The Real Thing and Other Tales

und of his estates, thirteen big farms in all, he forgot that his wife was about to have a child. On his way home he came to a forest, and such a thirst came upon him that he

long beard-and it refused to let him go unless he promised to give it the thing that he had at [104]home unknown to himself. So he said to himself: "I know everything at home." But he forgot

for twelve years. The prince asked him why he was so sad. And the king answered: "Because

en shifts lying on the bank. So he carried off one of the shifts and hid himself. When they saw this, twelve of the ducks flew away, but the thirteenth was running hither and thither, looking for her shift. So when he sa

ngest daughter. And s

and he will give you three days to consider over the task. You will be in your room alone, and in the evening I will come humming to your window, for I shall come to you in a bee's shape, because I can't come in any other way. And you must follow my advice. My father has thi

ungest; if he could do so, his life would be spared. So he went the round of them three times, but it was as much as he could do to recognize her. But he point

ame flying to him again, and she gave him a wand. At a single stroke of the wand the palace rose up ready-built, and it was more perfect than the old one. In the morning he was strolling about the palace

to [107]advise him. She came to him in the evening and said: "I have no other ad

she heard a great noise behind her, so she turned herself into a church and the prince became a monk. The sorcerer's apprentices were riding in pursuit of them. When they got as far as the

So she turned herself into a great river and him into an old broken bridge. Their pursuers came as far as the river and the bridge, and then they

were in their own land. When they reached the third church, the sorcerer had no more power over them. H

ovely young princess with him. His father