Fairy Tales From All Nations

by Anthony R. Montalba

Pista had not long to wait; he soon heard a terrible rustling descending from the tops of the trees. By degrees it grew darker around him, and at once a monstrous dragon, much larger than the first, came sailing through the air, whose out-spread wings shaded, like a thunder-cloud, the district beneath, as with furious haste he seemed descending on the herdsman. But Pista lost no time in offering him the two loaves and the two flasks, which so fortunately appeased the monster that he immediately stretched himself on the grass, and, much at his ease, swallowed the provisions, and then fell asleep and snored like thunder. Pista again seized the favourable moment and cut the dragon's throat, from whose jaws fell a silver key, which he put at once into his pocket.

Then he went, as on the preceding day, into the interior of the forest, and soon saw a palace built entirely of silver, which dazzled his eyes from afar by its brilliancy. All that he saw and did in the Copper Palace, he saw and did here; only the magnificence of the one far exceeded that of the other, and caused him to linger here much longer. After a very obsequious dragon had shown him all the treasures, and at last led him into the garden, he plucked there a silver rose, of which there were great numbers, and stuck it in his cap. He then locked the gates of his beautiful palace with the silver key, returned to his herd, and as the day was declining, drove them quietly home.

As before, the king's daughters came familiarly to meet him, and the youngest snatched the silver rose from him, and ran playfully with it to her father. The king sent for him as before, questioned him of all that had occurred, and having received satisfactory answers, expressed his entire approbation.

The same adventure occurred on the third day, with the sole difference that the herdsman this time entered a Golden Palace, and brought from the garden a golden rose, which the fair princess appropriated as before.

It happened that a festival which the king had long resolved to give to the suitors of his daughters, was just about to be held. He caused three golden apples of the same size to be made, on each of which he had inscribed the name of one of the princesses. These he ordered to be suspended by golden threads in the front court of his castle, as the prize of a trial of skill, for which the victor was to receive the hand of one of the princesses. Whoever, at full gallop, should succeed in striking down with his lance one of these apples, was to receive the golden fruit and the princess whose name it bore. As the three sisters were no less extraordinarily beautiful than rich, it may easily be guessed that the number of their suitors was not small. A countless number of princes from far and near were assembled in the royal city, and the king's brother was also present with his nine daughters. The whole kingdom took a lively interest in this festival, and young and old rejoiced at its commencement. Whatever the royal treasures could produce was exhibited there, and all the rich and noble flocked thither to contribute their share towards enhancing the pomp of the long looked for feast.

As it was to be supposed that Pista would not willingly be absent from such a grand sight, the youngest princess, out of gratitude for her three roses, invited him to witness it; advising him not to stay away if he had any curiosity to see all the most precious of her father's possessions, in horses, clothes, and jewels. But to the no small surprise of the princess, the herdsman thanked her for her invitation, but said he preferred remaining with his equals, and would tend the swine as usual.

The morning arrived, and all within and around the city was in motion. The streets swarmed with countless people: even the most helpless cripples dragged themselves along, anxious to see the show. Pista alone drove forth his swine with the utmost indifference, and did not evince the slightest curiosity.

Who could have guessed, however, what the homely youth had secretly determined, and what a trick he had resolved to play on all the princely suitors? He no sooner reached the heath than he hastened to the forest where his late adventures had occurred. He went to the Copper Palace, entered the hall, and with a stroke of the golden wand commanded the serviceable dragon to provide for him the most magnificent attire and the finest courser. The dragon rapidly obeyed his master's order, dressed him as expeditiously and handily as the most experienced valet could have done, and then as quickly cantered up a splendidly caparisoned steed, who seemed to breathe fire as he neighed with desire for the combat.

Pista mounted his horse, and the courts of the castle thundered beneath his tramp. He flew, as if borne on the lightning's wing, over the heath and road, and suddenly appeared in the lists of the royal disputants. The brilliancy of his attire, the swiftness and strength of his horse, and the costly jewels that adorned him, dazzled all eyes, and it could not have occurred to any one that in him they beheld the swineherd. The king himself thought he must be his equal in dignity, and offered him the honour of precedence. But Pista declined this distinction, and requested, on the contrary, to be allowed to be the last on the list of suitors.

At last the signal was given. All pressed to the lists, and the race began. Riders and horses flew emulously towards the prize, but not one succeeded in even touching either of the apples with his lance.