'Whatwillyouwishmetodowithher？'saidtheDog。AndCovananswered:
'Theoldmanbademebringher,andtheduckwiththegoldenneck,andthesalmonwiththesilversides,tohiscottage;ifIshallcatchthem,Iknownot。Butcarryyoutheroetothebackofthecottage,andtetherhersothatshecannotescape。'
'Itshallbedone,'saidtheDogofMaol—mor。
ThenCovanspedtothelakewhichledtothelandoftheSun,wheretheduckwiththegreenbodyandthegoldenneckwasswimmingamongthewater—lilies。
'SurelyIcancatchhim,goodswimmerasIam,'tohimself。But,ifhecouldswimwell,theduckcouldswimbetter,andatlengthhisstrengthfailedhim,andhewasforcedtoseektheland。
'Ohthattheblackravenwereheretohelpme！'hethoughttohimself。
Andinamomenttheblackravenwasperchedonhisshoulder。
'HowcanIhelpyou？'askedtheraven。AndCovananswered:
'Catchmethegreenduckthatfloatsonthewater。'Andtheravenflewwithhisstrongwingsandpickedhimupinhisstrongbeak,andinanothermomentthebirdwaslaidatthefeetofCovan。
Thistimeitwaseasyfortheyoungmantocarryhisprize,andaftergivingthankstotheravenforhisaid,hewentontotheriver。
Inthedeepdarkpoolofwhichtheoldmanhadspokenthesilver—sidedsalmonwaslyingunderarock。
'SurelyI,goodfisherasIam,cancatchhim,'saidCovansonofGorla。Andcuttingaslenderpolefromabush,hefastenedalinetotheendofit。Butcastwithwhatskillhemight,itavailednothing,forthesalmonwouldnotevenlookatthebait。
'Iambeatenatlast,unlesstheDoran—donncandeliverme,'hecried。
Andashespoketherewasaswishofthewater,andthefaceoftheDoran—donnlookedupathim。
'Ocatchme,Iprayyou,thatsalmonundertherock！'saidCovansonofGorla。AndtheDoran—donndived,andlayingholdofthesalmonbyhistail,boreitbacktotheplacewhereCovanwasstanding。
'Theroe,andtheduck,andthesalmonarehere,'saidCovantotheoldman,whenhereachedthecottage。Andtheoldmansmiledonhimandbadehimeatanddrink,andafterhehungerednomore,hewouldspeakwithhim。
Andthiswaswhattheoldmansaid:'Youbeganwell,myson,sothingshavegonewellwithyou。Yousetstorebyyourmother'sblessing,thereforeyouhavebeenblest。Yougavefoodtotheravenwhenithungered,youweretruetothepromiseyouhadmadetome,anddidnotsufferyourselftobeturnedasidebyvainshows。Youwereskilledtoperceivethattheboywhotemptedyoutoleavethetemplewasatelleroffalsetales,andtookwithagratefulheartwhatthepoorhadtoofferyou。Lastofall,difficultiesgaveyoucourage,insteadoflendingyoudespair。
Andnow,astoyourreward,youshallintruthtakeyoursisterhomewithyou,andyourbrothersIwillrestoretolife;butidleandunfaithfulastheyaretheirlotistowanderforever。Andsofarewell,andmaywisdombewithyou。'
'Firsttellmeyourname？'askedCovansoftly。
'IamtheSpiritofAge,'saidtheoldman。
[TakenfromaCelticStory。TranslatedbyDoctorMacleodClarke。]
ThePrincessBella—FlorOnceuponatimetherelivedamanwhohadtwosons。Whentheygrewuptheelderwenttoseekhisfortuneinafarcountry,andformanyyearsnooneheardanythingabouthim。Meanwhiletheyoungersonstayedathomewithhisfather,whodiedatlastinagoodoldage,leavinggreatrichesbehindhim。
