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all the vast underworld the mountain Gnome Rubezahl was lord; and
busy enough the care of his dominions kept him. There were the endless
treasure chambers to be gone through, and the hosts of gnomes to be
kept to their tasks. Some built strong barriers to hold back the fiery
rivers in the earth's heart, and some had scalding vapours to change
dull stones to precious metal, or were hard at work filling every
cranny of the rocks with diamonds and rubies; for Rubezahl loved all
pretty things. Sometimes the fancy would take him to leave those gloomy
regions, and come out upon the green earth for a while, and bask in
the sunshine and hear the birds sing. And as gnomes live many hundreds
of years he saw strange things. For, the first time he came up, the
great hills were covered with thick forests, in which wild animals
roamed, and Rubezahl watched the fierce fights between bear and bison,
or chased the grey wolves, or amused himself |
by rolling great rocks down
into the desolate valleys, to hear the thunder of their fall echoing
among the hills. But the next time he ventured above ground, what
was his surprise to find everything changed! The dark woods were
hewn down, and in their lace appeared blossoming orchards surrounding
cosy-king thatched cottages; from every chimney the blue smoke curled
peacefully into the air, sheep and oxen fed in the flowery meadows,
while from the shade of the hedges came the music of the shepherd's
pipe. The strangeness and pleasantness of the sight so delighted
the gnome that he never thought of resenting the intrusion of these
unexpected guests, who, without saying "by your leave"
or "with your leave," had made themselves so very much
at home upon his hills; nor did he wish to interfere with
their doings, but left them in quiet possession
of their; homes, as a good householder
leaves in peace the swallows who have built their nests under his
eaves.
1
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He
was indeed greatly minded to make friends with this. being called
"man," so, taking the form of an old field labourer, he
entered the service of a farmer. Under his care all the crops flourished
exceedingly, but the master proved to be wasteful and ungrateful,
and Rubezahl soon left him, and went to be shepherd to his next neighbour.
He tended the flock so diligently, and knew so well where to lead
the sheep to the sweetest pastures, and where among the hills to look
for any who strayed away, that they too prospered under his care,
and not one was lost or torn by wolves; but this new master was a
hard man and begrudged him his well-earned wages. So he ran away and
went to serve the judge. Here he upheld the law with might and main,
and was a terror to thieves and evildoers; but the judge was a bad
man, who took bribes; and despised the law. Rubezahl would not be
the tool of an unjust man, and so he told his master, who thereupon
ordered him to be thrown into prison. Of course
that did not |
trouble
the gnome at all, he simply got out through the keyhole, and went
away down to his underground palace, very much disappointed by his
firs experience of mankind. But, as time went on, he forgo the disagreeable
things that had happened to him and thought he would take another
look at the upper world.
So he stole into the valley,
keeping himself carefully hidden in copse or hedgerow, and very soon
met wit an adventure; for, peeping through a screen of leave he saw
before him a green lawn where stood a charming maiden, fresh as the
spring, and beautiful to look upon.
Around her upon the grass
lay her young companions, as if they had thrown themselves down
to rest after some merry game. Beyond them flowed a little brook,
into which a waterfall leapt from a high rock,
filling the air with its pleasant sound, and
2
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making a coolness even in the sultry
noontide. The sight of the maiden so pleased the gnome that, for
the first time, he wished himself a mortal; and, longing for a better
view of the gay company, he changed himself into a raven and perched
upon an oaktree which overhung the brook. But he soon found that
this was not at all a good plan. He could only see with a raven's
eyes, and feel as a raven feels; and a nest of field-mice at the
foot of the tree interested him far more than the sport of the maidens.
