= Popular Tales from Lower Brittany / The Fourteen Mares and the World’s Horse[modifier]

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THE FOURTEEN JUNES AND THE HORSE OF THE WORLD

Selaouit, Mar'h'h'heus,
Hag e clevfot eur gaozic coant,
Ha na eus in-hi netra gaou,
Met, marteze, eurir gir pe daou.

Listen, if you want,
And you will hear a nice tale,
In which there are no lies,
If not, maybe a word or two.

Once upon a time there was a young, rich penher named Riwall. His father had fourteen mares, and his greatest pleasure was to mount them, sometimes one, sometimes the other, and to accompany the valets who led them to the pasture.
When he was twelve, he was sent to school in the city, and he greatly regretted his games and his free races on the mares of his father. At the end of a year he returned home on leave, and his first care, on arriving, was to ask for news of the mares.
"I think they are all right," said his father, "for I have not visited them for a long time.
He ran to the meadow where they were and saw thirteen mares grazing, and next to each of them, a beautiful filly, frolicking and frolicking, then a fourteenth mare with a colt all puny and who seemed ill. He approached the latter and began to stroke him and scratch his forehead. The foal tells him, in the language of men:
- Kill the thirteen fillies and leave me alive, so that I can suck, alone, the fourteen mares and thus acquire the strength of fourteen horses.
- How? 'Or' What ! answered Riwall, astonished, "are you talking?
- Yes, I speak like you; but, do you want to do what I ask you?
"Kill thirteen beautiful fillies for a bad foal who will never be worth much, no doubt; no, I will not do that.
"I repeat, do what I ask you, and you will not have to repent of it later.
- I will not do it ; it would be necessary to have lost the head to act in this way.
And Riwall went back to the house. But the whole night that followed, he only thought of the foal's words. The next day he again went to the meadow where the fourteen mares were with their fillies, and the puny foal renewed his request, and so on the third day, so much so that he said to himself:
- This is very extraordinary, and I might do well to obey and follow the advice of the colt? ...
Finally, he decided to kill the thirteen fillies.
But his leave expired, and he went back to school. He came home again at the end of a year, and ran as soon as he reached the meadow where the mares were with their foals. The fourteen mares still had fourteen fillies; but the foal had not benefited in any way. He ran to Riwall as soon as he saw her, and said to him again:
"Kill those fourteen fillies too, so that I'm still alone to suck the fourteen mares.
- Slowly ! answered Riwall; I was foolish enough to obey you a first time, but you will not take me for a second, especially since you have not benefited in any way from having suckled the fourteen mares for a whole year.
"I repeat to you," said the foal, "do what I tell you, and you will not regret it.
Riwall finally gave in, and he killed the fourteen fillies again, and then returned to school for a year.
When he returned for the third time, the fourteen mares still had fourteen fillies, and the bad foal had not benefited at all. He went to him, in a bad mood, and said to him:
- Never have I seen such a thing! How? 'Or' What ! for two consecutive years you are alone, fourteen mares, and you remain puny and sickly as you are! What does that mean ?
"I ask you to kill the fourteen fillies once more," said the foal.
"Are you making fun of me, or do you mistake me for a fool?
- I do not make fun of you and I do not take you for a fool; it will be the last time; do as I say to you, and you will not regret it, I repeat it to you.
After having hesitated for a long time, Riwall ended up killing the fourteen fillies. Then he went back to school, and came back after a year, but to stay at home now, his studies being finished. He ran, as soon as he arrived, to the meadow where the fourteen mares were, and he saw them grazing peacefully, without filly around them this time. The three-year-old colt was alone with them, but as puny and as puny as ever. At this sight, Riwall became very angry, and cut a stick in the hedge and knocked on the evil beast.
