Prevod

Once upon a time there was a prince who had a bride whom he loved dearly. One day, as he sat with her in perfect happiness, word came that his father lay mortally ill and wished to see him before he died. Then he said to his beloved, "I must go now and leave you, but I shall give you a ring to remember me by. When I am king, I shall come back and take you home." So he rode away, and when he reached his father, he found him gravely ill and near death. His father said to him, "Dearest son, I wished to see you once more before my end. Promise me that you will marry according to my wishes," and he named a certain princess who was to become his wife. The son was so grief-stricken that he did not stop to think, but said, "Yes, dear Father, your will shall be done." Then the king closed his eyes and died.

When the son had been proclaimed king and the time of mourning was over, he had to keep the promise he had made his father. He sent to ask for the princess's hand, and she was promised to him. His first bride heard of this and grieved so bitterly at his faithlessness that she almost wasted away. Then her father said to her, "Dearest child, why are you so sad? Whatever you wish for, you shall have." She thought for a moment, then said, "Dear Father, I wish for eleven maidens exactly like me in face, figure, and height." The king said, "If it is possible, your wish shall be granted," and had his whole kingdom searched until eleven maidens were found who were exactly like his daughter in face, figure, and height.

When they came to the princess, she had twelve huntsmen's outfits made, each just like the others. The eleven maidens had to put on the huntsmen's clothes, and she herself put on the twelfth outfit. Then she took leave of her father and rode away with them to the court of her former bridegroom, whom she loved so dearly. There she asked whether he needed huntsmen, and whether he would take all of them into his service together. The king looked at them and did not recognize her, but since they were such fine-looking people, he said yes, he would gladly take them. And so they became the king's twelve huntsmen.

Now the king had a lion, a remarkable creature, for he knew all that was hidden and secret. One evening he said to the king, "You think you have twelve huntsmen there?" "Yes," said the king, "there are twelve huntsmen." The lion went on, "You are mistaken. They are twelve maidens." The king replied, "That cannot possibly be true. How will you prove it to me?" "Oh, just have peas scattered in your antechamber," answered the lion, "and you will see at once. Men have a firm tread. When they walk over peas, not one stirs. But maidens mince and patter and shuffle, and the peas roll about." The king liked this advice and had the peas scattered.

But there was a servant of the king who was fond of the huntsmen, and when he heard that they were to be put to the test, he went and told them everything, saying, "The lion wants to persuade the king that you are maidens." The princess thanked him and then said to her maidens, "Make an effort and tread firmly on the peas." When the king summoned the twelve huntsmen the next morning, and they entered the antechamber where the peas lay, they trod on them so firmly and walked with such a sure, steady step that not a single pea rolled or moved. When they had gone away again, the king said to the lion, "You have lied to me. They walk just like men." The lion replied, "They knew they were to be put to the test and made an effort. Just have twelve spinning wheels brought into the antechamber. They will come over and admire them, and no man would do that." The king liked this advice and had the spinning wheels placed in the antechamber.

But the servant, who had the huntsmen's interests at heart, went and revealed the plan to them. Then, when they were alone, the princess said to her eleven maidens, "Make an effort and do not so much as glance at the spinning wheels." When the king summoned his twelve huntsmen the next morning, they passed through the antechamber without looking at the spinning wheels at all. Then the king said to the lion once more, "You have lied to me. They are men, for they did not look at the spinning wheels." The lion answered, "They knew they were to be put to the test and made an effort." But the king would no longer believe the lion.

The twelve huntsmen always accompanied the king on the hunt, and he grew fonder of them every day. Now it happened that once, while they were out hunting, word came that the king's bride was on her way. When his true bride heard this, the pain was so great that her heart all but broke, and she fell to the ground in a faint. The king thought something had happened to his dear huntsman, ran over to help, and pulled off the huntsman's glove. Then he saw the ring he had given his first bride, and when he looked into 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." But he sent a messenger to the other bride, asking her to return to her own kingdom, for he already had a wife, and whoever had found an old key again had no need of a new one. Then the wedding was celebrated, and the lion was restored to favor, for he had told the truth after all.