The Study Of Magic Under Difficulties

: Hungarian
: Fairy Tales From All Nations

In the island of Sicily, and in the fair and famous city of Messina,

dwelt a man, Lactantius by name, who was a great proficient in two

different arts. By day, and ostensibly to his fellow-citizens, he

carried on the trade of a tailor; but by night, and secretly, he

studied the art of necromancy. One evening, when he had locked himself

in his room, and was occupied with all kinds of magic works, as ill

luck would have t, a young man, one of his apprentices, came to the

door. Dionysius, such was his name, had returned to fetch from the

chamber of Lactantius something which he had forgotten. When he

perceived that the door was closed, but at the same time heard a noise

within, he crept gently up, peeped through the keyhole, and witnessed

his master's magic doings. Such delight did this give the young man,

that from that moment he thought of nothing but how he might secretly

learn his master's art. Needle, thimble, and shears thenceforth were

little troubled by him; he cared alone to learn that which no one

cared to teach him, and so from having been an industrious, attentive,

useful workman, he became careless, idle, and inattentive. Lactantius

perceiving this change in his apprentice, discharged him from his

service, and sent him back to his father, who was much grieved in

consequence.



The father having repeatedly lectured his son, with tears besought him

to attend to his duty, and taking him back to the tailor, earnestly

begged him to receive his son once again, desiring him, should he

again neglect his business, to punish him severely.



Lactantius, out of kindness to the poor man, was soon persuaded; he

again received his pupil, and instructed him carefully every day in

cutting out and sewing. As, however, Dionysius would absolutely learn

nothing, his master gave him many a sound caning, so that the poor

apprentice, who received more blows than bread, was always black and

blue, all of which he bore with the greatest patience, so insensible

had he become to everything through the engrossing desire to learn

that secret art which he night after night watched his master carry

on, as he stood peeping through the keyhole.



Lactantius, who took him for the stupid lout he appeared to be, at

last gave himself no further trouble to conceal his witchcraft from

him, thinking that as he could not even learn the business of

tailoring, which is so easy, he would far less comprehend witchcraft,

which is really a puzzling art. He therefore no longer made a secret

of his practices to Dionysius, who now thought himself the most

fortunate of men, and who although others considered him such a

blockhead, in a very short time became such a proficient in the magic

art, that he understood more of it than his master.



One day, as the father was passing by Lactantius' house, not seeing

his son in the shop, he entered, and found that, instead of working

with the other apprentices, he was cleaning the house, and in short,

performing all the offices of a housemaid.



This so disturbed the good man, that he took his son home with him,

and thus lectured him: "Thou knowest, Dionysius, how much I have

expended on thee, in the hope that thou wouldst learn a useful

business, whereby one day to support thyself and me; but, alas! I have

sown my seed on the waters, for thou refusest to learn anything. Truly

this will be my death, for I am so poor I know not how to support

myself, nor have I any means of providing for thee. Therefore, I

beseech thee, my son, learn to support thyself in any respectable way

thou canst."



Having said this, the old man began to weep, when Dionysius, moved by

his distress, replied: "Dear father, I thank you a thousand times, and

from my heart, for all the trouble and anxiety you have had on my

account: but I beg you will not think, because I did not learn

tailoring, as you wished me, that I have therefore passed the time in

idleness. On the contrary, by night-watching and unwearied efforts, I

have learned an art which I hope hereafter to exercise so

efficaciously that you and I shall live all our days in peace and joy.

That you may not imagine that I say this merely to satisfy you for the

moment, I will at once give you a proof of what I affirm.



"To-morrow, by means of my secret art, I will transform myself into a

fine horse; saddle and bridle me, and lead me to the market, and sell

me. When you shall have made your bargain, go quietly home, your

pocket full of money, and you shall find me here again in the same

form which I now bear. Judge therefore whether or not I have learned

something useful, since in so short a time I can earn for you the

necessaries of life. Take especial heed, however, when you sell me,

not to part with my bridle; this, come what will, you must carefully

retain, else I shall not be able to return, and perhaps you may never

see me again."