Forsometimethesonwhostayedathomespenthisfather'swealthfreely,believingthathealoneremainedtoenjoyit。But,oneday,ashewascomingdownstairs,hewassurprisedtoseeastrangerenterthehall,lookingaboutasifthehousebelongedtohim。
'Haveyouforgottenme？'askedtheman。
'Ican'tforgetapersonIhaveneverknown,'wastherudeanswer。
'Iamyourbrother,'repliedthestranger,'andIhavereturnedhomewithoutthemoneyIhopedtohavemade。And,whatisworse,theytellmeinthevillagethatmyfatherisdead。IwouldhavecountedmylostgoldasnothingifIcouldhaveseenhimoncemore。'
'Hediedsixmonthsago,'saidtherichbrother,'andheleftyou,asyourportion,theoldwoodenchestthatstandsintheloft。Youhadbettergothereandlookforit;Ihavenomoretimetowaste。'Andhewenthisway。
Sothewandererturnedhisstepstotheloft,whichwasatthetopofthestorehouse,andtherehefoundthewoodenchest,sooldthatitlookedasifitweredroppingtopieces。
'Whatuseisthisoldthingtome？'hesaidtohimself。'Oh,well,itwillservetolightafireatwhichIcanwarmmyself;sothingsmightbeworseafterall。'
Placingthechestonhisback,theman,whosenamewasJose,setoutforhisinn,and,borrowingahatchet,begantochopupthebox。Indoingsohediscoveredasecretdrawer,andinitlayapaper。Heopenedthepaper,notknowingwhatitmightcontain,andwasastonishedtofindthatitwastheacknowledgmentofalargedebtthatwasowingtohisfather。Puttingthepreciouswritinginhispocket,hehastilyinquiredofthelandlordwherehecouldfindthemanwhosenamewaswritteninside,andheranoutatonceinsearchofhim。
Thedebtorprovedtobeanoldmiser,wholivedattheotherendofthevillage。Hehadhopedformanymonthsthatthepaperhehadwrittenhadbeenlostordestroyed,and,indeed,whenhesawit,wasveryunwillingtopaywhatheowed。However,thestrangerthreatenedtodraghimbeforetheking,andwhenthemisersawthattherewasnohelpforithecountedoutthecoinsonebyone。Thestrangerpickedthemupandputtheminhispocket,andwentbacktohisinnfeelingthathewasnowarichman。
Afewweeksafterthishewaswalkingthroughthestreetsofthenearesttown,whenhemetapoorwomancryingbitterly。Hestoppedandaskedherwhatwasthematter,andsheansweredbetweenhersobsthatherhusbandwasdying,and,tomakemattersworse,acreditorwhomhecouldnotpaywasanxioustohavehimtakentoprison。
'Comfortyourself,'saidthestrangerkindly;'theyshallneithersendyourhusbandtoprisonnorsellyourgoods。Iwillnotonlypayhisdebtsbut,ifhedies,thecostofhisburialalso。Andnowgohome,andnursehimaswellasyoucan。'
Andsoshedid;but,inspiteofhercare,thehusbanddied,andwasburiedbythestranger。Buteverythingcostmorethanheexpected,andwhenallwaspaidhefoundthatonlythreegoldpieceswereleft。
'WhatamItodonow？'saidhetohimself。'IthinkIhadbettergotocourt,andenterintotheserviceoftheking。'
Atfirsthewasonlyaservant,whocarriedthekingthewaterforhisbath,andsawthathisbedwasmadeinaparticularfashion。Buthedidhisdutiessowellthathismastersoontooknoticeofhim,andinashorttimeherosetobeagentlemanofthebedchamber。
Now,whenthishappenedtheyoungerbrotherhadspentallthemoneyhehadinherited,anddidnotknowhowtomakeanyforhimself。Hethenbethoughthimoftheking'sfavourite,andwentwhiningtothepalacetobegthathisbrother,whomhehadsoill—used,wouldgivehimhisprotection,andfindhimaplace。Theelder,whowasalwaysreadytohelpeveryonespoketothekingonhisbehalf,andthenextdaytheyoungmantookupisworkatcourt。
