The Magic Ring From the Yellow Fairy Book, Edited by Andrew Lang

Once upon a time there lived an ‘If you choose to buy him,’ an- old couple who had one son called swered the butchers derisively; ‘but for Martin. Now when the old man’s time such a treasure we won’t take a penny had come, he stretched himself out on less than a hundred florins.’ his bed and died. Though all his life ‘A hundred!’ exclaimed Martin. long he had toiled and moiled, he only ‘Well, so be it, if you will not take left his widow and son two hundred less;’ and, taking the money out of his florins. The old woman determined to pocket, he handed it over in exchange put by the money for a rainy day; but for the dog, whose name was Schurka. alas, the rainy day was close at hand, for When Martin got home, his moth- their meal was all consumed, and who er met him with the question: is prepared to face starvation with two ‘Well, what have you bought?’ hundred florins at their disposal? So the ‘Schurka, the dog,’ replied Martin, old woman counted out a hundred of pointing to his new possession. Where- her florins, and giving them to Martin, upon his mother became very angry, told him to go into the town and lay in and abused him roundly. He ought to a store of meal for a year. be ashamed of himself, when there was So Martin started off for the town. scarcely a handful of meal in the house, When he reached the meat-market he to have spent the money on a useless found the whole place in turmoil, and a great brute like that. noise of angry voices and barking of dogs. Mix- On the following day she sent him back to ing in the crowd, he noticed a stag-hound which the town, saying, ‘Here, take our last hundred the butchers had caught and tied to a post, and florins, and buy provisions with them. I have which was being flogged in a merciless man- just emptied the last grains of meal out of the ner. Overcome with pity, Martin spoke to the chest, and baked a bannock; but it won’t last butchers, saying: over to-morrow.’ ‘Friends, why are you beating the poor dog Just as Martin was entering the town he so cruelly?’ met a rough-looking peasant who was dragging ‘We have every right to beat him,’ they re- a cat after him by a string which was fastened plied; ‘he has just devoured a newly-killed pig.’ round the poor beast’s neck. ‘Leave off beating him,’ said Martin, ‘and ‘Stop,’ cried Martin; ‘where are you drag- sell him to me instead.’ ging that poor cat?’

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Created for Lit2Go on the web at fcit.usf.edu The Magic Ring Edited by Andrew Lang

‘I mean to drown him,’ was the answer. you serve me faithfully for a year, I promise you ‘What harm has the poor beast done?’ said it shall be for your advantage.’ Martin. So Martin consented, and for a year he ‘It has just killed a goose,’ replied the peas- worked diligently, and served his master faith- ant. fully, not sparing himself in any way. When ‘Don’t drown him, sell him to me instead,’ the day of reckoning had come the peasant led begged Martin. him into a barn, and pointing to two full sacks, ‘Not for a hundred florins,’ was the an- said: swer. ‘Take whichever of these you choose.’ ‘Surely for a hundred florins you’ll sell it?’ Martin examined the contents of the sacks, said Martin. ‘See! here is the money;’ and, so and seeing that one was full of silver and the saying, he handed him the hundred florins, other of sand, he said to himself: which the peasant pocketed, and Martin took ‘There must be some trick about this; I had possession of the cat, which was called Waska. better take the sand.’ And throwing the sack When he reached his home his mother greeted over his shoulders he started out into the world, him with the question: in search of fresh work. On and on he walked, ‘Well, what have you brought back?’ and at last he reached a great gloomy wood. In ‘I have brought this cat, Waska,’ answered the middle of the wood he came upon a mead- Martin. ow, where a fire was burning, and in the midst ‘And what besides?’ of the fire, surrounded by flames, was a lovely ‘I had no money over to buy anything else damsel, more beautiful than anything that Mar- with,’ replied Martin. tin had ever seen, and when she saw him she ‘You useless ne’er-do-weel!’ exclaimed his called to him: mother in a great passion. ‘Leave the house at ‘Martin, if you would win happiness, save once, and go and beg your bread among strang- my life. Extinguish the flames with the sand that ers;’ and as Martin did not dare to contradict you earned in payment of your faithful service.’ her, he called Schurka and Waska and started ‘Truly,’ thought Martin to himself, ‘it off with them to the nearest village in search of would be more sensible to save a fellow-being’s work. life with this sand than to drag it about on one’s On the way he met a rich peasant, who back, seeing what a weight it is.’ And forthwith asked him where he was going. ‘I want to get he lowered the sack from his shoulders and emp- work as a day labourer,’ he answered. tied its contents on the flames, and instantly the ‘Come along with me, then. But I must fire was extinguished; but at the same moment tell you I engage my labourers without wages. If lo! and behold the lovely damsel turned into a

