Grimm's Household Tales

There was once a King’s son who was betrothed to a maiden whom he loved very much. And when he was sitting beside her, very happy, news came that his father lay mortally ill and wished to see him once again before his end. Then he said to his beloved, “I must now go and leave you. I give you a ring as a remembrance of me. When I am King, I will return and fetch you.” So he rode away, and when he reached his father, he found him dangerously ill and near death. His father said to him, “Dear son, I wished to see you once again before my end. Promise me to marry as I wish,” and he named a certain king’s daughter who was to be his wife. The son was in such distress that he did not think about what he was doing and said, “Yes, dear father, I will do as you wish,” and then the King shut his eyes and died.

When, therefore, the son had been proclaimed King and the time of mourning was over, he was forced to keep the promise that he had given his father. He had a proposal of marriage made to the King’s daughter, and she was promised to him. His first betrothed heard of this and fretted so much about his faithlessness that she nearly died. Then her father said to her, “Dearest child, why are you so sad? You will have whatever you wish.” She thought for a moment and said, “Dear father, I wish for eleven girls exactly like myself in face, figure, and size.” The father said, “If it is possible, your desire will be fulfilled,” and he had a search made in his whole kingdom until eleven young maidens were found who exactly resembled his daughter in face, figure, and size.

When they came to the King’s daughter, she had twelve suits of huntsmen’s clothes made, all alike, and the eleven maidens had to put on the huntsmen’s clothes, and she herself put on the twelfth suit. Then she took leave of her father and rode away with them to the court of her former betrothed, whom she loved so dearly. There she asked whether he needed any huntsmen and whether he would take all of them into his service. The King looked at her and did not recognize her, but as they were such handsome fellows, he said, “Yes,” and that he would willingly take them, and now they were the King’s twelve huntsmen.

The King, however, had a lion, a wondrous animal, for he knew all concealed and secret things. One evening the lion said to the King, “You think you have twelve huntsmen?” “Yes,” said the King, “they are twelve huntsmen.” The lion continued, “You are mistaken; they are twelve girls.” The King said, “That cannot be true! How will you prove that to me?” “Oh, just have some peas strewn in your antechamber,” answered the lion, “and then you will soon see it. Men have a firm step, and when they walk over the peas, none of the peas stir, but girls step lightly and skip and drag their feet, and the peas roll about.” The King was well pleased with the advice and had the peas strewn.

There was, however, a servant of the King’s who favored the huntsmen, and when he heard that they were going to be put to this test, he went to them, repeated everything, and said, “The lion wants to make the King believe that you are girls.” Then the King’s daughter thanked him and said to her maidens, “Put on some strength and step firmly on the peas.” So the next morning, when the King had the twelve huntsmen called before him and they came into the antechamber where the peas were lying, they stepped so firmly on them and had such a strong, sure walk that not one of the peas either rolled or stirred. Then they went away again, and the King said to the lion, “You have lied to me; they walk just like men.” The lion said, “They found out that they were going to be put to the test and have assumed some strength. Just have twelve spinning wheels brought into the antechamber some day, and they will go to them and be pleased with them, and that is what no man would do.” The King liked the advice and had the spinning wheels placed in the antechamber.

But the servant, who was well disposed to the huntsmen, went to them and disclosed the plan. Then, when they were alone, the King’s daughter said to her eleven girls, “Restrain yourselves, and do not look around at the spinning wheels.” And the next morning, when the King had his twelve huntsmen summoned, they went through the antechamber and never once looked at the spinning wheels. Then the King again said to the lion, “You have deceived me; they are men, for they have not looked at the spinning wheels.” The lion replied, “They have learned that they were going to be put to the test and have restrained themselves.” The King, however, would no longer believe the lion.

The twelve huntsmen always followed the King to the chase, and his liking for them continually increased. Now once, when they were out hunting, news came that the King’s betrothed was approaching. When the true bride heard that, it hurt her so much that her heart was almost broken, and she fell fainting to the ground. The King thought something had happened to his dear huntsman, ran up to him, wanted to help him, and drew off his glove. Then he saw the ring that he had given to his first bride, and when he looked into her face, he recognized her. Then his heart was so touched that he kissed her, and when she opened her eyes, he said, “You are mine, and I am yours, and no one in the world can change that.” He sent a messenger to the other bride and begged her to return to her own kingdom, for he already had a wife, and a man who had just found an old dish did not need a new one. Then the wedding was celebrated, and the lion was taken into favor again, because, after all, he had told the truth.