Unfortunately,thenew—comerwasbynaturespitefulandenvious,andcouldnotbearanyonetohavebetterluckthanhimself。Bydintofspyingthroughkeyholesandlisteningatdoors,helearnedthattheking,oldanduglythoughhewas,hadfalleninlovewiththePrincessBella—Flor,whowouldhavenothingtosaytohim,andhadhiddenherselfinsomemountaincastle,nooneknewwhere。
'Thatwilldonicely,'thoughtthescoundrel,rubbinghishands。'Itwillbequiteeasytogetthekingtosendmybrotherinsearchofher,andifhereturnswithoutfindingher,hisheadwillbetheforfeit。
Eitherway,hewillbeoutofMYpath。'
SohewentatoncetotheLordHighChamberlainandcravedanaudienceoftheking,towhomhedeclaredhewishedtotellsomenewsofthehighestimportance。Thekingadmittedhimintothepresencechamberwithoutdelay,andbadehimstatewhathehadtosay,andtobequickaboutit。
'Oh,sire！thePrincessBella—Flor——'answeredtheman,andthenstoppedasifafraid。
'WhatofthePrincessBella—Flor？'askedthekingimpatiently。
'Ihaveheard——itiswhisperedatcourt——thatyourmajestydesirestoknowwheresheliesinhiding。'
'Iwouldgivehalfmykingdomtothemanwhowillbringhertome,'
criedtheking,eagerly。'Speakon,knave;hasabirdoftheairrevealedtoyouthesecret？'
'ItisnotI,butmybrother,whoknows,'repliedthetraitor;'ifyourmajestywouldaskhim——'Butbeforethewordswereoutofhismouththekinghadstruckablowwithhissceptreonagoldenplatethathungonthewall。
'OrderJosetoappearbeforemeinstantly,'heshoutedtotheservantwhorantoobeyhisorders,sogreatwasthenoisehismajestyhadmade;andwhenJoseenteredthehall,wonderingwhatintheworldcouldbethematter,thekingwasnearlydumbfromrageandexcitement。
'BringmethePrincessBella—Florthismoment,'stammeredhe,'forifyoureturnwithoutherIwillhaveyoudrowned！'Andwithoutanotherwordheleftthehall,leavingJosestaringwithsurpriseandhorror。
'HowcanIfindthePrincessBella—FlorwhenIhaveneverevenseenher？'thoughthe。'Butitisnousestayinghere,forIshallonlybeputtodeath。'Andhewalkedslowlytothestablestochoosehimselfahorse。
Therewererowsuponrowsoffinebeastswiththeirnameswritteningoldabovetheirstalls,andJosewaslookinguncertainlyfromonetotheother,wonderingwhichheshouldchoose,whenanoldwhitehorseturneditsheadandsignedtohimtoapproach。
'Takeme,'itsaidinagentlewhisper,'andallwillgowell。'
Josestillfeltsobewilderedwiththemissionthatthekinghadgivenhimthatheforgottobeastonishedathearingahorsetalk。
Mechanicallyhelaidhishandonthebridleandledthewhitehorseoutofthestable。Hewasabouttomountonhisback,whentheanimalspokeagain:
'Pickupthosethreeloavesofbreadwhichyouseethere,andputtheminyourpocket。'
Josedidashewastold,andbeinginagreathurrytogetaway,askednoquestions,butswunghimselfintothesaddle。
Theyrodefarwithoutmeetinganyadventures,butatlengththeycametoanant—hill,andthehorsestopped。
'Crumblethosethreeloavesfortheants,'hesaid。ButJosehesitated。
'Why,wemaywantthemourselves！'answeredhe。
'Nevermindthat;givethemtotheantsallthesame。Donotloseachanceofhelpingothers。'Andwhentheloaveslayincrumbsontheroad,thehorsegallopedon。
