The Red Fairy Book

THE RED FAIRY BOOK 

Edited by ANDREW LANG


TO
MASTER BILLY TREMAYNE MILES
A PROFOUND STUDENT
YET
AN AMIABLE CRITIC



PREFACE

IN a second gleaning of the fields of Fairy Land we cannot
expect to find a second Perrault. But there are good stories
enough left, and it is hoped that some in the Red Fairy Book
may have the attraction of being less familiar than many of
the old friends. The tales have been translated, or, in the
case of those from Madame d'Aulnoy's long stories, adapted,
by Mrs. Hunt from the Norse, by Miss Minnie Wright from
Madame d'Aulnoy, by Mrs. Lang and Miss Bruce from other
French sources, by Miss May Sellar, Miss Farquharson, and
Miss Blackley from the German, while the story of `Sigurd'
is condensed by the Editor from Mr. William Morris's prose
version of the `Volsunga Saga.' The Editor has to thank
his friend, M. Charles Marelles, for permission to reproduce
his versions of the `Pied Piper,' of `Drakestail,' and of
`Little Golden Hood' from the French, and M. Henri Carnoy for the
same privilege in regard to `The Six Sillies' from La Tradition.

Lady Frances Balfour has kindly copied an old version of
`Jack and the Beanstalk,' and Messrs. Smith and Elder have
permitted the publication of two of Mr. Ralston's versions
from the Russian.

A. L.



CONTENTS

The Twelve Dancing Princesses
The Princess Mayblossom
Soria Moria Castle
The Death of Koschei the Deathless
The Black Thief and Knight of the Glen
The Master Thief
Brother and Sister
Princess Rosette
The Enchanted Pig
The Norka
The Wonderful Birch
Jack and the Beanstalk
The Little Good Mouse
Graciosa and Percinet
The Three Princesses of Whiteland
The Voice of Death
The Six Sillies
Kari Woodengown
Drakestail
The Ratcatcher
The True History of Little Goldenhood
The Golden Branch
The Three Dwarfs
Dapplegrim
The Enchanted Canary
The Twelve Brothers
Rapunzel
The Nettle Spinner
Farmer Weatherbeard
Mother Holle
Minnikin
Bushy Bride
Snowdrop
The Golden Goose
The Seven Foals
The Marvellous Musician
The Story of Sigurd






THE TWELVE DANCING PRINCESSES

I

ONCE upon a time there lived in the village of Montignies-sur-
Roc a little cow-boy, without either father or mother. His
real name was Michael, but he was always called the Star Gazer,
because when he drove his cows over the commons to seek for
pasture, he went along with his head in the air, gaping at nothing.

As he had a white skin, blue eyes, and hair that curled all over
his head, the village girls used to cry after him, `Well, Star Gazer,
what are you doing?' and Michael would answer, `Oh, nothing,'
and go on his way without even turning to look at them.