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003 - Boyislav Youngest of Twelve - Czech · Myths and Legends Around the World - Collection 05

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Speaker 1: Boislav Youngest of twelve from Myths and Folk Tales of
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Speaker 1: the Russians, Western Slavs and Magyars by Jeremiah Curtin. This
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Speaker 1: is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the
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Speaker 1: public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit
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Speaker 1: LibriVox dot org. Boislav Youngest of twelve. Once there was
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Speaker 1: a king who groaned many a day. Doctors came from
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Speaker 1: far and near, but they could not cure him. At last,
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Speaker 1: his condition was such that one day all thought he
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Speaker 1: must die. The following night he had a marvelous dream.
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Speaker 1: It seemed to him that he was on black Island,
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Speaker 1: had freed three princesses, and straightway recovered. When he awoke,
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Speaker 1: he felt a certain relief, but had almost forgotten the dream.
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Speaker 1: The next night he had the same dream, and again,
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Speaker 1: on waking, felt easier, but did not ascribe the relief
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Speaker 1: to his dream. The third night he had no dream,
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Speaker 1: but of vision in which to the three princesses appeared
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Speaker 1: to him and said, free us, and thou wilt recover,
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Speaker 1: if not thou wilt die. Then they vanished, and the
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Speaker 1: terrified king felt such pain that he could barely wait
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Speaker 1: till morning. He summoned his twelve sons in haste, and
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Speaker 1: when when he had told them of his vision, he said,
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Speaker 1: in a sad voice, but how can I, poor man,
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Speaker 1: go on a long journey to Black Island, of which
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Speaker 1: I have never even heard? I will go instead of
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Speaker 1: thee said Boislav, the youngest son, with decision. We will
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Speaker 1: all go, said the others, looking angrily at Boislav, whom
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Speaker 1: they hated with all their hearts because he was his
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Speaker 1: father's favorite. Ye cannot all leave me and thou Boislav
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Speaker 1: surely not, said the king, shaking his head. Who would
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Speaker 1: there be to reign in my place? Let Boislav stay
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Speaker 1: at home, said the eldest. Besides, he would merely be
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Speaker 1: a hindrance to us on the road. I a hindrance,
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Speaker 1: said Boislav, flushing up with anger and pain. Let me go, father,
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Speaker 1: I will free the princesses alone. His brothers began to
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Speaker 1: laugh at him, and then to dispute as to who
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Speaker 1: should go to Black Island. Since they could not decide,
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Speaker 1: the king said, I know that ye would all gladly
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Speaker 1: serve me, But since some of you must stay at home,
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Speaker 1: I will make six blank lots and six written ones.
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Speaker 1: Whoever draws a written one will go, whoever a blank
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Speaker 1: will remain. The princes were satisfied and drew lots. They
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Speaker 1: were angry when Boislav drew a prize, and the king
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Speaker 1: was sad, but he had given his word and could
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Speaker 1: not withdraw it. That very day the princes set out,
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Speaker 1: and Boislav with them. While on dry land, they were prosperous.
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Speaker 1: It was worse when they entered a boat and knew
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Speaker 1: not whither to turn. Boislav said they ought to go north,
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Speaker 1: but his brothers laughed at him. When they had sailed
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Speaker 1: many weeks in one direction and another without finding Black Island.
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Speaker 1: They were glad to follow his advice, and the third
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Speaker 1: day they arrived at the place. But so so terrible
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Speaker 1: was it that no one dared to land save Boislav.
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Speaker 1: He took provisions and sprang on shore, telling his brothers
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Speaker 1: to await his return. While light lasted, he ran up
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Speaker 1: and down the island, but saw nothing except black rocks.
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Speaker 1: He was forced to pass the night on a bare stone,
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Speaker 1: but rose early, completely refreshed by sleep, and examined farther.
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Speaker 1: One day passed, and a second the third day appeared,
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Speaker 1: and still he found nothing. At last, in the evening
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Speaker 1: he came to a large stone which seemed to him
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Speaker 1: hewn out by men's hands. He lifted with all his might,
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Speaker 1: turned it over, and found a great dark opening, from
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Speaker 1: which a pleasant odor arose. He went down without delay,
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Speaker 1: and soon found himself in a glorious garden, in which
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Speaker 1: were three golden castles. At a great distance. He gazed
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Speaker 1: with astonishment, though there were things there without number, such
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Speaker 1: as he had never seen before. Still his attention was
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Speaker 1: attracted first by three horses, which rushed around him three
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Speaker 1: times in a wild gallop, and then vanished in the
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Speaker 1: twinkle of an eye. Boislav looked after them and heard
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Speaker 1: a voice saying, I welcome thee Boislav, youngest of twelve.
