Chapter Chapter 38 · THE GOLDEN MERMAID

. THE GOLDEN MERMAID

A powerful king had, among many other treasures, a wonderful tree in his

garden, which bore every year beautiful golden apples. But the King was

never able to enjoy his treasure, for he might watch and guard them as

he liked, as soon as they began to get ripe they were always stolen.

At last, in despair, he sent for his three sons, and said to the two

eldest, ‘Get yourselves ready for a journey. Take gold and silver with

you, and a large retinue of servants, as beseems two noble princes, and

go through the world till you find out who it is that steals my golden

apples, and, if possible, bring the thief to me that I may punish him

as he deserves.’ His sons were delighted at this proposal, for they had

long wished to see something of the world, so they got ready for their

journey with all haste, bade their father farewell, and left the town.

The youngest Prince was much disappointed that he too was not sent out

on his travels; but his father wouldn’t hear of his going, for he had

always been looked upon as the stupid one of the family, and the King

was afraid of something happening to him. But the Prince begged and

implored so long, that at last his father consented to let him go, and

furnished him with gold and silver as he had done his brothers. But

he gave him the most wretched horse in his stable, because the foolish

youth hadn’t asked for a better. So he too set out on his journey to

secure the thief, amid the jeers and laughter of the whole court and

town.

His path led him first through a wood, and he hadn’t gone very far when

he met a lean-looking wolf who stood still as he approached. The Prince

asked him if he were hungry, and when the wolf said he was, he got down

from his horse and said, ‘If you are really as you say and look, you may

take my horse and eat it.’

The wolf didn’t wait to have the offer repeated, but set to work, and

soon made an end of the poor beast. When the Prince saw how different

the wolf looked when he had finished his meal, he said to him, ‘Now, my

friend, since you have eaten up my horse, and I have such a long way to

go, that, with the best will in the world, I couldn’t manage it on foot,

the least you can do for me is to act as my horse and to take me on your

back.’

‘Most certainly,’ said the wolf, and, letting the Prince mount him,

he trotted gaily through the wood. After they had gone a little way

he turned round and asked his rider where he wanted to go to, and the

Prince proceeded to tell him the whole story of the golden apples that

had been stolen out of the King’s garden, and how his other two brothers

had set forth with many followers to find the thief. When he had

finished his story, the wolf, who was in reality no wolf but a mighty

magician, said he thought he could tell him who the thief was, and

could help him to secure him. ‘There lives,’ he said, ‘in a neighbouring

country, a mighty emperor who has a beautiful golden bird in a cage, and

this is the creature who steals the golden apples, but it flies so fast

that it is impossible to catch it at its theft. You must slip into the

Emperor’s palace by night and steal the bird with the cage; but be very

careful not to touch the walls as you go out.’

The following night the Prince stole into the Emperor’s palace, and

found the bird in its cage as the wolf had told him he would. He took

hold of it carefully, but in spite of all his caution he touched the

wall in trying to pass by some sleeping watchmen. They awoke at once,

and, seizing him, beat him and put him into chains. Next day he was led

before the Emperor, who at once condemned him to death and to be thrown

into a dark dungeon till the day of his execution arrived.

The wolf, who, of course, knew by his magic arts all that had happened

to the Prince, turned himself at once into a mighty monarch with a large

train of followers, and proceeded to the Court of the Emperor, where he

was received with every show of honour. The Emperor and he conversed on

many subjects, and, among other things, the stranger asked his host if

he had many slaves. The Emperor told him he had more than he knew what

to do with, and that a new one had been captured that very night for

trying to steal his magic bird, but that as he had already more than

enough to feed and support, he was going to have this last captive

hanged next morning.

‘He must have been a most daring thief,’ said the King, ‘to try and

steal the magic bird, for depend upon it the creature must have been

well guarded. I would really like to see this bold rascal.’ ‘By all

means,’ said the Emperor; and he himself led his guest down to the

dungeon where the unfortunate Prince was kept prisoner. When the Emperor

stepped out of the cell with the King, the latter turned to him and

said, ‘Most mighty Emperor, I have been much disappointed. I had thought

to find a powerful robber, and instead of that I have seen the most

miserable creature I can imagine. Hanging is far too good for him. If I

had to sentence him I should make him perform some very difficult task,

under pain of death. If he did it so much the better for you, and if

he didn’t, matters would just be as they are now and he could still be

hanged.’ ‘Your counsel,’ said the Emperor, ‘is excellent, and, as it

happens, I’ve got the very thing for him to do. My nearest neighbour,

who is also a mighty Emperor, possesses a golden horse which he guards

most carefully. The prisoner shall be told to steal this horse and bring

it to me.’

The Prince was then let out of his dungeon, and told his life would be

spared if he succeeded in bringing the golden horse to the Emperor. He

did not feel very elated at this announcement, for he did not know how

in the world he was to set about the task, and he started on his way

weeping bitterly, and wondering what had made him leave his father’s

house and kingdom. But before he had gone far his friend the wolf stood

before him and said, ‘Dear Prince, why are you so cast down? It is true

you didn’t succeed in catching the bird; but don’t let that discourage

you, for this time you will be all the more careful, and will doubtless

catch the horse.’ With these and like words the wolf comforted the

Prince, and warned him specially not to touch the wall or let the horse

touch it as he led it out, or he would fail in the same way as he had

done with the bird.

