<h3><SPAN name="chap67"></SPAN>67 The Twelve Huntsmen</h3>
<p>There was once a King’s son who was betrothed to a maiden whom he loved
very much. And when he was sitting beside her and very happy, news came that
his father lay sick unto death, and desired to see him once again before his
end. Then he said to his beloved, “I must now go and leave thee, I give
thee a ring as a remembrance of me. When I am King, I will return and fetch
thee.” So he rode away, and when he reached his father, the latter was
dangerously ill, and near his death. He said to him, “Dear son, I wished
to see thee once again before my end, promise me to marry as I wish,” and
he named a certain King’s daughter who was to be his wife. The son was in
such trouble that he did not think what he was doing, and said, “Yes,
dear father, your will shall be done,” and thereupon the King shut his
eyes, and died.</p>
<p>When therefore the son had been proclaimed King, and the time of mourning was
over, he was forced to keep the promise which he had given his father, and
caused the King’s daughter to be asked in marriage, and she was promised
to him. His first betrothed heard of this, and fretted so much about his
faithlessness that she nearly died. Then her father said to her, “Dearest
child, why art thou so sad? Thou shalt have whatsoever thou wilt.” She
thought for a moment and said, “Dear father, I wish for eleven girls
exactly like myself in face, figure, and size.” The father said,
“If it be possible, thy desire shall be fulfilled,” and he caused a
search to be made in his whole kingdom, until eleven young maidens were found
who exactly resembled his daughter in face, figure, and size.</p>
<p>When they came to the King’s daughter, she had twelve suits of
huntsmen’s clothes made, all alike, and the eleven maidens had to put on
the huntsmen’s clothes, and she herself put on the twelfth suit.
Thereupon she took leave of her father, and rode away with them, and rode to
the court of her former betrothed, whom she loved so dearly. Then she inquired
if he required any huntsmen, and if he would take the whole of them into his
service. The King looked at her and did not know her, but as they were such
handsome fellows, he said, “Yes,” and that he would willingly take
them, and now they were the King’s twelve huntsmen.</p>
<p>The King, however, had a lion which was a wondrous animal, for he knew all
concealed and secret things. It came to pass that one evening he said to the
King, “Thou thinkest thou hast twelve huntsmen?” “Yes,”
said the King, “they are twelve huntsmen.” The lion continued,
“Thou art mistaken, they are twelve girls.” The King said,
“That cannot be true! How wilt thou prove that to me?” “Oh,
just let some peas be strewn in thy ante-chamber,” answered the lion,
“and then thou wilt soon see it. Men have a firm step, and when they walk
over the peas none of them stir, but girls trip and skip, and drag their feet,
and the peas roll about.” The King was well pleased with the counsel, and
caused the peas to be strewn.</p>
<p>There was, however, a servant of the King’s who favored the huntsmen, and
when he heard that they were going to be put to this test he went to them and
repeated everything, and said, “The lion wants to make the King believe
that you are girls.” Then the King’s daughter thanked him, and said
to her maidens, “Put on some strength, and step firmly on the
peas.” So next morning when the King had the twelve huntsmen called
before him, and they came into the ante-chamber where the peas were lying, they
stepped so firmly on them, and had such a strong, sure walk, that not one of
the peas either rolled or stirred. Then they went away again, and the King said
to the lion, “Thou hast lied to me, they walk just like men.” The
lion said, “They have got to know that they were going to be put to the
test, and have assumed some strength. Just let twelve spinning-wheels be
brought into the ante-chamber some day, and they will go to them and be pleased
with them, and that is what no man would do.” The King liked the advice,
and had the spinning-wheels placed in the ante-chamber.</p>
<p>But the servant, who was well disposed to the huntsmen, went to them, and
disclosed the project. Then when they were alone the King’s daughter said
to her eleven girls, “Put some constraint on yourselves, and do not look
round at the spinning-wheels.” And next morning when the King had his
twelve huntsmen summoned, they went through the ante-chamber, and never once
looked at the spinning wheels. Then the King again said to the lion,
“Thou hast deceived me, they are men, for they have not looked at the
spinning-wheels.” The lion replied, “They have learnt that they
were going to be put to the test, and have restrained themselves.” The
King, however, would no longer believe the lion.</p>
<p>The twelve huntsmen always followed the King to the chase, and his liking for
them continually increased. Now it came to pass that once when they were out
hunting, news came that the King’s betrothed was approaching. When the
true bride heard that, it hurt her so much that her heart was almost broken,
and she fell fainting to the ground. The King thought something had happened to
his dear huntsman, ran up to him, wanted to help him, and drew his glove off.
Then he saw the ring which he had given to his first bride, and when he looked
in her face he recognized her. Then his heart was so touched that he kissed
her, and when she opened her eyes he said, “Thou art mine, and I am
thine, and no one in the world can alter that.” He sent a messenger to
the other bride, and entreated her to return to her own kingdom, for he had a
wife already, and a man who had just found an old dish did not require a new
one. Thereupon the wedding was celebrated, and the lion was again taken into
favour, because, after all, he had told the truth.</p>
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