Maid Maleen
There was once a king who had a son who asked
in marriage the daughter of a mighty king, she was called Maid Maleen, and was very
beautiful. As her father wished to give her to another, the prince was rejected, but as
they both loved each other with all their hearts, they would not give each other up, and
Maid Maleen said to her father, I can and will take no other for my husband. Then the king
flew into a passion, and ordered a dark tower to be built, into which no ray of sunlight
or moonlight should enter. When it was finished, he said, therein shall you be imprisoned
for seven years, and then I will come and see if your perverse spirit is broken. Meat and
drink for the seven years were carried into the tower, and then she and her
maid-in-waiting were led into it and walled up, and thus cut off from the sky and from the
earth. There they sat in the darkness, and knew not when day or night began. The king's
son often went round and round the tower, and called their names, but no sound from
without pierced through the thick walls. What else could they do but lament and complain.
Meanwhile the time passed, and by the decline of food and drink they knew that the seven
years were coming to an end. They thought the moment of their deliverance was come, but no
stroke of the hammer was heard, no stone fell out of the wall, and it seemed to Maid
Maleen that her father had forgotten her. As they had food only for a short time longer,
and saw a miserable death awaiting them, Maid Maleen said, we must try our last chance,
and see if we can break through the wall. She took the bread-knife, and picked and bored
at the mortar of a stone, and when she was tired, the waiting-maid took her turn. With
great labor they succeeded in getting out one stone, and then a second, and a third, and
when three days were over the first ray of light fell on their darkness, and at last the
opening was so large that they could look out. The sky was blue, and a fresh breeze played
on their faces, but how melancholy everything looked all around. Her father's castle lay
in ruins, the town and the villages were, so far as could be seen, destroyed by fire, the
fields far and wide laid to waste, and no human being was visible. When the opening in the
wall was large enough for them to slip through, the waiting-maid sprang down first, and
then Maid Maleen followed. But where were they to go. The enemy had ravaged the whole
kingdom, driven away the king, and slain all the inhabitants. They wandered forth to seek
another country, but nowhere did they find a shelter, or a human being to give them a
mouthful of bread, and their need was so great that they were forced to appease their
hunger with nettles. When, after long journeying, they came into another country, they
tried to get work everywhere, but wherever they knocked they were turned away, and no one
would have pity on them. At last they arrived in a large city and went to the royal
palace. There also they were ordered to go away, but at last the cook said that they might
stay in the kitchen and be scullions. The son of the king in whose kingdom they were,
however, was the very man who had been betrothed to Maid Maleen. His father had chosen
another bride for him, whose face was as ugly as her heart was wicked. The wedding was
fixed, and the maiden had already arrived, but because of her great ugliness she shut
herself in her room, and allowed no one to see her, and Maid Maleen had to take her her
meals from the kitchen. When the day came for the bride and the bridegroom to go to
church, she was ashamed of her ugliness, and afraid that if she showed herself in the
streets, she would be mocked and laughed at by the people. Then said she to Maid Maleen, a
great piece of luck has befallen you. I have sprained my foot, and cannot well walk
through the streets, you shall put on wedding-clothes and take my place, a greater honor
than that you cannot have. Maid Maleen, however, refused it, and said, I wish for no honor
which is not suitable for me. It was in vain, too, that the bride offered her gold. At
last she said angrily, if you do not obey me, it shall cost you your life. I have but to
speak the word, and your head will lie at your feet. Then she was forced to obey, and put
on the bride's magnificent clothes and all her jewels. When she entered the royal hall,
every one was amazed at her great beauty, and the king said to his son, this is the bride
whom I have chosen for you, and whom you must lead to church. The bridegroom was
astonished, and thought, she is like my Maid Maleen, and I should believe that it was she
herself, but she has long been shut up in the tower, or dead. He took her by the hand and
led her to church. On the way was a nettle-plant, and she said, oh, nettle-plant, little
nettle-plant, what dost thou here alone. I have known the time when I ate thee unboiled
when I ate thee unroasted. What are you saying, asked the king's son. Nothing, she
replied, I was only thinking of Maid Maleen. He was surprised that she knew about her, but
kept silence. When they came to the foot-plank into the chuchyard, she said, foot-bridge,
do not break, I am not the true bride. What are you saying there, asked the the king's
son. Nothing, she replied, I was only thinking of Maid Maleen. Do you know Maid Maleen.
