Stranica 88 [88]
60 GRIMM S FAIRY TALES.
speak nor laugh ; and wert thou to speak one single word,
and it wanted but one hour of the seven years, all would be
in vain, and thy brothers would perish because of that one
word.”
Then the maiden said in her heart, “I am quite sure that
I can set my brothers free,” and went and sought a tall tree,
climbed up, and sat there spinning, and never spoke or
laughed. Now it happened that a King, who was hunting in
the wood, had with him a large greyhound, who ran to the
tree where the maiden was, sprang up at it, and barked loudly.
Up came the King and saw the beautiful Princess with the
golden star on her forehead, and he was so charmed with her
beauty that he prayed her to become his wife. She gave no
answer, only a little nod of her head. Then he himself climbed
the tree and brought her down, set her on his horse and took
her home. ‘The wedding was held with great splendour and
rejoicing, but the bride neither spoke nor laughed. After
they had lived pleasantly together for a few years, the King’s
mother, who was a wicked woman, began to slander the young
Queen, and said to the King,
‘She is only a low beggar-maid that you have taken to
yourself; who knows what mean tricks she is playing? Even if
she is really dumb and cannot speak she might at least laugh ;
not to laugh is the sign of a bad conscience.”
At first the King would believe nothing of it, but the old
woman talked so long, and suggested so many bad things, that
he at last let himself be persuaded, and condemned the Queen
to death,
Now a great fire was kindled in the courtyard, and she
was to be burned in it; and the King stood above at the
window, and watched it all with weeping eyes, for he had held
her very dear. And when she was already fast bound to the
stake, and the fire was licking her garments with red tongues,
the last moment of the seven years came to an end. Then a
rushing sound was heard in the air, and twelve ravens came
flying and sank downwards; and as they touched the earth
they became her twelve brothers that she had lost. They
rushed through the fire and quenched the flames, and set their
dear sister free, kissing and consoling her. And now that her
mouth was opened, and that she might venture to speak, she