When he understood this he flew down again in a great hurry into
the thicket, and took the form of a handsome young man-that was
the best way-and he fell in love with the girl then and there. The
fair maiden was the daughter of the king of the country, and she
often wandered in the forest with her play fellows gathering the
wild flowers and fruits,
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till
the midday heat drove the merry band to the shady lawn by the brook
to rest, or to bathe in the cool waters. On this particular morning
the fancy took them to wander off again into the wood. This was Master
Rubezahl's opportunity. Stepping out of his hiding-place he stood
in the midst of the little lawn, weaving his magic spells, till slowly
all about him changed, and when the maidens returned at noon to their
favourite resting-place they stood lost in amazement, and almost fancied
that they must be dreaming. The red rocks had become white marble
and alabaster; the stream that murmured and struggled before in its
rocky bed, flowed in silence now in its smooth channel, from which
a clear fountain leapt, to fall again in showers of diamond drops,
now on this side now on that, as the wandering breeze scattered it.
3 |
Daisies
and forget-me-nots fringed its brink, while tall hedges of roses and
jasmine ringed it round, making the sweetest and daintiest bower imaginable.
To the right and left of the waterfall opened out a wonderful grotto,
its walls and arches glittering with many-coloured,: rock-crystals,
while in every niche were spread out strange fruits and sweetmeats,
the very sight of which made the princess long to taste them. She
hesitated a while, however, scarcely able to believe her eyes, and
not knowing'; if she should enter the enchanted spot or fly from it.
But at length curiosity prevailed, and she and her companions' explored
to their heart's content, and tasted and examined everything, running
hither and thither, in high glee, and calling merrily to each other. |
At last,
when they were quite weary, the princess cried'' out suddenly that
nothing would content her but to bathe in the marble pool, which certainly
did look very inviting; and they all went gaily to this new amusement.
The princess was ready first, but scarcely had she slipped over' the
rim of the pool when down-down-down she sank,; and vanished in its
depths before her frightened playmates could seize her by so much
as a lock of her floating, golden hair.
Loudly did they weep and
wail, running about the brink of the pool, which looked so shallow
and so clear;' but which had swallowed up their princess before their
eyes. They even sprang into the water and tried to dive after her,
but in vain; they only floated like corks in the enchanted pool, and
could not keep under water for a second.
4 |
They saw at last that there was nothing
for it but to carry to the king the sad tidings of his beloved daughter's
disappearance. And what great weeping and lamentation there was
in the palace when the dreadful news was told! The king tore his
robes, dashed his golden crown from his head, and hid his face in
his purple mantle for grief and anguish at the loss of the princess.
After the firs; outburst of wailing, however, he took heart and
hurried off to see for himself the scene of this strange adventure
thinking, as people will in sorrow, that there might be some mistake
after all. But when he reached the spot, behold, all was changed
again! The glittering grotto described to him by the maidens had
completely
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vanished,
and so had the marble bath, the bower of jasmine; instead, all was
a tangle of flowers, as it had been of old. The king was so much perplexed
that he threatened the princess's playfellows with all sorts of punishments
if they would not confess something about her disappearance; but as
they only repeated the same story he presently put down the whole
affair to the work of some sprite or goblin, and tried to console
himself for his loss by ordering a grand hunt; for kings cannot bear
to be troubled about anything long.
Meanwhile the princess
was not at all unhappy in the palace of her elfish lover.
5 |
When
the water-nymphs, who were hiding in readiness, had caught her and
dragged her out of the sight of her terrified maidens, she herself
had not had time to be frightened. They swam with her quickly by strange
underground ways to a palace so splendid that her father's seemed
but a poor cottage in comparison with it, and when she recovered from
her astonishment she found herself seated upon a couch, wrapped in
a wonderful robe of satin fastened with a silken girdle, while beside
her knelt a young man who whispered the sweetest speeches imaginable
in her ear. The gnome, for he it was, told her all about himself and
his great underground kingdom, and presently
led her through the |
many rooms and halls of the palace, and
showed her the rare and wonderful things displayed in them till
she was fairly dazzled at the sight of so much splendour. On three
sides of the castle lay a lovely garden with masses of gay, sweet
flowers, and velvet lawns all cool and shady, which pleased the
eye of the princess. The fruit trees were hung with golden and rosy
apples, and nightingales sang in every bush, as the gnome and the
princess wandered in the leafy alleys, sometimes gazing at the moon,
sometimes pausing to gather the rarest flowers for her adornment.
