069. The Heir To The Crown (El Heredero De La Corona)
Once upon a time there was a newlywed king and queen who had a son. A month after his birth, they were about to celebrate the christening of the child when a fairy appeared and said to the king:
Your Majesty, this child will have such attachment to power from now on that he will not be content until you entrust him with your crown.
The king was not pleased with the fairy’s words. One day when he was out on a hunt, he took the child with him and rode as far away as his horse would allow. Then he left his son in a deep ravine covered in thick undergrowth, intending for him to die of hunger if no wild beasts had devoured him before that. For the king preferred the child’s death to being dethroned by him.
But it happened that three fairies found the child and there and then called a she-wolf to nurse him. The boy grew up and when he reached the age of seventeen, the fairies told him:
Travel to where we are telling you now; wait for your father to pass by and when you see him coming, say to him: “Greetings, father of mine; I am the heir to the crown.”
This he did. And the king answered him:
If it’s true that you are the heir to the crown, bring me a bowl of Gruyère milk.
[Nguyen: original text is “tráeme un cuenco de leche de groviera”, i’m not 100% sure if this is what the author meant? I’ve linked Gruyère to a town in Switzerland, but it could some sort of animal….]
So he went and told the fairies what the king had asked of him; and they said to him:
Take this horse. Ride for three days until you see a castle; don’t stop there. Ride for another three days until you see another castle; don’t stop there either. Ride for yet another three days and you will see another castle; that is the castle where there is the Gruyère [milk]. When you hear the hour strike, make haste to milk her (e.g. the cow / animal) before the last bell sounds and run away from there as fast as you can if you don’t want to remain inside forever.
This he did. He took the horse, rode for three days and found the first castle. He rode for another three days and found a second castle. He rode for yet another three days and arrived at the third castle, where he saw the gate was open and entered [through it]. There he ran into the Gruyere lying asleep in the middle of the courtyard. At that moment the first of twelve bell strokes sounded, and the young man took a bowl which he placed close to the udder of the Gruyere and began to milk her. It was quite a sight to see the steaming milk coming out of those udders. At the tenth bell stroke, he jumped on his horse, rushed to the gate and, hearing the sound of the twelfth bell stroke, crossed the gate just as it was closing behind him.
With that, the king’s son went back to the fairies, and they told him:
Go back the same way you came from and, when the king passes by, say to him: “Greetings, father of mine; I am the heir to the crown and here I have the Gruyere’s milk.”
So he did this. The king passed by and the young man approached him and told him that. Then the king replied:
If it’s true that you are the heir to the crown, you must also bring me the three oranges of arencal.
[Nguyen: I’m not sure what “arencal” is.]
The young man again went to see the fairies and told them what had happened. And the fairies said to him:
Go back and take the horse. Ride for three days and you will find a garden; do not stop there. Ride for three more days and you will find another garden; do not stop there either. Ride for yet another three days and you will find a third garden; that is where you need to stop. In the middle of that garden you will see an orange tree laden with golden oranges, where there is a shoot with three oranges growing at the top. As soon as the clock strikes twelve, run to the tree, take the shoot with the three oranges and run away before the sound of the last bell if you don’t want to be trapped [there forever].
The young man did this. He took the horse, rode for three days and found a garden. He continued for three more days and found a second garden. He rode on another three days and, at last, found the third garden and there he stopped. The gates to the garden were wide open and there was nothing to be seen but an arencal (sandbank?), but in the middle [of the garden] was an extraordinary and beautiful orange tree laden with golden apples and, and at the top of the tree grew a shoot with three oranges that was quite a sight to be seen.
So he waited for the first bell sound at twelve o’clock and climbed up the orange tree, went straight to the top where there is the shoot with three oranges, climbed down quickly, jumped on the horse, headed for the gates just as the last bell sounded and crossed them like a sigh of exhalation as they closed behind him.
The king’s son went back to see the fairies and they said to him:
Go back where you came from and, when your father passes by, tell him: “Greetings, father of mine; I am the heir to the crown. Just as I brought you the milk of Gruyere (groviera), here I bring you the oranges of arencal.”
The young man left the same way and approached the king as he did on the previous occasion.