By—and—bytheyenteredarockypassbetweentwomountains,andheretheysawaneaglewhichhadbeencaughtinahunter'snet。
'Getdownandcutthemeshesofthenet,andsetthepoorbirdfree,'
saidthehorse。
'Butitwilltakesolong,'objectedJose,'andwemaymisstheprincess。'
'Nevermindthat;donotloseachanceofhelpingothers,'answeredthehorse。Andwhenthemesheswerecut,andtheeaglewasfree,thehorsegallopedon。
Thehadriddenmanymiles,andatlasttheycametoariver,wheretheybeheldalittlefishlyinggaspingonthesand,andthehorsesaid:
'Doyouseethatlittlefish？Itwilldieifyoudonotputitbackinthewater。'
'But,really,weshallneverfindthePrincessBella—Florifwewasteourtimelikethis！'criedJose。
'Weneverwastetimewhenwearehelpingothers,'answeredthehorse。
Andsoonthelittlefishwasswimminghappilyaway。
Alittlewhileaftertheyreachedacastle,whichwasbuiltinthemiddleofaverythickwood,andrightinfrontwasthePrincessBella—Florfeedingherhens。
'Nowlisten,'saidthehorse。'Iamgoingtogiveallsortsoflittlehopsandskips,whichwillamusethePrincessBella—Flor。Thenshewilltellyouthatshewouldliketoridealittleway,andyoumusthelphertomount。WhensheisseatedIshallbegintoneighandkick,andyoumustsaythatIhavenevercarriedawomanbefore,andthatyouhadbettergetupbehindsoastobeabletomanageme。Onceonmybackwewillgolikethewindtotheking'spalace。'
Josedidexactlyasthehorsetoldhim,andeverythingfelloutastheanimalprophesied;sothatitwasnotuntiltheyweregallopingbreathlesslytowardsthepalacethattheprincessknewthatshewastakencaptive。Shesaidnothing,however,butquietlyopenedherapronwhichcontainedthebranforthechickens,andinamomentitlayscatteredontheground。
'Oh,Ihaveletfallmybran！'criedshe;'pleasegetdownandpickitupforme。'ButJoseonlyanswered:
'Weshallfindplentyofbranwherewearegoing。'Andthehorsegallopedon。
Theywerenowpassingthroughaforest,andtheprincesstookoutherhandkerchiefandthrewitupwards,sothatitstuckinoneofthetopmostbranchesofatree。
'Dearme;howstupid！Ihaveletmyhandkerchiefblowaway,'saidshe。
'Willyouclimbupandgetitforme？'ButJoseanswered:
'Weshallfindplentyofhandkerchiefswherewearegoing。'Andthehorsegallopedon。
Afterthewoodtheyreachedariver,andtheprincessslippedaringoffherfingerandletitrollintothewater。
'Howcarelessofme,'gaspedshe,beginningtosob。'Ihavelostmyfavouritering;DOstopforamomentandlookifyoucanseeit。'ButJoseanswered:
'Youwillfindplentyofringswhereyouaregoing。'Andthehorsegallopedon。
Atlasttheyenteredthepalacegates,andtheking'sheartboundedwithjoyatbeholdinghisbelovedPrincessBella—Flor。Buttheprincessbrushedhimasideasifhehadbeenafly,andlockedherselfintothenearestroom,whichshewouldnotopenforallhisentreaties。
'BringmethethreethingsIlostontheway,andperhapsImaythinkaboutit,'wasallshewouldsay。And,indespair,thekingwasdriventotakecounselofJose。
'ThereisnoremedythatIcansee,'saidhismajesty,'butthatyou,whoknowwheretheyare,shouldgoandbringthemback。AndifyoureturnwithoutthemIwillhaveyoudrowned。'
