Page:Folk-lore - A Quarterly Review. Volume 18, 1907.djvu/235

 Collectanea. 1 99

Prince asks, "Why do you say that?" "It came into my mind." Hero locks round her neck a golden chain, which only he can unlock. A little bird sits in the bushes warbling ; heroine says : " You sing to your friend. When I return home I shall lose mine." Same question from hero; same reply. He gives her a golden apple : ' ' You must return it to me only." They pass a withered fir-tree, on which sits a bird. Heroine says: "You warble here in the withered fir; at home lies the bride bearing a child in the cowhouse." Same question, same reply. (6) On returning home heroine exchanges dress with bride, who, when hero asks: "Why did you say so-and-so?" must every time go and ask her maid ; also when hero demands the golden chain. Heroine advises her to promise the chain when all the lights are put out. When heroine holds out the golden apple in the dark, hero grasps her hand, lights are brought, and heroine is discovered as true bride.

In a variant, the tests are a half-finished web, half-finished shirt, and bloody kerchief to wash. Hero begs heroine to tell a stoiy, and she answers : " Songs and tales I have forgotten during my seven years' stay underground. I have suffered much ; have ridden on a bear's back ; but, still more, I suffer to-day when I am to be bride in a proud lady's stead."

Ibid. Another version. D " Den tillfalliga bruden."

(i) There are two women: one bears a girl, the other a boy. Heroine is concealed in an underground house, having as companions a cock, a pair of scissors, and a live coal. (2) She works her way out, and becomes a servant — " att hugga ved a krattii sved" i.e. to chop firewood and cover the seed (corn) sown in ashes where trees have been burned. (3) In the king's house, bride has to finish a begun web, wash a blood-stained kerchief, and scour blood-spots from a key. Heroine hears about this, sets out, but is stopped by impassable stream. She stands weeping ; a wolf appears and says : " Take a seat on my tail, I'll help you over ! " Thus she crosses stream, reaches king's house where wedding is arranged, but bride has fallen ill. (4) Heroine takes bride's place. In the wood, on way to church, she says : " For twelve years I have been sitting underground. I have chopped firewood, and covered corn with ashes of burnt trees. Ah me! what I have suffered." Hero asks: "What did you say?" "I am not talking to you, but to my maids." He gives her a glove to keep. Dismounting from her horse, she says: "Stand still, you Walle-Kwalle ! At home the bride bears a child in the stable." Hero asks same question ; same reply given. He breaks his gold ring in two, gives one piece to heroine, and begs her to keep it till it is asked for. Heroine and bride exchange dresses. (Remainder of story like other version. )