So it is, indeed -conceded the king-, but you have not brought me the most Beautiful Star in the world.
Once more the king’s son returned to see the fairies and told them what just happened to him now. Then the fairies said:
This time you have no other choice but to go and search for the most Beautiful Star in the world.
And where is it? -he asked.
That’s the problem, for we don’t know ourselves -they replied.
And what do I have to do to find it? -he again asked.
The fairies picked up a fistful of dust, threw it in the air and watched where it was blown to; then they searched for a magnificent horse and told him:
In case that you need help, say: “By the fate entrusted to me, let such and such happen”; and whatever you need, you will have.
So the king’s son headed out to where the wind was carrying the dust, and at the end of seven days he ran into a giant.
Good morning -said the young man.
Good morning -replied the giant-. What brings you here?
I am looking for the most Beautiful Star in the world -answered the young man-. Could you tell me where to find it?
If you [can] get me what I ask of you, then I’ll tell you [where it is] -said the giant.
Tell me what it is that you want -said the young man.
I want -said the giant- seven arrobas (a unit of weight) of baked bread, for I am dying of hunger here.
“How can I manage to get them?”
, thought the young man; and he suddenly remembered what the fairies had told him, and said:
By the fate entrusted to me, let seven arrobas of baked bread appear here [in front of me].
And, indeed, the seven arrobas of baked bread appeared and the giant began to eat one loaf after another, and wolfed them all down without leaving a crumb on the ground.
Ah, what a pleasure, what a great time I have had -the giant said-. And you said you want to know where is the most Beautiful Star in the world? Very well, continue in that direction and in seven days you will run into my brother; if you give him what he asks, he will help you. And in case you need me for anything, call for me and there I’ll appear, wherever you are.
The king’s son continued on his way in the direction that the giant signaled to him and at the end of seven days he met another giant.
Good morning -said the young man.
Good morning -replied the giant-. What brings you here?
I’m searching for the most Beautiful Star in the world -said the young man-, and I will give you whatever you want if you would tell me where I can find it.
Well, give me seven arrobas of bread and seven quintales of bacon and spicy pork sausages, for it has been a long time since I filled my belly to my liking.
The king’s son uttered the magic words and everything that the giant wished for appeared before him; and when he saw them, he gobbled down all the foods and did not stop until there was not even the smallest crumb left over. When he had satisfied himself, being content that he was, he said to the young man:
You said you want to find the most Beautiful Star in the world? Well, continue in that direction and in seven days you will run into a brother of mine; if you give him what he asks of you, as you have given me, I assure you that he’ll aid you [in your quest]. And as for me, if you need me [for anything], you need only call for me and I’ll come to see you, wherever you are.
So the king’s son continued on his way and in seven days he again met another giant.
Good morning -said the young man.
Good morning -replied the giant-. May I know what is it that brings you here?
I’ve come searching for the most Beautiful Star in the world -said the young man-. Can you tell me where I can find it?
I would tell you what you’re interested in if you would give me what I want.
Very well -said the young man-, what is it that you want?
I want -said the giant- twelve cartloads of bread, twelve sacks of spicy pork sausages and Catalan pork sausages and twelve vats of wine, for it’s been so long that I have been able to fill my belly that I am now dying of hunger.
That will be done -said the young man.
And as in the previous two occasions, he said the magic words, placed the foods before the giant and waited for him to be satiated like his brothers.
Ah, thank you, thank you very much my nice young man -said the giant when he had finished everything-. It has been a long time since I have eaten and drunk to my full delights. And you said you are searching for the most Beautiful Star in the world? Very well. Just continue in that direction and in seven days you will see a very steep mountain and a grand castle at the top of it. Climb up the mountain and there you will find the most Beautiful Star in the world, a young girl of seventeen who is like a sun, a sweetheart, the most beautiful thing that anyone has ever seen. Her father guards her so zealously that he demands impossible things in order for anyone to see her. Maybe you are lucky and will be able to make her yours. And, if you need me, you need only call for me and I will come to you wherever you are.
The king’s son continued in the direction indicated by the giant and, when he reached the summit of the steep mountain, he asked to speak to the lord of the castle and told him that he had come in search of his daughter. The lord told him that he must first pass three tests, and the king’s son agreed to this.
