the air under the form of some unknown bird, exclaiming as he flew off that he would never forgive either his son or the Fairy the cruel wrong they had done him.67

Everyone entreated the Fairy to settle in the kingdom where she now was, to which she consented.68 She built herself a magnificent palace, to which she transported her books and fairy secrets, and where she enjoyed the sight of the perfect happiness she had helped to bestow on the entire royal family.69

THE NIXY(15)70

(15) From the German.71 Kletke.72

There was once upon a time a miller who was very well off, and had as much money and as many goods as he knew what to do with.73 But sorrow comes in the night, and the miller all of a sudden became so poor that at last he could hardly call the mill in which he sat his own.74 He wandered about all day full of despair and misery, and when he lay down at night he could get no rest, but lay awake all night sunk in sorrowful thoughts.75

One morning he rose up before dawn and went outside, for he thought his heart would be lighter in the open air.76 As he wandered up and down on the banks of the mill-pond he heard a rustling in the water, and when he looked near he saw a white woman rising up from the waves.77

He realised at once that this could be none other than the nixy of the mill-pond, and in his terror he didn’t know if he should fly away or remain where he was.78 While he hesitated the nixy spoke, called him by his name, and asked him why he was so sad.79

When the miller heard how friendly her tone was, he plucked up heart and told her how rich and prosperous he had been all his life up till now, when he didn’t know what he was to do for want and misery.80

Then the nixy spoke comforting words to him, and promised that she would make him richer and more prosperous than he had ever been in his life before, if he would give her in return the youngest thing in his house.81

The miller thought she must mean one of his puppies or kittens, so promised the nixy at once what she asked, and returned to his mill full of hope.82 On the threshold he was greeted by a servant with the news that his wife had just given birth to a boy.83

The poor miller was much horrified by these tidings, and went in to his wife with a heavy heart to tell her and his relations of the fatal bargain he had just struck with the nixy.84 ‘I would gladly give up all the good fortune she promised me,’ he said, ‘if I could only save my child.’85 But no one could think of any advice to give him, beyond taking care that the child never went near the mill-pond.86

So the boy throve and grew big, and in the meantime all prospered with the miller, and in a few years he was richer than he had ever been before.87 But all the same he did not enjoy his good fortune, for he could not forget his compact with the nixy, and he knew that sooner or later she would demand his fulfilment of it.88 But year after year went by, and the boy grew up and became a great hunter, and the lord of the land took him into his service, for he was as smart and bold a hunter as you would wish to see.89 In a short time he married a pretty young wife, and lived with her in great peace and happiness.90