Bear me in a boat on thy waves far from land,
So that I from my foes need not run.’”
The fool thought his father would find it very convenient always to have water at hand for the king’s flocks, so he gave his tablecloth in exchange for the belt, which he wound round his loins, and taking the wand in his hand, they went off in opposite directions. After a little while the fool began to reflect on what the oak had told him about keeping the tablecloth for his own use, and he remembered, too, that he was depriving himself of the power of giving his mother a pleasant surprise. Thereupon he said the magic words to his wand:
“Thou self-propelling, ever willing, fighting Wand,
Run quick and bring
My feast-providing tablecloth back to my hand,
Thy praise I’ll sing.”
The wand at once started in pursuit of the poor traveller, whom it began to beat, at the same time crying out:
“For others’ goods you seem to have a liking,
Stop, thief, or sure your back I’ll keep on striking.”