The Princess And The Glass Mountain
:
The Swedish Fairy Book
Once upon a time there was a king who took such a joy in the chase,
that he knew no greater pleasure than hunting wild beasts. Early and
late he camped in the forest with hawk and hound, and good fortune
always followed his hunting. But it chanced one day that he could
rouse no game, although he had tried in every direction since morning.
And then, when evening was coming on, and he was about to ride home,
he saw a dwa
f or wild man running through the forest before him. The
king at once spurred on his horse, rode after the dwarf, seized him
and he was surprised at his strange appearance; for he was small and
ugly, like a troll, and his hair was as stiff as bean-straw. But no
matter what the king said to him, he would return no answer, nor say a
single word one way or another. This angered the king, who was already
out of sorts because of his ill-success at the hunt, and he ordered
his people to seize the wild man and guard him carefully lest he
escape. Then the king rode home.
Now his people said to him: "You should keep the wild man a captive
here at your court, in order that the whole country may talk of what a
mighty huntsman you are. Only you should guard him so that he does not
escape; because he is of a sly and treacherous disposition." When the
king had listened to them he said nothing for a long time. Then he
replied: "I will do as you say, and if the wild man escape, it shall
be no fault of mine. But I vow that whoever lets him go shall die
without mercy, and though he were my own son!"
The following morning, as soon as the king awoke, he remembered his
vow.
He at once sent for wood and beams, and had a small house or cage
built quite close to the castle. The small house was built of great
timbers, and protected by strong locks and bolts, so that none could
break in; and a peephole was left in the middle of the wall through
which food might be thrust.
When everything was completed the king had the wild man led up, placed
in the small house, and he himself took and kept the key. There the
dwarf had to sit a prisoner, day and night, and the people came afoot
and a-horseback to gaze at him. Yet no one ever heard him complain, or
so much as utter a single word.
Thus matters went for some time. Then a war broke out in the land, and
the king had to take the field. At parting he said to the queen: "You
must rule the kingdom now in my stead, and I leave land and people in
your care. But there is one thing you must promise me you will do:
that you will guard the wild man securely so that he does not escape
while I am away." The queen promised to do her best in all respects,
and the king gave her the key to the cage. Thereupon he had his long
galleys, his "sea-wolves," push out from the shore, hoisted sail, and
took his course far, far away to the other country.
The king and queen had only one child, a prince who was still small;
yet great in promise. Now when the king had gone, it chanced one day
that the little fellow was wandering about the royal courtyard, and
came to the wild man's cage. And he began to play with an apple of
gold he had. And while he was playing with it, it happened that
suddenly the apple fell through the window in the wall of the cage.
The wild man at once appeared and threw back the apple. This seemed a
merry game to the little fellow: he threw the apple in again, and the
wild man threw it out again, and thus they played for a long time. Yet
for all the game had been so pleasant, it turned to sorrow in the end:
for the wild man kept the apple of gold, and would not give it back
again. And when all was of no avail, neither threats nor prayers, the
little fellow at last began to weep. Then the wild man said: "Your
father did ill to capture me, and you will never get your apple of
gold again, unless you let me out." The little fellow answered: "And
how can I let you out? Just you give me back my apple again, my apple
of gold!" Then the wild man said: "You must do what I now tell you. Go
up to your mother, the queen, and beg her to comb your hair. Then see
to it that you take the key from her girdle, and come down and unlock
the door. After that you can return the key in the same way, without
any one knowing anything about it."
After the wild man had talked to the boy in this way, he finally did
as he said, went up to his mother, begged her to comb his hair, and
took the key from her girdle. Then he ran down to the cage and opened
the door. And when they parted, the dwarf said: "Here is your apple of
gold, that I promised to give back to you, and I thank you for setting
me free. And another time when you have need of me, I will help you in
turn." And with that he ran off on his own way. But the prince went
back to his mother, and returned the key in the same way he had taken
it.