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Speaker 1: He looked on every side, but could see no one.
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Speaker 1: The voice cried out a second time, I welcome thee Boislav,
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Speaker 1: youngest of twelve. Now he knew where the voice came from,
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Speaker 1: But though he went in that direction and examined everything
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Speaker 1: very carefully, he could see no one. Only after the
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Speaker 1: voice had called much louder than the first and second time,
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Speaker 1: I welcome thee Boislav youngest of twelve, did he see
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Speaker 1: behind a rock a famished little horse, so poor that
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Speaker 1: he could count all its ribs. What dost thou want
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Speaker 1: of me? Asked Boislav, not a little astonished that the
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Speaker 1: horse knew him. Tis thy wish to free the three princesses,
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Speaker 1: answered the horse, Then listen to what I advise. In
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Speaker 1: the first castle, thou wilt find the first princess, who
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Speaker 1: will greet THEE with kindness beyond measure, and offer THEE
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Speaker 1: food and drink. Eat with relish. But let not the
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Speaker 1: princess eat with thee or kiss THEE. Take what is
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Speaker 1: left of the food when thou hast eaten, and go
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Speaker 1: to the second castle. There the second princess will greet
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Speaker 1: THEE with still greater kindness, and offer food and drink,
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Speaker 1: eat with relish, But for no reason let her eat
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Speaker 1: with thee or kiss THEE. Take what is left after eating,
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Speaker 1: and go to the third castle, where the third princess
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Speaker 1: will give THEE the most kindly reception of all, and
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Speaker 1: place food and drink before THEE. Eat freely. But let
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Speaker 1: not the princess eat with thee or kiss THEE. Take
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Speaker 1: what is left and come here to me is nothing
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Speaker 1: more needed to gain their freedom, ask Boislav. Nothing, answered
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Speaker 1: the horse. But thou must not speak a word all
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Speaker 1: this time. That is very easy, thought Boislav. But the
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Speaker 1: horse said with great emphasis, have a care, for to
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Speaker 1: thee 'tis a question of life or death. Boislav went
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Speaker 1: with quix Stie up to the first castle, where a
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Speaker 1: princess of wonderful beauty ran forth toward him. I welcome thee, Boislav,
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Speaker 1: youngest of twelve, cried she with glad voice. How art
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Speaker 1: thou here come to my chamber. Let me give thee
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Speaker 1: good cheer? What is thy father doing? How are they brothers?
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Speaker 1: Then she took his hand and seated him at the table,
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Speaker 1: to which she brought the most savory food and drink,
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Speaker 1: continually speaking of his home. But he gave no regard,
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Speaker 1: and when she wished to eat with him, he thrust
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Speaker 1: her aside without mercy. Then he seized what was left
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Speaker 1: of the food and hurried away. The princess gave him
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Speaker 1: the sweetest of names and stretched her hands toward him,
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Speaker 1: but he acted as if he neither saw her nor
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Speaker 1: heard her. At the second castle, a still more beautiful
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Speaker 1: princess ran toward him greeted him with greater gladness, led
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Speaker 1: him in a chamber, seated him at a table, and
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Speaker 1: brought the most savory food and drink. Talking continually, she
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Speaker 1: moved toward him, wishing to kiss him, but he thrust
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Speaker 1: her aside rudely, so that she fell to the floor.
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Speaker 1: Before she could rise, he had taken what was left
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Speaker 1: of the food and was gone. He had barely reached
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Speaker 1: the third castle when a princess ran out to meet him.
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Speaker 1: She was far more beautiful than the other two, and
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Speaker 1: wished to fall on his neck straightway. He was amazed
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Speaker 1: at her beauty, but keeping in mind the words of
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Speaker 1: the horse, he thrust her away. But still she led
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Speaker 1: him into the castle, seated him at a table in
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Speaker 1: the loftiest chamber, and entertained him with the best food
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Speaker 1: and drink. Boislav ate and drank heartily, And when the
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Speaker 1: princess wished to eat, he pushed her aside so rudely that,
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Speaker 1: after staggering a few steps, she fell to the floor. Then,
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Speaker 1: quickly gathering the remnants of the food, he ran off,
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Speaker 1: though the princess called him with heart rending voice. When
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Speaker 1: he came to the horse, he spread on the rock
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Speaker 1: the remnants of food, which the horse devoured eagerly. What now,
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Speaker 1: asked Boislav. Go for the three princesses and bring them
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Speaker 1: to thy brothers in the boat. They are free, for
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Speaker 1: they are the horses which thou hast seen running around thee.
