DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.14697#0166
1004
Appendix F
his master to take a hatchet to cut a branch from the tree. Sun did so, and re-
turned in safety with the golden bough. Once more the midwife passed by, and
this time suggested that Star, to perfect her beauty, needed the Tzitzinaina, who
knew the language of the birds and could explain their song. But to obtain the
Tzitzinaina proved a harder task. For, when Sun and his horse reached her house
and thrice summoned her to come forth, she turned them both into marble, first
up to the knees, next up to the thighs, and then up to the waist. At this crisis
the young man remembered that he had about him some hairs from the beard
of the hermit, which he was to burn if ever he required assistance. He burnt one
now. The hermit appeared, and bade the Tzitzinaina restore to life all those
whom she had petrified. She sprinkled them with water of immortality and so
recovered them. Among the rescued was Moon, whom his brother and sister had
lost. The hermit now made the Tzitzinaina act as their mother. She explained
to them the language of the birds and everything else that they wanted to know.
One day the king met them out and asked them to dine with him on the morrow.
The Tzitzinaina told them to take a puppy with them and give it a slice. They
did so, and the puppy died. The young folk protested that they had no wish to
be poisoned, and invited the king to dine with them on the next day. The
Tzitzinaina, when the king sat down to their empty table, clapped her hands
thrice and a grand meal appeared. After dinner the king asked Sun, Moon, and
Star what they wished for most. They, instructed by the Tzitzinaina, craved the
release of the woman hidden in the jakes. She was brought out, washed, clothed,
and presented to the king by the Tzitzinaina, who told him all the facts. There-
upon the king in high delight took back his queen to the palace. But the king's
mother and the midwife were fastened to four horses, which dragged them along
the road and, on being lashed, tore them asunder.
(/3) Sun, Moon, and Morning-Star in a Folk-tale from Syra.
(2) A Greek tale from Syra is very similar1. A poor old couple once had three
hard-working daughters. The eldest of them wished that she had for husband
the king's cook : then she would eat of the good things on his table. The next
wished for the king's treasurer : then she would have plenty of money. The
youngest, for the king himself: then she would bear him three children, Sun,
Moon, and Morning-star. The prince2 overheard them wishing, granted their
desires, and married the youngest of them, much against his mother's will. When
the young queen was about to bear the children, her mother-in-law bade the mid-
wife substitute a dog, a cat, and a mouse for them, and fling the three children
into the river. But the midwife had pity on the little brats and laid them down
on a bed of rushes. Here a childless herdsman found them fed by one of his
goats. He brought them to his wife, who tended them carefully; and, when they
were grown up, he built them a tower to live in. As for the queen, at the time
of her confinement the king was absent on a campaign. So his mother put her
in the hen-house, and told him on his return that his wife, instead of Sun, Moon,
and Morning-star, had given birth to a dog, a cat, and a mouse. The king was
so upset that he did not ask what had become of the queen. For long he was
inconsolable. At last one day he roused himself, went for a ride, and saw Sun
and Morning-star exercising their horses near the tower and Moon watching them
from a window. He thought the young folk just like those whom his wife had
1 Text unpublished, German translation by J. G. von Halm Griechische und albane-
sische Miirche7i Leipzig 1864 ii. 40 ff. I have condensed the version of von Hahn.
2 In the sequel he is called king.
Appendix F
his master to take a hatchet to cut a branch from the tree. Sun did so, and re-
turned in safety with the golden bough. Once more the midwife passed by, and
this time suggested that Star, to perfect her beauty, needed the Tzitzinaina, who
knew the language of the birds and could explain their song. But to obtain the
Tzitzinaina proved a harder task. For, when Sun and his horse reached her house
and thrice summoned her to come forth, she turned them both into marble, first
up to the knees, next up to the thighs, and then up to the waist. At this crisis
the young man remembered that he had about him some hairs from the beard
of the hermit, which he was to burn if ever he required assistance. He burnt one
now. The hermit appeared, and bade the Tzitzinaina restore to life all those
whom she had petrified. She sprinkled them with water of immortality and so
recovered them. Among the rescued was Moon, whom his brother and sister had
lost. The hermit now made the Tzitzinaina act as their mother. She explained
to them the language of the birds and everything else that they wanted to know.
One day the king met them out and asked them to dine with him on the morrow.
The Tzitzinaina told them to take a puppy with them and give it a slice. They
did so, and the puppy died. The young folk protested that they had no wish to
be poisoned, and invited the king to dine with them on the next day. The
Tzitzinaina, when the king sat down to their empty table, clapped her hands
thrice and a grand meal appeared. After dinner the king asked Sun, Moon, and
Star what they wished for most. They, instructed by the Tzitzinaina, craved the
release of the woman hidden in the jakes. She was brought out, washed, clothed,
and presented to the king by the Tzitzinaina, who told him all the facts. There-
upon the king in high delight took back his queen to the palace. But the king's
mother and the midwife were fastened to four horses, which dragged them along
the road and, on being lashed, tore them asunder.
(/3) Sun, Moon, and Morning-Star in a Folk-tale from Syra.
(2) A Greek tale from Syra is very similar1. A poor old couple once had three
hard-working daughters. The eldest of them wished that she had for husband
the king's cook : then she would eat of the good things on his table. The next
wished for the king's treasurer : then she would have plenty of money. The
youngest, for the king himself: then she would bear him three children, Sun,
Moon, and Morning-star. The prince2 overheard them wishing, granted their
desires, and married the youngest of them, much against his mother's will. When
the young queen was about to bear the children, her mother-in-law bade the mid-
wife substitute a dog, a cat, and a mouse for them, and fling the three children
into the river. But the midwife had pity on the little brats and laid them down
on a bed of rushes. Here a childless herdsman found them fed by one of his
goats. He brought them to his wife, who tended them carefully; and, when they
were grown up, he built them a tower to live in. As for the queen, at the time
of her confinement the king was absent on a campaign. So his mother put her
in the hen-house, and told him on his return that his wife, instead of Sun, Moon,
and Morning-star, had given birth to a dog, a cat, and a mouse. The king was
so upset that he did not ask what had become of the queen. For long he was
inconsolable. At last one day he roused himself, went for a ride, and saw Sun
and Morning-star exercising their horses near the tower and Moon watching them
from a window. He thought the young folk just like those whom his wife had
1 Text unpublished, German translation by J. G. von Halm Griechische und albane-
sische Miirche7i Leipzig 1864 ii. 40 ff. I have condensed the version of von Hahn.
2 In the sequel he is called king.