When they learned at the king's court that the wild man had broken
out, there was great commotion, and the queen sent people over hill
and dale to look for him. But he was gone and he stayed gone. Thus
matters went for a while and the queen grew more and more unhappy; for
she expected her husband to return every day. And when he did reach
shore his first question was whether the wild man had been well
guarded. Then the queen had to confess how matters stood, and told him
how everything had happened. But the king was enraged beyond measure,
and said he would punish the malefactor, no matter who he might be.
And he ordered a great investigation at his court, and every human
being in it had to testify. But no one knew anything. At last the
little prince also had to come forward. And as he stood before the
king he said: "I know that I have deserved my father's anger; yet I
cannot hide the truth; for I let out the wild man." Then the queen
turned white, and the others as well, for there was not one who was
not fond of the prince. At last the king spoke: "Never shall it be
said of me that I was false to my vow, even for the sake of my own
flesh and blood! No, you must die the death you have deserved." And
with that he gave the order to take the prince to the forest and kill
him. And they were to bring back the boy's heart as a sign that his
command had been obeyed.
Now sorrow unheard of reigned among the people, and all pleaded for
the little prince. But the king's word could not be recalled. His
serving-men did not dare disobey, took the boy in their midst, and set
forth. And when they had gone a long way into the forest, they saw a
swine-herd tending his pigs. Then one said to another: "It does not
seem right to me to lay hand on the king's son; let us buy a pig
instead and take its heart, then all will believe it is the heart of
the prince." The other serving-men thought that he spoke wisely, so
they bought a pig from the swine-herd, led it into the wood, butchered
it and took its heart. Then they told the prince to go his way and
never return. They themselves went back to the king's castle, and it
is easy to imagine what grief they caused when they told of the
prince's death.
The king's son did what the serving-men had told him. He kept on
wandering as far as he could, and never had any other food than the
nuts and wild berries that grow in the forest. And when he had
wandered far and long, he came to a mountain upon whose very top stood
a fir-tree. Said he to himself: "After all, I might as well climb the
fir-tree and see whether I can find a path anywhere." No sooner said
than done: he climbed the tree. And as he sat in the very top of its
crown, and looked about on every side, he saw a large and splendid
royal castle rising in the distance, and gleaming in the sun. Then he
grew very happy and at once set forth in that direction. On the way he
met a farm-hand who was ploughing, and begged him to change clothes
with him, which he did. Thus fitted out he at last reached the king's
castle, went in, asked for a place, and was taken on as a herdsman, to
tend the king's cattle. Now he went to the forest early and late, and
in the course of time forgot his grief, grew up, and became so tall
and brave that his equal could not be found.
And now our story turns to the king who was reigning at the splendid
castle. He had been married, and he had an only daughter. She was
lovelier by far than other maidens, and had so kind and cheerful a
disposition that whoever could some day take her to his home might
well consider himself fortunate. Now when the princess had completed
her fifteenth year, a quite unheard of swarm of suitors made their
appearance, as may well be imagined; and for all that she said no to
all of them, they only increased in number. At last the princess said:
"None other shall win me save he who can ride up the high Glass
Mountain in full armor!" The king thought this a good suggestion. He
approved of his daughter's wish, and had proclaimed throughout the
kingdom that none other should have the princess save he who could
ride up the Glass Mountain.
And when the day set by the king had arrived, the princess was led up
the Glass Mountain. There she sat on its highest peak, with a golden
crown on her head, and a golden apple in her hand, and she looked so
immeasurably lovely that there was no one who would not have liked to
risk his life for her. Just below the foot of the hill all the suitors
assembled with splendid horses and glittering armor, that shone like
fire in the sun, and from round about the people flocked together in
great crowds to watch their tilting. And when everything was ready,
the signal was given by horns and trumpets, and then the suitors, one
after another, raced up the mountain with all their might. But the
mountain was high, as slippery as ice, and besides it was steep beyond
all measure. Not one of the suitors rode up more than a little way,
before he tumbled down again, head over heels, and it might well
happen that arms and legs were broken in the process. This made so
great a noise, together with the neighing of the horses, the shouting
of the people, and the clash of arms, that the tumult and the shouting
could be heard far away.
