The Twelve Huntsmen

Once upon a time, a king's son was betrothed to a maiden whom he loved dearly. One day, as he sat beside her and was full of joy, news came that his father lay sick and desired to see him before his death.

Then he said to his beloved, "I must now go away from you. Take this ring as a remembrance of me. When I become king, I will return and fetch you." Then he rode away. When he came to his father, the old king was dangerously ill.

He said, "Dear son, I wished to see you once more before my end. Promise me that you will marry the woman I choose for you," and he named a certain princess. The son was so grieved that he did not consider what he was saying, and replied, "Yes, dear father, I will do as you wish." Then the king closed his eyes and died.

After the prince had been proclaimed king, and the time of mourning was over, he had to keep the promise he had given his father. He sent messengers to ask for the princess's hand, and she was promised to him.

His first bride heard of this, and sorrowed so deeply over his unfaithfulness that she was near death. Then her father said, "Dearest child, why are you so sad? You may have whatever you desire." She reflected for a moment and said, "Dear father, I wish for eleven maidens who resemble me exactly in face, figure, and stature." The father said, "If it is possible, your wish shall be fulfilled." He searched his entire kingdom until eleven young maidens were found who looked exactly like his daughter.

When they came to the princess, she had twelve huntsmen's suits made, all alike. The eleven maidens put on the huntsmen's clothes, and she herself put on the twelfth. Then she took leave of her father and rode with them to the court of her former betrothed, whom she still loved deeply.

She asked if he needed any huntsmen, and whether he would take them all into his service. The king looked at her but did not recognize her. Since they were such handsome fellows, he said, "Yes, I will gladly take you." So they became the king's twelve huntsmen.

The king had a lion that was a wondrous creature, for it knew all hidden 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 maidens." The king said, "That cannot be true! How will you prove it?" The lion answered, "Scatter some peas in your entrance hall. Men have a firm step, and when they walk over peas, none of them move.

But maidens trip and skip, and the peas roll about." The king liked the advice and had the peas scattered.

But a servant of the king who favored the huntsmen heard of the test and told them everything. "The lion wants to make the king believe you are maidens," he said. The princess thanked him and said to her maidens, "Put on strength and step firmly on the peas." So the next morning, when the king called the twelve huntsmen, they entered the hall and stepped so firmly on the peas that not one of them rolled or stirred.

Then they left, and the king said to the lion, "You have lied to me. They walk just like men." The lion said, "They knew they were going to be tested and used extra strength. Have twelve spinning wheels brought into the hall another day.

They will go to them and be pleased, which no man would do." The king liked this advice and had the spinning wheels placed in the hall.

But the friendly servant again went to the huntsmen and told them the plan. When they were alone, the princess said to her eleven maidens, "Control yourselves and do not look at the spinning wheels." The next morning, when the king summoned his twelve huntsmen, they walked through the hall without once looking at the spinning wheels.

Then the king said to the lion, "You have deceived me. They are men, for they did not look at the spinning wheels." The lion replied, "They learned they were going to be tested and held back." But the king no longer believed the lion.

The twelve huntsmen always accompanied the king when he went hunting, and his liking for them grew stronger each day. One day, while they were out hunting, news came that the king's betrothed was approaching.

When the true bride heard this, her heart nearly broke, and she fell to the ground in a faint. The king thought something had happened to his dear huntsman.

He ran to him, wanting to help, and pulled off his glove.

Then he saw the ring he had given to his first bride. When he looked at her face, he recognized her. His heart was so moved 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 again taken into favor, because after all, he had told the truth.