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Created for Lit2Go on the web at fcit.usf.edu The Magic Ring Edited by Andrew Lang

Serpent, and, darting upon him, coiled itself ‘My child, I had almost given up the hope round his neck, and whispered lovingly in his of ever seeing you again. Where have you been ear: all these years?’ ‘Do not be afraid of me, Martin; I love you, ‘My father,’ she replied, ‘I owe my life to this and will go with you through the world. But youth, who saved me from a terrible death.’ first you must follow me boldly into my Father’s Upon which the King turned to Martin Kingdom, underneath the earth; and when we with a gracious smile, saying: get there, remember this—he will offer you gold ‘I will reward your courage by granting you and silver, and dazzling gems, but do not touch whatever your heart desires. Take as much gold, them. Ask him, instead, for the ring which he silver, and precious stones as you choose.’ wears on his little finger, for in that ring lies a ‘I thank you, mighty King, for your gra- magic power; you have only to throw it from cious offer,’ answered Martin,’ ‘but I do not one hand to the other, and at once twelve young covet either gold, silver, or precious stones; yet men will appear, who will do your bidding, no if you will grant me a favour, give me, I beg, matter how difficult, in a single night.’ the ring from off the little finger of your royal So they started on their way, and after hand. Every time my eye falls on it I shall think much wandering they reached a spot where a of your gracious Majesty, and when I marry I great rock rose straight up in the middle of the shall present it to my bride.’ So the King took road. Instantly the Serpent uncoiled itself from the ring from his finger and gave it to Martin, his neck, and, as it touched the damp earth, it saying: resumed the shape of the lovely damsel. Point- ‘Take it, good youth; but with it I make ing to the rock, she showed him an opening just one condition— you are never to confide to big enough for a man to wriggle through. Pass- anyone that this is a magic ring. If you do, you ing into it, they entered a long underground will straightway bring misfortune on yourself.’ passage, which led out on to a wide field, above Martin took the ring, and, having thanked which spread a blue sky. In the middle of the the King, he set out on the same road by which field stood a magnificent castle, built out of por- he had come down into the Under-world. When phyry, with a roof of gold and with glittering he had regained the upper air he started for his battlements. And his beautiful guide told him old home, and having found his mother still liv- that this was the palace in which her father lived ing in the old house where he had left her, they and reigned over his kingdom in the Under- settled down together very happily. So unevent- world. Together they entered the palace, and ful was their life that it almost seemed as if it were received by the King with great kindness. would go on in this way always, without let or Turning to his daughter, he said: hindrance. But one day it suddenly came into

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Created for Lit2Go on the web at fcit.usf.edu The Magic Ring Edited by Andrew Lang

his mind that he would like to get married, and, her son’s orders. Upon this some of the courtiers moreover, that he would choose a very grand seized her by the arms, and held her back by wife—a King’s daughter, in short. But as he did sheer force, at which she set up such a yell that not trust himself as a wooer, he determined to the King himself heard it, and stepped out on to send his old mother on the mission. the balcony to see what was the matter. When ‘You must go to the King,’ he said to her, he beheld the old woman flinging her arms ‘and demand the hand of his lovely daughter in wildly about, and heard her scream that she marriage for me.’ would not leave the place till she had laid her ‘What are you thinking of, my son?’ an- case before the King, he ordered that she should swered the old woman, aghast at the idea. ‘Why be brought into his presence. And forthwith she cannot you marry someone in your own rank? was conducted into the golden presence cham- That would be far more fitting than to send a ber, where, leaning back amongst cushions of poor old woman like me a-wooing to the King’s royal purple, the King sat, surrounded by his Court for the hand of a Princess. Why, it is as counsellors and courtiers. Courtesying low, the much as our heads are worth. Neither my life old woman stood silent before him. nor yours would be worth anything if I went on ‘Well, my good old dame, what can I do such a fool’s errand.’ for you?’ asked the King. ‘Never fear, little mother,’ answered Mar- ‘I have come,’ replied Martin’s mother— tin. ‘Trust me; all will be well. But see that you ‘and your Majesty must not be angry with do not come back without an answer of some me—I have come a-wooing.’ kind.’ ‘Is the woman out of her mind?’ said the And so, obedient to her son’s behest, the King, with an angry frown. old woman hobbled off to the palace, and, with- But Martin’s mother answered boldly: out being hindered, reached the courtyard, and ‘If the King will only listen patiently to began to mount the flight of steps leading to me, and give me a straightforward answer, he the royal presence chamber. At the head of the will see that I am not out of my mind. You, O landing rows of courtiers were collected in mag- King, have a lovely daughter to give in marriage. nificent attire, who stared at the queer old fig- I have a son—a wooer—as clever a youth and as ure, and called to her, and explained to her, with good a son-in-law as you will find in your whole every kind of sign, that it was strictly forbidden kingdom. There is nothing that he cannot do. to mount those steps. But their stern words and Now tell me, O King, plump and plain, will forbidding gestures made no impression what- you give your daughter to my son as wife?’ ever on the old woman, and she resolutely con- The King listened to the end of the old tinued to climb the stairs, bent on carrying out woman’s strange request, but every moment his