And while all this was going on, the king's son was rambling about
with his oxen, deep in the wood. But when he heard the tumult and the
clashing of arms, he sat down on a stone, leaned his cheek on his
hand, and became lost in thought. For it had occurred to him how
gladly he would have fared forth with the rest. Suddenly he heard
footsteps and when he looked up, the wild man was standing before him.
"Thank you for the last time!" said he, "and why do you sit here so
lonely and full of sorrow?" "Well," said the prince, "I have no choice
but to be sad and joyless. Because of you I am a fugitive from the
land of my father, and now I have not even a horse and armor to ride
up the Glass Mountain and fight for the princess." "Ah," said the wild
man, "if that be all you want, then I can help you! You helped me once
before and now I will help you in turn." Then he took the prince by
the hand, led him deep down into the earth into his cave, and behold,
there hung a suit of armor forged out of the hardest steel, and so
bright that a blue gleam played all around it. Right beside it stood a
splendid steed, saddled and bridled, pawing the earth with his steel
hoofs, and champing his bit till the white foam dropped to the ground.
The wild man said: "Now get quickly into your armor, ride out and try
your luck! In the meantime I will tend your oxen." The prince did not
wait to be told a second time; but put on helmet and armor, buckled on
his spurs, hung his sword at his side, and felt as light in his steel
armor as a bird in the air. Then he leaped into the saddle so that
every clasp and buckle rang, laid his reins on the neck of his steed,
and rode hastily toward the mountain.
The princess's suitors were about to give up the contest, for none of
them had won the prize, though each had done his best. And while they
stood there thinking it over, and saying that perhaps fortune would
favor them another time, they suddenly saw a youth ride out of the
wood straight toward the mountain. He was clad in steel from head to
foot, with helmet on head, sword in belt and shield on arm, and he
sat his horse with such knightly grace that it was a pleasure to look
at him. At once all eyes were turned to the strange knight, and all
asked who he might be; for none had ever seen him before. Yet they had
had but little time to talk and question, for no sooner had he cleared
the wood, than he rose in his stirrups, gave his horse the spurs, and
shot forward like an arrow straight up the Glass Mountain. Yet he did
not ride up all the way; but when he had reached the middle of the
steep ascent, he suddenly flung around his steed and rode down again,
so that the sparks flew from his horse's hoofs. Then he disappeared in
the wood like a bird in flight. One may imagine the excitement which
now seized upon all the people, and there was not one who did not
admire the strange knight. All agreed they had never seen a braver
knight.
Time passed, and the princess's suitors decided to try their luck a
second time. The king's daughter was once more led up the Glass
Mountain, with great pomp and richly gowned, and was seated on its
topmost peak, with the golden crown on her head, and a golden apple in
her hand. At the foot of the hill gathered all the suitors with
handsome horses and splendid armor, and round about stood all the
people to watch the contest. When all was ready the signal was given
by horns and trumpets, and at the same moment the suitors, one after
another, darted up the mountain with all their might. But all took
place as at the first time. The mountain was high, and as slippery as
ice, and besides, it was steep beyond all measure; not one rode up
more than a little way before tumbling down again head over heels.
Meanwhile there was much noise, and the horses neighed, and the people
shouted, and the armor clashed, so that the tumult and the shouting
sounded far into the deep wood.
