Page:Lays and Legends of Germany (1834).djvu/240

 A similar trick is related of the celebrated Bohemian Conjuror, Zytho, of whom we shall have more to say in the ‘.’

The universally current superstition, that running water has the power to dissolve the spells of necromancy, appears prominently in the foregoing legend, where the seeming pigs are, upon entering it, instantly restored to their original form.





It came to pass, once upon a time, that Rubezahl took up his abode in a deserted hostelry, and exhibited himself as if he had really been the landlord of it; so much so, that various people of rank, who chanced to be travelling that way, actually determined to take up their lodgings there for the night. Certainly, when the guests first arrived, there seemed but little means of entertaining them; but in a short time the tables were covered and prepared, and on the benches there lay various empty casks and great logs, in which stood taps, such as are usually seen in casks.

Besides this, Rubezahl contrived that a window of the apartment should be neatly transformed into a closet; this he opened, and kept taking from it great dishes of meat, one after the other, and placing them on the table. Part was cold, and the rest warm. And when these were all prepared, the guests thought to themselves, it is now all ready; but he kept still going to the closet, and bringing further viands of different sorts. At length they became to marvel where all this good cheer came from, and how their host had been able to get it ready for them! 