After a somewhat lengthy journey the Prince and the wolf came to the

kingdom ruled over by the Emperor who possessed the golden horse. One

evening late they reached the capital, and the wolf advised the Prince

to set to work at once, before their presence in the city had aroused

the watchfulness of the guards. They slipped unnoticed into the

Emperor’s stables and into the very place where there were the most

guards, for there the wolf rightly surmised they would find the horse.

When they came to a certain inner door the wolf told the Prince to

remain outside, while he went in. In a short time he returned and

said, ‘My dear Prince, the horse is most securely watched, but I have

bewitched all the guards, and if you will only be careful not to touch

the wall yourself, or let the horse touch it as you go out, there is no

danger and the game is yours. The Prince, who had made up his mind to be

more than cautious this time, went cheerfully to work. He found all the

guards fast asleep, and, slipping into the horse’s stall, he seized it

by the bridle and led it out; but, unfortunately, before they had got

quite clear of the stables a gadfly stung the horse and caused it to

switch its tail, whereby it touched the wall. In a moment all the

guards awoke, seized the Prince and beat him mercilessly with their

horse-whips, after which they bound him with chains, and flung him into

a dungeon. Next morning they brought him before the Emperor, who treated

him exactly as the King with the golden bird had done, and commanded him

to be beheaded on the following day.

When the wolf-magician saw that the Prince had failed this time too, he

transformed himself again into a mighty king, and proceeded with an even

more gorgeous retinue than the first time to the Court of the Emperor.

He was courteously received and entertained, and once more after dinner

he led the conversation on to the subject of slaves, and in the course

of it again requested to be allowed to see the bold robber who had

dared to break into the Emperor’s stable to steal his most valuable

possession. The Emperor consented, and all happened exactly as it had

done at the court of the Emperor with the golden bird; the prisoner’s

life was to be spared only on condition that within three days he should

obtain possession of the golden mermaid, whom hitherto no mortal had

ever approached.

Very depressed by his dangerous and difficult task, the Prince left his

gloomy prison; but, to his great joy, he met his friend the wolf before

he had gone many miles on his journey. The cunning creature pretended

he knew nothing of what had happened to the Prince, and asked him how

he had fared with the horse. The Prince told him all about his

misadventure, and the condition on which the Emperor had promised to

spare his life. Then the wolf reminded him that he had twice got him out

of prison, and that if he would only trust in him, and do exactly as he

told him, he would certainly succeed in this last undertaking. Thereupon

they bent their steps towards the sea, which stretched out before them,

as far as their eyes could see, all the waves dancing and glittering

in the bright sunshine. ‘Now,’ continued the wolf, ‘I am going to turn

myself into a boat full of the most beautiful silken merchandise, and

you must jump boldly into the boat, and steer with my tail in your hand

right out into the open sea. You will soon come upon the golden mermaid.

Whatever you do, don’t follow her if she calls you, but on the contrary

say to her, “The buyer comes to the seller, not the seller to the

buyer.” After which you must steer towards the land, and she will follow

you, for she won’t be able to resist the beautiful wares you have on

board your ship.’

The Prince promised faithfully to do all he had been told, whereupon the

wolf changed himself into a ship full of most exquisite silks, of every

shade and colour imaginable. The astonished Prince stepped into the

boat, and, holding the wolf’s tail in his hand, he steered boldly out

into the open sea, where the sun was gilding the blue waves with its

golden rays. Soon he saw the golden mermaid swimming near the ship,

beckoning and calling to him to follow her; but, mindful of the wolf’s

warning, he told her in a loud voice that if she wished to buy anything

she must come to him. With these words he turned his magic ship round

and steered back towards the land. The mermaid called out to him to

stand still, but he refused to listen to her and never paused till

he reached the sand of the shore. Here he stopped and waited for the

mermaid, who had swum after him. When she drew near the boat he saw that

she was far more beautiful than any mortal he had ever beheld. She

swam round the ship for some time, and then swung herself gracefully

on board, in order to examine the beautiful silken stuffs more closely.

Then the Prince seized her in his arms, and kissing her tenderly on the

cheeks and lips, he told her she was his for ever; at the same moment

the boat turned into a wolf again, which so terrified the mermaid that

she clung to the Prince for protection.

