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

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rejoiced to think that the princess, who had refused so many royal
suitors, should have ended by falling in love with the staring-eyed
shepherd.

There was such a wedding as had never been seen. Everyone ate and drank
and danced. Even the sick were feasted, and quite tiny new-born children
had presents given them.

But the greatest merry-making was in the king's palace; there the best
bands played and the best food was cooked; a crowd of people sat down to
table, and all was fun and merry-making.

And when the groomsman, according to custom, brought in the great boar's
head on a big dish and placed it before the king so that he might carve
it and give everyone a share, the savoury smell was so strong that the
king began to sneeze with all his might.

'To your very good health,' cried the shepherd before anyone else, and
the king was so delighted that he did not regret having given him his
daughter.

In time, when the old king died, the shepherd succeeded him. He made a
very good king and never expected his people to wish him well against
their wills; but, all the same, everyone did wish him well, for they all
loved him.






The Story of the Seven Simons

Far, far away, beyond all sorts of countries, seas and rivers, there
stood a splendid city where lived King Archidej, who was as good as he
was rich and handsome. His great army was made up of men ready to obey
his slightest wish; he owned forty times forty cities, and in each city
he had ten palaces with silver doors, golden roofs, and crystal windows.
His council consisted of the twelve wisest men in the country, whose
long beards flowed down over their breasts, each of whom was as learned
as a whole college. This council always told the king the exact truth.

Now the king had everything to make him happy, but he did not enjoy
anything because he could not find a bride to his mind.

One day, as he sat in his palace looking out to sea, a great ship sailed
into the harbour and several merchants came on shore. Said the king to
himself: 'These people have travelled far and beheld many lands. I will
ask them if they have seen any princess who is as clever and as handsome
as I am.'

So he ordered the merchants to be brought before him, and when they came
he said: 'You have travelled much and visited many wonders. I wish to
ask you a question, and I beg you to answer truthfully.

'Have you anywhere seen or heard of the daughter of an emperor, king,
or a prince, who is as clever and as handsome as I am, and who would be
worthy to be my wife and the queen of my country?'

The merchants considered for some time. At last the eldest of them said:
'I have heard that across many seas, in the Island of Busan, there is a
mighty king, whose daughter, the Princess Helena, is so lovely that she
can certainly not be plainer than your Majesty, and so clever that the
wisest greybeard cannot guess her riddles.'

'Is the island far off, and which is the way to it?'

'It is not near,' was the answer. 'The journey would take ten years, and
we do not know the way. And even if we did, what use would that be? The
princess is no bride for you.'

'How dare you say so?' cried the king angrily.

'Your Majesty must pardon us; but just think for a moment. Should you
send an envoy to the island he will take ten years to get there and ten
more to return--twenty years in all. Will not the princess have grown
old in that time and have lost all her beauty?'

The king reflected gravely. Then he thanked the merchants, gave them
leave to trade in his country without paying any duties, and dismissed
them.

After they were gone the king remained deep in thought. He felt puzzled
and anxious; so he decided to ride into the country to distract his
mind, and sent for his huntsmen and falconers. The huntsmen blew their
horns, the falconers took their hawks on their wrists, and off they all
set out across country till they came to a green hedge. On the other
side of the hedge stretched a great field of maize as far as the eye
could reach, and the yellow ears swayed to and fro in the gentle breeze
like a rippling sea of gold.

The king drew rein and admired the field. 'Upon my word,' said he,
'whoever dug and planted it must be good workmen. If all the fields in
my kingdom were as well cared for as this, there would be more bread
than my people could eat.' And he wished to know to whom the field
belonged.

Off rushed all his followers at once to do his bidding, and found a
nice, tidy farmhouse, in front of which sat seven peasants, lunching
on rye bread and drinking water. They wore red shirts bound with gold

rejoiced to think that the princess, who had refused so many royal

suitors, should have ended by falling in love with the staring-eyed

shepherd.

There was such a wedding as had never been seen. Everyone ate and drank

and danced. Even the sick were feasted, and quite tiny new-born children

had presents given them.

But the greatest merry-making was in the king's palace; there the best

bands played and the best food was cooked; a crowd of people sat down to

table, and all was fun and merry-making.

And when the groomsman, according to custom, brought in the great boar's

head on a big dish and placed it before the king so that he might carve

it and give everyone a share, the savoury smell was so strong that the

king began to sneeze with all his might.

'To your very good health,' cried the shepherd before anyone else, and

the king was so delighted that he did not regret having given him his

daughter.

In time, when the old king died, the shepherd succeeded him. He made a

very good king and never expected his people to wish him well against

their wills; but, all the same, everyone did wish him well, for they all

loved him.

The Story of the Seven Simons

Far, far away, beyond all sorts of countries, seas and rivers, there

stood a splendid city where lived King Archidej, who was as good as he

was rich and handsome. His great army was made up of men ready to obey

his slightest wish; he owned forty times forty cities, and in each city

he had ten palaces with silver doors, golden roofs, and crystal windows.

His council consisted of the twelve wisest men in the country, whose

long beards flowed down over their breasts, each of whom was as learned

as a whole college. This council always told the king the exact truth.

Now the king had everything to make him happy, but he did not enjoy

anything because he could not find a bride to his mind.

One day, as he sat in his palace looking out to sea, a great ship sailed

into the harbour and several merchants came on shore. Said the king to

himself: 'These people have travelled far and beheld many lands. I will

ask them if they have seen any princess who is as clever and as handsome

as I am.'

So he ordered the merchants to be brought before him, and when they came

he said: 'You have travelled much and visited many wonders. I wish to

ask you a question, and I beg you to answer truthfully.

'Have you anywhere seen or heard of the daughter of an emperor, king,

or a prince, who is as clever and as handsome as I am, and who would be

worthy to be my wife and the queen of my country?'

The merchants considered for some time. At last the eldest of them said:

'I have heard that across many seas, in the Island of Busan, there is a

mighty king, whose daughter, the Princess Helena, is so lovely that she

can certainly not be plainer than your Majesty, and so clever that the

wisest greybeard cannot guess her riddles.'

'Is the island far off, and which is the way to it?'

'It is not near,' was the answer. 'The journey would take ten years, and

we do not know the way. And even if we did, what use would that be? The

princess is no bride for you.'

'How dare you say so?' cried the king angrily.

'Your Majesty must pardon us; but just think for a moment. Should you

send an envoy to the island he will take ten years to get there and ten

more to return--twenty years in all. Will not the princess have grown

old in that time and have lost all her beauty?'

The king reflected gravely. Then he thanked the merchants, gave them

leave to trade in his country without paying any duties, and dismissed

them.

After they were gone the king remained deep in thought. He felt puzzled

and anxious; so he decided to ride into the country to distract his

mind, and sent for his huntsmen and falconers. The huntsmen blew their

horns, the falconers took their hawks on their wrists, and off they all

set out across country till they came to a green hedge. On the other

side of the hedge stretched a great field of maize as far as the eye

could reach, and the yellow ears swayed to and fro in the gentle breeze

like a rippling sea of gold.

The king drew rein and admired the field. 'Upon my word,' said he,

'whoever dug and planted it must be good workmen. If all the fields in

my kingdom were as well cared for as this, there would be more bread

than my people could eat.' And he wished to know to whom the field

belonged.

Off rushed all his followers at once to do his bidding, and found a

nice, tidy farmhouse, in front of which sat seven peasants, lunching

on rye bread and drinking water. They wore red shirts bound with gold