The Olive Fairy Book

g man, though hardly more than twenty years of age, had not as much hair on his head as a baby. But, old as he looked, the

tage when the sultan’s daughter came riding by, followed by a number of gaily dressed ladies. The y

lse,’ he thought. And jumping

an, and tell him that I want his

ck into a corner, for nothing but sudden ma

the sultan and tell him that I want his daught

o trade, and have only the five gold pieces left you by your father, and can you real

son cease tormenting her, till, in despair, she put on her best clothe

e complaints and petitions of his people, so the woman

the sultan's da

of the princess, has not left me in peace day or night till I consented to come to the palace, and to ask your Excellency for your daughter’s hand. It

eed. So, instead of ordering the trembling creature to be flogged or cast into prison,

n repeated his words even more gently than before, and did not look in a

asked her son eagerly as

he mother. And when he heard the good news, his face lightened up so wonderfully that his

re swiftly,’ cried he. And in anot

and resolved that he must somehow or other shake himself free of such an unwelcome lover. But as he ha

r husband must first collect all the birds in the world, and bring them into the

n catching them it would take years to carry them to the palace! Still, he was too proud to let the sultan think that he had g

th great rocks scattered here and there. In the shadow cast by one of these was seate

’ said the holy man; ‘tell me what i

but the sultan refuses to give her to me unless I can collect all the birds in th

shadow is darkest, close to the trunk, and keep very still. By-and-by you will hear a mighty rushing of wings, and all the birds in the world will come and nestle in the branches. Be careful not to make a sound till everything is quiet again

her was filled with surprise, for never had he seen such a sight before. Oh! how lovely were those little bodies, and bright frightened eyes! Soon a gentle stirring was heard, and what a multitude of wings unfolded themsel

re the sultan, as b

d now give me the princess,’ said the y

ght desire. That head of yours, you know — it is so very bald! Get it covered with nice thick curly hair, a

e wedding was to be celebrated without delay in the palace. With that he arose in wrath, and made his way quickly and secretly to a side door, used only by the workmen who kept the building in repair, and, unseen by anyone, he made his way i

one remained rooted to the ground; and some messengers whom the

, but as nobody could give him any explanation, he bade one of his attendants to fetch a magician,

ken your promise to the young man, your daughter would not have had this ill befall her. Now there i

en hiding behind a pillar, smiled to himself when he heard these words, and, hastening home, he said to his mother: ‘If messengers from the sultan should come here and ask for me, be sure you answer that it is a long while since I went away,

loudly at the door, and the ol

n outside. ‘If so, let him come with me, as

of her veil to her eyes, ‘he left me long since,

intends to bestow on him the hand of his daughter, and he is c

onour that the sultan does him, and well worth some trouble. There are places where, perhaps, he ma

is purse are a thousand gold pieces; spend them freely. Tel

farewell, for I must make some preparations; but

e neighbours, and as they did not even kindle a fire or light a lantern, everyone supposed that the cottage was deserted. At length one fine

d he let him pass, and another attendant who was waiting inside conducte

yourself all this time?’ said he.

e grew hateful to me, and I set out to wander through the world! But now that you have repented of your ill

chamber where they met. After this was done, the youth begged the sultan to lead him to the princess, and together the

e spell?’ asked th

, to say the truth, was a little anxious

tims of Mads

e bride placed her hand joyfully in that of her new bridegroom. As for the

en aus Stambul. Dr. Ignaz Künos. E