Literature: The King of the Golden Mountain (Grimm's Tales)

And two richly-laden ships of his sailed forth to sea with all his property on board, and just as he was expecting to win much money by them, news came that they had gone to the bottom, and now instead of being a rich man he was a poor one, and had nothing left but one field outside the town.

And two richly-laden ships of his sailed forth to sea with all his property on board, and just as he was expecting to win much money by them, news came that they had gone to the bottom, and now instead of being a rich man he was a poor one, and had nothing left but one field outside the town.

In order to drive his misfortune a little out of his thoughts, he went out to this field, and as he was walking to and fro in it, a little black mannikin stood suddenly by his side, and asked why he was so sad, and what he was taking so much to heart.

In order to drive his misfortune a little out of his thoughts, he went out to this field, and as he was walking to and fro in it, a little black mannikin stood suddenly by his side, and asked why he was so sad, and what he was taking so much to heart.

Then the merchant told him that all he possessed had gone to the bottom of the sea, and that he had nothing left but this field.

If you will promise to give me the first thing that rubs itself against your leg when you are at home again, and to bring it here to this place in twelve years, time, you shall have as much money as you will.

When he reached home, his little boy was so delighted that he held himself by a bench, trotted up to him and seized him fast by the legs.

When he reached home, his little boy was so delighted that he held himself by a bench, trotted up to him and seized him fast by the legs.

The father was shocked, for he remembered his promise, and now knew what he had pledged himself to do, as however, he still found no money in his chest, he thought the dwarf had only been jesting.

The father was shocked, for he remembered his promise, and now knew what he had pledged himself to do, as however, he still found no money in his chest, he thought the dwarf had only been jesting.

A month afterwards he went up to the garret, intending to gather together some old tin and to sell it, and saw lying there a great heap of money.

A month afterwards he went up to the garret, intending to gather together some old tin and to sell it, and saw lying there a great heap of money.

A month afterwards he went up to the garret, intending to gather together some old tin and to sell it, and saw lying there a great heap of money.

Then he was happy again, made purchases, became a greater merchant than before, and felt that God was good to him.

In the meantime the boy grew tall, and at the same time bright and clever.

But the nearer the twelfth year approached the more anxious grew the merchant, so that his distress might be seen in his face.

But the nearer the twelfth year approached the more anxious grew the merchant, so that his distress might be seen in his face.

But the nearer the twelfth year approached the more anxious grew the merchant, so that his distress might be seen in his face.

One day his son asked what ailed him, but the father would not say.

The boy, however, persisted so long, that at last he told him that without being aware of what he was doing, he had promised him to a black dwarf, and had received much money for doing so.

The boy, however, persisted so long, that at last he told him that without being aware of what he was doing, he had promised him to a black dwarf, and had received much money for doing so.

The boy, however, persisted so long, that at last he told him that without being aware of what he was doing, he had promised him to a black dwarf, and had received much money for doing so.

Then said the son, oh, father, do not be uneasy, all will go well.

The son replied, you have betrayed and misled my father, give back the writing.

The son replied, you have betrayed and misled my father, give back the writing.

The boat capsized so that the keel was uppermost and the deck under water, and the father believed his son was lost, and went home and mourned for him.

The boat capsized so that the keel was uppermost and the deck under water, and the father believed his son was lost, and went home and mourned for him.

The boat, however, did not sink, but floated quietly away, and the boy sat safely inside it, and it floated thus for a long time, until at last it ran into an unknown shore.

But when he entered it, he found that it was bewitched.

He went through every room, but all were empty until he reached the last, where a snake lay coiled in a ring.

The snake, however, was an enchanted maiden, who rejoiced to see him, and said, have you come, oh, my deliverer.

The snake, however, was an enchanted maiden, who rejoiced to see him, and said, have you come, oh, my deliverer.

To-night come twelve black men, covered with chains who will ask what you are doing here, but be silent, give them no answer, and let them do what they will with you, they will torment you, beat you, stab you, let everything pass, only do not speak, at twelve o'clock, they must go away again.

On the second night twelve others will come, on the third, four-and-twenty, who will cut off your head, but at twelve o'clock their power will be over, and then if you have endured all, and have not spoken the slightest word, I shall be released.

On the second night twelve others will come, on the third, four-and-twenty, who will cut off your head, but at twelve o'clock their power will be over, and then if you have endured all, and have not spoken the slightest word, I shall be released.

On the second night twelve others will come, on the third, four-and-twenty, who will cut off your head, but at twelve o'clock their power will be over, and then if you have endured all, and have not spoken the slightest word, I shall be released.

I will rub you with that, and then you will come to life again, and be as healthy as before.

After this their marriage was celebrated, and he was king of the golden mountain.

They lived very happily together, and the queen bore a fine boy.

The queen, however, would not let him go away, and said, I know beforehand that it will cause my unhappiness, but he suffered her to have no rest until she consented.

The queen, however, would not let him go away, and said, I know beforehand that it will cause my unhappiness, but he suffered her to have no rest until she consented.

At their parting she gave him a wishing-ring, and said, take this ring and put it on your finger, and then you will immediately be transported whithersoever you would be, only you must promise me not to use it in wishing me away from this place and with thy father.

At their parting she gave him a wishing-ring, and said, take this ring and put it on your finger, and then you will immediately be transported whithersoever you would be, only you must promise me not to use it in wishing me away from this place and with thy father.