So the golden mermaid was successfully caught, and she soon felt quite

happy in her new life when she saw she had nothing to fear either from

the Prince or the wolf--she rode on the back of the latter, and the

Prince rode behind her. When they reached the country ruled over by the

Emperor with the golden horse, the Prince jumped down, and, helping the

mermaid to alight, he led her before the Emperor. At the sight of the

beautiful mermaid and of the grim wolf, who stuck close to the Prince

this time, the guards all made respectful obeisance, and soon the three

stood before his Imperial Majesty. When the Emperor heard from the

Prince how he had gained possession of his fair prize, he at once

recognized that he had been helped by some magic art, and on the spot

gave up all claim to the beautiful mermaid. ‘Dear youth,’ he said,

‘forgive me for my shameful conduct to you, and, as a sign that you

pardon me, accept the golden horse as a present. I acknowledge your

power to be greater even than I can understand, for you have succeeded

in gaining possession of the golden mermaid, whom hitherto no mortal has

ever been able to approach.’ Then they all sat down to a huge feast, and

the Prince had to relate his adventures all over again, to the wonder

and astonishment of the whole company.

But the Prince was wearying now to return to his own kingdom, so as soon

as the feast was over he took farewell of the Emperor, and set out on

his homeward way. He lifted the mermaid on to the golden horse, and

swung himself up behind her--and so they rode on merrily, with the wolf

trotting behind, till they came to the country of the Emperor with the

golden bird. The renown of the Prince and his adventure had gone before

him, and the Emperor sat on his throne awaiting the arrival of the

Prince and his companions. When the three rode into the courtyard of the

palace, they were surprised and delighted to find everything festively

illuminated and decorated for their reception. When the Prince and the

golden mermaid, with the wolf behind them, mounted the steps of the

palace, the Emperor came forward to meet them, and led them to the

throne room. At the same moment a servant appeared with the golden bird

in its golden cage, and the Emperor begged the Prince to accept it with

his love, and to forgive him the indignity he had suffered at his hands.

Then the Emperor bent low before the beautiful mermaid, and, offering

her his arm, he led her into dinner, closely followed by the Prince and

her friend the wolf; the latter seating himself at table, not the least

embarrassed that no one had invited him to do so.

As soon as the sumptuous meal was over, the Prince and his mermaid

took leave of the Emperor, and, seating themselves on the golden horse,

continued their homeward journey. On the way the wolf turned to the

Prince and said, ‘Dear friends, I must now bid you farewell, but I leave

you under such happy circumstances that I cannot feel our parting to be

a sad one.’ The Prince was very unhappy when he heard these words, and

begged the wolf to stay with them always; but this the good creature

refused to do, though he thanked the Prince kindly for his invitation,

and called out as he disappeared into the thicket, ‘Should any evil

befall you, dear Prince, at any time, you may rely on my friendship and

gratitude.’ These were the wolf’s parting words, and the Prince could

not restrain his tears when he saw his friend vanishing in the distance;

but one glance at his beloved mermaid soon cheered him up again, and

they continued on their journey merrily.

The news of his son’s adventures had already reached his father’s

Court, and everyone was more than astonished at the success of the once

despised Prince. His elder brothers, who had in vain gone in pursuit

of the thief of the golden apples, were furious over their younger

brother’s good fortune, and plotted and planned how they were to kill

him. They hid themselves in the wood through which the Prince had to

pass on his way to the palace, and there fell on him, and, having beaten

him to death, they carried off the golden horse and the golden bird. But

nothing they could do would persuade the golden mermaid to go with them

or move from the spot, for ever since she had left the sea, she had so

attached herself to her Prince that she asked nothing else than to live

or die with him.

For many weeks the poor mermaid sat and watched over the dead body of

her lover, weeping salt tears over his loss, when suddenly one day their

old friend the wolf appeared and said, ‘Cover the Prince’s body with all

the leaves and flowers you can find in the wood.’ The maiden did as he

told her, and then the wolf breathed over the flowery grave, and, lo and

behold! the Prince lay there sleeping as peacefully as a child. ‘Now you

may wake him if you like,’ said the wolf, and the mermaid bent over him

and gently kissed the wounds his brothers had made on his forehead, and

the Prince awoke, and you may imagine how delighted he was to find his

beautiful mermaid beside him, though he felt a little depressed when

he thought of the loss of the golden bird and the golden horse. After

a time the wolf, who had likewise fallen on the Prince’s neck, advised

them to continue their journey, and once more the Prince and his lovely

bride mounted on the faithful beast’s back.

The King’s joy was great when he embraced his youngest son, for he

had long since despaired of his return. He received the wolf and the

beautiful golden mermaid most cordially too, and the Prince was made

to tell his adventures all over from the beginning. The poor old father

grew very sad when he heard of the shameful conduct of his elder sons,

and had them called before him. They turned as white as death when they

saw their brother, whom they thought they had murdered, standing beside

them alive and well, and so startled were they that when the King asked

them why they had behaved so wickedly to their brother they could think

of no lie, but confessed at once that they had slain the young Prince

in order to obtain possession of the golden horse and the golden bird.

Their father’s wrath knew no bounds, and he ordered them both to be

banished, but he could not do enough to honour his youngest son, and his

marriage with the beautiful mermaid was celebrated with much pomp and

magnificence. When the festivities were over, the wolf bade them all

farewell, and returned once more to his life in the woods, much to the

regret of the old King and the young Prince and his bride.

And so ended the adventures of the Prince with his friend the wolf.

Grimm.