Page:The Folk-Lore Journal Volume 6 1888.djvu/267

 Rh doors to behind you, that the watch may not be able to come out after you in pursuit." He did so. He passed all the watches; entered the last chamber; and in the chamber was the damsel, rocking herself in a golden cradle; and on the way to the cradle stood a huge spectre, which said: "No! No! No!" But he paid no attention to it. He took the cradle in his hands, seated himself with the cradle on the horse and proceeded, pushed the doors to—and the doors closed from the first to the last; and flew out with the damsel in the cradle before the fox. The fox was anxiously expecting him.

Now the fox said to him: "Are you not sorry to give so beautiful a damsel for the golden horse? But you will not otherwise be able to acquire the golden horse, because you have sworn by your father's eyesight. But come; let me try whether I can't be the golden damsel." She bounded hither and thither, and transformed herself into a golden damsel; everything about her was damsel-like, only her eyes were shaped like foxes' eyes. He put her into the golden cradle, and left the real damsel under a tree to take charge of the golden horse. He went, he took away the golden cradle, and in the cradle the fox-damsel; delivered her to the lord of the golden horse, and absolved himself from the oath by his father's eyesight. He returned to the horse and the damsel. Now that same lord of the golden horse, full of joy at acquiring the golden damsel, assembled all his lordship, prepared a grand banquet for their entertainment, and showed them what he had acquired in exchange for his golden horse. While the guests were gazing at the damsel, one of them scrutinised her attentively and said: "All is damsel-like, and she is very beautiful, but her eyes are shaped like foxes' eyes." No sooner had he said this, when up sprang the fox and ran away. The lord and the guests were enraged that he had said, "foxes' eyes," and put him to death.

The fox ran to the simpleton; and on they went to give the golden horse for the golden apple-tree. They arrived at the place. Here, again, the fox said: "Now, you see, you have got possession of the golden damsel; but the golden horse properly appertains to the golden damsel. Are you sorry to give the golden horse?" "Yes, fox; but, though I am sorry, yet I wish my father not to weep."