Hungarian Folk Tales: The Soldier's Luck
Once upon a time there lived a soldier.
The soldier was returning home on leave from the army and passing through the forest
when an old witch appeared and blocked his path.
Would you like to have wealth and riches, young man?
Of course, for I do not have a penny to my name.
Then listen to me!
You must go to the hollow tree and summon up all the money you desire.
But you can only make money magically appear if you grant me one wish.
Just tell me what you wish, old lady.
There are three barrels of coins down there but each is guarded by a fearsome hound.
I shall give you an apron, and once you get down there,
you must spread it on the ground, and place the dogs on it.
When you have collected all the money you want, you will look for a box on the table
and you must bring that box to me.
Now I shall tie this rope around your waist and lower you down
and when your task is complete, I shall pull you back again.
The soldier looked to the coins in the first barrel but they were all copper.
I don't want these – he said.
Set the dog back on the pile and carried on.
The second barrel contained silver coins.
He said: I don't want these either.
The third barrel was filled with gold coins.
So he placed the dog on the apron and filled all his pockets with gold.
Then he picked up the magic box from the table and called to the old witch to hoist him back up.
So tell me, witch, why do you want this little box?
But the old witch could not tell him, so he slit her throat with his silver sword.
Then the soldier went on his way.
Soon he reached a town where he bought himself good food and new clothes.
Then he hired a coach and rode through the town.
And as she rode he showered the townspeople with money.
He gave money willingly because he knew what it was to be poor.
Then he rented room at the local inn where he made merry every night.
But the day eventually came, when he ran out of money, and had neither bread nor candles.
Then he recalled that the little box from inside the hollow tree had a candle in it.
The soldier lit the candle and the first fearsome dog appeared.
What is your wish, master?
I've run out of money: I have neither bread nor anything else.
Then the dog hurried off and soon returned with a bag brimming full of money for its master.
The young soldier soon received news that there was a young princess living in the town.
But that no one was allowed to visit her in person.
The soldier soon set his heart on seeing her.
So he lit the candle and the dog appeared.
What is your wish, master?
I hear, there is a princess whom no one is allowed to see.
How could I possibly see what she's like?
She said to be very beautiful indeed.
Then the dog went off without saying a word and soon returned with the princess.
The royal maid went to the princess' room in the palace and discovered that she was gone.
As soon as she realized, she began to scream.
Everybody asked:
Where can she have gone? Where can she have gone?
The king said: if she comes back, a maid should sit by the side of her bed
and watch over her at night, and see which way she goes should she leave.
So when the princess was back in her room, a maid sat by the side of her bed.
The next night when the dog took her away,
the maid ran after them but failed to know the number of the house
and so didn't know where the dog had taken her.
I know what to do – the king said.
So he filled a bag with flour, cut the corner off the bag
and tied it to the princess' waist.
So wherever the dog took her, the flour trail betrayed them.
The next day soldiers followed the flour trail and it led them directly to the young soldier.
The king was furious and sentenced the young soldier to death for what he had done.
All the people of the town gathered to see the execution.
Then a young boy happened to pass right in front of the soldier's prison cell window.
And the soldier said to him: Where are you going, young lad?
I'm going to see the execution of some soldier!
Go no further! I'm that soldier!
Go back quickly! – he told the lad where exactly.
And bring me the box, you'll find on the table.
The young boy went off, brought the box and passed it to him.
So when he was led to the gallows, the soldier told the hangman that he had one last wish.
The king allowed the soldier to smoke a pipe.
Then the soldier lid the candle in the box three times and all three dogs appeared.
[ruff, ruff, ruff]
What is your wish, master?
What's my wish? Can you not see I am about to be hanged?
So then the three dogs set upon the crowd, but they were careful not to harm the pretty princess.
Then the soldier married the princess and they both lived happily ever after.