merve/folk-mythology-tales · Datasets at Hugging Face

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Simon came on board to conduct the princess to their ship, and, led by
the brothers and followed by her nurse and other women, she crossed the
crystal plank from one vessel to another.

The seventh Simon spread out his goods, and had so many curious
and interesting tales to tell about them, that the princess forgot
everything else in looking and listening, so that she did not know that
the fourth Simon had seized the prow of the ship, and that all of a
sudden it had vanished from sight, and was racing along in the depths of
the sea.

The crew of the royal yacht shouted aloud, the knights stood still with
terror, the soldiers were struck dumb and hung their heads. There was
nothing to be done but to sail back and tell the king of his loss.

How he wept and stormed! 'Oh, light of my eyes,' he sobbed; 'I am indeed
punished for my pride. I thought no one good enough to be your husband,
and now you are lost in the depths of the sea, and have left me alone!
As for all of you who saw this thing--away with you! Let them be put in
irons and lock them up in prison, whilst I think how I can best put them
to death!'

Whilst the King of Busan was raging and lamenting in this fashion,
Simon's ship was swimming like any fish under the sea, and when the
island was well out of sight he brought it up to the surface again. At
that moment the princess recollected herself. 'Nurse,' said she, 'we
have been gazing at these wonders only too long. I hope my father won't
be vexed at our delay.'

She tore herself away and stepped on deck. Neither the yacht nor the
island was in sight! Helena wrung her hands and beat her breast. Then
she changed herself into a white swan and flew off. But the fifth Simon
seized his bow and shot the swan, and the sixth Simon did not let it
fall into the water but caught it in the ship, and the swan turned into
a silver fish, but Simon lost no time and caught the fish, when, quick
as thought, the fish turned into a black mouse and ran about the ship.
It darted towards a hole, but before it could reach it Simon sprang upon
it more swiftly than any cat, and then the little mouse turned once more
into the beautiful Princess Helena.

Early one morning King Archidej sat thoughtfully at his window gazing
out to sea. His heart was sad and he would neither eat nor drink. His
thoughts were full of the Princess Helena, who was as lovely as a dream.
Is that a white gull he sees flying towards the shore, or is it a sail?
No, it is no gull, it is the wonder-ship flying along with billowing
sails. Its flags wave, the fiddlers play on the wire rigging, the anchor
is thrown out and the crystal plank laid from the ship to the pier. The
lovely Helena steps across the plank. She shines like the sun, and the
stars of heaven seem to sparkle in her eyes.

Up sprang King Archidej in haste: 'Hurry, hurry,' he cried. 'Let us
hasten to meet her! Let the bugles sound and the joy bells be rung!'

And the whole Court swarmed with courtiers and servants. Golden carpets
were laid down and the great gates thrown open to welcome the princess.

King Archidej went out himself, took her by the hand and led her into
the royal apartments.

'Madam,' said he, 'the fame of your beauty had reached me, but I had not
dared to expect such loveliness. Still I will not keep you here against
your will. If you wish it, the wonder-ship shall take you back to your
father and your own country; but if you will consent to stay here, then
reign over me and my country as our queen.'

What more is there to tell? It is not hard to guess that the princess
listened to the king's wooing, and their betrothal took place with great
pomp and rejoicings.

The brothers Simon were sent again to the Island of Busan with a letter
to the king from his daughter to invite him to their wedding. And the
wonder-ship arrived at the Island of Busan just as all the knights and
soldiers who had escorted the princess were being led out to execution.

Then the seventh Simon cried out from the ship: 'Stop! stop! I bring a
letter from the Princess Helena!'

The King of Busan read the letter over and over again, and ordered the
knights and soldiers to be set free. He entertained King Archidej's
ambassadors hospitably, and sent his blessing to his daughter, but he
could not be brought to attend the wedding.

When the wonder-ship got home King Archidej and Princess Helena were
enchanted with the news it brought.

The king sent for the seven Simons. 'A thousand thanks to you, my brave
fellows,' he cried. 'Take what gold, silver, and precious stones you
will out of my treasury. Tell me if there is anything else you wish for
and I will give it you, my good friends. Do you wish to be made nobles,
or to govern towns? Only speak.'

Then the eldest Simon bowed and said: 'We are plain folk, your Majesty,
and understand simple things best. What figures should we cut as nobles
or governors? Nor do we desire gold. We have our fields which give us
food, and as much money as we need. If you wish to reward us then grant
that our land may be free of taxes, and of your goodness pardon the
seventh Simon. He is not the first who has been a thief by trade and he
will certainly not be the last.'