- Hey! my master, "said the colt," stop striking me, I pray you, and listen to me; do exactly what I am going to tell you, and you will see what happens. Go home, take a bridle, a saddle, and a curry-horse, and bring them here.
Riwall went home and soon returned to a bridle, a saddle and a curry.
"Now," said the foal, "put my bridle in my head, and my saddle on my back. Good! Now take the curry and give me a good hug.
And Riwall began to curry the foal, which, with each stroke of the curry, grew, grew so much that, to continue, the reamer was obliged to climb on a bank. When the foal had reached the size of three ordinary horses he said:
- Enough. Now go on my back, and we will travel.
And they left. You can judge Riwall's joy at seeing himself perched on a similar animal; never had we seen her, and we were ecstatic everywhere, on their way. They go straight to Paris.
The King of Paris had nine horses, all of which had been sick for some time, and no one could find a cure for their disease, so much so that he was very upset about it. Riwall's horse told his master:
"I know what should be done to heal the king's horses. Go and find him, and tell him that you make a point of curing them, for a hundred pounds of oats, which he will give you for each of them. When you have delivered the oats, you will bring it to me, then you will take a strong stick and beat the sick horses, until they are all covered with foam. You will gather this foam in a vase and rub it, and so my strength will increase still more than all that the horses of the king will have lost. Riwall goes to find the king, and speaks to him like this:
- Hello, sire.
- Hello, good man.
"I have learned, sire, that your horses are sick, and I come to propose that you cure them.
- If you do that, I will reward you generously.
- Give me only a hundred pounds of oats per horse, and I do not ask anything else.
"If you only need that, it will be easy to be satisfied.
And the king ordered his first stableman to deliver him at once nine hundred pounds of oats. Riwall carried them to his horse and then returned to the royal stable, where he began to beat the horses with his arms, with a stick of green oak that he himself had cut into a wood. He beat them so much that they were soon covered with foam. He collected this froth in a pot and rubbed his horse, whose forces were greatly increased, and the king's horses were also healed.
The king's daughter was a witch, and when she saw this, she said to her father,
"You think you have beautiful horses, father, but if you saw the Horse of the World, you would think otherwise. Your horses are but queens next to that one, and until you have it in your stable, you should never talk about it.
- Yes, but how to get this wonder, my daughter!
- The man who has healed your horses can also provide you with the Horse of the World, if you order it.
The king sent for Riwall, and said to him,
"I wish to have the Horse of the World in my stables, and I order you to procure it for me.
"And how can I obtain it, sire, since I am neither a magician nor a sorcerer?
"You must give it to me, or there is only death for you.
Riwall returned to his horse, head down and sad.
"What has happened to you, my master," asked the horse, "to be so sad?
- Alas! I am lost, for I will never be able to do what the king asks of me, on pain of death.
"What does the king ask you, my master?
- To bring him the World Horse in his stables.
It is difficult, but not impossible, and if you do exactly as I say, we will be able to draw from this trial to our honor. Go and find the king again, and tell him that, to succeed in your enterprise, he must have me fired with four irons of five hundred pounds each, with ten nails in each iron, and that, moreover, he provide ninety-nine skins of oxen, which you will fill me with the body, in order to cushion the blows of the Horse of the World.