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Speaker 1: A wicked sorceress enchanted them, so that twelve hours they
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Speaker 1: were horses in twelve hour princesses. Then come for me,
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Speaker 1: or thou wilt suffer. Boislav did as the horse desired,
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Speaker 1: and brought to his brothers the three princesses, who, with
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Speaker 1: tearful eyes thanked him for their liberation. When he returned
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Speaker 1: to the horse, which said with sad voice, too bad,
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Speaker 1: too bad. What has happened, asked Boislav. Thou art unfortunate,
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Speaker 1: answered the horse. Thy departure from home was unfortunate. For
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Speaker 1: know that thy brothers have gone. That I must perish here,
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Speaker 1: cried Boislav. Now thou wilt not perish, But hadst thou
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Speaker 1: gone on the boat, thy death would be sure, for
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Speaker 1: thy brothers had conspired to kill thee. Oh, the thankless wretches,
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Speaker 1: cried Boislav. What shall I do now? If thou wilt
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Speaker 1: obey me? Said the horse, thou wilt gain thy object
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Speaker 1: in time. Go now to the garden of the first castle,
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Speaker 1: and pluck four golden apples, but only four. Boislav went,
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Speaker 1: and for the first time noticed the beauty of the
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Speaker 1: whole garden. He went back and forth, and would have
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Speaker 1: soon forgotten the apples, had he not heard the nang
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Speaker 1: of the horse. Now he saw the tree with golden apples,
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Speaker 1: and plucked four. Since they were so beautiful, he wanted more,
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Speaker 1: But the horse neighed so fiercely that the whole castle trembled.
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Speaker 1: His arm, which was stretched to the apples, dropped of itself,
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Speaker 1: and he returned to the horse, which said, now sit
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Speaker 1: on me. Boislav did so, and the horse bore him
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Speaker 1: soon to the shore of the sea, and said, throw
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Speaker 1: an apple in the sea. But a pity it is
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Speaker 1: to lose it, said Boislav. Throw it in, repeated the
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Speaker 1: horse with stern voice, and Boislav obeyed. That moment, a
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Speaker 1: road five hundred miles long rose out of the sea.
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Speaker 1: The horse stepped in the road and hurried along night
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Speaker 1: and day. When the domes of the great city were
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Speaker 1: seen in the distance, he said to Boislav, now we
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Speaker 1: are going to Red Island to a king who has
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Speaker 1: a very ugly daughter, but have no fear in the
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Speaker 1: world of her. When she cast eyes on thee, say
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Speaker 1: that thou art seeking a bride, but before choosing thou
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Speaker 1: must consult thy father. Then the king will offer thee
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Speaker 1: a present. Take nothing but a piece of rope for
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Speaker 1: my bridle. Boislov promised obedience. When they came to Red Island,
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Speaker 1: the roads sank in the sea, and the horse hurried on.
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Speaker 1: Boislav left him on. Boislav left him on the meadow
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Speaker 1: outside the city and went straight to the king's castle,
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Speaker 1: where he was courteously received. Where art thou going, noble prince,
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Speaker 1: asked the king in search of a bride, answered Boislav,
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Speaker 1: and the king led him to his daughter. She was
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Speaker 1: so ugly that Boislav was frightened. Does she not please thee?
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Speaker 1: Asked the king. Oh, she pleases me, said Boislav, pleases
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Speaker 1: me greatly, But first I must talk with my father.
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Speaker 1: The king smiled and led his guest to the supper chamber,
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Speaker 1: where he was entertained in king's fashion. Boislav wished to
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Speaker 1: go very soon, but the king took him first to
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Speaker 1: the treasury and offered him much gold and silver thanks
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Speaker 1: to thy grace, answered Boislav, my father has great treasures also.
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Speaker 1: But if thou wilt make me some present, give me
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Speaker 1: a piece of rope to repair my horse's bridle. Oh,
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Speaker 1: I will give thee a splendid bridle and saddle, said
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Speaker 1: the king. But Boislov answered, I wish no rich outfit
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Speaker 1: on the road. It is an enticement to robbers. The
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Speaker 1: king tried to persuade him, but could not. Then he
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Speaker 1: had a rope brought, which was very slender but very long,
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Speaker 1: so that Boislav was hardly able to bear it away.
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Speaker 1: After a kindly farewell to the king and the princess,
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Speaker 1: he hastened outside the town, where the horse called from
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Speaker 1: the distance, thou hast done well. Now wind that rope
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Speaker 1: around my body. Boislav opened the bundle, and a whole
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Speaker 1: hour passed before he could wind the rope around the horse.