'So be it,' said the king; 'your land shall be free of all taxes, and

Simon came on board to conduct the princess to their ship, and, led by

the brothers and followed by her nurse and other women, she crossed the

crystal plank from one vessel to another.

The seventh Simon spread out his goods, and had so many curious

and interesting tales to tell about them, that the princess forgot

everything else in looking and listening, so that she did not know that

the fourth Simon had seized the prow of the ship, and that all of a

sudden it had vanished from sight, and was racing along in the depths of

the sea.

The crew of the royal yacht shouted aloud, the knights stood still with

terror, the soldiers were struck dumb and hung their heads. There was

nothing to be done but to sail back and tell the king of his loss.

How he wept and stormed! 'Oh, light of my eyes,' he sobbed; 'I am indeed

punished for my pride. I thought no one good enough to be your husband,

and now you are lost in the depths of the sea, and have left me alone!

As for all of you who saw this thing--away with you! Let them be put in

irons and lock them up in prison, whilst I think how I can best put them

to death!'

Whilst the King of Busan was raging and lamenting in this fashion,

Simon's ship was swimming like any fish under the sea, and when the

island was well out of sight he brought it up to the surface again. At

that moment the princess recollected herself. 'Nurse,' said she, 'we

have been gazing at these wonders only too long. I hope my father won't

be vexed at our delay.'

She tore herself away and stepped on deck. Neither the yacht nor the

island was in sight! Helena wrung her hands and beat her breast. Then

she changed herself into a white swan and flew off. But the fifth Simon

seized his bow and shot the swan, and the sixth Simon did not let it

fall into the water but caught it in the ship, and the swan turned into

a silver fish, but Simon lost no time and caught the fish, when, quick

as thought, the fish turned into a black mouse and ran about the ship.

It darted towards a hole, but before it could reach it Simon sprang upon

it more swiftly than any cat, and then the little mouse turned once more

into the beautiful Princess Helena.

Early one morning King Archidej sat thoughtfully at his window gazing

out to sea. His heart was sad and he would neither eat nor drink. His

thoughts were full of the Princess Helena, who was as lovely as a dream.

Is that a white gull he sees flying towards the shore, or is it a sail?

No, it is no gull, it is the wonder-ship flying along with billowing

sails. Its flags wave, the fiddlers play on the wire rigging, the anchor

is thrown out and the crystal plank laid from the ship to the pier. The

lovely Helena steps across the plank. She shines like the sun, and the

stars of heaven seem to sparkle in her eyes.

Up sprang King Archidej in haste: 'Hurry, hurry,' he cried. 'Let us

hasten to meet her! Let the bugles sound and the joy bells be rung!'

And the whole Court swarmed with courtiers and servants. Golden carpets

were laid down and the great gates thrown open to welcome the princess.

King Archidej went out himself, took her by the hand and led her into

the royal apartments.

'Madam,' said he, 'the fame of your beauty had reached me, but I had not

dared to expect such loveliness. Still I will not keep you here against

your will. If you wish it, the wonder-ship shall take you back to your

father and your own country; but if you will consent to stay here, then

reign over me and my country as our queen.'

What more is there to tell? It is not hard to guess that the princess

listened to the king's wooing, and their betrothal took place with great

pomp and rejoicings.

The brothers Simon were sent again to the Island of Busan with a letter

to the king from his daughter to invite him to their wedding. And the

wonder-ship arrived at the Island of Busan just as all the knights and

soldiers who had escorted the princess were being led out to execution.

Then the seventh Simon cried out from the ship: 'Stop! stop! I bring a

letter from the Princess Helena!'

The King of Busan read the letter over and over again, and ordered the

knights and soldiers to be set free. He entertained King Archidej's

ambassadors hospitably, and sent his blessing to his daughter, but he

could not be brought to attend the wedding.

When the wonder-ship got home King Archidej and Princess Helena were

enchanted with the news it brought.

The king sent for the seven Simons. 'A thousand thanks to you, my brave

fellows,' he cried. 'Take what gold, silver, and precious stones you

will out of my treasury. Tell me if there is anything else you wish for

and I will give it you, my good friends. Do you wish to be made nobles,

or to govern towns? Only speak.'

Then the eldest Simon bowed and said: 'We are plain folk, your Majesty,

and understand simple things best. What figures should we cut as nobles

or governors? Nor do we desire gold. We have our fields which give us

food, and as much money as we need. If you wish to reward us then grant

that our land may be free of taxes, and of your goodness pardon the

seventh Simon. He is not the first who has been a thief by trade and he

will certainly not be the last.'

'So be it,' said the king; 'your land shall be free of all taxes, and