All right -said the lord-, the first test is that tonight you will be locked in a room with seven arrobas of bread and before dawn tomorrow you must have eaten them all.
Well, let’s get to it -said the young man.
So they locked him up in a room with the seven loaves of bread; and at midnight, when everyone was already asleep, he exclaimed:
Oh giant that I met on the seventh day of my travel, you promised me that whenever I needed you and called for you, you would come to me; come to me now and see if you can satisfy your hunger with these foods that I have with me.
He had barely finished saying this when, zas!, the giant appeared before him, took a look at what was in the room, and said:
It won’t take much effort to eat all this, because this is just what I need each day for my meal.
So he began to eat and ate everything, and when he finished [he was so full that] he could not eat more.
That’s enough, for I am full -he said to the young man-. Is there anything else that you need from me?
No -replied the young man-, you can go now. You have done me a great favor that I will not forget. Go, and may God protect you from harm.
So it will be -said the giant, and he disappeared [from sight].
The lord was greatly surprised when they opened the door to the room that next morning and found the king’s son sitting quietly in a corner; and there was not a trace of any of the food that they had locked him with.
What will be the second test? -asked the king’s son.
I will tell you this very evening -replied the lord. And he was thinking all day long about what the second test would be. He called for him in the evening and showed him another room with seven loaves of bread and seven quintales of pork sausages and told him that he had until the morning to make short work of it all.
The king’s son agreed [to the task] and they [again] locked him the room.
Then the king’s son exclaimed:
Oh giant that I met on the fourteenth day of my travel, you had promised me that whenever I needed you and called for you, you would come to where I was; come to me now and see if you can satisfy your hunger with all these foods that I have with me.
And he barely finished saying this when, zas!, the giant appeared, threw a glance at all the food that was in the room and said:
It won’t take much effort to eat all of this, for this is just what I need each day for my meal.
And he began to eat and eat until he could not eat anymore, but he [did] finish everything.
And, with his belly bursting with food, he then said to the king’s son:
It’s done, now I am full. Do you want anything else from me?
No -said the king’s son-, you may leave now. You have done me a great favor that I’ll never forget. Go and may God keep you from harm’s way.
So it will be -said the giant, and he disappeared [from sight].
When they opened the door to the room the next morning, the lord could not believe his eyes.
What? -said the king’s son-. Have I passed the second test?
Yes, you have passed it -said the lord, who was pale with gloominess and he thought [to himself]: “I’m done for. Just as he had passed these two tests, he will pass the third and then I will have no choice but to show my daughter to him. And, as soon as he saw her, he would fall hopelessly in love with her and take her away with him and !bye bye to my daughter! And I’ll jump off from the highest tower of the castle if I lose my daughter.”
What will be the third test? -the king’s son then asked.
I will tell you this evening -replied the lord. And in the evening he sent for the young man and told him-: The last test is this: we will lock you in a room with twelve cartloads of bread, twelve sacks of pork sausages and twelve vats of wine. If you have not finished everything by dawn, I’ll throw you off from the highest tower of the castle.
Well then, let’s get on with it -said the young man.
And at midnight on the dot, when everyone was asleep, he exclaimed:
Oh giant that I met on the twenty-first day of my travel, you promised me that, whenever I needed you and called for you, you would come to where I was; come to me now and see if you can satisfy your hunger with these foods that I have with me.
And, as on the previous occasions, the giant appeared and ate everything until he was exhausted. Then he asked him if there was anything else that he wanted and the young man answered him:
No, you can leave now. You have done me a great favor that I will never forget. Go and may God keep you out of harm’s way.
So it will be -said the giant, and he disappeared [from sight].
When they opened the door to the room that next morning, the lord almost fainted from shock when he saw that there was nothing left from the immense quantity of food that they had left for the young man the previous evening. And the lord began to moan and beat himself against the walls, swearing and bellowing and tearing his clothes and ripping his hairs out in clumps, until the king’s son said:
Sir, a deal is a deal. I have passed the three tests with flying colors and, with that, now it is your turn to show me your daughter.
