\'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！\'