--- title: The Brown Fairy Book, part 30 — The Brown Fairy Book · full text with trees description: The Brown Fairy Book, part 30, «The Brown Fairy Book» by Andrew Lang: the whole chapter, every sentence with its dependency tree and pragmatics. It begins: “Oh, my poor, poor husband, are you really dead? --- [Mova](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg3282/30/) [home](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) / [corpora](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/) / [tales](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/) / [The Brown Fairy Book](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg3282/) / The Brown Fairy Book, part 30 # The Brown Fairy Book, part 30 The Brown Fairy Book, part 30 of «The Brown Fairy Book» by Andrew Lang: the whole text, 108 sentences and 2709 words. Every sentence has its own page with its syntax tree and pragmatics, parsed by Mova itself. **1** [2](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg3282/30/page/2/) - [1](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg3282/30/1/) — “Oh, my poor, poor husband, are you really dead? - [2](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg3282/30/2/) — I must go to-morrow and order your coffin.” - [3](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg3282/30/3/) — Now, when the man heard this, a cold shiver ran through his body, and all at once he knew that he was as well as he had ever been in his life. - [4](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg3282/30/4/) — “Oh, no, no!” he cried, “I feel quite recovered! - [5](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg3282/30/5/) — Indeed, I think I shall go out to work.” - [6](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg3282/30/6/) — “You will do no such thing,” replied his wife. - [7](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg3282/30/7/) — “Just keep quite quiet, for before the sun rises you will be a dead man.” - [8](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg3282/30/8/) — The man was very frightened at her words, and lay absolutely still while the undertaker came and measured him for his coffin; and his wife gave orders to the gravedigger about his grave. - [9](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg3282/30/9/) — That evening the coffin was sent home, and in the morning at nine o’clock the woman put him on a long flannel garment, and called to the undertaker’s men to fasten down the lid and carry him to the grave, where all their friends were waiting them. - [10](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg3282/30/10/) — Just as the body was being placed in the ground the other woman’s husband came running up, dressed, as far as anyone could see, in no clothes at all. - [11](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg3282/30/11/) — Everybody burst into shouts of laughter at the sight of him, and the men laid down the coffin and laughed too, till their sides nearly split. - [12](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg3282/30/12/) — The dead man was so astonished at this behaviour, that he peeped out of a little window in the side of the coffin, and cried out: - [13](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg3282/30/13/) — “I should laugh as loudly as any of you, if I were not a dead man.” - [14](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg3282/30/14/) — When they heard the voice coming from the coffin the other people suddenly stopped laughing, and stood as if they had been turned into stone. - [15](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg3282/30/15/) — Then they rushed with one accord to the coffin, and lifted the lid so that the man could step out amongst them. - [16](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg3282/30/16/) — “Were you really not dead after all?” asked they. - [17](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg3282/30/17/) — “And if not, why did you let yourself be buried?” - [18](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg3282/30/18/) — At this the wives both confessed that they had each wished to prove that her husband was stupider than the other. - [19](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg3282/30/19/) — But the villagers declared that they could not decide which was the most foolish—the man who allowed himself to be persuaded that he was wearing fine clothes when he was dressed in nothing, or the man who let himself be buried when he was alive and well. - [20](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg3282/30/20/) — So the women quarrelled just as much as they did before, and no one ever knew whose husband was the most foolish. - [21](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg3282/30/21/) — \[Adapted from the Neuislandische Volksmärchen.\] - [22](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg3282/30/22/) — Asmund and Signy - [23](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg3282/30/23/) — Long, long ago, in the days when fairies, witches, giants and ogres still visited the earth, there lived a king who reigned over a great and beautiful country. - [24](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg3282/30/24/) — He was married to a wife whom he dearly loved, and had two most promising children—a son called Asmund, and a daughter who was named Signy. - [25](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg3282/30/25/) — The king and queen were very anxious to bring their children up well, and the young prince and princess were taught everything likely to make them clever and accomplished. - [26](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg3282/30/26/) — They lived at home in their father’s palace, and he spared no pains to make their lives happy. - [27](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg3282/30/27/) — Prince Asmund dearly loved all outdoor sports and an open-air life, and from his earliest childhood he had longed to live entirely in the forest close by. - [28](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg3282/30/28/) — After many arguments and entreaties he succeeded in persuading the king to give him two great oak trees for his very own. - [29](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg3282/30/29/) — “Now,” said he to his sister, “I will have the trees hollowed out, and then I will make rooms in them and furnish them so that I shall be able to live out in the forest.” - [30](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg3282/30/30/) — “Oh, Asmund!” exclaimed Signy, “what a delightful idea! - [31](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg3282/30/31/) — Do let me come too, and live in one of your trees. - [32](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg3282/30/32/) — I will bring all my pretty things and ornaments, and the trees are so near home we shall be quite safe in them.” - [33](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg3282/30/33/) — Asmund, who was extremely fond of his sister, readily consented, and they had a very happy time together, carrying over all their pet treasures, and Signy’s jewels and other ornaments, and arranging them in the pretty little rooms inside the trees. - [34](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg3282/30/34/) — Unfortunately