And all the time he was thinking to himself that never, during the
hundreds of years he had lived, had
he seen so charming
6
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a maiden. But the princess felt no such
happiness; in " spite of all the magic delights around her
she was sad, though she tried to seem content for fear of displeasing
the gnome. However, he soon perceived her melancholy, and in a thousand
ways strove to dispel the cloud, but in vain. At last he said to
himself: `Men are sociable creatures, like bees or ants. Doubtless
this lovely mortal is pining for company. Who is there I can find
for- her to talk to?'
Thereupon he hastened
into the nearest field and dug; up a dozen or so of different roots-carrots,
turnips, and radishes-and laying them carefully in an elegant basket:`
brought them to the princess, who sat pensive in the shade' of the
rose-bower.
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`Loveliest daughter of
earth,' said the gnome; 'banish all sorrow; no more shall you be
lonely in my; dwelling. In this basket is all you need to make this:
spot delightful to you. Take this little many-coloured.: wand, and
with a touch give to each root the form you desire to see.'
With this he left her,
and the princess, without an instant's delay, opened the basket,
and touching a turnip;,` cried eagerly: `Brunhilda, my dear Brunhilda!
come; to me quickly!' And sure enough there was Brunhilda,,` joyfully
hugging and kissing her beloved princess, and' chattering as gaily
as in the old days.
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This
sudden appearance was so delightful that the' princess could hardly
believe her own eyes, and was quit beside herself with the joy of
having her dear playfellow with her - once more. Hand in hand they
wandered about the enchanted garden, and gathered the golden `apples
from the trees, and when they were tired of this amusement the princess
led her friend through all the wonderful rooms of the palace, until
at last they came to the one in which were kept all the marvellous
dresses and ornaments the gnome had given to his hoped-for bride.
There they found so much to amuse them that the hours passed like
minutes. Veils, girdles, and necklaces were
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tried on and admired, the imitation Brunhilda
knew so well how to behave herself, and showed so much taste that
nobody would ever have suspected that she was nothing but a turnip
after all. The gnome, who had secretly been keeping an eye upon
them, was very pleased with himself for having so well understood
the heart of a woman; and the princess seemed to him even more charming
than before. She did not forget to touch the rest of the roots with
her magic wand, and soon had all her maidens about her, and even,
as she had two tiny radishes to spare, her favourite cat, and her
little dog whose name was Beni.
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And now all went cheerfully in the castle.
The princess gave to each of the maidens her task, and never was
mistress better served. For a whole week she enjoyed the delight
of her pleasant company undisturbed. They all sang, they danced,
they played from morning to night; only the princess noticed that
day by day the fresh young faces of her maidens grew pale and wan,
and the mirror in the great marble hall showed her that she alone
still kept her rosy bloom, while Brunhilda and the rest faded visibly.
They assured her that all was well with them; but, nevertheless,
they continued to waste away, and day by day it became harder to
them to take part in the games of the princess, till
at last, one fine
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morning,
when the princess started from bed and hastened out to join her gay
playfellows, she shuddered and started back at the sight of a group
of shrivelled crones, with bent backs and trembling limbs, who supported
their tottering steps with staves and crutches, and coughed dismally.
A little nearer to the hearth lay the once frolicsome Beni, with all
four feet stretched stiffly out, while the sleek cat seemed too weak
to raise his head from his velvet cushion.
The horrified princess
fled to the door to escape from the sight of this mournful company,
and called loudly for the gnome, who appeared at once, humbly anxious
to do her bidding.
9 |
`Malicious
Sprite,' she cried, `why do you begrudge me'. my playmates-the greatest
delight of my lonely hours? Isn't this solitary life in such a desert
bad enough with-,,' out your turning the castle into a hospital for
the aged?:, Give my maidens back their youth and health this very;
minute, or I will never love you!'