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Speaker 1: When he had finished, they hurried to the sea, where
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Speaker 1: the horse said, throw a second apple in the sea.
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Speaker 1: But it would be an eternal pity, said Boislav. I
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Speaker 1: tell thee to throw the second apple into the sea,
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Speaker 1: repeated the horse with a stern voice. Boislav obeyed. That moment,
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Speaker 1: five hundred miles of road rose out of the waves
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Speaker 1: of the sea, along which the horse rushed like the
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Speaker 1: wind night and day. When the domes of a great
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Speaker 1: city were visible in the distance, he said to Boislav,
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Speaker 1: Now we are coming to Green Island, ruled by a
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Speaker 1: king who has a daughter not beautiful and not ugly.
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Speaker 1: Thou wilt say that thou art looking for a bride,
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Speaker 1: But before choosing thou must consult thy father. When thou
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Speaker 1: art taking leave, the king will offer all kinds of
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Speaker 1: jewels as a gift, except nothing, but ask for the
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Speaker 1: cloth on the table from which thou hast eaten. Boislav
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Speaker 1: promised this. When they had come to the Green Island,
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Speaker 1: the road sank into the sea, and the horse hurried
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Speaker 1: toward the city. The horse remained in a meadow outside
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Speaker 1: the gates. Boislav went to the palace, where he was
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Speaker 1: welcomed by the king and presented to the princess. What
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Speaker 1: brought thee to me, asked the king. I am in
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Speaker 1: search of a bride, answered Boislav, looking at the princess,
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Speaker 1: who seemed pleased at his words. Hast thou found one,
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Speaker 1: asked the king, not yet, replied Boislav. Does my daughter
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Speaker 1: not please thee The princess blushed, Oh, she pleases me greatly,
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Speaker 1: said Boislav, But first I must talk with my father.
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Speaker 1: The king frowned at these words, and the princess was
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Speaker 1: flushed with anger. But Boislav changed not and was so
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Speaker 1: courteous that the king grew ashamed and conducted him to
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Speaker 1: the supper chamber, where there was a small table covered
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Speaker 1: with a poor looking cloth, but upon which stood the
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Speaker 1: choicest food and drink. Boislav ate with relish. When he
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Speaker 1: had finished, the king took him to his treasure chamber,
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Speaker 1: where he offered him the rich presence. But Boislav said,
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Speaker 1: my father has many treasures, and I prefer to travel unburdened.
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Speaker 1: When the king insisted on his taking something as keepsake,
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Speaker 1: even if of the smallest value, Boislav said, give me
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Speaker 1: the cloth of the table on which I was entertained
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Speaker 1: by THEE. Oh, I should be ashamed to give such
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Speaker 1: a thing, said the king. I will give thee another
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Speaker 1: very skillfully woven. I want no other, answered Boislav, making
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Speaker 1: ready to go. Then take it, said the king, giving
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Speaker 1: the cloth with evident reluctance. Boislav parted with him and
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Speaker 1: the princess, and hastened to the horse, which called out
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Speaker 1: from afar, thou hast done well. Now sit on my back,
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Speaker 1: wilt fare farther. Boislav sprang on the horse, and he
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Speaker 1: raced over Green Island till he came to the sea.
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Speaker 1: Throw the third apple in the sea, said the horse.
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Speaker 1: But tis pity forever to lose it, said Boislav. Throw
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Speaker 1: the third apple in the sea, I say, commanded the horse, stirring,
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Speaker 1: and Boislav obeyed. That moment, a road five hundred miles
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Speaker 1: long rose from the waves of the sea. The horse
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Speaker 1: ran like a flash day and night till they saw
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Speaker 1: in the distance the domes of a great city. Now
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Speaker 1: we are nearing White Island, said the horse, where a
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Speaker 1: king reins, who has the most beautiful daughter under the sun.
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Speaker 1: All the people on the island are asleep, for in
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Speaker 1: the king's palace a taper is burning, which never burns
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Speaker 1: out until someone quenches it. They must all sleep. Go
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Speaker 1: to the palace, look at the princess as much as
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Speaker 1: may please thee, and take the taper, but be careful
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Speaker 1: that it does not go out on a sudden if
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Speaker 1: it is quenched, run to me with all speed, or
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Speaker 1: thou wilt have trouble. Boislov promised to obey faithfully. When
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Speaker 1: they came to White Island, the roads sank in the sea. Boislav,
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Speaker 1: leaving his horse before the gates of the city, hastened
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Speaker 1: to the palace. The most luxuriant trees were growing all
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Speaker 1: over the island, and beautiful flowers were in bloom. Titty
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Speaker 1: was splendid the palace of silver and gold, but nowhere
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Speaker 1: was a living creature to be seen. Boislov moved on
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Speaker 1: carefully through the empty streets, as if afraid of waking
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Speaker 1: some person. When he entered the palace, he was amazed
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Speaker 1: at its matchless beauty. But all was as nothing in
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Speaker 1: comparison with the beauty of the princess, who was sleeping
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Speaker 1: on a dark purple couch in the last chamber. She
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Speaker 1: was clothed in a light garment, white as new fallen snow.
