Page:Folk-lore - A Quarterly Review. Volume 21, 1910.djvu/553

 Collectanea. 511

gale?" "We took it," the two brothers replied. "What did you see on the way ? " " We did not see anything." "You are not the ones who took it from me, then ; you are robbers," she said, and she cast them into prison, and their father also, while she ruled the city. "Until the one who took the Thousand-noted Nightingale appears, there is no escape for you," she said. Let them remain there while we go and find the Prince.

Some women who were reaping barley drew the Prince up out of the well, and one of them adopted him. One day, a few weeks later, news reached them that the Thousand-noted Nightingale had been brought to their country, and that the owner of the bird had come after it. Then the Prince begged for permission to go to the city and see the new church and all the sights. He went. He visited his home, and found neither his father nor his brothers. He inquired where they were. They told him that the owner of the Thousand-noted Nightingale had come and cast them into prison. He went and brought them out. The maiden sent for him and said, — " I am the owner of the Thousand-noted Nightingale, do you not fear me ? " The Prince replied, — " I am the one who brought the Thousand-noted Nightingale. I do not fear you." The maiden asked, — " What did you see on the way?" The Prince told about the river, the thicket, the wolf, the lamb, and the gate, — all that he had seen and done. " And if you do not believe me, behold, there is the mark which I im- printed upon your brow, betrothing you to myself ! " he added. " I wish you joy," responded the maiden.

They had a grand wedding in the church, and the Thousand- noted Nightingale began to warble and to pour forth a thousand, thousand sweet notes, and still it sings and still it sings ! Three apples fell from heaven.

J. S. WiNGATE.