Jorinda and Joringel

by The Brothers Grimm

　　There was once an old castle in the midst of a large and thick forest,and in it an old woman who was a witch dwelt all alone. In the day-timeshe changed herself into a cat or a screech-owl, but in the evening shetook her proper shape again as a human being. She could lure wild beastsand birds to her, and then she killed and boiled and roasted them. If anyone came within one hundred paces of the castle he was obliged to standstill, and could not stir from the place until she bade him be free. Butwhenever an innocent maiden came within this circle, she changed her intoa bird, and shut her up in a wicker-work cage, and carried the cage intoa room in the castle. She had about seven thousand cages of rare birdsin the castle.

　　Now, there was once a maiden who was called Jorinda, who was fairer thanall other girls. She and a handsome youth named Joringel had promisedto marry each other. They were still in the days of betrothal, and theirgreatest happiness was being together. One day in order that they might beable to talk together in quiet they went for a walk in the forest. "Takecare," said Joringel, "that you do not go too near the castle."

　　It was a beautiful evening; the sun shone brightly between the trunksof the trees into the dark green of the forest, and the turtle-dovessang mournfully upon the young boughs of the birch-trees.

　　Jorinda wept now and then: she sat down in the sunshine and was sorrowful.Joringel was sorrowful too; they were as sad as if they were about todie. Then they looked around them, and were quite at a loss, for theydid not know by which way they should go home. The sun was still halfabove the mountain and half set.

　　Joringel looked through the bushes, and saw the old walls of the castleclose at hand. He was horror-stricken and filled with deadly fear. Jorindawas singing—-

　　"My little bird, with the necklace red,

　　Sings sorrow, sorrow, sorrow,

　　He sings that the dove must soon be dead,

　　Sings sorrow, sor—-jug, jug, jug."

　　Joringel looked for Jorinda. She was changed into a nightingale, and sang,"jug, jug, jug." A screech-owl with glowing eyes flew three times roundabout her, and three times cried, "to-whoo, to-whoo, to-whoo!"

　　Joringel could not move: he stood there like a stone, and could neitherweep nor speak, nor move hand or foot.

　　The sun had now set. The owl flew into the thicket, and directlyafterwards there came out of it a crooked old woman, yellow and lean,with large red eyes and a hooked nose, the point of which reached to herchin. She muttered to herself, caught the nightingale, and took it awayin her hand.

　　Joringel could neither speak nor move from the spot; the nightingalewas gone. At last the woman came back, and said in a hollow voice,"Greet thee, Zachiel. If the moon shines on the cage, Zachiel, let himloose at once." Then Joringel was freed. He fell on his knees before thewoman and begged that she would give him back his Jorinda, but she saidthat he should never have her again, and went away. He called, he wept,he lamented, but all in vain, "Ah, what is to become of me?"

　　Joringel went away, and at last came to a strange village; there hekept sheep for a long time. He often walked round and round the castle,but not too near to it. At last he dreamt one night that he found ablood-red flower, in the middle of which was a beautiful large pearl;that he picked the flower and went with it to the castle, and thateverything he touched with the flower was freed from enchantment; healso dreamt that by means of it he recovered his Jorinda.

　　In the morning, when he awoke, he began to seek over hill and dale ifhe could find such a flower. He sought until the ninth day, and then,early in the morning, he found the blood-red flower. In the middle ofit there was a large dew-drop, as big as the finest pearl.

　　Day and night he journeyed with this flower to the castle. When he waswithin a hundred paces of it he was not held fast, but walked on to thedoor. Joringel was full of joy; he touched the door with the flower,and it sprang open. He walked in through the courtyard, and listened forthe sound of the birds. At last he heard it. He went on and found theroom from whence it came, and there the witch was feeding the birds inthe seven thousand cages.

　　When she saw Joringel she was angry, very angry, and scolded and spatpoison and gall at him, but she could not come within two paces of him. Hedid not take any notice of her, but went and looked at the cages withthe birds; but there were many hundred nightingales, how was he to findhis Jorinda again?

　　Just then he saw the old woman quietly take away a cage with a bird init, and go towards the door.

　　Swiftly he sprang towards her, touched the cage with the flower, and alsothe old woman. She could now no longer bewitch any one; and Jorinda wasstanding there, clasping him round the neck, and she was as beautifulas ever!