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Speaker 1: Her dark hair fell on her white, slightly moving bosom.
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Speaker 1: Her lips were half open, her teeth shone like pearls,
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Speaker 1: and her whole figure was so full of charm that
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Speaker 1: Boislov held his breath with head inclined with crossed hands.
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Speaker 1: He looked at her long forgot the horse, the taper,
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Speaker 1: and the whole world, not thinking of whether he was living,
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Speaker 1: He only felt that the princess was beautiful. When he
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Speaker 1: had waited a long time, he remembered the taper, looked
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Speaker 1: around the room, saw on the table, and saw in
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Speaker 1: two couches the King and queen. He stepped quickly to
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Speaker 1: the table to quench the taper and rouse the princess
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Speaker 1: for all at once. He heard the horse nece so
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Speaker 1: fiercely that the palace trembled to its foundation. His hand
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Speaker 1: dropped on itself, and he muttered, thanks to thee O horse.
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Speaker 1: Had I quenched the taper, all would have risen, and
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Speaker 1: who knows what might have come to me. He took
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Speaker 1: the taper quickly and turned away, but when passing through
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Speaker 1: the door, he could not refrain from looking at the
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Speaker 1: princess again. She seemed still more beautiful. He put the
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Speaker 1: taper on the table, knelt and kissed her hand. With
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Speaker 1: that her face became ready as a rose, and around
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Speaker 1: her mouth appeared a smile. He sprang up, and as
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Speaker 1: dark knight had come, he thought of his return, seized
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Speaker 1: the taper quickly looked at the princess, rode on the table,
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Speaker 1: boy slapped youngest of twelve, and went from the palace,
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Speaker 1: taking care that the taper should not be quenched. He
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Speaker 1: reached the gate of the city, but there the taper
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Speaker 1: was blown out by the wind. That moment was heard
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Speaker 1: in the city a shout, which grew louder the longer
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Speaker 1: it lasted. But the trusty steed appeared and bore him
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Speaker 1: in a flash to the shore of the sea. Throw
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Speaker 1: in the last apple, said the horse. Boislav obeyed without
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Speaker 1: a murmur. That moment, there rose from the waves a
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Speaker 1: road which reached to firm land, and as dawn was appearing,
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Speaker 1: they came to shore. Then the roads sank in the sea.
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Speaker 1: Now come down, said the horse. Let me rest, and
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Speaker 1: do thou rest too. The horse went to the green meadow,
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Speaker 1: and Boislav lay on the grass and mused on the
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Speaker 1: Princess of White Island. Since he was wearied greatly, he
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Speaker 1: fell asleep, but thought of the princess, so that he
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Speaker 1: sighed from sorrow. When the horse ruised him and said,
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Speaker 1: let us go, Boislav mounted in silence. They traveled till
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Speaker 1: they saw domes of a great city. What city is this,
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Speaker 1: inquired Boislav, see us not, asked the horse. That is
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Speaker 1: thy birthplace. Sure enough, go quickly, dear horse, that I
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Speaker 1: may embrace my father. Hurry not, said the horse, for
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Speaker 1: it would be better thee not to go, Why, asked
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Speaker 1: Boislav with wonder, because thy father has uttered sentence of
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Speaker 1: death against THEE. I do not believe that, replied Boislav,
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Speaker 1: shaking his head, and the horse was silent. Boislav's heart
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Speaker 1: beat with joy when he entered the gates of his
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Speaker 1: native place, but his joy was short lived. He had
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Speaker 1: scarcely passed one street when people began to gather around him,
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Speaker 1: till at last an officer of the king's army seized
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Speaker 1: the bridle of his horse and ordered the people who
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Speaker 1: were standing around him to seize his arms. All rushed
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Speaker 1: like hungry birds of prey on the terrified Boislav. What
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Speaker 1: art thou doing? Cried he, when at length he recovered himself.
19:49
Speaker 1: Do ye not know that I am your prince? Prince?