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Created for Lit2Go on the web at fcit.usf.edu The Magic Ring Edited by Andrew Lang

face grew blacker, and his features sterner; till all tarred and feathered! The son is just as able to at once he thought to himself, ‘Is it worth while grow a beard on the palm of his hand as to that I, the King, should be angry with this poor execute such a task in twenty-four hours.’ old fool?’ And all the courtiers and counsel- Now the poor old woman was mortally lors were amazed when they saw the hard lines afraid and, in a trembling voice she asked: round his mouth and the frown on his brow ‘Is that really your royal will, O King? Must grow smooth, and heard the mild but mock- I take this order to my poor son?’ ing tones in which he answered the old woman, ‘Yes, old dame; such is my command. If saying: your son carries out my order, he shall be re- ‘If your son is as wonderfully clever as warded with my daughter; but if he fails, away you say, and if there is nothing in the world to the tar-barrel and the stake with you both!’ that he cannot do, let him build a magnifi- On her way home the poor old woman cent castle, just opposite my palace windows, shed bitter tears, and when she saw Martin she in four and twenty hours. The palace must be told him what the King had said, and sobbed joined together by a bridge of pure crystal. On out: each side of the bridge there must be grow- ‘Didn’t I tell you, my son, that you should ing trees, having golden and silver apples, and marry someone of your own rank? It would with birds of Paradise among the branches. At have been better for us this day if you had. As I the right of the bridge there must be a church, told you, my going to Court has been as much with five golden cupolas; in this church your as our lives are worth, and now we will both be son shall be wedded to my daughter, and we tarred and feathered, and burnt in the public will keep the wedding festivities in the new market-place. It is terrible!’ and she moaned and castle. But if he fails to execute this my royal cried. command, then, as a just but mild monarch, ‘Never fear, little mother,’ answered Mar- I shall give orders that you and he are taken, tin; ‘trust me, and you will see all will be well. and first dipped in tar and then in feathers, You may go to sleep with a quiet mind.’ and you shall be executed in the market-place And, stepping to the front of the hut, Mar- for the entertainment of my courtiers.’ And a tin threw his ring from the palm of one hand smile played round the King’s lips as he fin- into the other, upon which twelve youths in- ished speaking, and his courtiers and counsel- stantly appeared, and demanded what he want- lors shook with laughter when they thought of ed them to do. Then he told them the King’s the old woman’s folly, and praised the King’s commands, and they answered that by next wise device, and said to each other, ‘What a morning all should be accomplished exactly as joke it will be when we see the pair of them the King had ordered.

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Created for Lit2Go on the web at fcit.usf.edu The Magic Ring Edited by Andrew Lang