The next morning Dionysius stripped himself in presence of his father,

and after anointing himself with a certain ointment, he murmured some

words, whereupon, to the inexpressible astonishment of the good old

man, in the place of his son, a fine powerful horse suddenly appeared,

which he immediately harnessed as his son had instructed him, and led

him to the market. As soon as the merchants and horse-dealers saw him,

they gathered round him, quite delighted with the beauty of the horse,

the action of whose limbs and whole body was so perfect, and who

showed such a fleetness and fire, that it was quite surprising. All

inquired if the horse were for sale, to which the old man replied in

the affirmative.



By accident, Lactantius was in the market, and as soon as he saw the

horse, and had narrowly examined him, he at once discovered that it

was a magic horse. He therefore withdrew unperceived from the crowd,

and hastened home, disguised himself as a merchant, and provided with

an ample sum of money, returned to the market, where he found the man

still with his horse. He approached the animal, and after attentively

observing him, recognised in him his apprentice, Dionysius. He then

asked the old man if he would sell him, and they soon concluded a

bargain. Lactantius paid him two hundred gold pieces; but as he took

him by the bridle to lead him away, the old man objected, saying that

he had sold the horse but not the bridle, which he must have back

again. Lactantius however contrived to talk him over, so that he

obtained the bridle as well as the horse, which he led home, and

fastening him to the stall, gave him for breakfast and supper so many

hundred blows, that the poor beast became nothing but skin and bones,

and excited the compassion of all who beheld him.



Lactantius had two daughters, who, when they saw their father's

barbarity, went daily into the stable to do what they could for the

poor horse. They caressed him, patted him, and treated him with all

possible kindness, and one day went so far as to lead him by the

halter to drink at the stream. The moment, however, the horse found

himself by the water, he threw himself into it, and transforming

himself into a little fish, he disappeared in the waves.



At this extraordinary occurrence the maidens stood speechless with

astonishment, and returning home, gave way to the deepest sorrow. Some

time after Lactantius returned, and went into the stable to administer

a little further chastisement to his horse, when to his great

astonishment he found him gone. Very indignant thereat, he went to his

daughters, and beheld them in tears. Without inquiring the cause, for

he knew full well the cause of their trouble, he said to them: "My

children, fear nothing, only tell me what has become of the horse, in

order that I may at once take measures concerning him."



The poor maidens composed themselves on hearing these words, and

related to him what had happened. When the father had heard the story,

he hastened to the river, transformed himself into a large fish,

dashed into the water, and as fast as his fins could carry him pursued

the little fish, intending to swallow him.



When the latter beheld the voracious fish, with its terrible teeth, he

was dreadfully alarmed at the thought of being swallowed by him, and

approaching the bank of the river, he left the water, and in the form

of a beautiful ruby, set in gold, he threw himself unseen into the

little basket which the king's daughter, who happened just then to be

amusing herself with picking up little pebbles on the sand, carried on

her arm.



As soon as the princess, who was called Violante, returned home, she

took her treasures out of the little basket, and perceived the ring

shining amongst the pebbles. Quite delighted, she placed it on her

finger, and could not desist from contemplating it.



At night, when the princess had retired to her sleeping apartment, the

ring suddenly changed into a handsome young man. He laid his hand on

the princess's mouth, who was about to scream aloud, then threw

himself at her feet and besought her forgiveness. He assured her he

was not there with any disrespectful purpose, but only to implore her

assistance, and then told her his misfortune, and the persecutions he

had to endure.



Violante, somewhat re-assured by the bright light of the lamp which

burned in her chamber, as also by the words of the young man, whom she

found very handsome and attractive, felt compassion for him, and

said: "Young man, thou art very bold in entering a place where thy

presence was not desired. But in consideration of thy misfortune, I

will forgive thee. Thy narration has awakened all my compassion, and I

will show thee that I am not made of marble, nor have a heart of

adamant. I am even resolved, so far as my honour will permit, to give

thee my entire protection."



The young man humbly returned thanks, and, when day dawned, again

transformed himself into the ring, which the princess placed amongst

her most costly jewels.



It happened just about that time, that the king fell dangerously ill,

and all his physicians declared his disease was incurable.