sadder days were to come. - [35](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg3282/30/35/) — A war with another country broke out, and the king had to lead his army against their enemy. - [36](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg3282/30/36/) — During his absence the queen fell ill, and after lingering for some time she died, to the great grief of her children. - [37](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg3282/30/37/) — They made up their minds to live altogether for a time in their trees, and for this purpose they had provisions enough stored up inside to last them a year. - [38](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg3282/30/38/) — Now, I must tell you, in another country a long way off, there reigned a king who had an only son named Ring. - [39](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg3282/30/39/) — Prince Ring had heard so much about the beauty and goodness of Princess Signy that he determined to marry her if possible. - [40](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg3282/30/40/) — So he begged his father to let him have a ship for the voyage, set sail with a favourable wind, and after a time landed in the country where Signy lived. - [41](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg3282/30/41/) — The prince lost no time in setting out for the royal palace, and on his way there he met such a wonderfully lovely woman that he felt he had never seen such beauty in all his life. - [42](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg3282/30/42/) — He stopped her and at once asked who she was. - [43](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg3282/30/43/) — “I am Signy, the king’s daughter,” was the reply. - [44](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg3282/30/44/) — Then the prince inquired why she was wandering about all by herself, and she told him that since her mother’s death she was so sad that whilst her father was away she preferred being alone. - [45](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg3282/30/45/) — Ring was quite deceived by her, and never guessed that she was not Princess Signy at all, but a strong, gigantic, wicked witch bent on deceiving him under a beautiful shape. - [46](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg3282/30/46/) — He confided to her that he had travelled all the way from his own country for her sake, having fallen in love with the accounts he had heard of her beauty, and he then and there asked her to be his wife. - [47](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg3282/30/47/) — The witch listened to all he said and, much pleased, ended by accepting his offer; but she begged him to return to his ship for a little while as she wished to go some way further into the forest, promising to join him later on. - [48](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg3282/30/48/) — Prince Ring did as she wished and went back to his ship to wait, whilst she walked on into the forest till she reached the two oak trees. - [49](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg3282/30/49/) — Here she resumed her own gigantic shape, tore up the trees by their roots, threw one of them over her back and clasped the other to her breast, carried them down to the shore and waded out with them to the ship. - [50](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg3282/30/50/) — She took care not to be noticed as she reached the ship, and directly she got on board she once more changed to her former lovely appearance and told the prince that her luggage was now all on board, and that they need wait for nothing more. - [51](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg3282/30/51/) — The prince gave orders to set sail at once, and after a fine voyage landed in his own country, where his parents and his only sister received him with the greatest joy and affection. - [52](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg3282/30/52/) — The false Signy was also very kindly welcomed. - [53](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg3282/30/53/) — A beautiful house was got ready for her, and Prince Ring had the two oaks planted in the garden just in front of her windows so that she might have the pleasure of seeing them constantly. - [54](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg3282/30/54/) — He often went to visit the witch, whom he believed to be Princess Signy, and one day he asked: “Don’t you think we might be married before long?” - [55](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg3282/30/55/) — “Yes,” said she, quite pleased, “I am quite ready to marry you whenever you like.” - [56](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg3282/30/56/) — “Then,” replied Ring, “let us decide on this day fortnight. - [57](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg3282/30/57/) — And see, I have brought you some stuff to make your wedding-dress of.” - [58](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg3282/30/58/) — So saying he gave her a large piece of the most beautiful brocade, all woven over with gold threads, and embroidered with pearls and other jewels. - [59](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg3282/30/59/) — The prince had hardly left her before the witch resumed her proper shape and tore about the room, raging and storming and flinging the beautiful silk on the floor. - [60](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg3282/30/60/) — “What was SHE to do with such things?” she roared. - [61](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg3282/30/61/) — “SHE did not know how to sew or make clothes, and she was sure to die of starvation into the bargain if her brother Ironhead did not come soon and bring her some raw meat and bones, for she really could eat nothing else.” - [62](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg3282/30/62/) — As she was raving and roaring in this frantic manner part of the floor suddenly opened and a huge giant rose up carrying a great chest in his arms. - [63](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg3282/30/63/) — The witch was enchanted at this sight, and eagerly helped her brother to set down and open the chest, which was full of the ghastly food she had been longing for. - [64](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg3282/30/64/) — The horrid pair set to and greedily devoured it all, and when the chest was quite empty the giant put it on his shoulder and disappeared as he had come, without leaving any trace of his visit. - [65](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg3282/30/65/) — But his sister did not keep quiet for long, and tore and pulled at the rich brocade as if she wanted to destroy it, stamping about and shouting angrily. - [66](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg3282/30/66/) — Now, all this time Prince Asmund and his sister sat in their trees just outside the window and saw all that was going on. - [67](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg3282/30/67/) — “Dear Signy,” said Asmund, “do try to get hold of that piece of brocade and make the clothes yourself, for really we shall have no rest day or night with such a