`Sweetest and fairest of
damsels,' cried the gnome, `do not be angry; everything that is in
my power I will do-but do not ask the impossible. So long as the sap;,
was fresh in the roots the magic staff could keep them in the forms
you desired, but as the sap dried up the `withered away. But never
trouble yourself about that,; dearest one, a basket of fresh turnips
will soon set matter right, and you can speedily call up again every
form you wish to see. The great green patch in the garden wild provide
you with a more lively company.' |
So saying
the gnome took himself off. And the princess' with her magic wand
touched the wrinkled old women and left them the withered roots they
really were, to be thrown upon the rubbish heap; and with light fee
skipped off across to the meadow to take possession of the freshly
filled basket. But to her surprise she could no find it anywhere.
Up and down the garden she searched spying into every corner, but
not a sign of it was to be found. By the trellis of grape vines she
met the gnome who was so much embarrassed at the sight of her them,
she became aware of his confusion while he was quite a long way off.
`You are trying to tease
me,' she cried, as soon as she saw him. `Where have you hidden the
basket? I have been looking for it at least an hour.'
10 |
| `Dear
queen of my heart,' answered he, `I pray you to forgive my carelessness.
I promised more than I could perform. I have sought all over the land
for the roots you desire; but they are gathered in, and lie drying
in musty cellars, and the fields are bare and desolate, for below
in the valley winter reigns, only here in your presence spring is
held fast, and wherever your foot is set the gay flowers bloom. Have
patience for a little, and then without fail you shall have your puppets
to play with.'
Almost before the gnome
had finished, the disappointed princess turned away, and marched off
to her own apartments, without deigning to answer him.
The gnome, however, set
off above ground as speedily as possible, and disguising himself |
as a farmer,
bought an ass in the nearest market-town, and brought it back loaded
with sacks of turnip, carrot, and radish seed. With this he sowed
a great field, and sent a vast army of his goblins to watch and tend
it, and to bring up the fiery rivers from the heart of the earth near
enough to warm and encourage the sprouting seeds. Thus fostered they
grew and flourished marvellously, and promised a goodly crop.
The princess wandered about
the field day by day, no other plants or fruits in all her wonderful
garden pleased her as much as these roots; but still her eyes were
full of discontent. And, best of all, she loved to while away the
hours in a shady fir-wood, seated upon the bank of a little stream,
into which she would cast the flowers she had gathered and watch them
float away.
11 |
The
gnome tried hard by every means in his power to please the princess
and win her love, but little did he guess the real reason of his lack
of success. He imagined that she was too young and inexperienced to
care for him; but that was a mistake, for the truth was that another
image already filled her heart. The young Prince Ratibor, whose lands
joined her father's, had won the heart of the princess; and the lovers
had been looking forward to the coming of their wedding-day when the
bride's mysterious disappearance took place. The sad news drove Ratibor
distracted, and as the days went on, and nothing could be heard of
the princess, he forsook his castle and the society of men, and spent
his days in the wild forests, roaming about and crying her name aloud
to the trees and rocks. Meanwhile, the maiden, in her gorgeous prison,
sighed in secret over her grief, not wishing to arouse the gnome's
suspicions. In her own mind she was wondering if by any means she
might escape from her captivity, and at last she hit upon a plan. |
By this
time spring once more reigned in the valley, and the gnome sent the
fires back to their places in the deeps of the earth, for the roots
which they had kept warm through all the cruel winter had now come
to their full size. Day by day the princess pulled up some of them,
and made experiments with them, conjuring up now this longed-for person,
and now that, just for the pleasure of seeing them as they appeared;
but she really had another purpose in view.
One day she changed a tiny
turnip into a bee, and sent him off to bring her some news of her
lover.
`Fly, dear little bee,
towards the east,', said she, `to my beloved Ratibor, and softly hum
into his ear that I love him only, but that I am a captive in the
gnome's palace under the mountains. Do not forget a single word of
my greeting, and bring me back a message from my beloved.'
12 |
| So
the bee spread his shining wings and flew away to do as he was bidden;
but before he was out of sight a greedy swallow made a snatch at him,
and to the great grief of the princess her messenger was eaten up
then and there.