You will restrain me, sellerez
And the nails will examine [3].

Riwall went to the king and told him of the conditions that he could succeed. The king granted him what he asked.
When everything was ready, he set out with his horse. They go, they go, always in front of them, so much so that they finally arrive under the walls of the castle of the Horse of the World. The door was open.
"Go up on the wall," said the horse to Riwall, "by this oak, which is quite opposite, and from there you will see fine play, just now.
Riwall climbed onto the wall and his horse entered the yard.
The World Horse came immediately to meet him, neighing and tail in the air. What a horse! The fight began at once. The World Horse throws at Riwall's horse
(i) Here is my vrido hag a dibro,
A dalc'ho count had ann tacho. a kick which detached from the flanks of it three skins of oxen, which fell to the ground. The fight continued and soon became furious, so much so that the castle and the earth trembled. The blows of the Horse of the World were terrible, and at every turn he detached two or three skins of oxen from the flanks of the other; but he also fought back vigorously with his five-hundred-pound iron, and at each stroke he took from his enemy a rag of bleeding flesh. The fight lasted three whole hours, and Riwall, who was attending from the top of the wall, followed his adventures anxiously, and trembled more than once for the life of his horse. There was only four or five skins left around him when the Horse of the World suddenly fell to the ground, the four horseshoes in the air, exhausted and demanding quarter.
Riwall immediately descended from the wall and passed a bridle at the head of the vanquished, who allowed himself to be followed and followed him, all sad and docile as a sheep.
When the three of them arrived in Paris, all the people and the Court ran to meet them. No two horses had ever been seen. The King welcomed Riwall with full compliments and invited him to dinner at his table, so great was his joy at having in his stables a marvel like the Horse of the World.
But the witch princess, who wanted no property in Riwall, probably because she thought he was not paying enough attention to her, said to the king a few days later:
"If you knew, my father, what the man boasted about the great horse!
What was he boasting about? asked the king. He boasted of being able to bring to your court the princess who is held captive by a serpent in her castle, suspended by four chains of gold between heaven and earth.
- Did he really say that?
- He said it, I assure you.
"Well, if he said so, he must do it, or there is only death for him. Let him come.
And when Riwall was in the presence of the king:
"Is it true, Riwall," said the old monarch, "that you have boasted of being able to take me to court the beautiful princess, who is held captive by a snake, in her castle, suspended by four chains of gold between the sky and the earth?
"I have never said anything like it, sire, and I should have lost all reason to say it.
"You said so, my daughter assured me, and you must do it, where there is only death for you.
"Then it remains for me to attempt the adventure, and, dead for death, it is as well worthwhile to die elsewhere than here.
And he returned to his horse.
"What is the matter again, my master," said he, "that I see you so sad?
"Nothing good," he replied. The king orders me, under penalty of death, to bring to his court the beautiful princess who is held captive by a snake, in her castle, suspended by four chains of gold between heaven and earth. Never before have I heard of this princess, and I do not know where to go for her.
"I know where the princess and the castle are," said the horse, "but there is far from here, and it is not easy to go there. No matter, we must try the adventure, and if you do exactly what I tell you, we can still get away with it without too much trouble. Return to the king and tell him to have a five hundred-pound silver iron attached to each foot, with ten nails of the same metal in each of them. Then you will ask him again to provide you with a good steel sword dipped in aspen venom, which will cut gold as easily as wood.

You will restrain me, saddle,
And the nails will examine.

The king supplies the silver irons with the nails and the sword, and Riwall and his horse set off. They walk and walk, night and day, without ever stopping, so that they finally arrive at the golden chains that held the castle in the air, so high, so high, that it was seen at hardly like a point no bigger than a wren.
"Cut the chains with your sword, and strike hard," said the horse to his master.
Riwall cut a chain, then two, then three, but he was tired of it.
- Courage! said the horse; to the fourth channel, now, and quickly, where we are lost.
At last the fourth chain was cut, and the castle fell to the ground with a terrible noise. The princess came out at once, through a window, beautiful and brilliant like the sun, and ran to kiss Riwall, saying:
- Be blessed for having delivered me from this ugly monster! But, let's not waste time and leave quickly, lest he catch up with us.
And they both mounted on the horse and took the road to Paris.
When the old king saw the princess, he was dazzled by his beauty, and became so much in love with it that he wished to marry her at once. The betrothal took place, indeed, but the princess demanded that before the marriage she should be given the golden apple which the king's daughter, the witch, boasted to her as the most beautiful wonder in the world.
Riwall was again ordered to bring to the court, under penalty of death, the marvelous golden apple.
His horse told him, at this news:
- This is our last test, and if we succeed, we will be left alone. Go tell the king that I must be hooked this time with gold irons of five hundred pounds each, with ten gold nails in each iron.

You will restrain me, sellerez
And the nails will examine.