noise.” - [68](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg3282/30/68/) — “I will try,” said Signy; “it won’t be an easy matter, but it’s worth while taking some trouble to have a little peace.” - [69](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg3282/30/69/) — So she watched for an opportunity and managed to carry off the brocade the first time the witch left her room. - [70](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg3282/30/70/) — Then she set to work, cutting out and sewing as best she could, and by the end of six days she had turned it into an elegant robe with a long train and a mantle. - [71](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg3282/30/71/) — When it was finished she climbed to the top of her tree and contrived to throw the clothes on to a table through the open window. - [72](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg3282/30/72/) — How delighted the witch was when she found the clothes all finished! - [73](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg3282/30/73/) — The next time Prince Ring came to see her she gave them to him, and he paid her many compliments on her skilful work, after which he took leave of her in the most friendly manner. - [74](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg3282/30/74/) — But he had scarcely left the house when the witch began to rage as furiously as ever, and never stopped till her brother Ironhead appeared. - [75](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg3282/30/75/) — When Asmund saw all these wild doings from his tree he felt he could no longer keep silence. - [76](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg3282/30/76/) — He went to Prince Ring and said: “Do come with me and see the strange things that are happening in the new princess’s room.” - [77](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg3282/30/77/) — The prince was not a little surprised, but he consented to hide himself with Asmund behind the panelling of the room, from where they could see all that went on through a little slit. - [78](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg3282/30/78/) — The witch was raving and roaring as usual, and said to her brother: - [79](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg3282/30/79/) — “Once I am married to the king’s son I shall be better off than now. - [80](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg3282/30/80/) — I shall take care to have all that pack of courtiers put to death, and then I shall send for all my relations to come and live here instead. - [81](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg3282/30/81/) — I fancy the giants will enjoy themselves very much with me and my husband.” - [82](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg3282/30/82/) — When Prince Ring heard this he fell into such a rage that he ordered the house to be set on fire, and it was burnt to the ground, with the witch and her brother in it. - [83](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg3282/30/83/) — Asmund then told the prince about the two oak trees and took him to see them. - [84](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg3282/30/84/) — The prince was quite astonished at them and at all their contents, but still more so at the extreme beauty of Signy. - [85](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg3282/30/85/) — He fell in love with her at once, and entreated her to marry him, which, after a time, she consented to do. - [86](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg3282/30/86/) — Asmund, on his side, asked for the hand of Prince Ring’s sister, which was gladly granted him, and the double wedding was celebrated with great rejoicings. - [87](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg3282/30/87/) — After this Prince Asmund and his bride returned to his country to live with the king his father. - [88](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg3282/30/88/) — The two couples often met, and lived happily for many, many years. - [89](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg3282/30/89/) — And that is the end of the story. - [90](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg3282/30/90/) — \[From Islandische Mahrchen.\] - [91](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg3282/30/91/) — Rübezahl - [92](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg3282/30/92/) — Over all the vast under-world the mountain Gnome Rübezahl was lord; and busy enough the care of his dominions kept him. - [93](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg3282/30/93/) — There were the endless treasure chambers to be gone through, and the hosts of gnomes to be kept to their tasks. - [94](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg3282/30/94/) — Some built strong barriers to hold back the fiery rivers in the earth’s heart, and some had scalding vapours to change dull stones to precious metal, or were hard at work filling every cranny of the rocks with diamonds and rubies; for Rübezahl loved all pretty things. - [95](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg3282/30/95/) — Sometimes the fancy would take him to leave those gloomy regions, and come out upon the green earth for a while, and bask in the sunshine and hear the birds sing. - [96](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg3282/30/96/) — And as gnomes live many hundreds of years he saw strange things. - [97](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg3282/30/97/) — For, the first time he came up, the great hills were covered with thick forests, in which wild animals roamed, and Rübezahl watched the fierce fights between bear and bison, or chased the grey wolves, or amused himself by rolling great rocks down into the desolate valleys, to hear the thunder of their fall echoing among the hills. - [98](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg3282/30/98/) — But the next time he ventured above ground, what was his surprise to find everything changed! - [99](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg3282/30/99/) — The dark woods were hewn down, and in their place appeared blossoming orchards surrounding cosy-looking thatched cottages; from every chimney the blue smoke curled peacefully into the air, sheep and oxen fed in the flowery meadows, while from the shade of the hedges came the music of the shepherd’s pipe. - [100](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg3282/30/100/) — The strangeness and pleasantness of the sight so delighted the gnome that he never thought of resenting the intrusion of these unexpected guests, who, without saying “by your leave” or “with your leave,” had made themselves so very much at home upon his hills; nor did he wish to interfere with their doings, but left them in quiet possession of their homes, as a good householder leaves in peace the swallows who have built their nests under his eaves. **1** [2](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg3282/30/page/2/) - ← previous: [The Brown Fairy Book, part 29](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg3282/29/) - next →: [The Brown Fairy Book, part 31](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg3282/31/) - ↑ back to [The Brown Fairy Book](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg3282/)