“The Dragon and his Grandmother.” The Yellow Fairy Book, edited by Andrew Lang, London, New York, Bombay: Longmans, Green, and Co., 1906, pp. 38-41.

Tale Summary

There was once a merry young hunter who encountered an ugly old woman in the forest and was asked by her to spare something to eat and drink. He looked through his pockets and gave her all that he could, and she rewarded his kindness. She told him that he would find nine birds quarreling over a wishing-cloak–which could transport its wearer anywhere they wanted–on his way, and he should shoot in the middle of them so that they would drop it. He should take it with him, as well as swallow the heart of the bird he would be shot, so that every morning there would be a piece of gold under his pillow. This came to pass exactly as she said, and soon the man had collected a large pile of gold and decided to go out in the world. After he went through a thick forest he found a beautiful castle, and at one of its windows stood a lovely maiden and an old woman, who was a witch. She told the girl that they must steal the man’s treasures and threatened her to do so. The hunter was received inside, and he soon fell in love with the witch-maiden and would do whatever she asked of him. The old woman prepared a drink that she had the girl give to the hunter, and as soon as he had swallowed it, the bird-heart came out of his mouth and was secretly swallowed by the maiden. The witch then demanded that they take the man’s wishing-cloak and beat the girl when she protested, so that she had no other choice. She stood by the window looking sad, and told the hunter that she had a great longing to visit a certain granite mountain where precious stones grew. He wrapped her in his cloak and wished them to the mountain and they were there instantly. The witch had cast a spell on him to make him sleepy, and while he rested the girl took his cloak and wished herself back home. The hunter was deeply saddened when he awoke and did not know what to do, until three giants came towards him. He pretended to be asleep, and heard them say that if he went higher up the mountain, clouds would carry him off. As soon as they had gone, he climbed to the summit, and was swept away by a cloud and carried down safely to a vegetable garden. He was very hungry and ate a head of cabbage, which turned him into a donkey. Nonetheless, he still had an appetite, and ate another type, which returned him to his human form. After resting, he took one bad head of cabbage and one good head and set back out to find the castle of the witch-maiden. He disguised himself by dirtying his face and pretended to be a beggar. The witch asked him his business and he answered that he was a messenger of the King, sent to find the finest salad under the sun, which he carried with him. The old woman wanted to try the cabbage, and the hunter consented, giving her the bad one. She took it to the kitchen to prepare, and could not wait to eat it at the table and so she had a bite beforehand. Immediately she became a donkey and ran to the courtyard. After finding the salad in the kitchen, a servant could not help but try a bite, and she joined the old witch. The man sat with the maiden, who wondered why no one had brought her any of the salad yet, and went to fetch some for her. The maiden also lost her human form, and the hunter gathered up all three donkeys and walked with them until they came to a mill. He told the miller that he would pay him to take the animals, which he no longer wanted. The hunter said that the oldest donkey–who was the witch–should be given three beatings and one meal a day. The younger donkey–who was the servant–should be given one beating and three meals, and the youngest–who was the maiden–should be given no beating and three meals. He went back to the castle and found all he wanted, and returned to the miller after several days, and was informed that the oldest donkey had died and the younger two were so sad that they would not last much longer. The hunter took pity on them and gave them some of the good cabbage to eat, so that they became human again. The beautiful maiden fell on her knees and apologized, explaining that her witch mother had forced her to steal from him and that he could have his wishing-cloak and bird-heart. He told her there was no need, because he would take her as his wife. The wedding was celebrated, and they lived happily together the rest of their lives.