PoorJosewasmuchtroubledatthesewords。Hethoughtthathehaddoneallthatwasrequiredofhim,andthathislifewassafe。
However,hebowedlow,andwentouttoconsulthisfriendthehorse。
'Donotvexyourself,'saidthehorse,whenhehadheardthestory;
'jumpup,andwewillgoandlookforthethings。'AndJosemountedatonce。
Theyrodeontilltheycametotheant—hill,andthenthehorseasked:
'Wouldyouliketohavethebran？'
'Whatistheuseofliking？'answeredJose。
'Well,calltheants,andtellthemtofetchitforyou;and,ifsomeofithasbeenscatteredbythewind,tobringinitssteadthegrainsthatwereinthecakesyougavethem。'Joselistenedinsurprise。Hedidnotmuchbelieveinthehorse'splan;buthecouldnotthinkofanythingbetter,sohecalledtotheants,andbadethemcollectthebranasfastastheycould。
Thenhesawunderatreeandwaited,whilehishorsecroppedthegreenturf。
'Lookthere！'saidtheanimal,suddenlyraisingitshead;andJoselookedbehindhimandsawalittlemountainofbran,whichheputintoabagthatwashungoverhissaddle。
'Gooddeedsbearfruitsoonerorlater,'observedthehorse;'butmountagain,aswehavefartogo。'
Whentheyarrivedatthetree,theysawthehandkerchiefflutteringlikeaflagfromthetopmostbranch,andJose'sspiritssankagain。
'HowamItogetthathandkerchief？'criedhe;'whyIshouldneedJacob'sladder！'Butthehorseanswered:
'Donotbefrightened;calltotheeagleyousetfreefromthenet,hewillbringittoyou。'
SoJosecalledtotheeagle,andtheeagleflewtothetopofthetreeandbroughtbackthehandkerchiefinitsbeak。Josethankedhim,andvaultingonhishorsetheyrodeontotheriver。
Agreatdealofrainhadfalleninthenight,andtheriver,insteadofbeingclearasitwasbefore,wasdarkandtroubled。
'HowamItofetchtheringfromthebottomofthisriverwhenIdonotknowexactlywhereitwasdropped,andcannotevenseeit？'askedJose。
Butthehorseanswered:'Donotbefrightened;callthelittlefishwhoselifeyousaved,andshewillbringittoyou。'
Sohecalledtothefish,andthefishdivedtothebottomandslippedbehindbigstones,andmovedlittleoneswithitstailtillitfoundthering,andbroughtittoJoseinitsmouth。
Wellpleasedwithallhehaddone,Josereturnedtothepalace;butwhenthekingtookthepreciousobjectstoBella—Flor,shedeclaredthatshewouldneveropenherdoortillthebanditwhohadcarriedheroffhadbeenfriedinoil。
'Iamverysorry,'saidthekingtoJose,'Ireallywouldrathernot;
butyouseeIhavenochoice。'
Whiletheoilwasbeingheatedinthegreatcaldron,Josewenttothestablestoinquireofhisfriendthehorseiftherewasnowayforhimtoescape。
'Donotbefrightened,'saidthehorse。'Getonmyback,andIwillgalloptillmywholebodyiswetwithperspiration,thenrubitalloveryourskin,andnomatterhowhottheoilmaybeyouwillneverfeelit。'
Josedidnotaskanymorequestions,butdidasthehorsebadehim;andmenwonderedathischeerfulfaceastheyloweredhimintothecaldronofboilingoil。HewaslefttheretillBella—Florcriedthathemustbecookedenough。Thenoutcameayouthsoyoungandhandsome,thateveryonefellinlovewithhim,andBella—Flormostofall。
Asfortheoldking,hesawthathehadlostthegame;andindespairheflunghimselfintothecaldron,andwasfriedinsteadofJose。ThenJosewasproclaimedking,onconditionthathemarriedBella—Florwhichhepromisedtodothenextday。Butfirsthewenttothestablesandsoughtoutthehorse,andsaidtohim:'ItistoyouthatIowemylifeandmycrown。Whyhaveyoudoneallthisforme？'
