The Palace of The Cats

　　A certain lord had three sons two of whom were clever lads and the third， the youngest， a fool. That is the way it used to be of old in all the lords' families.

　　The lord had a good life of it， but the years passed and at last old age crept up on him. Meanwhile， his sons had grown to manhood， so he began to think and to ponder to which of them to leave his house and land. Now， this started the two clever sons arguing.

　　“ It is I who should get the house and land！” said one.

　　“No， I！” the other protested.

　　But the fool did not join in the argument and only mocked at his clever brothers， saying：

　　“The house and land ought to be mine by rights， but just to settle it in a brotherly way， you can have them and welcome. All I want is the old bay horse and the plank cart.”

　　But the clever brothers could not agree among themselves， and it looked as if it would come to a fight.

　　The old lord listened to them quarrelling， and saw that nothing good would come of it. So he called his sons to his side and said：

　　“You'll never settle your differences in this way， my sons. Better go and look for a pictured kerchief. Whoever brings me the prettiest one will get the house and land.”

　　Well， then， it was time to stop arguing and do their father's bidding.

　　On the very next day the two clever brothers prepared to set out in search of the kerchiefs. They took the best horses and plenty of money and they rode out of the yard through two different gates. But the fool stayed behind and never turned a hair.

　　Said his father to him：

　　“Don't you want to go and seek your fortune， too， my son？”

　　“Let my elder brothers look for the kerchiefs and perhaps they'll leave me nothing to look for，” replied the fool with a laugh.

　　To this his father found nothing to say.

　　Some time passed and when only four days were left before the brothers were due to return， the fool harnessed the old bay horse to a plank cart and rode off through the third gate.

　　He rode and he rode and he didn't know where to go. So he slackened the reins and decided to let the bay have its head.

　　On and on he rode in this way till he came to a large forest. Just ahead was a fork in the road， with a wide path branching off to the left and a narrow one to the right. The fool meant to take the wide path， but no sooner did his horse reach the fork than it turned off to the right.

　　“Let my horse follow the narrow path since that is what it wants，” said the fool to himself and rode on.

　　Night soon came and the fool was surrounded by dense forest with not a gleam of light anywhere around. He was beginning to be cross with his horse for having brought them to where they were in danger of being eaten up by wolves， when， riding a little way further， he saw bright lights ahead. On he rode and soon arrived at a large palace. He wanted to come into the palace but stopped short， for there at the gate sat two huge cats， showing their teeth and looking very fierce. In his fright， the fool did not know what to do at first， but then， telling himself that the wolves would eat him up anyway， so he might as well risk being torn up by the cats， he walked calmly through the gate. At this the cats stopped showing their teeth， and， far from trying to turn on him， began rubbing themselves against his legs.

　　He came into the courtyard and was met by a great number of cats and tom-cats who-o wonder of wonders！ -all spoke just like people do. They at once led the fool into the palace and his old bay horse to the stable and tried to do everything they could to please them.

　　In the morning the fool prepared to set out on his way， but the cats surrounded him and begged him to stay with them a little while longer. This the fool would have been glad to do but he knew that he had only three days left in which to find a kerchief more beautiful than the ones his brothers might bring. He told the cats about it， and the white cat said when she had heard him out：

　　“That's a trifling matter， my lad. Stay with us another three days and you'll have the kerchief to take with you and whatever else you might wish for besides.”

　　The fool spent three days in the cats' palace and he felt like a king. The cats fed him and put him to bed and carried out his every wish.

　　On the evening of the third day they harnessed the fool's old bay horse to the plank cart， and the white cat gave the fool a small nut.

　　Said she in farewell：

　　“Go home in peace. Everything will be well， only mind that you don't crack the nut on the way.”

　　The fool got into his cart and away he rode in a cloud of dust！

　　And as for the two clever brothers， they were already back home by then and showing their father the kerchiefs they had brought. The kerchiefs were indeed beautiful， though not as beautiful as they might have been， but the brothers and their horses were hard to recognize， so wasted and worn were they.

　　The fool rode into the yard， and his old bay horse pranced about in the liveliest fashion， and he himself looked hale and fit and not in the least worn out.

　　Said his father：

　　“It looks as if you've had a gay time of it wherever it is you've been， my son， but whether or not you got a rich gift in parting remains to be seen.”

　　The fool laughed.

　　“I've had a gay enough time and I've brought a rich gift with me， too！” sad he.

　　He took the nut the white cat had given him out of his pocket， flipped it lightly， and at once a kerchief so beautiful appeared in his hands that it seemed to set the whole chamber alight.

　　The two clever brothers were thunderstruck at the sight.

　　Sad the father：

　　“Well， my sons， you can see for yourselves that it s the fool to whom my house and land must go， for he has brought a kerchief so beautiful that its match cannot be found anywhere n the world.”

　　The kerchief was indeed one to feast the eye， and the clever brothers could not find fault with it， but they refused to give up the house and land to the fool.

　　“Well， if I can't have them， I can't，” said the fool. “Of course， they belong to me by rights， but since you want them so much you can divide them between you. Just leave me the old bay horse and the plank cart.”

