There was once an old castle in the midst of a large and dense forest, and in it an old woman who was a witch dwelt all alone. In the day-time she changed herself into a car or a screech-owl, but in the evening she took her proper shape again as a human being. She could lure wild beasts and birds to her, and then she killed and boiled and roasted them. If anyone came within one hundred paces of the castle he was obliged to stand still, and could not stir from the place until she bade him be free. But whenever an innocent maiden came within this circle, she changed her into a bird, and shut her up in a wicker-work cage, and carried the cage into a room in the castle. She had about seven thousand cages of rare birds in the castle. Now, there was once a maiden who was called , who was more beautiful than all other girls. She had hair and lovely eyes. She and a handsome haired irish, eyed lad named had promised to marry each other. They were still in the days of betrothal, and their greatest happiness was being together, looking into each others eyes, kissing and cuddling. One day in order that they might be able to talk together in peace they went for a walk in the forest. Take care, said , that you do not go too near the castle. He was worried sick that would cross the line of the circle by accident. He couldn’t tell her enough.

It was a beautiful evening. The sun shone brightly between the trunks of the trees into the dark green of the forest, and the turtle-doves sang mournfully upon the beech trees. Then suddenly the couple found themselves being lost in the woods. did not know which way to go. wept now and then. She sat down in the sunshine and was sorrowful. was sorrowful too. They were as sad as if they were about to die. Then they looked around them, and were quite at a loss, for they still did not know by which way they should go home. The sun was still half above the mountain and half under. looked through the bushes, and startled when he saw the old walls of the castle close at hand. He was horror-stricken and filled with deadly fear realising how close they were to the castle. was singing, my little bird, with the necklace red, sings sorrow, sorrow, sorrow, he sings that the dove must soon be dead, heard her voice sing, and felt the worry grow, about her being so close to the castle. She sang along: sings sorrow, sor - jug, jug, jug. looked at and fright and despair filled his heart. She was changed into a nightingale, and sang, jug, jug, jug. A screech-owl with glowing eyes flew three times round about her, and three times cried, to-whoo, to-whoo, to-whoo. could not move. He stood there like a stone, and could neither weep nor speak, nor move hand or foot. The sun had now set. The owl flew into the thicket, and directly afterwards there came out of it a crooked old woman, yellow and lean, with large red eyes and a hooked nose, the point of which reached to her chin. She muttered to herself, caught the nightingale, and took it away in her hand. could neither speak nor move from the spot. The nightingale was gone. At last the woman came back, and said in a hollow voice, greet you, Zachiel. If the moon shines on the cage, Zachiel, let him loose at once. Then was freed. He fell on his knees before the woman and begged that she would give him back his , but she said that he should never have her again, and went away. He called, he wept, he lamented, but all in vain, hooh, what is to become of me. went away, and at last came to a strange village, where he kept sheep for a long time. He often walked round and round the castle, but not too near to it.

At last he dreamt one night that he found a blood-red flower, in the middle of which was a beautiful large pearl. That he picked the flower and went with it to the castle, and that everything he touched with the flower was freed from enchantment. He also dreamt that by means of it he recovered his . In the morning, when he awoke, he began to seek over hill and dale for such a flower. He sought until the ninth day, and then, early in the morning, he found the blood-red flower. In the middle of it there was a large dew-drop, as big as the finest pearl. Day and night he journeyed with this flower to the castle. When he was within a hundred paces of it he was not held fast, but walked on to the door. was full of joy. He touched the door with the flower, and it sprang open. He walked in through the courtyard, and listened for the sound of the birds. At last he heard it. He went on and found the room from whence it came, and there the witch was feeding the birds in the seven thousand cages. When she saw she was angry, very angry, and scolded and spat poison and gall at him, but she could not come within two paces of him. He did not take any notice of her, but went and looked at the cages with the birds. But there were many hundred nightingales, how was he to find his again. Just then he saw the old woman quietly take away a cage with a bird in it, and go towards the door. Swiftly he sprang towards her, touched the cage with the flower, and also the old woman. She could now no longer bewitch anyone. And was standing there, clasping him round the neck, and she was as beautiful as ever. Then all the other birds were turned into maidens again. He went home with his , her hands and looking into her eyes. Every now and then halting to embrace her and share sweet loving kisses. And they lived happily together for a long time.


THE END



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