19:52
Speaker 1: Or not? Cried all. We know THEE well enough to
19:54
Speaker 1: know that tomorrow thou wilt dance in the air. They
19:58
Speaker 1: took the unfortunate boys Lav to the castle, where by
20:01
Speaker 1: command of the king, he was cast into a dark dungeon,
20:04
Speaker 1: and his horse, which they all laughed at, was shut
20:06
Speaker 1: up in a pen. The officer who brought Boislav to
20:10
Speaker 1: the palace got a great reward and went in high
20:12
Speaker 1: glee to the nearest inn to drink with his comrades.
20:16
Speaker 1: Why was the king enraged with his favorite son because
20:20
Speaker 1: shameless lies had been told by his other sons. When
20:23
Speaker 1: Boislav brought the three princesses a Black Island to the
20:26
Speaker 1: boat and returned for his horse, his brothers weighed anchor
20:30
Speaker 1: at once and sailed off on the way. They forced
20:33
Speaker 1: the unfortunate princesses to promise an oath to tell the
20:35
Speaker 1: king that they were deliberators, and to say that Boislav
20:39
Speaker 1: on Black Island had attached himself to a worthless woman
20:42
Speaker 1: and made sport of his old father. Meanwhile, they agreed
20:46
Speaker 1: to cast lots for the princesses. When the brothers declared
20:50
Speaker 1: their wish, the princesses said that they would not break
20:53
Speaker 1: their oaths, but could never be the wives of such men.
20:56
Speaker 1: The brothers paid small heed to this, for their hearts
20:59
Speaker 1: were hard they were satisfied with having got rid of Boislav.
21:04
Speaker 1: They ordered the oarsmen to press on as a favorable
21:08
Speaker 1: wind blew without stopping. They soon arrived safely on firm land,
21:12
Speaker 1: where they hired horses and hurried to their native place.
21:16
Speaker 1: The king, who had recovered as soon as the princesses
21:19
Speaker 1: on Black Island were freed, welcomed his sons and the
21:22
Speaker 1: princesses with tears in his eyes. But how he flushed
21:25
Speaker 1: up with anger when they told the story to which
21:27
Speaker 1: they had been forced by oath. He ordered the death
21:31
Speaker 1: of Boislav at once, and offered great reward for his capture.
21:34
Speaker 1: The wicked brothers rubbed their hands with glee, but the
21:38
Speaker 1: princesses withdrew to the chambers given to them by the
21:40
Speaker 1: king and passed their time in silent grief. The king
21:44
Speaker 1: was astonished at this, and wished to know what prince
21:47
Speaker 1: they loved. He would give his blessing at once and
21:50
Speaker 1: the proper income. But the princesses only shook their heads,
21:54
Speaker 1: and the king asked his sons the reasons for the
21:56
Speaker 1: princess's sorrow. The young men evaded the question, saying that
22:00
Speaker 1: perhaps the princesses were homesick. At last they led the
22:04
Speaker 1: conversation to Boislav. The king flushed up with anger, which
22:08
Speaker 1: all his sons wanted so as to avoid speaking of
22:11
Speaker 1: the princesses of Black Island, for they knew nothing about them.
22:16
Speaker 1: And now, when Boislav was in prison, they continued to
22:19
Speaker 1: excite the king to give an order forbidding anyone to
22:22
Speaker 1: ask mercy for him under the pain of death. Why
22:25
Speaker 1: should I endanger my life, thought every one. The king,
22:28
Speaker 1: of course, knows why he wants to put his son
22:30
Speaker 1: to death. Many pitied the prince, but only one man
22:34
Speaker 1: shed tears. He was an old warrior who had once
22:37
Speaker 1: commanded the king's armies and was retained by a friend
22:40
Speaker 1: of the king. He did not believe that Boislav deserved death,
22:44
Speaker 1: and resolved to ask pardon for him. Well thought he,
22:49
Speaker 1: I shall not live till spring, and it is all
22:52
Speaker 1: the same whether I die a day earlier or later.
22:55
Speaker 1: I have been in danger of death times without number,
22:58
Speaker 1: and have never been even wound. Did perhaps I shall
23:01
Speaker 1: escape now? He went bravely to the king, who greeted
23:05
Speaker 1: him very kindly, as was his wont what dost thou wish,
23:09
Speaker 1: asked he of the old man, who is silent. I
23:12
Speaker 1: ask mercy for Boislav, said he, How darest thou slight
23:16
Speaker 1: my order? Asked the king angrily. Knowest not thou art
23:19
Speaker 1: doomed to death? I know, answered the old man with dignity,
23:23
Speaker 1: But I fear not death. I mean to say that
23:26
Speaker 1: thou art disgracing thyself by giving thy own blood to
23:28
Speaker 1: the hangman. The King was struck with these words, and
23:33
Speaker 1: walked up and down the room with bowed head. Who
23:36
Speaker 1: knows whether Boislav is really guilty or not, said the
23:39
Speaker 1: old man, for the conduct of the princesses from Black
23:42
Speaker 1: Island is strange. Thou art right, and I will not
23:45
Speaker 1: give him to the hangman. But still he must die.