Andthehorseanswered:'Iamthesoulofthatunhappymanforwhomyouspentallyourfortune。AndwhenIsawyouindangerofdeathIbeggedthatImighthelpyou,asyouhadhelpedme。For,asItoldyou,Gooddeedsbeartheirownfruit！'
[FromCuentos,Oraciones,yAdivinas,porFernanCaballero。]
TheBirdofTruthOnceuponatimetherelivedapoorfisherwhobuiltahutonthebanksofastreamwhich,shunningtheglareofthesunandthenoiseofthetowns,flowedquietlypasttreesandunderbushes,listeningtothesongsofthebirdsoverhead。
Oneday,whenthefishermanhadgoneoutasusualtocasthisnets,hesawbornetowardshimonthecurrentacradleofcrystal。Slippinghisnetquicklybeneathithedrewitoutandliftedthesilkcoverlet。
Inside,lyingonasoftbedofcotton,weretwobabies,aboyandagirl,whoopenedtheireyesandsmiledathim。Themanwasfilledwithpityatthesight,andthrowingdownhislineshetookthecradleandthebabieshometohiswife。
Thegoodwomanflungupherhandsindespairwhenshebeheldthecontentsofthecradle。
'Arenoteightchildrenenough,'shecried,'withoutbringingustwomore？Howdoyouthinkwecanfeedthem？'
'Youwouldnothavehadmeleavethemtodieofhunger,'answeredhe,'orbeswallowedupbythewavesofthesea？Whatisenoughforeightisalsoenoughforten。'
Thewifesaidnomore;andintruthherheartyearnedoverthelittlecreatures。Somehoworotherfoodwasneverlackinginthehut,andthechildrengrewupandweresogoodandgentlethat,intime,theirfoster—parentslovedthemaswellorbetterthantheirown,whowerequarrelsomeandenvious。Itdidnottaketheorphanslongtonoticethattheboysdidnotlikethem,andwerealwaysplayingtricksonthem,sotheyusedtogoawaybythemselvesandspendwholehoursbythebanksoftheriver。Heretheywouldtakeoutthebitsofbreadtheyhadsavedfromtheirbreakfastsandcrumblethemforthebirds。
Inreturn,thebirdstaughtthemmanythings:howtogetupearlyinthemorning,howtosing,andhowtotalktheirlanguage,whichveryfewpeopleknow。
Butthoughthelittleorphansdidtheirbesttoavoidquarrellingwiththeirfoster—brothers,itwasverydifficultalwaystokeepthepeace。
Mattersgotworseandworsetill,onemorning,theeldestboysaidtothetwins:
'Itisallverywellforyoutopretendthatyouhavesuchgoodmanners,andaresomuchbetterthanwe,butwehaveatleastafatherandmother,whileyouhaveonlygottheriver,likethetoadsandthefrogs。'
Thepoorchildrendidnotanswertheinsult;butitmadethemveryunhappy。Andtheytoldeachotherinwhispersthattheycouldnotstaythereanylonger,butmustgointotheworldandseektheirfortunes。
Sonextdaytheyaroseasearlyasthebirdsandstoledownstairswithoutanybodyhearingthem。Onewindowwasopen,andtheycreptsoftlyoutandrantothesideoftheriver。Then,feelingasiftheyhadfoundafriend,theywalkedalongitsbanks,hopingthatby—and—bytheyshouldmeetsomeonetotakecareofthem。
Thewholeofthatdaytheywentsteadilyonwithoutseeingalivingcreature,till,intheevening,wearyandfootsore,theysawbeforethemasmallhut。Thisraisedtheirspiritsforamoment;butthedoorwasshut,andthehutseemedempty,andsogreatwastheirdisappointmentthattheyalmostcried。However,theboyfoughtdownhistears,andsaidcheerfully:
