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AUGUST, 1881.]
FOLKLORE IN THE PANJAB.
233
and the ear tumbled on to the ground. The Knifegrinder King was dreadfully grieved, for he knew surely that some terrible trouble had befallen his dear Prince. But hegathered an army together and set off to help. On the way he met the Blacksmith King and the Carpenter King, who were on the same errand. Their barley plants had withered at the selfsame minute. Now wben the three friends found that the three barley plants had withered and died in the selfsame manner, their hearts were very sad, but they determined to revenge their Prince's death if they could not save him. By and by they came to the river side, and there they found the Prince's body all burnt and blistered, and the head lying on the ground close by. They looked for the Prince's sword, for they knew his life lay in it, and when they saw another in its place, their hearts were sadder than ever. Then they lifted the body and took it to the palace to weep over it, and lo! there they found the Prince's sword in a heap of ashes, ull blistered and stained, with the rivet gode, and the hilt lying close by.
" That is soon mended," said the Blacksmith King. So he blew up the fire, and forged a rivet; and no sooner had he rivetted the hilt on to the blade, than the Prince's head grew to his shoulders as firm as ever.
"My turn now," said the Knifegrinder King. So he took the sword and spun his wheel so swiftly that the blisters and stains disappeared like magic, and the sword was bright and sharp as ever. As he did so the burns and scars disappeared from the Prince's body likewise, till at last he sat up and looked about him handsomer than ever.
" Where is my Princess?" asked he, and told his friends what had happened. "It's my turn now," said the Carpenter King. “Stay you here while I fetch the Princess. But first I must take your sword with me."
So he took the strong bright sword and set off to seek the Princess.
By and by he came to the King's town, and saw the high palace where the Princess lived. He asked the townspeople who lived there, and they told him a strange Princess, and that no one was allowed to enter the courtyard, save the hewers of wood and drawers of water.
10 dos dol or 8,3 4818-see notes in former tale. Also burj (vulgo, buraj) a balloou. A word in common use of Arabic origin.-R.C.T.
Then he disguised himself as a woodman and called out under the windows, Wood! wood ! fifteen gold pieces for this bundle of wood." The Princess, who was sitting on the roof, bid her maidens ask why it was so expensive.
"Because it was cut with this strong sharp sword," answered he. Then the Princess looked over the parapet and recognized Prince Lionheart's sword. So she said "Ask him if he has anything else to sell."
Then the woodman said, "I have a wonderful palanquin" that flies through the air, and if Her Highness wishes I will show it to her this evening when she walks in the garden."
So he went home and made a wonderful palanquin, and in the evening he took it to show to the Princess. “Seat yourself in it, O Princess!" said he, "and try how it can fly." But the King's sister who was there said " You must not go alone." So she too got in and so did the wicked wise woman.
Then the Carpenter King jumped up outside, and lo! the palanquin began to fly like a bird higher and higher.
"I have had enough. Let us go down," said the King's sister. But the Carpenter took her and threw her into the river, over which they were then passing : but he waited till they came above the high palace before he threw the wise woman down, so she got finely smashed on the stones.
Then he, the Princess, and the strong bright sword flew away to the jinn's palace.
Prince Lionheart was overjoyed to see his dear Princess again, and they all set out for his father's kingdom,
Now when the poor old king his father saw the three armies coming he thought they came to fight him, so he went out to meet them, and said, "Take all my riches, but leave my people in peace. For I am old and weak and cannot fight. It would be different if my son Prince Lionheart were here, for he is as brave as a lion, but he left us years ago."
Then the Prince wept and told his father who he was, and that these were his old companions the Knifegrinder, the Blacksmith, and the Carpenter. Then he showed him the golden-haired Princess, and every one was delighted and lived happily ever after."
11 The end of this story follows logically on the commencement, which is quite a remarkable occurrence in a genuine popular story in the Punjab.-B.C.T.