　　Day and night the clever brothers were at it， arguing， but divide the house and land between them they could not.

　　“It is I who should get the house and land！” cried one.

　　“No， I！” insisted the other.

　　The father tried time and again to make peace between them， but to no avail.

　　One day he called his three sons to his side again and said：

　　“Whichever of you gets the house and land has to marry in any case. So set off now and seek for wedding dresses for your brides. The house and land will go to him who brings the most beautiful dress.”

　　The clever brothers took their best horses and plenty of money and away they rode through two different gates. But the fool never turned a hair.

　　“Don't you want to go and seek your fortune， too， my son？” asked his father.

　　Said the fool in reply as he had the first time：

　　“Let my elder brothers look for the dresses and then perhaps I'll have nothing to look for.”

　　To this the father found nothing to say.

　　Time passed and when only four days were left before the brothers were due to return， the fool harnessed his old bay horse to the plank cart and rode of through the third gate.

　　Once again the poor lad was at a loss where to go. But since the bay horse had turned out to be cleverer than he the first time he felt that it ought to be given its head this time， too. He slackened the reins， and at once the bay quickened its pace and went so fast that it was all he could do to hold on.

　　Toward evening they rode up to the palace of the cats again， and there， by the palace gate， sat the two huge cats just as they had the first time， showing their teeth and looking fiercely at him. But the fool was not a bit afraid. Out he sprang from the cart and made straight for the palace.

　　This time， too， a great number of cats， large and small， came running up. They welcomed the fool as if he was a king and they led him into the palace and his horse to the stable.

　　In the morning the fool prepared to set off on his way again， but the cats surrounded him on all sides and begged him to bide with them a little longer. This the fool would have been glad to do were it not that he had only three days left in which to bring home a wedding dress more beautiful than any his clever brothers might find. He told the cats about it， and the white cat said when she had heard him out：

　　“That's a trifling matter， my lad. Bide with us another three days and you'll have anything you wish for to take home with you.”

　　Well， if that were so， the fool was nothing loath， and so he spent another three days in the palace.

　　On the evening of the third day the cats harnessed the old bay horse to the plank cart， and the white cat gave the fool a little box， saying in parting：

　　“Go home in peace and all will be well but mind you don't open the box on the way.”

　　The fool got into the cart and away he rode in a cloud of dust！

　　The two clever brothers were already home and showing their father the wedding dresses they had brought. The father looked and saw that the dresses were beautiful indeed， though not as beautiful as they might have been， but his sons and their horses were so wasted and worn that it was hard to recognize them.

　　Just then the fool rode into the yard in his plank cart， and so fast did he go that the gate shook.

　　Said the father：

　　“It looks like you've had a gay time of it， my son， but whether or not you were given a rich gift in parting remains to be seen.”

　　The fool gave a laugh.

　　“It's a gay time I've had and a fine gift I've brought with me！” said he， and， opening the box， brought out the dress.

　　Seeing it， the father and the two clever brothers could hardly believe their eyes， for it was more beautiful than any a princess might have.

　　Said the father to his clever sons：

　　“Well， my sons， you can see for yourselves that it is the fool to whom the house and land must go， for he has brought a wedding dress than which there is no finer in the world.”

　　The clever brothers agreed that the dress was indeed one to feast the eye， but they would not hear of giving up the house and land to the fool.

　　The fool did not try to argue with them.

　　“The house and land are mine by rights，” said he， “but you can have them to divide as you will between you. All I want is the old bay horse and the plank cart.”

　　The two clever brothers began arguing， they argued day and night， but divide the house and land between them they could not.

　　“It is I who should have them！” cried one.

　　“No， I！” the other insisted.

　　The father listened to them for a time but said nothing for he hoped that they would settle the matter quietly between them. But， seeing that it might come to a fight before long， he called all the three songs to his side and said：

　　“What was was and there's no help for it， but I won't allow it to go on like that. Go， all of you， and let each of you find himself a bride.”

　　Such was their father's will， so there was nothing the brothers could do but set out to seek brides for themselves. The two clever brothers took the best horses and plenty of money and away they rode through two different gates. But the fool never turned a hair. The days passed， and there he was， still at home. The father felt that it was high time for him to be setting off but the fool made no move to do so.

　　At last the father could contain himself no longer.

　　“Don't you want to go and seek your fortune， too， my son？” asked he.

　　But the fool only laughed.

　　“Let my elder brothers look for their brides， and then perhaps I won't need to look for mine so long，” said he.

　　The father found nothing to say to this.

　　Then， just four days before his brothers were due to return， the fool harnessed his little old bay horse to the plank cart again and away he rode through the third gate.

　　“Now， where shall I go？” thought he. “The cats gave me the kerchief and wedding dress， but where would they find me a beautiful bride？ Oh， well， since the little bay horse proved to be cleverer than I both times， it can have its head now， too.”