And while all this was going on, the young prince was tending his
oxen, which was his duty. But when he heard the tumult and the
clashing of arms, he sat down on a stone, leaned his cheek on his
hand, and wept; for he thought of the king's beautiful daughter, and
it occurred to him how much he would like to take part and ride with
the rest. That very moment he heard footsteps and when he looked up,
the wild man was standing before him. "Good-day!" said the wild man,
"and why do you sit here so lonely and full of sorrow?" Thereupon the
prince replied: "I have no choice but to be sad and joyless. Because
of you I am a fugitive from the land of my father, and now I have not
even a horse and armor to ride up the mountain and fight for the
princess!" "Ah," said the wild man, "if that be all you want, then I
can help you! You helped me once before, and now I will help you in
turn." Then he took the prince by the hand, led him deep down in the
earth into his cave, and there on the wall hung a suit of armor
altogether forged of the clearest silver, and so bright that it shone
afar. Right beside it stood a snow-white steed, saddled and bridled,
pawing the earth with his silver hoofs, and champing his bit till the
foam dropped to the ground. The wild man said: "Now get quickly into
your armor, ride out and try your luck! In the meantime I will tend
your oxen." The prince did not wait to be told a second time; but put
on his helmet and armor in all haste, securely buckled on his spurs,
hung his sword at his side, and felt as light in his silver armor as a
bird in the air. Then he leaped into the saddle so that every clasp
and buckle rang, laid his reins on the neck of his steed, and rode
hastily toward the Glass Mountain.
The princess's suitors were about to give over the contest, for none
of them had won the prize, though each had played a man's part. And
while they stood there thinking it over, and saying that perhaps
fortune would favor them the next time, they suddenly saw a youth ride
out of the wood, straight toward the mountain. He was clad in silver
from head to foot, with helmet on head, shield on arm, and sword at
side, and he sat his horse with such knightly grace that a
braver-looking youth had probably never been seen. At once all eyes
were turned toward him, and the people noticed that he was the same
knight who had appeared before. But the prince did not leave them much
time for wonderment; for no sooner had he reached the plain, than he
rose in his stirrups, spurred on his horse, and rode like fire
straight up the steep mountain. Yet he did not ride quite up to the
top; but when he had come to its crest, he greeted the princess with
great courtesy, flung about his steed, and rode down the mountain
again till the sparks flew about his horse's hoofs. Then he
disappeared into the wood as the storm flies. As one may imagine, the
people's excitement was even greater than the first time, and there
was not one who did not admire the strange knight. And all were agreed
that a more splendid steed or a handsomer youth were nowhere to be
found.
Time passed, and the king set a day when his daughter's suitors were
to make a third trial. The princess was now once more led to the Glass
Mountain, and seated herself on its highest peak, with the golden
crown and the golden apple, as she had before. At the foot of the
mountain gathered the whole swarm of suitors, with splendid horses and
polished armor, handsome beyond anything seen thus far, and round
about the people flocked together to watch the contest. When all was
ready the suitors, one after another, darted up the mountain with all
their might. The mountain was as smooth as ice, and besides, it was
steep beyond all measure; so that not one rode up more than a little
way, before tumbling down again, head over heels. This made a great
noise, the horses neighed, the people shouted, and the armor clashed,
till the tumult and the shouting echoed far into the wood.
While this was all taking place the king's son was busy tending his
oxen as usual. And when he once more heard the noise and the clash of
arms, he sat down on a stone, leaned his cheek on his hand, and wept
bitterly. Then he thought of the lovely princess, and would gladly
have ventured his life to win her. That very moment the wild man was
standing before him: "Good-day!" said the wild man, "And why do you
sit here so lonely and full of sorrow?" "I have no choice but to be
sad and joyless," said the prince. "Because of you I am a fugitive
from the land of my father, and now I have not even a sword and armor
to ride up the mountain and fight for the princess!" "Ah," said the
wild man, "if that be all that troubles you I can help you! You helped
me once before, and now I will help you in turn." With that he took
the prince by the hand, led him into his cave deep down under the
earth, and showed him a suit of armor all forged of the purest gold,
and gleaming so brightly that its golden glow shone far and wide.
Beside it stood a magnificent steed, saddled and bridled, pawing the
earth with its golden hoofs, and champing its bit until the foam fell
to the ground. The wild man said: "Now get quickly into your armor,
ride out and try your luck! In the meantime I will tend your oxen."