No, she answered, how should I know her, I have only heard of her. When they came to the
church-door, she said once more, church-door, break not, I am not the true bride. What are
you saying there asked he. Ah, she answered, I was only thinking of Maid Maleen. Then he
took out a precious chain, put it round her neck, and fastened the clasp. Thereupon they
entered the church, and the priest joined their hands together before the altar, and
married them. He led her home, but she did not speak a single word the whole way. When
they got back to the royal palace, she hurried into the bride's chamber, put off the
magnificent clothes and the jewels, dressed herself in her gray gown, and kept nothing but
the jewel on her neck, which she had received from the bridegroom. When the night came,
and the bride was to be led into the prince's apartment, she let her veil fall over her
face, that he might not observe the deception. As soon as everyone had gone away, he said
to her, what did you say to the nettle-plant which was growing by the wayside. To which
nettle-plant, asked she, I don't talk to nettle-plants. If you did not do it, then you are
not the true bride, said he. So she bethought herself, and said, I must go out unto my
maid who keeps my thoughts for me. She went out and sought Maid Maleen. Girl, what have
you been saying to the nettle. I said nothing but, oh, nettle-plant, little nettle-plant,
what dost thou here alone. I have known the time when I ate thee unboiled, when I ate thee
unroasted. The bride ran back into the chamber, and said, I know now what I said to the
nettle, and she repeated the words which she had just heard. But what did you say to the
foot-bridge when we went over it asked the king's son. To the foot-bridge, she answered. I
don't talk to foot-bridges. Then you are not the true bride. She again said, I must go out
unto my maid, who keeps my thoughts for me. And ran out and scolded Maid Maleen, girl,
what did you say to the foot-bridge. I said nothing but, foot-bridge, do not break, I am
not the true bride. That costs you your life, cried the bride, but she hurried into the
room and said, I know now what I said to the foot-bridge, and she repeated the words. But
what did you say to the church-door. To the church-door, she replied, I don't talk to
church-doors. Then you are not the true bride. She went out and scolded Maid Maleen, and
said, girl, what did you say to the church-door. I said nothing but, church-door, break
not, I am not the true bride. That will break your neck for you, cried the bride, and flew
into a terrible passion, but she hastened back into the room, and said, I know now what I
said to the church-door, and she repeated the words. But where have you the jewel which I
gave you at the church-door. What jewel, she answered, you did not give me any jewel. I
myself put it round your neck, and I myself fastened it, if you do not know that, you are
not the true bride. He drew the veil from her face, and when he saw her immeasurable
ugliness, he sprang back terrified, and said, how do you come here. Who are you. I am your
betrothed bride, but because I feared lest the people should mock me when they saw me out
of doors, I commanded the scullery-maid to dress herself in my clothes, and to go to
church instead of me. Where is the girl, said he I want to see her, go and bring her here.
She went out and told the servants that the scullery-maid was an impostor, and that they
must take her out into the court-yard and strike off her head. The servants laid hold of
Maid Maleen and wanted to drag her out, but she screamed so loudly for help, that the
king's son heard her voice, hurried out of his chamber and ordered them to set the maiden
free instantly. Lights were brought, and then he saw on her neck the gold chain which he
had given her at the church-door. You are the true bride, said he, who went with me to
church, come with me now to my room. When they were both alone, he said, on the way to the
church you did name Maid Maleen, who was my betrothed bride. If I could believe it
possible, I should think she was standing before me - you are like her in every respect.
She answered, I am Maid Maleen, who for your sake was imprisoned seven years in the
darkness, who suffered hunger and thirst, and has lived so long in want and poverty.
Today, however, the sun is shining on me once more. I was married to you in the church,
and I am your lawful wife. Then they kissed each other, and were happy all the days of
their lives. The false bride was rewarded for what she had done by having her head cut
off. The tower in which Maid Maleen had been imprisoned remained standing for a long time,
and when the children passed by it they sang, king, klang, gloria. Who sits within this
tower. A king's daughter, she sits within, a sight of her I cannot win, the wall it will
not break, the stone cannot be pierced. Little Hans, with your coat so gay, follow me,
follow me, fast as you may.
--The End-- |