　　And the horse trotted on even faster than before and turned down the selfsame road that led to the selfsame palace. Reaching the palace， it stopped by the gate where， just as they had before， sat the two huge cats， showing their teeth and looking very fierce.

　　“This is where the little bay horse brought me， so this is where I'll stay，” said the fool to himself， and he made for the palace.

　　Seeing him， the cats came running up from all sides just as they had before. They gave him a royal welcome and they led the little bay horse to the stable.

　　That evening the fool walked all around the palace and looked in every corner， hoping to find at least one human being living here among all these cats. But search as he might， he found no one-no one， that is except more cats. Grieved， the poor lad waited till morning and then prepared to take his leave. But the cat surrounded him on all sides and asked him why he was so sad. The fool told them that what was troubling him was that perhaps his brothers had already found themselves beautiful brides while he had not so much as laid eyes on his.

　　Said the white cat：

　　“Oh， that's a trifling matter， my lad. Bide with us another three days and you'll have the most beautiful bride of all to take home with you and anything else you may wish for besides.”

　　Well， if this were so， the fool was nothing loath， so he spent another three days with the cats， and they attended to all his needs and tried to please him just as if he were a king.

　　On the evening of the third day it was time for the fool to be setting out for home， but the cats would not let him go and asked him to spend one last night with them， for， said they， how could he take his bride through such a dense forest， and in the middle of the night， too！

　　There was nothing for it， so the fool stayed in the palace for another night.

　　But， oh， what a fright he had because of it！ He went to bed in the evening just as he had the first two times， but some time around midnight woke up to hear the wind howling wildly in the tower. It howled for a long time， and then suddenly a whirlwind tore through the palace， and so fierce was it that the earth quacked and shook and all the doors and windows flew open. The fool was frightened half to death and ran to ask the cats what had happened. But-o wonder of wonders！ -all the cats in the palace had turned into men and women， and the white cat was now a princess and so beautiful that her like could not be found anywhere， not even beyond the thrice-nine kingdom.

　　The beautiful princess rushed to the fool and she called him her own dear husband.

　　In the meantime the grooms had harnessed ten horses， the little old bay at the head， to a coach， and off the fool and the princess now rode for home！ So fast did they go that the trees alongside the road bent to the ground and when they were a mile away from the fool's house the gate posts flew up into the air.

　　At sight of the princess whose beauty seemed to light up the house， the wives of the two clever brothers were all for running away then and there. And the father at once gave his house and land to the fool and he wanted drive his two clever sons out altogether. But the fool would take nothing for himself but the old bay horse and the plank cart and divided the rest equally between his brothers.

　　The fool and the princess went back to their palace and there they held their wedding. It was a gay wedding indeed and they had guests there from every corner of the earth！

　　I was invited， too， and， since this was no ordinary wedding but a royal one， I bought myself a coach of bread and horses of cake， shoes made of carrots and a hat made of butter， a glass dress and a paper umbrella. I got to the palace safely and in good time an I saw all there was to see and heard all there was to hear. There was plenty of food and plenty of drink for all， and everyone feasted and made merry to his heart's content. The fool's father was at the wedding and so were his two clever brothers with their wives， and there were many maids of noble birth and many princesses， too， but none was as beautiful as the fool's bride.

　　It was at the wedding that I heard that the palace where the fool and his beautiful princess were living had once belonged to a king. One day it had been beset by devils who had turned all the people into cats， and the spell could only be broken if a man， any man， came to the palace three times and spent three days and three nights there every time. Now， this was just what the fool had done and thus it was that he had set the beautiful princess and servants free. Had he not come when he had， in thrice-nine years the devils would have eaten up all the cats.

　　It was a gay time I had at the wedding， but when I got into my coach of bread and was about to drive off for home a pack of dogs ran up， fell on the coach and ate it up！ I called for help， and some young lads came running. They drove off the dogs but before I could stop them ate up my horses.

　　Now that my coach and horses were gone， I had to go on foot， but before I could get very far it began to rain and my paper umbrella was ruined. Then the rain stopped and the sun began to shine and my hat of butter melted. There was nothing to be done， so on I went without them. But my troubles did not end there， for I passed by a farm soon after and some goats saw me， and， falling on my carrot shoes， left me barefoot. Now I had nothing on but my glass dress. Just then a strong wind started up， I was hurled on to a large stone and my dress was shattered to bits！ So there I was as naked as the day I was born. I couldn't for the life of me walk on like that， so I climbed into a barn and hid in a bundle of flax. And I might have been there to this day had not the fool's huntsmen been out hunting nearby at the time. They ran out of wads， so one of them slipped into the barn and snatched up the very bundle of flax in which I was hiding. He dragged me to the forest and thrust me in his gun， and there was nothing I could do to stop him. Bang！ Went the gun， and away I flew beyond the swamps and forests. I came to a week later and found myself where you see me now. So that's my story， and that's what's apt to happen to a wedding guest！ could do to stop him. Bang！ Went the gun， and away I flew beyond the swamps and forests. I came to a week later and found myself where you see me now. So that's my story， and that's what's apt to happen to a wedding guest！

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