This came to the ears of Lactantius, who thereupon disguised himself

as a physician, went to the royal palace, and being introduced to the

king, inquired carefully respecting his symptoms, felt his pulse,

examined his countenance, and said: "Your majesty's disease is no

doubt an obstinate one, and very dangerous; but take courage: in a

short time I will restore you to health, for I possess a remedy by

which I can in a few days cure the severest and most dangerous illness

that exists."



"Master physician," replied the king, "if you restore me to health, I

promise to reward you so richly that you shall be content for the rest

of your life."



"My sovereign," rejoined the physician, "I desire neither rank,

honours, nor riches, but only request your majesty will grant me one

favour."



The king readily promised this, on condition that he should require

nothing that was impossible.



"I ask nothing more of your majesty than a ruby set in gold, which is

now in the possession of the princess your daughter."



When the king heard this modest request, he sent for his daughter, and

in presence of the physician, desired her to fetch her whole stock of

jewels. The princess obeyed, leaving out, however, the precious ring.

But when the physician had thoroughly examined them, he said the ruby

he wished for was not amongst them.



Violante, who valued her ruby above all the rest, affirmed that she

had no other jewels than those now before them; whereupon the king

said to the physician: "Retire now, and return to-morrow; I will

undertake that my daughter shall give me the ring."



When the physician was gone, the king called Violante, and inquired in

the gentlest manner, where was the beautiful ruby which the physician

wished for; saying that if she would give it to him, she should have

in its place a still more beautiful and precious one. But she

positively denied having it in her possession.



She no sooner returned to her apartment, than she locked herself in,

and began to weep bitterly at the thought of losing her poor ruby,

which she bathed with her tears, and kissed with the utmost

tenderness.



When the ruby felt the hot tears that fell from the princess's eyes,

and heard her deep sighs, it assumed the human form, and said to her:

"Princess, on whom my life hangs, I beseech you, do not thus

immoderately grieve at my misfortune. Let us rather devise some means

of rescue; for that physician who so zealously covets the possession

of me, is no other than my greatest foe Lactantius, who desires to

kill me. Therefore I implore you, do not give me into his hand, but

feign to be indignant, and dash me against the wall: leave the rest to

my care."



The following morning the physician again visited the king, who

informed him that his daughter still persisted that she did not

possess the ring. Lactantius much displeased, on hearing this,

however, positively asserted that the ruby was in the princess's

collection.



Thereupon the king again sent for the princess, and in the physician's

presence said to her: "Violante, thou knowest that I owe the

restoration of my health to this man's skill and care. He requires no

other recompense of me than that ring which he declares to be in thy

possession, and which thou dost assert thou hast not. I should have

thought thy love for me would have led thee not to give thy ruby

alone, but thy very life. I beseech thee, by the obedience thou owest

to me, by the affection I have borne thee, to withhold it from me no

longer."



The princess, on hearing her father's will so decidedly expressed,

returned to her room, collected all her jewels, amongst which she laid

the ruby, and taking them one by one in her hand, in the presence of

her father, showed them each in succession to the physician, who, the

moment he saw the ruby, would have laid his hand on it, saying:

"Princess, this is the ring I wish for, and which the king has

promised me."



But the princess, repelling him, said: "Stay, master, you shall have

it!" and holding the ring in her hand, exclaimed: "Then it is this

precious jewel, so infinitely dear to me, that you covet: I must

renounce this, for the loss of which I shall be inconsolable for life.

But I do not yield it willingly, but only because the king, my

father, requires it of me."



With these words she flung the ruby against the wall. As it fell to

the ground it instantly changed into a beautiful pomegranate, which

burst as it fell, and its seeds were scattered all over the room.



The physician as quickly became a cock, in order to swallow all the

seeds, and thus to destroy the unlucky Dionysius; but he had

miscalculated: one of the seeds had so concealed itself that the cock

could not discover it. The seed watched its opportunity, transformed

itself into a fox, who throwing himself on master cock, seized him by

the throat, and strangled and devoured him in the presence of the

astonished monarch and his daughter Violante. Dionysius then resumed

his human form, and related all to the king, who thought he could not

do better than immediately give him his daughter in marriage. They

lived long together in peace and happiness, and the good old father of

Dionysius became, instead of an indigent man, a rich and powerful one;

whilst, on the other hand, the cruelty of Lactantius had cost him his

life.