23:49
Speaker 1: I shall have him confined with the lines, let them
23:51
Speaker 1: tear him. The old man made further effort, but the
23:55
Speaker 1: King would not be persuaded. When night came, Boislav was
23:59
Speaker 1: taken secretly from prison and shut in with the lions.
24:03
Speaker 1: But the brothers were not satisfied yet. They told the
24:06
Speaker 1: king that Boislav could easily escape and advised him to
24:08
Speaker 1: wallop the doors. The king consented, and the next day
24:12
Speaker 1: the doors were walled up, there remaining only a small
24:14
Speaker 1: opening in the other side. This was fortunate, for otherwise
24:19
Speaker 1: Boislav must have perished for want of air. He looked
24:23
Speaker 1: at the lions without fear. They did not harm him.
24:26
Speaker 1: Then he took out the taper and the tablecloth, which
24:29
Speaker 1: he kept in his bosom, lighted the taper, laid the
24:33
Speaker 1: cloth on the ground, and asked for the choicest food.
24:35
Speaker 1: It appeared. He fed the lions first, then ate and
24:39
Speaker 1: drank himself. The lions ate at his feet in thankfulness.
24:43
Speaker 1: He lay on them and fell asleep. When awake, he
24:47
Speaker 1: played with the lions, who in a few days were
24:50
Speaker 1: tame or thought of the princess on Wye Island. In
24:54
Speaker 1: this way his days passed quickly, and before he knew it,
24:57
Speaker 1: a whole year had gone. Meanwhile, the Princess of White
25:01
Speaker 1: Island traveled over the world with an army in search
25:04
Speaker 1: of her liberator. She had already visited many kings, but
25:07
Speaker 1: in no royal family had she found twelve sons. At last,
25:12
Speaker 1: she came to the dominions of the old King and
25:14
Speaker 1: learned that he had twelve sons. Her heart jumped for joy,
25:18
Speaker 1: and she marched night and day till she appeared before
25:21
Speaker 1: the capital straightway. She sent messengers to the king, asking
25:25
Speaker 1: him to send her that prince who had freed her
25:27
Speaker 1: and her whole kingdom. The king called the five princes
25:30
Speaker 1: who went with Boislav and asked if they had been
25:33
Speaker 1: on White Island. Of course, answered the truthless princes, and
25:37
Speaker 1: the eldest one shamelessly added that he had freed its princess.
25:41
Speaker 1: Then hurry to her, said the king. He went. Where
25:45
Speaker 1: is the taper, asked the princess when he came, But
25:47
Speaker 1: he knew nothing of it. Thereupon the princess became so
25:51
Speaker 1: angry that she drew her sword and cut off his
25:53
Speaker 1: head with a blow. Again, she sent the messenger with
25:57
Speaker 1: the announcement that if her liberator was not sent, she
26:00
Speaker 1: would turn the city into dust and ashes. I freed her,
26:03
Speaker 1: said the second prince to the frightened king. Then go
26:06
Speaker 1: to her. When she asked the second prince about the taper,
26:10
Speaker 1: he could give no answer and lost his life. The
26:13
Speaker 1: messenger returned to the king and told him what had
26:16
Speaker 1: happened to the two princes. The three remaining ones were
26:19
Speaker 1: so terrified that they confessed the truth. The old man
26:23
Speaker 1: Boislav's savior. Now said to the King, I told thee
26:27
Speaker 1: Boislav was innocent. Thou wouldest not believe me. Now see
26:31
Speaker 1: how thou hast saved thy city from destruction. For the
26:34
Speaker 1: princess will surely carry out her threat unless Boislav is
26:38
Speaker 1: delivered up. But how can I deliver him when he
26:41
Speaker 1: is dead, asked the king. He is not dead, replied
26:44
Speaker 1: the old man joyfully, for there is still a little
26:47
Speaker 1: opening in the lion's den, and there is light there
26:50
Speaker 1: night and day. The king sprang up joyfully, hastened to
26:53
Speaker 1: the den, and had the walled up doors opened. Boislav
26:57
Speaker 1: looked on this carelessly, and when the king implored with
27:00
Speaker 1: tenderness to come out, that he forgave him all, he
27:03
Speaker 1: shook his head, saying, I will not go. It is
27:05
Speaker 1: not good enough for me here. But the princess will
