THE ENCHANTED LAMBS
An Emperor once had an only daughter of surpassing beauty. In his pride he caused it to be sounded abroad through all the world that the youth who should guess the position of a certain mole on the maiden’s person should have her for his wife, and the half of his empire besides. But those who did not guess right should be transformed into lambs.
This wonderful news spread over the whole world, so that wooers by thousands came from all lands to sue for the Princess’s hand. But all in vain. A countless number of them were changed into lambs.
The news came also to the ears of a youth who was as poor as a church mouse, but who was as sharp as a needle for all that. His desire to possess the beautiful maiden and half the empire grew so strong that he decided to try his fortune; not, however, by suing at once for the maiden’s hand, but by seeing her first and asking her something.
Arrived at the Emperor’s court, what wonders does he see! Lambs of all kinds pressed around him—God only knows how many there were.
They swarmed about him, a pitiful sight and a warning example that might well turn him from his project. He would have gone back, but at the gate was a monster of a man, wrapped in a blood-red mantle, with wings, and an eye in the middle of his forehead, who cried out in a commanding voice, “Halt! Where are you going? Go back, or you are lost!”
So he went back and caused himself to be announced to the Emperor’s daughter, who was already waiting for him. She said to him, “Did you come to get me for your wife?”
He answered, “No, Imperial Highness; but as I understood that you were thinking of marrying at the first favorable opportunity, I come to ask you if you need more bridal-clothes.”
“What kind of clothes have you to offer?” she asked.
He answered, “I have a skirt of marble, a bodice of dew, a head-dress of threads made from the sun’s rays, with a clasp of the moon and stars; then I have shoes of pure gold which were neither sewed nor made by a smith. So, tell me, do you wish to buy these things or not? You have but to command, and I will bring them to you, but only on one condition. When you try these things on, piece by piece, there shall be no one present but only us two. If they fit we shall soon come to terms; if not, I will never offer them to another soul, but will lay them aside and keep them for my own bride.”