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Grimms' Fairy Tales
The
Twelve Huntsmen
There was once a King's son who was betrothed
to a maiden whom he loved very much. And when he was sitting
beside her and very happy, news came that his father lay
sick unto death, and desired to see him once again before
his end. Then he said to his beloved, "I must now go
and leave thee, I give thee a ring as a remembrance of me.
When I am King, I will return and fetch thee." So he
rode away, and when he reached his father, the latter was
dangerously ill, and near his death. He said to him, "Dear
son, I wished to see thee once again before my end, promise
me to marry as I wish," and he named a certain King's
daughter who was to be his wife. The son was in such trouble
that he did not think what he was doing, and said, "Yes,
dear father, your will shall be done," and thereupon
the King shut his eyes, and died.
When therefore the son had been proclaimed King, and the
time of mourning was over, he was forced to keep the promise
which he had given his father, and caused the King's daughter
to be asked in marriage, and she was promised to him. His
first betrothed heard of this, and fretted so much about
his faithlessness that she nearly died. Then her father
said to her, "Dearest child, why art thou so sad? Thou
shalt have whatsoever thou wilt." She thought for a
moment and said, "Dear father, I wish for eleven girls
exactly like myself in face, figure, and size." The
father said, "If it be possible, thy desire shall be
fulfilled," and he caused a search to be made in his
whole kingdom, until eleven young maidens were found who
exactly resembled his daughter in face, figure, and size.
When they came to the King's daughter, she had twelve suits
of huntsmen's clothes made, all alike, and the eleven maidens
had to put on the huntsmen's clothes, and she herself put
on the twelfth suit. Thereupon she took leave of her father,
and rode away with them, and rode to the court of her former
betrothed, whom she loved so dearly. Then she inquired if
he required any huntsmen, and if he would take the whole
of them into his service. The King looked at her and did
not know her, but as they were such handsome fellows, he
said, "Yes," and that he would willingly take
them, and now they were the King's twelve huntsmen.
The King, however, had a lion which was a wondrous animal,
for he knew all concealed and secret things. It came to
pass that one evening he said to the King, "Thou thinkest
thou hast twelve huntsmen?" "Yes," said the
King, "they are twelve huntsmen." The lion continued,
"Thou art mistaken, they are twelve girls." The
King said, "That cannot be true! How wilt thou prove
that to me?" "Oh, just let some peas be strewn
in thy ante-chamber," answered the lion, "and
then thou wilt soon see it. Men have a firm step, and when
they walk over the peas none of them stir, but girls trip
and skip, and drag their feet, and the peas roll about."
The King was well pleased with the counsel, and caused the
peas to be strewn.
There was, however, a servant of the King's who favored
the huntsmen, and when he heard that they were going to
be put to this test he went to them and repeated everything,
and said, "The lion wants to make the King believe
that you are girls." Then the King's daughter thanked
him, and said to her maidens, "Put on some strength,
and step firmly on the peas." So next morning when
the King had the twelve huntsmen called before him, and
they came into the ante-chamber where the peas were lying,
they stepped so firmly on them, and had such a strong, sure
walk, that not one of the peas either rolled or stirred.
Then they went away again, and the King said to the lion,
"Thou hast lied to me, they walk just like men."
The lion said, "They have got to know that they were
going to be put to the test, and have assumed some strength.
Just let twelve spinning-wheels be brought into the ante-chamber
some day, and they will go to them and be pleased with them,
and that is what no man would do." The King liked the
advice, and had the spinning-wheels placed in the ante-chamber.
But the servant, who was well disposed to the huntsmen,
went to them, and disclosed the project. Then when they
were alone the King's daughter said to her eleven girls,
"Put some constraint on yourselves, and do not look
round at the spinning-wheels." And next morning when
the King had his twelve huntsmen summoned, they went through
the ante-chamber, and never once looked at the spinning
wheels. Then the King again said to the lion, "Thou
hast deceived me, they are men, for they have not looked
at the spinning-wheels." The lion replied, "They
have learnt that they were going to be put to the test,
and have restrained themselves." The King, however,
would no longer believe the lion.
The twelve huntsmen always followed the King to the chase,
and his liking for them continually increased. Now it came
to pass that once when they were out hunting, news came
that the King's betrothed was approaching. When the true
bride heard that, it hurt her so much that her heart was
almost broken, and she fell fainting to the ground. The
King thought something had happened to his dear huntsman,
ran up to him, wanted to help him, and drew his glove off.
Then he saw the ring which he had given to his first bride,
and when he looked in her face he recognized her. Then his
heart was so touched that he kissed her, and when she opened
her eyes he said, "Thou art mine, and I am thine, and
no one in the world can alter that." He sent a messenger
to the other bride, and entreated her to return to her own
kingdom, for he had a wife already, and a man who had just
found an old dish did not require a new one. Thereupon the
wedding was celebrated, and the lion was again taken into
favour, because, after all, he had told the truth.
From Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm, Household Tales, trans. Margaret
Hunt (London: George Bell, 1884), 1:283-286. |
