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332

Kristensen, E. T., Danske Folkeaeventyr, opt. af Folkemindesamfundets Medlemmer. Viborg, 1888. P. 174. No. XXVI. (Narrated by Ane Nielsen [a farmer's daugther, still living]; from Lisbjaerg Terp, Jutland.)

"TYREN OG PRINSESSEN A GLASBJAERGET"
(The Bull and the Princess on the Glass Mountain).

ABSTRACT

Ill-treated hero (by stepmother)-- Helpful animal (bull)-- Hero strokes bull's back, and gets food-- Spy on hero-- Slaying of helpful animal and boy proposed-- Bull tosses stepmother into fire intended for bull's destruction-- Hero flight on bull through three forests of apple-trees; hero's longing for apples causes to appear trolls (1) three-headed, (2) six-headed, (3) nine headed; bull fights trolls, winning from them (1) horse, (2) spade and shovel, (3) bag of mist. Bull bids boy bury him with spade and shovel at foot of two hills, and return in two years' time to dig him up, bringing with him bowl of water, bowl of blood, and bowl of milk-- Menial hero (stable-boy at castle)-- Magic clothes and steeds-- Hero thrice rides up glass mountain; receives silver apple and gold apple from princess, and third time kisses her-- Threefold flight from competitors, who surround hero; bag of mist hides them-- Trophy marriage tests-- Impostors bring sham silver and gold apples, and tear their coat-tails. Hero throws trophy apples to princess, who fits into his coat the piece of cloth she had torn from it-- Recognition-- Happy marriage-- Hero digs up bull, cuts off its head, washes it in water, blood, and milk, lays it at tail; whereupon prince springs forth, brother to princess. He had been transformed by stepmother.

TABULATION

(1) Widower with one son marries widow with one son. Stepmother ill-treats hero, and makes him herd cattle, among which is an enormous bull, a terror to all. Hero gets only some burnt crusts and some milk for his dinner.-- (2) Bull tells him to stroke its back; he does so; gets butter, bread, and a sausage. He can eat nothing on his return home, and will not explain why.-- (3) Next day stepmother sends own son to spy; he reports what he sees, and stepmother orders boy and bull to be burned.-- (4) Great pile of wood is kindled; hero mounts ox; stepmother bids him draw the pile of wood; be refuses; bull instantly takes stepmother on his horns and tosses her into fire.-- (5) Bull rushes off with hero on his back. They pass a forest of apple-trees; hero is forbidden to touch, but cannot help wishing he had some apples. The wish is barely uttered when forest begins to tremble. Bull reproves hero for having taken an apple. But he has not. "Look in your pocket for it!" It is no use throwing it away; for immediately a three-headed troll rushes forth. Bull tosses him tip into the tops of the trees. Troll is willing to give up his apples, but bull requires the horse he has at home. Troll refuses it and is tossed again. They get the horse and leave the troll alone.-- (6) They come to another forest with still more beautiful apples. Hero wishes as before. A six-headed troll appears, and is tossed by bull till he gives up a spade and shovel.-- (7) They come to a third forest. Boy again wishes for apples. Nine- headed troll appears, and is tossed until he gives up a bag of mist that hang. behind his door.-- (8) Bull carries boy to foot of two hills, bids him dig a hole, put bull into it, throw some earth over him after having laid shovel and spade on him, and then seek employment in yonder castle. In a year he is to return to dig up bull, remembering to bring with him a bowl of water, a bowl of blood, and a bowl of milk.-- (9) Hero is employed at castle as stable-boy to help the groom.-- (10) Troll is going to fetch princess. She has beers brought up on a glass mountain, where she keeps a silver apple and a gold apple. Whoever can ride up glass mountain and take first the silver apple, the second time the gold apple, and the third time kiss the princess, is to be her husband. Many try in vain. Hero rides in black on a black steed, in yellow on a yellow steed, in white on a white steed, kisses and wins her.-- (11) At the foot of the mountain the other competitors try to surround him to find out who he is; but he has brought with him the bag of mist, pours it out, and passes them unseen.-- (12) King arranges a feast. Knights assemble, each bringing sham gold and silver apples which they have had made by gold- and silver-smiths. Hero rides up and throws silver apple to princess. Next day he appears on yellow horse and throws the gold apple. On the third day he rides the white horse. The gates are closed behind him. The other competitors notice that there is a piece gone from the tail of his coat (for the princess had torn it off the day he kissed her). Accordingly they all tear bits from their coats.-- (13) Hero appears before princess, and because the piece of cloth fits his coat she recognises him as her deliverer. They are to be married.-- (14) Before the wedding hero wants to go for a drive, and takes with him water, blood, and milk. Princess accompanies him, but is not allowed to follow to bull's grave. Hero digs down till he reaches the spade and shovel, when the work is finished by magic, without his aid. Bull says: "Cut off my head; wash it in water, milk, and blood, after laying it at my tail." This done, immediately a handsome youth stands before hero and tells him he is the son of the queen of the castle, and that he was transformed to a bull by his stepmother, who is now dead, having expired at the moment of his deliverance. The prince dons a white coat brought by the white horse which has come running up to them. They join princess, who instantly recognises her brother; then all drive home, where they hear of queen's recent sudden death.-- (15) Hero and princess are married. The retransformed prince marries a neighbouring princess.

Cox, Marian Roalfe. Cinderella: Three Hundred and Forty-five Variants of Cinderella, Catskin, and Cap O' Rushes, abstracted and tabulated. London: David Nutt for the Folklore Society, 1893.

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