Next morning when the King awoke, and his power, and, with flattering, caressing words, looked out of his window, to his amazement he she tried to coax him to tell her how he was so beheld a magnificent castle, just opposite his clever that there was nothing in the world that own palace, and joined to it a bridge of pure he could not do. At first he would tell her noth- crystal. At each side of the bridge trees were ing; but once, when he was in a yielding mood, growing, from whose branches hung golden she approached him with a winning smile on and silver apples, among which birds of Para- her lovely face, and, speaking flattering words dise perched. At the right, gleaming in the to him, she gave him a potion to drink, with a sun, were the five golden cupolas of a splendid sweet, strong taste. And when he had drunk it church, whose bells rang out, as if they would Martin’s lips were unsealed, and he told her that summon people from all corners of the earth to all his power lay in the magic ring that he wore come and behold the wonder. Now, though the on his finger, and he described to her how to use King would much rather have seen his future it, and, still speaking, he fell into a deep sleep. son-in-law tarred, feathered, and burnt at the And when she saw that the potion had worked, stake, he remembered his royal oath, and had and that he was sound asleep, the Princess took to make the best of a bad business. So he took the magic ring from his finger, and, going into heart of grace, and made Martin a Duke, and the courtyard, she threw it from the palm of one gave his daughter a rich dowry, and prepared hand into the other. On the instant the twelve the grandest wedding-feast that had ever been youths appeared, and asked her what she com- seen, so that to this day the old people in the manded them to do. Then she told them that by country still talk of it. the next morning they were to do away with the After the wedding Martin and his royal castle, and the bridge, and the church, and put bride went to dwell in the magnificent new pal- in their stead the humble hut in which Martin ace, and here Martin lived in the greatest comfort used to live with his mother, and that while he and luxury, such luxury as he had never imag- slept her husband was to be carried to his old ined. But though he was as happy as the day was lowly room; and that they were to bear her away long, and as merry as a grig, the King’s daugh- to the utmost ends of the earth, where an old ter fretted all day, thinking of the indignity that King lived who would make her welcome in his had been done her in making her marry Martin, palace, and surround her with the state that be- the poor widow’s son, instead of a rich young fitted a royal Princess. Prince from a foreign country. So unhappy was ‘You shall be obeyed,’ answered the twelve she that she spent all her time wondering how youths at the same moment. And lo and behold, she should get rid of her undesirable husband. the following morning, when the King awoke And first she determined to learn the secret of and looked out of his window he beheld to his

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Created for Lit2Go on the web at fcit.usf.edu The Magic Ring Edited by Andrew Lang

amazement that the palace, bridge, church, and trees had all vanished, and there was nothing in ‘Fresh rolls, sweet cake, their place but a bare, miserable-looking hut. Fancy bread of every kind. Immediately the King sent for his son-in- Come and buy, come and take, law, and commanded him to explain what had Sure you’ll find it to your mind,’ happened. But Martin looked at his royal fa- ther-in-law, and answered never a word. Then At that moment Schurka made a rush be- the King was very angry, and, calling a council tween his legs—the baker stumbled, the tray together, he charged Martin with having been was upset, the rolls fell to the ground, and, guilty of witchcraft, and of having deceived the while the man angrily pursued Schurka, Waska King, and having made away with the Princess; managed to drag the rolls out of sight behind a and he was condemned to imprisonment in a bush. And when a moment later Schurka joined high stone tower, with neither meat nor drink, her, they set off at full tilt to the stone tower till he should die of starvation. Then, in the where Martin was a prisoner, taking the rolls hour of his dire necessity, his old friends Sch- with them. Waska, being very agile, climbed up urka (the dog) and Waska (the cat) remembered by the outside to the grated window, and called how Martin had once saved them from a cruel in an anxious voice: death; and they took counsel together as to how ‘Are you alive, master?’ they should help him. And Schurka growled, ‘Scarcely alive—almost starved to death,’ and was of opinion that he would like to tear answered Martin in a weak voice. ‘I little everyone in pieces; but Waska purred medita- thought it would come to this, that I should die tively, and scratched the back of her ear with of hunger.’ a velvet paw, and remained lost in thought. At ‘Never fear, dear master. Schurka and I will the end of a few minutes she had made up her look after you,’ said Waska. And in another mo- mind, and, turning to Schurka, said: ment she had climbed down and brought him ‘Let us go together into the town, and the back a roll, and then another, and another, till moment we meet a baker you must make a rush she had brought him the whole tray-load. Upon between his legs and upset the tray from off his which she said: head; I will lay hold of the rolls, and will carry ‘Dear master, Schurka and I are going off them off to our master.’ No sooner said than to a distant kingdom at the utmost ends of the done. Together the two faithful creatures trot- earth to fetch you back your magic ring. You ted off into the town, and very soon they met must be careful that the rolls last till our return.’ a baker bearing a tray on his head, and looking And Waska took leave of her beloved master, round on all sides, while he cried: and set off with Schurka on their journey.

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Created for Lit2Go on the web at fcit.usf.edu The Magic Ring Edited by Andrew Lang