After that, by the power
of the wonderful wand she summoned a cricket, and taught him this
greeting,
`Hop, little cricket, to
Ratibor, and chirp in his ear that I love him only, but that I am
held captive by the gnome in his palace under the mountains.'
So the cricket hopped off
gaily, determined to do his best to deliver his message; but, alas!
a long-legged stork who was prancing along the same road caught him
in her cruel beak, and before he could say a word he had disappeared
down her throat. |
These two
unlucky ventures did not prevent the princess from trying once more.
This time she changed the
turnip into a magpie.
`Flutter from tree to tree,
chattering bird,' said she, `till you come to. Ratibor, my love. Tell
him that I am a captive, and bid him come with horses and men, the
third day from this, to the hill that rises from the Thorny Valley.'
The magpie listened, hopped
awhile from branch to branch, and then darted away, the princess watching
him anxiously as far as she could see.
Now Prince Ratibor was
still spending his life in wandering about the woods, and not even
the beauty of the spring could soothe his grief.
13 |
One
day, as he sat in the shade of an oak tree, dreaming of his lost princess,
and sometimes crying her name aloud, he seemed to hear another voice
reply to his, and, starting up, he gazed around him, but he could
see no one, and he had just made up his mind that he must be mistaken,
when the same voice called again, and, looking up sharply, he saw
a magpie which hopped to and fro among the twigs. Then Ratibor heard
with surprise that the bird was indeed calling him by name.
`Flutter from tree to
tree, chattering bird,' said she, `till you come to. Ratibor, my
love. Tell him that I am a captive, and bid him come with horses
and men, the third day from this, to the hill that rises from the
Thorny Valley.'
The magpie listened,
hopped awhile from branch to branch, and then darted away, the princess
watching him anxiously as far as she could see.
|
Now Prince
Ratibor was still spending his life in wandering about the woods,
and not even the beauty of the spring could soothe his grief.
One day, as he sat in the
shade of an oak tree, dreaming of his lost princess, and sometimes
crying her name aloud, he seemed to hear another voice reply to his,
and, starting up, he gazed around him, but he could see no one, and
he had just made up his mind that he must be mistaken, when the same
voice called again, and, looking up sharply, he saw a magpie which
hopped to and fro among the twigs. Then Ratibor heard with surprise
that the bird was indeed calling him by name.
`Poor chatterpie,' said
he; `who taught you to say that name, which belongs to an unlucky
mortal who wishes the earth would open and swallow up him and his
memory for ever?'
14 |
Thereupon
he caught up a great stone, and would have hurled it at the magpie,
if it had not at that moment uttered the name of the princess.
This was so unexpected
that the prince's arm fell helplessly to his side at the sound, and
he stood motionless.
But the magpie in the tree,
who, like all the rest of his family, was not happy unless he could
be for ever chattering, began to repeat the message the princess had
taught him; and as soon as he understood it, Prince Ratibor's heart
was filled with joy. All his gloom and misery vanished in a moment,
and he anxiously questioned the; welcome messenger as to the fate
of the princess. |
But the
magpie knew no more than the lesson he had learnt, so he soon fluttered
away; while the prince hurried, back to his castle to gather together
a troop of horsemen, full of courage for whatever might befall.
The princess meanwhile
was craftily pursuing he plan of escape. She left off treating the
gnome with coldness and indifference; indeed, there was a look in
he eyes which encouraged him to hope that she might some day return
his love, and the idea pleased him mightily The next day, as soon
as the sun rose, she made he appearance decked as a bride, in the
wonderful robes an jewels which the fond gnome had prepared for her.
He golden hair was braided and crowned with myrtle blossoms, and her
flowing veil sparkled with gems. I these magnificent garments she
went to meet the gnome upon the great terrace.
15 |
`Loveliest
of maidens,' he stammered, bowing to before her, ° let me gaze
into your dear eyes, and read in them that you will no longer refuse
my love, but will make me the happiest being the sun shines upon.'
So saying he would have
drawn aside her veil; but the princess only held it more closely about
her.
