Tale Summary
Once there was a King of Winchester named Orfeo, who’s dearly beloved wife Heurodis one day fell asleep underneath an imp tree while on a walk in an orchard. She had a dream that two knights asked her to follow them, and when she refused they brought their kings, a thousand more knights, and many beautiful ladies. The Faërie King had her mount a white horse, and together the group rode to his castle where she was shown around. After, the King leaves her safely again beneath the tree, but warns her that she must return the next day on penalty of death. She tells all of this to Orfeo, and the next day he and a thousand knights form a protective circle around her at the tree, but she is still snatched away. Orfeo gave up his kingdom to search the land for her, carrying only a harp with which he charmed the animals around him. One day he saw sixty fairy ladies riding with falcons on their bare hands, and among them was Heurodis. He follows them to a castle made of crystals and gold, where he meets with the Faërie King and plays his harp for him. The King is so enchanted that he promises any gift from his kingdom, and Orfeo requests his wife back. The two return back to Winchester and rule together in happiness.
Fairy Tale Title
The Imp Tree
Fairy Tale Author(s)/Editor(s)
Ernest Rhys
Fairy Tale Illustrator(s)
Common Tale Type
Tale Classification
Page Range of Tale
pp. 1-3
Full Citation of Tale
“The Imp Tree.” Fairy Gold : A Book of Old English Fairy Tales Chosen by Ernest Rhys, Ernest Rhys, London: J.M. Dent & Co.; New York : E.P. Dutton & co., 1907, pp. 1-3.
Original Source of the Tale
Based on the Greek myth Orpheus and Eurydice.
Tale Notes
This story is very much unlike the original Greek Orpheus and Eurydice which is a tragedy. "The Imp Tree" is most similar in that it is a king searching for his lost wife, who is taken under supernatural circumstances; it originally would have been Hades, and his wife would have been brought to the Underworld. There is also the lack, in this version, of a trial in order to bring her home.
The text quotes another old story-book, which says this about Orfeo as he wanders in the wilderness:
“Often in hot undertones
Would see the Faërie King besides,
The King of Faërie with his rout
Hunt and ride all roundabout,
With calls and elfin-horns that blew,
And hounds that did reply thereto,
But never pulled down hart or doe,
And never arrow left the bow.”
Research and Curation
Kaeli Waggener, 2023
Book Title
Fairy Gold : A Book of Old English Fairy Tales Chosen by Ernest Rhys
Book Author/Editor(s)
Ernest Rhys
Illustrator(s)
None listed
Publisher
J.M. Dent & Co., E.P. Dutton & co.
Date Published
1907
Decade Published
1900-1909
Publisher City
London, New York
Publisher Country
United Kingdom, United States
Language
English
Rights
Public Domain
Digital Copy
Available at the Internet Archive
Book Notes
A collection of stories split up into three categories: "Fairy Tales and Romances," "Mother Jack's Fairy Book," and "Later Fairy Tales and Rhymes"