27:08
Speaker 1: destroy my city. Said the King, What princess, asked Boislav
27:13
Speaker 1: with curiosity the princess from White Island in silence, but
27:17
Speaker 1: with gladness in his eyes. Boislav quenched the taper, folded
27:21
Speaker 1: the tablecloth, and taking both with him, walked out. When
27:25
Speaker 1: he went with the messenger to the princess. His heart
27:28
Speaker 1: beat with anxiety, so that he could not raise his
27:31
Speaker 1: eyes when he stood before her. Thou art, the man,
27:34
Speaker 1: exclaimed the princess joyfully, but when Boislav knew not what
27:37
Speaker 1: to answer, she said, reproachfully, hast the ardor with which
27:41
Speaker 1: thou hadst kissed me grown cold? It is not, murmured Boislav,
27:45
Speaker 1: wishing to kiss the golden hem of her robe. The
27:48
Speaker 1: princess raised him up, and, kissing him, said this is
27:51
Speaker 1: the earnest of our betrothal. Boislav was glad to respond,
27:56
Speaker 1: and now all returned to the castle where feasting began,
27:59
Speaker 1: which is to be closed by the wedding of the
28:01
Speaker 1: princess and Boislav. All were rejoiced, except the princesses of
28:05
Speaker 1: Black Island, who are as sad as ever. The three
28:09
Speaker 1: princes who had gone to Black Island were in deathly terror. Boislav,
28:13
Speaker 1: in the middle of the feast, grew sad, and when
28:16
Speaker 1: asked the reason, he inquired, where is my trusty horse?
28:20
Speaker 1: No one could answer him, till at last one of
28:22
Speaker 1: the servants remembered that the horse had been shut up
28:24
Speaker 1: in a pen. To the great astonishment of all Boislav
28:28
Speaker 1: ran out to him, fell upon his neck, and shed
28:30
Speaker 1: tears of joy. Thou hast done well to come, said
28:33
Speaker 1: the horse, sadly, or I should have perished with hunger.
28:36
Speaker 1: For the cord brought from Red Island is eaten. Every
28:39
Speaker 1: span of it became a bundle of hay. And now
28:42
Speaker 1: thou hast attained thy object, and I am needed no
28:45
Speaker 1: longer cut off my head. I cut off thy head,
28:49
Speaker 1: exclaimed Boislav. Then thou dost not wish to free me,
28:53
Speaker 1: said the horse, with chiding voice. Boislav drew his sword
28:56
Speaker 1: and cut off the horse's head at one blow. The
28:59
Speaker 1: horses appeared in an instant, and in his stead appeared
29:02
Speaker 1: a beautiful prince, who fell upon Boislav's neck and shed
29:06
Speaker 1: tears of joy. What is this, asked Boislav, full of astonishment.
29:11
Speaker 1: Come to supper, said the prince. I will explain it all.
29:14
Speaker 1: Both hurried to supper. Scarcely were they at the door
29:17
Speaker 1: when the youngest princess from Black Island fell into his arms,
29:20
Speaker 1: and the other two pressed his hands. When they had
29:23
Speaker 1: recovered from the first surprise, the prince said, I am
29:26
Speaker 1: the only son of a powerful king whose dominions are
29:28
Speaker 1: not far from Black Island. I would not marry the
29:31
Speaker 1: daughter of a queen who was a witch, and she
29:34
Speaker 1: enchanted me, and the princesses of Black Island, the youngest
29:37
Speaker 1: of whom is my bride, were turned into horses twelve
29:40
Speaker 1: hours of each day. Boislav freed the princesses first, and
29:44
Speaker 1: now has freed me. The moment I regained my form,
29:47
Speaker 1: the spell was removed from Black Island. All were delighted
29:51
Speaker 1: with Boeislav. But the king was thoughtful and seemed to
29:54
Speaker 1: ponder over important things. At last he summoned the three
29:57
Speaker 1: princes who went with Boislav to Black Island, and gave
30:00
Speaker 1: command to throw them to the lions. The lions tore
30:04
Speaker 1: them to pieces in an instant. Now came new festivities,
30:08
Speaker 1: and when all were finished, Boislav went with his wife
30:11
Speaker 1: to White Island, and the liberated prince, with his wife
30:14
Speaker 1: and sisters, went to Black Island, where they celebrated at
30:18
Speaker 1: once their wedding and their liberation. End of Boislav, youngest
30:24
Speaker 1: of twelve