“THE SEVEN STARS”
Once upon a time there was a King who had a wonderfully beautiful daughter. But there came a Dragon and stole her away and vanished, leaving not a trace behind.
So the King called his High Chamberlain and commanded him to go forth into the world and seek the Princess, and on no account to come back without her.
The High Chamberlain set out and searched throughout the whole world, but nowhere could he find the slightest trace of the King’s daughter nor the least clew to her whereabouts. However, an old woman advised him to go to such-and-such a country and inquire for the Dragon-mother, for she alone was able to give him information about the stolen Princess.
And, verily, the High Chamberlain followed this counsel. After most toilsome wanderings he at last arrived safely at the Dragon-mother’s house and begged her to give him such information as she had as to the abiding-place of the King’s daughter.
The Dragon-mother answered, “My dear friend, stay here over this night. What God has given us we will share with you—you shall not suffer hunger in my house. As soon as my sons, the Dragons, return home from afar I will ask them about the Princess. I have five sons, each one wiser and cleverer than the other. The first has the power of stealing anything that he takes a fancy to; he could steal the calf from the cow or the foal from the mare, and they never observe it. The second can follow up the trace of any lost object, though it have been lost for years. The third draws a sure arrow upon anything that he can see. The fourth can build an impregnable fortress in an instant, and can hide anything he chooses within it, so that no one can possibly find it. And the fifth is as bold as a falcon and as swift as the lightning when there is anything to be overtaken and caught.”
While she was speaking, her sons, the Dragons, came home, and the mother inquired of them if they knew anything of the whereabouts of the King’s lost daughter.
“To be sure,” they answered. “She is with a more powerful Dragon than we. He stole her away from her father, the King, and now keeps her in one of his castles.”
“I adjure you,” interrupted the High Chamberlain, “help me to find her. I may on no account appear before the King and live unless I bring his daughter with me. My master will not show himself ungrateful to you.”
The Dragons declared themselves quite willing to help him. The second brother traced up the scent, and the first brother stole the lovely maiden and brought her back with him. But the more powerful Dragon pursued after them, took her away, and flew up into the air to carry her to a place of safety.