On and on they travelled, looking always ber of mice, small and big, brown and grey, as- to right and left for traces of the Princess, fol- sembled, and formed a circle round their king, lowing up every track, making inquiries of ev- who was a prisoner under Waska’s claws. Turn- ery cat and dog they met, listening to the talk ing to them he said: of every wayfarer they passed; and at last they ‘Dear and faithful subjects, who ever among heard that the kingdom at the utmost ends of you will steal the magic ring from the strange the earth where the twelve youths had borne the Princess will release me from a cruel death; and Princess was not very far off. And at last one day I shall honour him above all the other mice in they reached that distant kingdom, and, going the kingdom.’ at once to the palace, they began to make friends Instantly a tiny mouse stepped forward and with all the dogs and cats in the place, and to said: question them about the Princess and the magic ‘I often creep about the Princess’s bedroom ring; but no one could tell them much about at night, and I have noticed that she has a ring either. Now one day it chanced that Waska had which she treasures as the apple of her eye. All gone down to the palace cellar to hunt for mice day she wears it on her finger, and at night she and rats, and seeing an especially fat, well-fed keeps it in her mouth. I will undertake, sire, to mouse, she pounced upon it, buried her claws steal away the ring for you.’ And the tiny mouse in its soft fur, and was just going to gobble it up, tripped away into the bedroom of the Prin- when she was stopped by the pleading tones of cess, and waited for nightfall; then, when the the little creature, saying, ‘If you will only spare Princess had fallen asleep, it crept up on to her my life I may be of great service to you. I will bed, and gnawed a hole in the pillow, through do everything in my power for you; for I am the which it dragged one by one little down feath- King of the Mice, and if I perish the whole race ers, and threw them under the Princess’s nose. will die out.’ And the fluff flew into the Princess’s nose, and ‘So be it,’ said Waska. ‘I will spare your life; into her mouth, and starting up she sneezed and but in return you must do something for me. coughed, and the ring fell out of her mouth on In this castle there lives a Princess, the wicked to the coverlet. In a flash the tiny mouse had wife of my dear master. She has stolen away his seized it, and brought it to Waska as a ransom magic ring. You must get it away from her at for the King of the Mice. whatever cost; do you hear? Till you have done Thereupon Waska and Schurka started off, this I won’t take my claws out of your fur.’ and travelled night and day till they reached the ‘Good!’ replied the mouse; ‘I will do what stone tower where Martin was imprisoned; and you ask.’ And, so saying, he summoned all the the cat climbed up the window, and called out mice in his kingdom together. A countless num- to him:

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Created for Lit2Go on the web at fcit.usf.edu The Magic Ring Edited by Andrew Lang

‘Martin, dear master, are you still alive?’ he remained rooted to the spot. Then the King ‘Ah! Waska, my faithful little cat, is that you?’ sent his chief counsellors, and they too were replied a weak voice. ‘I am dying of hunger. For transfixed with wonder. At last the King came three days I have not tasted food.’ himself, and he likewise was spellbound by the ‘Be of good heart, dear master,’ replied Was- beauty of the music. ka; ‘from this day forth you will know nothing Then Martin summoned the twelve youths, but happiness and prosperity. If this were a mo- spoke to them, saying, ‘Build up my castle again, ment to trouble you with riddles, I would make and join it to the King’s Palace with a crystal you guess what Schurka and I have brought you bridge; do not forget the trees with the golden back. Only think, we have got you your ring!’ and silver apples, and with the birds of Paradise At these words Martin’s joy knew no in the branches; and put back the church with bounds, and he stroked her fondly, and she the five cupolas, and let the bells ring out, sum- rubbed up against him and purred happily, moning the people from the four corners of the while below Schurka bounded in the air, and kingdom. And one thing more: bring back my barked joyfully. Then Martin took the ring, and faithless wife, and lead her into the women’s threw it from one hand into the other, and in- chamber.’ And it was all done as he command- stantly the twelve youths appeared and asked ed, and, leaving the Starvation Tower, he took what they were to do. the King, his father-in-law, by the arm, and led ‘Fetch me first something to eat and drink, him into the new palace, where the Princess sat as quickly as possible; and after that bring mu- in fear and trembling, awaiting her death. And sicians hither, and let us have music all day Martin spoke to the King, saying, ‘King and long.’ royal father, I have suffered much at the hands Now when the people in the town and pal- of your daughter. What punishment shall be ace heard music coming from the tower they dealt to her?’ were filled with amazement, and came to the Then the mild King answered: ‘Beloved King with the news that witchcraft must be go- Prince and son-in-law, if you love me, let your ing on in Martin’s Tower, for, instead of dying of anger be turned to grace—forgive my daughter, starvation, he was seemingly making merry to and restore her to your heart and favour.’ And the sound of music, and to the clatter of plates, Martin’s heart was softened and he forgave his and glass, and knives and forks; and the music wife, and they lived happily together ever after. was so enchantingly sweet that all the passers-by And his old mother came and lived with him, stood still to listen to it. On this the King sent and he never parted with Schurka and Waska; at once a messenger to the Starvation Tower, and I need hardly tell you that he never again let and he was so astonished with what he saw that the ring out of his possession.

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