The Three Citrons.
[Slovenian.]
There was once an old king, and this king had an only son. This son he once called before him and addressed him thus: “My son! thou seest that my head is now white with age; to-day or to-morrow I shall close my eyes, and yet I know not in what state I shall leave thee. Wed thee, my son! let me bless thee, just as thou closest my eyes in death.” The son answered nothing, only he remained very pensive; he would have been heartily glad to fulfil his father’s wish, but there was no girl for whom his heart could feel affection.
Once as he sat in the garden, and was just thinking what he ought to do, where she came, there she came, before him stood an old woman. “Go to the hill of glass, gather the three citrons, and thou shalt have a wife that shall be dear to thy heart,” she said, and as she had appeared so she vanished. Like a bright ray of light these words streamed through the soul of the prince. That instant he determined, come what might, to discover the hill of glass and to gather the three citrons. He disclosed his intention to his father, and his father gave him a horse for the journey, a suit of armour and his own paternal benediction.
Through dense mountains, over lonely plains, wandered our prince, a long, very long, time; but of the hill of glass and the three citrons no hint or rumour. Once, quite tired out by the long journey, he threw himself down under a broad linden in the cool. As he threw himself on the ground, his father’s sabre rang out, for he had it at his side, and opn the top of the broad linden, a dozen ravens croaked. Scared by the clatter of the sabre they rose on the wing and flew away through the air above the tall trees. “H’m! it is long since I have seen a living creature,” said the prince to himself, and leapt from the ground. I will go in the direction the ravens flew, perhaps some hope will shew itself.”
On and on he went again for three whaole days and nights, until at last a lofty tower appeared in the distance. Praised be God! at all events I shall once more get among human beings,” he exclaimed joyfully, and stepped forward.
