Fairy Tales From All Nations

by Anthony R. Montalba

To relate what occurred to each of these twelve brethren, and how each fulfilled his appointed destiny, would be a very tedious task, and the more so as the fate of the younger brother was alone sufficiently remarkable to deserve attention.

This youth had from his earliest years an aversion to all kind of labour and trouble; hence, in all his necessities he always relied on the favour of Fortune, and the more so as he had more than once had reason to surmise that she was favourably inclined towards him. Whilst his brothers laboriously pursued their game under every disadvantage of time, place, and weather, he would lie at his ease, with his weapons beside him, on a grassy hill, beneath the shade of the trees; and it generally came to pass that whilst his brothers pursued some poor hare, in the sweat of their brow, a roebuck would come, as if at his call, so near to him that he could shoot it without the least exertion. Owing to this, he had to endure many a jeer from his brethren, whose jealousy was excited by his good luck, and they called him in derision Lazy Bones.

His confidence in the favour of the blind goddess guided him prosperously on his way. By day he shot all kinds of game, which came in abundance towards him, kindled a fire, roasted and eat it; at night, he stretched himself on the soft grass, and slept refreshingly till the next morning. After he had pursued his way in this manner for six days, he arrived at a royal city altogether unknown to him. He entered one of the best inns, and offered the host a hare in exchange for a draught of wine, to refresh himself with after the fatigue of his journey. The host gave him credit for more than he was able both to eat and drink, offered him a bed, and charged him the most moderate price.

Just as he sat down to table, a multitude of persons assembled in the room of the inn, and conversed with each other about a most remarkable occurrence which had just taken place. The affair was indeed one of no trifling importance, for it concerned the royal establishment. The king had had ninety-nine swineherds, who one and all had disappeared, and in all probability would never again be heard of. The nine-and-ninetieth of these had been missed only the night before, and it was much doubted whether the king would be able to find any one again who would be willing to undertake so perilous a charge. For although the highest wages were offered to any one who would undertake to tend the royal swine but for a single day, yet no one throughout the whole kingdom had yet offered himself, and the illustrious owner of the swine was in great risk of losing them all.

The young stranger listened to this narration with surprise, but could not conjecture what could be the difficulty attached to the service. As the host had for some time been employed in looking out for swineherds for the king, he asked his young guest whether he would undertake the office, adding at the same time, that the king would give a year's wages for a single day's service.

"Why not?" replied Pista, (that was the young adventurer's name) and he declared himself quite willing to undertake the charge, as he thought the business of a swineherd did not demand more skill and trouble than he was accustomed to exert. His consent thus given, the host joyfully conducted him to the king and praised throughout the whole city the courageous resolution of his guest.

The monarch received them both graciously, and not only confirmed the offer made by the host to the youth, but promised him a gratuity into the bargain, in case of his discharging his duty with zeal and perseverance.

He commanded a capital supper to be placed before him, and appointing him to drive the swine in the morning to the heath, he dismissed him with the most gracious wishes for his welfare.

Before the dawn of day, Pista was already at his post. The heath lay in a pleasant district, inclosed on the one side by mountains, and on the other by a thick forest. On his arrival there he found all tranquil, and could not imagine what danger was to be apprehended.

He passed the day in expectation, and the evening approached as peacefully as the day had departed. The moon and stars shed their light over the district, and the refreshing coolness of the air invited the carefree herdsman to repose. He lay calmly down near his herd, commended them and himself to fortune, and slept in peace.