Page:Folk-lore - A Quarterly Review. Volume 22, 1911.djvu/387

 Collectanea. 351

Armenian Folk-Tales {cofiitnued from p. 80). 6. The Adventures of a Prince}

There was or there wasn't a King, and this King had three sons. One day the King falls ill. All the physicians in the land and all the fortune-tellers are called, but they can find no remedy. Finally one of these who is very wise speaks and says, — "There is only one thing that will save the life of our King." They ask him what it is. He replies, — " In the land of India there is a beautiful garden, and in it grows an apple-tree which is the Tree of Immortality. If some one will bring him some of those apples to eat, he will recover and become as one newly born." They decide to go and tell the King this. But the King says, "I have heard that demons come and carry off those apples, and that no mortal is able to secure them." Then the oldest son of the King rises and says — " Long live the King ! I will go and bring some." He goes, and goes, and finally reaches that tree. The night that the apples are to ripen, the Prince falls asleep, and a demon comes, gathers the apples, and carries them away. The King's son returns very much chagrined.

The next year the second son goes after the apples. He also falls asleep, and returns empty-handed.

Then the youngest son says, — " Long live the King ! I will go after them." " Ho ! " they exclaim, " What did your elder brothers do, that you should think to do anything ! " But he begs and entreats until the King consents, and says, — " Go then ! " So the youngest son takes his bow and arrow, and goes till he reaches the apple-tree. The night that the apples are to ripen, he takes his knife and slits his finger, and sprinkles salt in the cut. The smarting and the pain drive away his sleep.

He sees the demon come and start to climb the tree. He draws his bow and shoots the demon in the calf of his leg, and pierces it. The demon flees howling away. Then the Prince climbs the tree, gathers the apples, and takes them to his father. The King eats the fruit, and recovers.

After that the youngest son begs his father, saying, — " Grant

' This is the fourth story in Manana, but no title is given.