Instantly he found himself there, and made for the town, but when he came to the gate, the sentries would not let him in, because he wore such strange and yet such rich and magnificent clothing.

Instantly he found himself there, and made for the town, but when he came to the gate, the sentries would not let him in, because he wore such strange and yet such rich and magnificent clothing.

Then he went to a hill where a shepherd was watching his sheep, changed clothes with him, put on his old shepherd's-coat, and then entered the town without hindrance.

Then he went to a hill where a shepherd was watching his sheep, changed clothes with him, put on his old shepherd's-coat, and then entered the town without hindrance.

When he came to his father, he made himself known to him, but he did not at all believe that the shepherd was his son, and said he certainly had had a son, but that he was dead long ago, however, as he saw he was a poor, needy shepherd, he would give him something to eat.

Do you know of no mark on my body by which you could recognize me.

He slipped back his shirt, and they saw the raspberry under his right arm, and no longer doubted that he was their son.

On this the son fell in a passion, and without thinking of his promise, turned his ring round, and wished both his wife and child with him.

They were there in a second, but the queen wept, and reproached him, and said that he had broken his word, and had brought misfortune upon her.

He said, I have done it thoughtlessly, and not with evil intention, and tried to calm her, and she pretended to believe this, but she had mischief in her mind.

He said, I have done it thoughtlessly, and not with evil intention, and tried to calm her, and she pretended to believe this, but she had mischief in her mind.

He said, I have done it thoughtlessly, and not with evil intention, and tried to calm her, and she pretended to believe this, but she had mischief in her mind.

Then he led her out of the town into the field, and showed her the stream where the little boat had been pushed off, and then he said, I am tired, sit down, I will sleep awhile on your lap.

Then he led her out of the town into the field, and showed her the stream where the little boat had been pushed off, and then he said, I am tired, sit down, I will sleep awhile on your lap.

Then he led her out of the town into the field, and showed her the stream where the little boat had been pushed off, and then he said, I am tired, sit down, I will sleep awhile on your lap.

When he awoke, there he lay quite deserted, and his wife and child were gone, and so was the ring from his finger, the slipper only was still there as a token.

Home to your parents you cannot return, thought he, they would say that you were a wizard, you must be off, and walk on until you arrive in your own kingdom.

So he went away and came at length to a hill by which three giants were standing, disputing with each other because they did not know how to divide their father's property.

So he went away and came at length to a hill by which three giants were standing, disputing with each other because they did not know how to divide their father's property.

So he went away and came at length to a hill by which three giants were standing, disputing with each other because they did not know how to divide their father's property.

When they saw him passing by, they called to him and said little men had quick wits, and that he was to divide their inheritance for them.

When they saw him passing by, they called to him and said little men had quick wits, and that he was to divide their inheritance for them.

The inheritance, however, consisted of a sword, which, if anyone took it in his hand, and said, all heads off but mine, every head would lie on the ground, secondly, of a cloak which made any one who put it on invisible, thirdly, of a pair of boots which could transport the wearer to any place he wished in a moment.

The inheritance, however, consisted of a sword, which, if anyone took it in his hand, and said, all heads off but mine, every head would lie on the ground, secondly, of a cloak which made any one who put it on invisible, thirdly, of a pair of boots which could transport the wearer to any place he wished in a moment.

The inheritance, however, consisted of a sword, which, if anyone took it in his hand, and said, all heads off but mine, every head would lie on the ground, secondly, of a cloak which made any one who put it on invisible, thirdly, of a pair of boots which could transport the wearer to any place he wished in a moment.

He said, give me the three things that I may see if they are still in good condition.

Then he resumed his own form and said, the cloak is a good one, now give me the sword.

Nevertheless they gave it to him on the condition that he was only to try it against a tree.

This he did, and the sword cut in two the trunk of a tree as if it had been a blade of straw.

And now when he had got all these things, he thought of nothing but his wife and his child, and said as though to himself, oh, if I were but on the golden mountain, and at the same moment he vanished from the sight of the giants, and thus their inheritance was divided.

When he was near his palace, he heard sounds of joy, and fiddles, and flutes, and the people told him that his wife was celebrating her wedding with another.

Then he fell into a rage, and said, false woman, she betrayed and deserted me whilst I was asleep.

When he entered the dining-hall a great table was spread with delicious food, and the guests were eating and drinking, and laughing, and jesting.

She sat on a royal seat in the midst of them in splendid apparel, with a crown on her head.

She sat on a royal seat in the midst of them in splendid apparel, with a crown on her head.

She was always helping herself to something, and yet she never got anything, for plate and glass disappeared immediately.

Then dismayed and ashamed, she arose and went to her chamber and wept, but he followed her there.

Then dismayed and ashamed, she arose and went to her chamber and wept, but he followed her there.

Then dismayed and ashamed, she arose and went to her chamber and wept, but he followed her there.

It is he who has you in his power, you traitor.

Have I deserved this from you.

Then he made himself visible, went into the hall, and cried, the wedding is at an end, the true king has returned.

The kings, princes, and councillors who were assembled there, ridiculed and mocked him, but he did not trouble to answer them, and said, will you go away, or not.

The kings, princes, and councillors who were assembled there, ridiculed and mocked him, but he did not trouble to answer them, and said, will you go away, or not.

The kings, princes, and councillors who were assembled there, ridiculed and mocked him, but he did not trouble to answer them, and said, will you go away, or not.