The Enchanted Prince
Once there was a merchant who had three daughters. When he had to travel to foreign lands for goods, he asked them: “What shall I bring you from across the sea?”
Once there was a merchant who had three daughters. When he had to travel to foreign lands for goods, he asked them:
“What shall I bring you from across the sea?”
The eldest asked for new clothes, and the middle daughter asked for the same. The youngest took a sheet of paper and drew a flower.
“Father,” she said, “bring me a flower like this.”
The merchant travelled for a long time through many kingdoms, but nowhere did he see such a flower.
On his way home he noticed a splendid, lofty palace with upper chambers, towers and a garden. He went into the garden for a stroll. What a wealth of trees and flowers there were, each flower lovelier than the last! Then he saw one growing exactly like the flower his daughter had drawn. “I’ll pick it and take it to my darling daughter,” he thought. “There seems to be no one here; no one will see.” He bent down and plucked it. The moment he did, a wild wind rose, thunder crashed, and a dreadful monster appeared before him: a hideous winged serpent with three heads.
“How dare you help yourself in my garden?” the serpent shouted at the merchant. “Why did you pick the flower?”
The merchant was terrified. He fell to his knees and begged forgiveness.
“Very well,” said the serpent, “I may forgive you, but on one condition: whoever is first to greet you when you reach home must be given to me for life. And if you deceive me, remember that nowhere can you hide from me. I will find you wherever you are!”
The merchant agreed. As he approached his palace, his youngest daughter saw him through a little window and ran out to greet him. The merchant hung his head; he looked at his darling daughter and wept bitter tears.
“What is the matter, Father? Why are you crying?”
He gave her the flower and told her what had happened.
“Do not grieve, Father!” said the youngest daughter. “God willing, I shall be happy there too. Take me to the serpent.”
Her father took her there, left her in the palace, said goodbye and went home.
The beautiful maiden, the merchant’s daughter, wandered through the rooms. Everywhere there was gold and velvet, but not a soul to be seen, not a single human being! Time passed, and she grew hungry. “Oh, how I could eat something now!” she thought. Scarcely had the thought crossed her mind when a table stood before her, laden with food, drink and sweets: it lacked only bird’s milk! She sat down, ate and drank her fill, then rose, and everything vanished. Dusk fell. The merchant’s daughter went into the bedroom, meaning to lie down to sleep. Suddenly a wild wind roared, and the three-headed serpent appeared before her.
“Good evening, beautiful maiden! Make me a bed beside this door.”
The maiden made him a bed beside the door and lay down in her own bed.
When she woke in the morning, once again there was no one anywhere in the house. One thing was good: whatever she wished for appeared at once! In the evening the serpent flew in and ordered:
“Now, beautiful maiden, make my bed next to yours.”
She made his bed next to her own. The night passed, she woke, and again there was not a soul in the palace. On the third evening the serpent flew in and said:
“Well, beautiful maiden, now I shall lie in the same bed as you.”
The merchant’s daughter was afraid to sleep in one bed with such a hideous monster, but there was nothing to be done. She steeled her heart and lay down beside him.
In the morning the serpent said:
“If you are lonely, beautiful maiden, go and visit your father and sisters. Spend the day with them, but return by evening. Mind you are not late: if you are even a minute late, I shall die of grief!”
“No, I shall not be late!” said the merchant’s daughter.
She went out onto the porch, where a carriage was already waiting. She got in and in that very instant found herself in her father’s courtyard. Her father saw her, embraced and kissed her, and asked:
“How has God been treating you, my darling daughter? Are you well?”
“Very well, Father!”
She began to tell him of the riches in the palace, how the serpent loved her, and how anything she could think of was granted at once.
Her sisters listened, beside themselves with envy. The day was drawing to a close, and the maiden prepared to return, saying goodbye to her father and sisters.
“Well,” she said, “it is time for me to go home. I was told to be back at the appointed time.”
The envious sisters rubbed their eyes with onions and pretended to weep. “Do not go, dear sister! Stay until tomorrow.” She felt sorry for them and stayed until the next day. In the morning she said goodbye to everyone and left for the palace. When she arrived, it was empty as before. She went into the garden and saw the serpent lying dead in the pond: he had thrown himself into the water out of grief.
“Oh, my God, what have I done!” cried the maiden, bursting into tears. She ran to the pond, pulled the serpent out of the water, embraced one of his heads and kissed it fervently. The serpent stirred and in an instant became a handsome young man.
“Thank you, beautiful maiden!” he said. “You have delivered me from a great misfortune. I am no serpent, but an enchanted prince!”
They immediately went to the merchant, were married, and lived happily and prospered.