The king gave all the gold of his treasure, to make irons and nails, and when all was ready, Riwall and his horse set out again. They walk and walk, night and day, and meet, in a large wood, a little old woman, who asks them:
Where are you going?
- My faith! Grandmother, answered Riwall, I do not really know; the king has ordered me to fetch the golden apple and bring it back to him, on pain of death, and I do not know where it is.
"Well," said the old woman, "I know it, and I want to advise you and help you. You will soon arrive under the walls of an old castle, so lost in the midst of the trees, brambles, thorns and wild grasses that surround it and invade it on all sides, that access is impossible. For five hundred years, no one has ever entered this castle. But here is a white wand that I give you (and she handed him a white wand that she had in her hand), and you will only have to hit the trees, brambles and thorns that will oppose your passage, and immediately a beautiful path will open before you and you will easily penetrate to the castle. You will see in the yard an apple tree with a single apple, the golden apple, which shines in the foliage. Here is another napkin (and she also gave him a napkin) that you lay under the tree, then you will climb on the apple tree and shake the branch, so that the apple falls on the towel. Then you will go down and with your wand you will make a cross on the apple, which will split in four and show a small silver knife in the middle. You will take this knife and put it in your pocket because you will need it later. You will make a new cross on the apple with your wand, and it will close as before. Then you will go back home with the apple and the knife. When you reach the Court, the king's daughter, who is a witch, will beg you to give her the apple; but do not give it to him. We will have a great dinner, and the golden apple will be placed on the table, in a dish of gold. The king will try to start it with his knife; but neither he nor any of the guests can succeed. You will ask to try, in your turn, and your little gold knife will penetrate easily, as in an ordinary apple. But immediately, the king's daughter will fall stiffly dead in front of everyone, and her heart will split into four pieces, like the apple.
"God bless you, grandmother," said Riwall. And they continued on their way and soon found themselves in front of the inaccessible castle. Riwall, with his white wand, struck the trees, thorns, and thorns that opposed their passade, and a beautiful road opened by magic before them, and they easily penetrated to the court. They saw the apple tree and the golden apple shining in the foliage, and a crowd of little birds sang and fluttered around. Riwall spread his towel over the grass, climbed the tree, shook the branch and the apple fell on the towel. He went down immediately, made a cross with his wand on the apple, which cracked and showed a nice little gold knife hidden in its interior. He took it, put it in his pocket, closed the apple with a second cross of his wand, put it in his pocket, got on his horse, and set out. He met again in the woods the little old woman, who asked him:
- Well ! did everything go well, my son?
"Very well, grandmother, thanks to you; I have the apple and the knife in my pocket.
"Well, come home now, calm and uneasy, for that is the end of your labors, and the one that has made you impose such formidable trials will soon be rewarded as it deserves."
And they continued their way quietly.
The whole Court and the people had come out of Paris to meet them, and they returned in great pomp, at the sound of trumpets and bells ringing at full speed.
The old king wanted his marriage to the princess to be celebrated immediately. There was a big meal the next day, to which many people were invited, and so was Riwall. The golden apple was on a golden dish, before the king and his fiancee, and all eyes were fixed on her. At dessert, several guests asked to be shared.
"Give it to me and I will share it," said the king's daughter, the witch.
"No, it is to the king's fiancee that this honor must be restored," replied he.
And the king took the apple on the golden plate and presented it to the beautiful princess. But she tried in vain to divide it; his knife slid on it like on solid gold. The king tried in his turn, but without more success.
"Give me the apple," said the king's daughter again; I will come to the end, me.
It was passed on to her, and she did not succeed any more.
"Pass it to me, sire," said Riwall; it's me who conquered you and I know how to open it.
The king handed him the apple, and with his little golden knife, which he took out of his pocket, he split it in four, most easily in the world.
But, at once, the king's daughter was surprised to fall under the table, and on raising her, one saw that she was dead; his heart had broken and split into four pieces, like the apple.
- To each according to his works! said the other princess, for she had deserved what happened to her, wanting the death of my liberator.
Then, turning to the king:
"As for you, sire, you are too old for me; besides, to the one who has had the trouble is also due the reward.
And at the same time she presented her hand to Riwall, with a sweet smile.
The wedding was celebrated with great pomp and solemnity, and for a whole month there were beautiful feasts and games and magnificent meals.

<poem> I was the cook, I had a drop and a piece, A spoonful on the mouth, And since then I have not returned;  With five hundred crowns and a blue horse, I would have gone to see it tomorrow;  With five hundred crowns and a brown horse, I would have returned in a week and a day.

Conté by Francésa Ann Evven, from Pédernec
(Côtes-du-Nord).  1869.

1. Marc'h an bed

2. Heir, single son
3. Today my vrido hag a dibro,

A dalc'ho count had ann tacho.

4. Me o eno kegineres, Em boa eun tamm hag eur bannec'h, Eun til kloge war ma geneo, Hag a-baoue n'oun ket bet eno.  Glove pemp top skoed hag eur marc'h glaz vijenn and da welet, warc'hoaz, glove pemp kant skoed hag entr mar'h brunn, vijenn be, warc'hoaz ar penn-sunn

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