`Your constancy has overcome
me,' she said; `I can no longer oppose your wishes. But believe my
words, an suffer this veil still to hide my blushes and tears.'
`Why tears, beloved one?'
cried the gnome anxiously, every tear of yours falls upon my heart
like a drop of molten gold. Greatly as I desire your love, I do not
ask a sacrifice.'
`Ah!' cried the false princess,
`why do you misunderstand my tears? My heart answers to your tenderness,
and yet I am fearful. A wife cannot always charm, and though you will
never alter, the beauty of mortals is as a flower that fades. How
can I be sure that you will always be as loving and charming as you
are now?' |
`Ask some
proof, sweetheart,' said he. `Put my obedience and my patience to
some test by which you can judge of my unalterable love.'
`Be it so,' answered the
crafty maiden. `Then give me just one proof of your goodness. Go!
count the turnips in yonder meadow. My wedding feast must not lack
guests. They shall provide me with bride-maidens too. But beware lest
you deceive me, and do not miss a single one. That shall be the test
of your truth towards me.'
Unwilling as the gnome
was to lose sight of his beautiful bride for a moment, he obeyed her
commands without delay, and hurried off to begin his task. He skipped
along among the turnips as nimbly as a grasshopper, and had soon counted
them all; but, to be quite certain that he had made no mistake, he
thought he would just run over them again. This time, to his great
annoyance, the number was different; so he reckoned them for the third
time, but now the number was not the same as either of the previous
ones! And this was hardly to be wondered at, as his mind was full
of the princess's pretty looks and words.
16 |
As
for the maiden, no sooner was her deluded lover fairly out of sight
than she began to prepare for flight. She had a fine fresh turnip
hidden close at hand, which she changed into a spirited horse, all
saddled and bridled, and, springing upon its back, she galloped away
over hill and dale 'till she reached the Thorny Valley, and flung
herself into the arms of her beloved Prince Ratibor.
Meanwhile the toiling gnome
went through his task over and over again till his back ached and
his head swam, and he could no longer put two and two together; but
as he felt tolerably certain of the exact number of turnips in the
field, big and little together, he hurried back eager to prove to
his beloved one what a delightful and submissive husband he would
be. He felt very; well satisfied with himself as he crossed the mossy
lawn to the place where he had left her; but, alas, she was no longer
there. |
He searched
every thicket and path, he looked behind every tree, and gazed into
every pond, but without success.
Then he hastened into the
palace and rushed from room to room, peering into every hole and corner
and calling her' by name; but only echo answered in the marble halls
there was neither voice nor footstep.
Then he began to perceive
that something was amiss,; and, throwing off the mortal form that
encumbered him, he flew out of the palace, and soared high into the
air; and saw the fugitive princess in the far distance just as the
swift horse carried her across the boundary of his dominions.
17 |
Furiously
did the enraged gnome fling two great clouds together, and hurl a
thunderbolt after the flying. maiden, splintering the rocky barriers
which had stood a. thousand years. But his fury was vain, the thunderclouds
melted away into a soft mist, and the gnome;; after flying about for
a while in despair, bewailing to the; four winds his unhappy fate,
went sorrowfully back to the palace, and stole once more through every
room, with many sighs and lamentations. He passed through the gardens
which for him had lost their charm, and the sight of the princess's
footprints on the golden sand o the pathway renewed his grief. All
was lonely, empty sorrowful; and the forsaken gnome resolved that
he would have no more dealings with such false creatures he had found
men to be. |
Thereupon
he stamped three times upon the earth, and the magic palace, with
all its treasures, vanished away into the nothingness out of which
he had called it; and the gnome fled once more to the depths of his
underground kingdom.
While all this was happening,
Prince Ratibor was hurrying away with his prize to a place of safety.
With great pomp and triumph he restored the lovely princess to her
father, and was then and there married to her, and took her back with
him to his own castle.
But long after she was
dead, and her children too, the villagers would tell the tale of her
imprisonment underground, as they sat carving wood in the winter nights. |
| [Volksmaerchen
der Deutschen.] (from The
Brown Fairy Book , by Andrew Lang) |