And to tell the truth, the prince was not lazy; but put on his helmet
and armor, buckled on his golden spurs, hung his sword at his side,
and felt as light in his golden armor as a bird in the air. Then he
leaped into the saddle, so that every clasp and buckle rang, laid his
reins on the neck of his steed, and rode hastily toward the mountain.
The princess's suitors were about to give up the contest; for none of
them had won the prize, though each had done his best. And while they
stood there thinking over what was to be done, they suddenly saw a
youth come riding out of the wood, straight toward the mountain. He
was clad in gold from head to foot, with the golden helmet on his
head, the golden shield on his arm, and the golden sword at his side,
and so knightly was his bearing that a bolder warrior could not have
been met with in all the wide world. At once all eyes were turned
toward him, and one could see that he was the same youth who had
already appeared at different times. But the prince gave them but
little time to question and wonder; for no sooner had he reached the
plain than he gave his horse the spurs, and shot up the steep
mountain like a flash of lightning. When he had reached its highest
peak, he greeted the beautiful princess with great courtesy, kneeled
before her, and received the golden apple from her hand. Then he flung
about his steed, and rode down the Glass Mountain again, so that the
sparks flew about the golden hoofs of his horse, and a long ribbon of
golden light gleamed behind him. At last he disappeared in the wood
like a star. What a commotion now reigned about the mountain! The
people broke forth into cheers that could be heard far away, horns
sounded, trumpets called, horses neighed, arms clashed, and the king
had proclaimed far and near that the unknown golden knight had won the
prize.
Now all that was wanting was some information about the golden knight;
for no one knew him; and all the people expected that he would at once
make his appearance at the castle. But he did not come. This caused
great surprise, and the princess grew pale and ill. But the king was
put out, and the suitors murmured and found fault day by day. And at
length, when they were all at their wits' end, the king had a great
meeting announced at his castle, which every man, high and low, was to
attend; so that the princess might choose among them herself. There
was no one who was not glad to go for the princess's sake, and also
because it was a royal command, and a countless number of people
gathered together. And when they had all assembled, the princess came
out of the castle with great pomp, and followed by her maids, passed
through the entire multitude. But no matter how much she looked about
her on every side, she did not find the one for whom she was looking.
When she reached the last row she saw a man who stood quite hidden by
the crowd. He had a flat cap and a wide gray mantle such as shepherds
wear; but its hood was drawn up so that his face could not be seen. At
once the princess ran up to him, drew down his hood, fell upon his
neck and cried: "Here he is! Here he is!" Then all the people laughed;
for they saw that it was the king's herdsman, and the king himself
called out: "May God console me for the son-in-law who is to be my
portion!" The man, however, was not at all abashed, but replied: "O,
you need not worry about that at all! I am just as much a king's son
as you are a king!"
With that he flung aside his wide mantle. And there were none left to
laugh; for instead of the grey herdsman, there stood a handsome
prince, clad in gold from head to foot, and holding the princess's
golden apple in his hand. And all could see that it was the same
youth who had ridden up the Glass Mountain.
Then they prepared a feast whose like had never before been seen, and
the prince received the king's daughter, and with her half of the
kingdom. Thenceforward they lived happily in their kingdom, and if
they have not died they are living there still. But nothing more was
ever heard of the wild man. And that is the end.
NOTE
Very popular throughout the North is "The Princess on the Glass
Mountain." (Hylten-Cavallius and Stephens, p. 390, somewhat
abridged) who may be looked upon as a relative of the Brunhilde
of heroic legend, who may be brought down from her inaccessible
height only by the bravest of the brave. The "wild man" who
appears in the part of a magician to aid the hero, is a
familiar figure in Northern legend. King Harald Harfagr,
according to the "Book of Flateyar," released a "wild man" of
this kind from captivity at his father's court, when a boy of
five.