Hungarian Folk Tales: A Talking Vine, a Smiling Apple and a Jingling, Tingling Peach
Once upon a time there lived a king, who had three beautiful daughters.
He was leaving for market one day, when he asked his daughters:
Tell me, what would you like me to bring you from the market?
The eldest replied: Dear father, bring me a golden dress.
The second daughter replied: Bring me a silver dress.
And what shall I bring for you? – the king asked his youngest daughter.
Dear father, bring me a talking vine, a smiling apple, and a jingling, tingling peach.
Hmm, – the king shook his head –
if such things are to be found in this world, I will bring them to you, daughter dear.
The king went to the market, where he quickly found and purchased a golden dress for his eldest daughter,
a silver dress for his middle daughter,
but he simply could not find the talking vine, a smiling apple or a jingling, tingling peach.
The king was downcast.
It saddened him that he was unable to fulfill his most beloved daughter's wish.
While he was brooding, his coach gave a sudden jolt and got stuck so deep in the mud
that the horses could not pull it free.
The king was furious because his trusty horses could race more quickly than the stars across the night sky.
He sent to the village for help, and when news spread that the king's coach was stuck in the mud,
men, women and even small children came to lend a hand.
To their shame, no one could push the king's coach free.
All of a sudden a pig appeared.
Oink, grand, oink, your highness, give me your youngest daughter's hand, and I will free you,
your horses, your coach and everything.
The king stood and stared in amazement, but whatever the king thought, he simply replied:
We will shake on it, a king's hand and a pig's trotter.
If you free me, I will give you my youngest daughter's hand.
The pig didn't wait, didn't hesitate,
he wedged his snout under the wheels, gave a shove and pushed the coach from the mud.
The horses took off at a gallop and the king was back in his castle in a flash.
And when he got home, he gave his eldest daughter the golden dress,
and his middle daughter the silver dress,
but with great sadness he said to his youngest daughter:
My dear girl, my darling daughter, why didn't you ask for a dress too?
For I failed to find a vine, a smiling apple, and a jingling, tingling peach.
But hardly had he finished when he heard a gruff grunting outside.
He looked out of the window and saw that the pig had even bought his wheelbarrow.
Oink, grand, oink. I've come for your daughter.
Let her come down, and now I carry her off in my wheelbarrow.
Stop there – thought the king. I'll send you a maiden!
A peasant girl was quickly found, robed in the beautiful golden dress, and sent out to meet the pig.
Ah, but the pig was no fool.
He said to the king: Oink, grand, oink, this is not your daughter!
The king began to regret that he had ever given his word to a filthy swine.
And the princess? She sobbed and moaned so terribly, that the whole palace shook.
The king, shedding bitter tears of grief, told her:
My dear daughter, I have promised you to the pig, so you must go.
Then the king had an idea, he dressed his youngest daughter in dirty rags and sent her out to meet the pig.
The pig, when he saw the princess, was beside himself with joy.
He grabbed the girl, placed her in the wheelbarrow and carried her off, grunting and oinking all the way.
Oink, grand, oink, don't cry princess, you'll be happy with me. We'll soon be home.
But the daughter only really began to sob when the pig came to a stop in front of a large sty,
took her inside and sat her down on dirty straw.
Oink, grand, oink, this is my home – said the pig, and he offered her some corn.
Oink, grand, oink, have a bite to eat, princess.
But the princess simply sobbed and moaned, she cried and cried
until she eventually fell into a deep, deep slumber.
The princess slept and slept, and she didn't wake up until noon the next day.
As the noon bell rang she opened her eyes, and wonder of wonders,
she was dazzled by a blinding light.
She had lain down in a pigsty and now lo and behold, she awoke in a palace.
A host of maids hurried to her bedside.
They bought her sumptuous robes, and dressed her beautifully.
Then they took her into the neighboring room, where a handsome youth sat at a table laden with food.
He said to her: Take a seat. Everything you see is yours.
I, too, am yours, if you'll have me.
Who are you? What are you? – the girl asked.
I will tell you in good time. Come now to the garden.
He took her arm and they went into the garden.
In the garden of fine vine leaned towards the maid, and the clusters of grapes spoke:
Pick us from the vine, princess!
They walked on and soon she espied an apple tree.
The little red apples on its boughs smiling beautifully.
And as you see we have smiling apples too – said the youth.
They walked a little more.
What is jingling and tingling so sweetly? – the princess asked.
Jingling, tingling peaches, as you wished.
Now will you stay and be my wife?
The princess wrapped the youth in her arms.
Yes, I will stay, and be your loving wife for the rest of my life.
But the youth then told her how he had once been a king,
but a cruel witch had changed him into a lowly swine and put a curse on him:
He would remain a pig until he found a maid who had wished for a talking vine,
a smiling apple, and a jingling, tingling peach.
They sent word out a very day inviting every member of his kingdom to the wedding.
Their fabulous feast was indeed a wondrous sight to see.
And they both lived happily ever after.