'Well,atanyratehereisabenchwherewecansitdown,andwhenwearerestedwewillthinkwhatisbesttodonext。'
Thentheysatdown,andforsometimetheyweretootiredeventonoticeanything;butby—and—bytheysawthatunderthetilesoftheroofanumberofswallowsweresitting,chatteringmerrilytoeachother。Ofcoursetheswallowshadnoideathatthechildrenunderstoodtheirlanguage,ortheywouldnothavetalkedsofreely;but,asitwas,theysaidwhatevercameintotheirheads。
'Goodevening,myfinecitymadam,'remarkedaswallow,whosemannerswereratherroughandcountryfiedtoanotherwholookedparticularlydistinguished。'Happy,indeed,aretheeyesthatbeholdyou！Onlythinkofyourhavingreturnedtoyourlong—forgottencountryfriends,afteryouhavelivedforyearsinapalace！'
'Ihaveinheritedthisnestfrommyparents,'repliedtheother,'andastheyleftittomeIcertainlyshallmakeitmyhome。But,'sheaddedpolitely,'Ihopethatyouandallyourfamilyarewell？'
'Verywellindeed,Iamgladtosay。Butmypoordaughterhad,ashorttimeago,suchbadinflammationinhereyesthatshewouldhavegoneblindhadInotbeenabletofindthemagicherb,whichcuredheratonce。'
'Andhowisthenightingalesinging？Doesthelarksoarashighasever？Anddoesthelinnetdressherselfassmartly？'Butherethecountryswallowdrewherselfup。
'Inevertalkgossip,'shesaidseverely。'Ourpeople,whowereoncesoinnocentandwell—behaved,havebeencorruptedbythebadexamplesofmen。Itisathousandpities。'
'What！innocenceandgoodbehaviourarenottobemetwithamongbirds,norinthecountry！Mydearfriend,whatareyousaying？'
'Thetruthandnothingmore。Imagine,whenwereturnedhere,wemetsomelinnetswho,justasthespringandtheflowersandthelongdayshadcome,weresettingoutforthenorthandthecold？Outofpurecompassionwetriedtopersuadethemtogiveupthisfolly;buttheyonlyrepliedwiththeutmostinsolence。'
'Howshocking！'exclaimedthecityswallow。
'Yes,itwas。Andworsethanthat,thecrestedlark,thatwasformerlysotimidandshy,isnownobetterthanathief,andstealsmaizeandcornwhenevershecanfindthem。'
'Iamastonishedatwhatyousay。'
'YouwillbemoreastonishedwhenItellyouthatonmyarrivalhereforthesummerIfoundmynestoccupiedbyashamelesssparrow！"Thisismynest,"Isaid。"Yours？"heanswered,witharudelaugh。"Yes,mine;myancestorswerebornhere,andmysonswillbebornherealso。"
Andatthatmyhusbandsetuponhimandthrewhimoutofthenest。I
amsurenothingofthissorteverhappensinatown。'
'Notexactly,perhaps。ButIhaveseenagreatdeal——ifyouonlyknew！'
'Oh！dotellus！dotellus！'criedtheyall。Andwhentheyhadsettledthemselvescomfortably,thecityswallowbegan:
'Youmustknow,thenthatourkingfellinlovewiththeyoungestdaughterofatailor,whowasasgoodandgentleasshewasbeautiful。
Hisnobleshopedthathewouldhavechosenaqueenfromoneoftheirdaughters,andtriedtopreventthemarriage;butthekingwouldnotlistentothem,andittookplace。Notmanymonthslaterawarbrokeout,andthekingrodeawayattheheadofhisarmy,whilethequeenremainedbehind,veryunhappyattheseparation。Whenpeacewasmade,andthekingreturned,hewastoldthathiswifehadhadtwobabiesinhisabsence,butthatbothweredead;thatsheherselfhadgoneoutofhermindandwasobligedtobeshutupinatowerinthemountains,where,intime,thefreshairmightcureher。'