There was no other recourse and he had to show his daughter to the young man. And as the lord had very well feared, as soon as they saw each other, the two young people fell madly in love with one another, and the king’s son took the most Beautiful Star in the world in his arms, put her on the back of his horse and, riding the horse from the front, they set out on their way back to the place where he [had] met the three fairies.
When they got there, the fairies said to him:
Go the king’s palace and say to him: “Greetings, father of mine; I am the heir to the crown. Just as I brought you the Gruyère milk and the three oranges of arencal, here I have returned with the most Beautiful Star in the world”.
The king, on seeing how beautiful the girl was, remained speechless for a long time, until at last, [when he had] recovered from the shock that the girl’s beauty had brought on him, said to his son:
My son, here I give you my crown, which you have well earned, for I realize that I cannot compare to you [in many areas].
And, rising from his throne, he put the crown on his son’s head, and that very day the king’s son and the most Beautiful Star in the world were married [to each other].
—– VOCABULARY —–
Abordar – to approach
Ancas – (anatomy) behind
Apego – attachment, fondness
Apresurar – to hurry
Arrancar – (to remove by force) to pull out, to pull up
Arriba del todo – on top of everything
Arrimar a/hacia/contra: to move closer, to move nearer, to bring closer
Arroba – unit of weight
Barranco – ravine, gully
Basta ya – that’s enough
Bautizo – christening, baptism
Bramar – to roar, to bellow, to howl
Butifarras – Catalan pork sausage
Cabello – hair
Carretadas – wagonloads, cartloads
Celosamente – (diligently) zealously; (with envy or jealousy) jealously
Conseguir – to get
Con tal de que – as long as; provided that
Copa – (container for liquid) glass; (trophy) cup; (alcoholic beverage) drink; (highest point) top
Cuba – barrel
Cuenco – earthenware bowl, bowl
Cumbre – summit, top, peak
Dar cuenta – (to eat) to polish off; (to recount) to give an account of, to report, to explain about
Décima – tenth
Delante – in front
De par en par – wide-open
Desmayarse – (to lose consciousness) to faint
Destronar – to dethrone
Digno/digna – (deserving) worthy; appropriate
Disponerse a – to prepare, to get ready
Duodécimo – twelfth
Emprender – (to initiate) to start; (to take up) to undertake
Encantado – (very pleased) delighted
Encomendado – (commissioned) entrusted
Enfilar – to head for; (to put in a line) to line up; to put in a row
Entregar – to hand in or over, to turn in, to submit, to give
Escarpado – steep, precipitous
Enseñarse – (to allow to view) to show
Espalda – back; (sports) backstroke
Espeso – thick
Esquina – corner
Estrella – star
Exigir – (to order) to demand; (to necessitate) to call for, to demand
Faroles – eyes; farol – lantern
Gemir – (to express suffering) to moan, to groan
Groviera – Gruyère cheese
Hada – fairy
Heredero – heir
Hermosura – beauty, beautiful
Humeante – (producing steam) steaming; (smoke-emitting) smoking, smoldering
Mamar – to suckle, to feed, to breastfeed
Mandar llamar – to send for
Matorral – thicket, bush
Mechón – (cluster of hair) lock
Migaja – crumb, breadcrumb
Mustio – (limp) withered, wilted; (sad) down, gloomy
Ojalá – hopefully; if only; I hope so
Ordeñar – (dairy farming) to milk
Pálido – pale, pallid
Panza – belly, paunch
Partir – (to depart) to leave, to set off
Perdidamente – hopelessly
Polvo – dust, powder
Profundo – deep
Puñado – handful, fistful
Que hace mucho tiempo – that’s been a long time ago
Quintales – (unit of weight roughly equivalent to 46 kilos) hundredweight
Rasgar – to tear, to rip
Rastro – trace, sign, scrap
Repuesto – recovered
Restante – remaining, remainder, the rest
Reventar – (to break with pressure) to burst
Séptimo – seventh
Sobrasada – spicy pork sausage; Majorcan sausage
Sonar – to ring, to beep
Tocino – bacon, fat, pork fat
Torre – tower, spire (of a church)
Tripa – intestine, gut
Ubre – udder
Vestiduras – vestments, clothing
Viandas – food
Vigésimo – twentieth
Vistazo – look, quick look, glance
Zampar – to wolf down