'Andwasthisnottrue？'askedtheswallowseagerly。
'Ofcoursenot,'answeredthecitylady,withsomecontemptfortheirstupidity。'Thechildrenwerealiveatthatverymomentinthegardener'scottage;butatnightthechamberlaincamedownandputtheminacradleofcrystal,whichhecarriedtotheriver。
'Forawholedaytheyfloatedsafely,forthoughthestreamwasdeepitwasverystill,andthechildrentooknoharm。Inthemorning——soIamtoldbymyfriendthekingfisher——theywererescuedbyafishermanwholivedneartheriverbank。'
Thechildrenhadbeenlyingonthebench,listeninglazilytothechatteruptothispoint;butwhentheyheardthestoryofthecrystalcradlewhichtheirfoster—motherhadalwaysbeenfondoftellingthem,theysatuprightandlookedateachother。
'Oh,howgladIamIlearntthebirds'language！'saidtheeyesofonetotheeyesoftheother。
Meanwhiletheswallowshadspokenagain。
'Thatwasindeedgoodfortune！'criedthey。
'Andwhenthechildrenaregrownuptheycanreturntotheirfatherandsettheirmotherfree。'
'Itwillnotbesoeasyasyouthink,'answeredthecityswallow,shakingherhead;'fortheywillhavetoprovethattheyaretheking'schildren,andalsothattheirmotherneverwentmadatall。Infact,itissodifficultthatthereisonlyonewayofprovingittotheking。'
'Andwhatisthat？'criedalltheswallowsatonce。'Andhowdoyouknowit？'
'Iknowit,'answeredthecityswallow,'because,oneday,whenIwaspassingthroughthepalacegarden,Imetacuckoo,who,asIneednottellyou,alwayspretendstobeabletoseeintothefuture。Webegantotalkaboutcertainthingswhichwerehappeninginthepalace,andoftheeventsofpastyears。"Ah,"saidhe,"theonlypersonwhocanexposethewickednessoftheministersandshowthekinghowwronghehasbeen,istheBirdofTruth,whocanspeakthelanguageofmen。"
'"Andwherecanthisbirdbefound？"Iasked。
'"Itisshutupinacastleguardedbyafiercegiant,whoonlysleepsonequarterofanhouroutofthewholetwenty—four,"repliedthecuckoo。
'Andwhereisthiscastle？'inquiredthecountryswallow,who,likealltherest,andthechildrenmostofall,hadbeenlisteningwithdeepattention。
'ThatisjustwhatIdon'tknow,'answeredherfriend。'AllIcantellyouisthatnotfarfromhereisatower,wheredwellsanoldwitch,anditisshewhoknowstheway,andshewillonlyteachittothepersonwhopromisestobringherthewaterfromthefountainofmanycolours,whichsheusesforherenchantments。ButneverwillshebetraytheplacewheretheBirdofTruthishidden,forshehateshim,andwouldkillhimifshecould;knowingwell,however,thatthisbirdcannotdie,asheisimmortal,shekeepshimcloselyshutup,andguardednightanddaybytheBirdsofBadFaith,whoseektogaghimsothathisvoiceshouldnotbeheard。'
'Andistherenooneelsewhocantellthepoorboywheretofindthebird,ifheshouldevermanagetoreachthetower？'askedthecountryswallow。
'Noone,'repliedthecityswallow,'exceptanowl,wholivesahermit'slifeinthatdesert,andheknowsonlyonewordofman'sspeech,andthatis"cross。"Sothateveniftheprincedidsucceedingettingthere,hecouldneverunderstandwhattheowlsaid。But,look,thesunissinkingtohisnestinthedepthsofthesea,andImustgotomine。Good—night,friends,good—night！'