--- title: The Fish and the Ring — English Fairy Tales · full text with trees description: The Fish and the Ring, «English Fairy Tales» by Joseph Jacobs: the whole chapter, every sentence with its dependency tree and pragmatics. It begins: Once upon a time, there was a mighty baron in the North Countrie who was a great magician that knew everything that would come to pass. --- [Mova](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg7439/41/) [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/) / [English Fairy Tales](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg7439/) / The Fish and the Ring # The Fish and the Ring The Fish and the Ring of «English Fairy Tales» by Joseph Jacobs: the whole text, 60 sentences and 1214 words. Every sentence has its own page with its syntax tree and pragmatics, parsed by Mova itself. - [1](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg7439/41/1/) — Once upon a time, there was a mighty baron in the North Countrie who was a great magician that knew everything that would come to pass. - [2](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg7439/41/2/) — So one day, when his little boy was four years old, he looked into the Book of Fate to see what would happen to him. - [3](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg7439/41/3/) — And to his dismay, he found that his son would wed a lowly maid that had just been born in a house under the shadow of York Minster. - [4](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg7439/41/4/) — Now the Baron knew the father of the little girl was very, very poor, and he had five children already. - [5](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg7439/41/5/) — So he called for his horse, and rode into York; and passed by the father's house, and saw him sitting by the door, sad and doleful. - [6](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg7439/41/6/) — So he dismounted and went up to him and said: “What is the matter, my good man?” - [7](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg7439/41/7/) — And the man said: “Well, your honour, the fact is, I've five children already, and now a sixth's come, a little lass, and where to get the bread from to fill their mouths, that's more than I can say.” - [8](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg7439/41/8/) — “Don't be downhearted, my man,” said the Baron. - [9](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg7439/41/9/) — “If that's your trouble, I can help you. - [10](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg7439/41/10/) — I'll take away the last little one, and you wont have to bother about her.” - [11](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg7439/41/11/) — “Thank you kindly, sir,” said the man; and he went in and brought out the lass and gave her to the Baron, who mounted his horse and rode away with her. - [12](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg7439/41/12/) — And when he got by the bank of the river Ouse, he threw the little, thing into the river, and rode off to his castle. - [13](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg7439/41/13/) — But the little lass didn't sink; her clothes kept her up for a time, and she floated, and she floated, till she was cast ashore just in front of a fisherman's hut. - [14](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg7439/41/14/) — There the fisherman found her, and took pity on the poor little thing and took her into his house, and she lived there till she was fifteen years old, and a fine handsome girl. - [15](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg7439/41/15/) — One day it happened that the Baron went out hunting with some companions along the banks of the River Ouse, and stopped at the fisherman's hut to get a drink, and the girl came out to give it to them. - [16](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg7439/41/16/) — They all noticed her beauty, and one of them said to the Baron: “You can read fates, Baron, whom will she marry, d'ye think?” - [17](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg7439/41/17/) — “Oh! that's easy to guess,” said the Baron; “some yokel or other. - [18](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg7439/41/18/) — But I'll cast her horoscope. - [19](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg7439/41/19/) — Come here girl, and tell me on what day you were born?” - [20](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg7439/41/20/) — “I don't know, sir,” said the girl, “I was picked up just here after having been brought down by the river about fifteen years ago.” - [21](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg7439/41/21/) — Then the Baron knew who she was, and when they went away, he rode back and said to the girl: “Hark ye, girl, I will make your fortune. - [22](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg7439/41/22/) — Take this letter to my brother in Scarborough, and you will be settled for life.” - [23](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg7439/41/23/) — And the girl took the letter and said she would go. - [24](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg7439/41/24/) — Now this was what he had written in the letter: - [25](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg7439/41/25/) — “Dear Brother,--Take the bearer and put her to death immediately. - [26](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg7439/41/26/) — “Yours affectionately, - [27](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg7439/41/27/) — “Albert.” - [28](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg7439/41/28/) — So soon after the girl set out for Scarborough, and slept for the night at a little inn. - [29](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg7439/41/29/) — Now that very night a band of robbers broke into the inn, and searched the girl, who had no money, and only the letter. - [30](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg7439/41/30/) — So they opened this and read it, and thought it a shame. - [31](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg7439/41/31/) — The captain of the robbers took a pen and paper and wrote this letter: - [32](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg7439/41/32/) — “Dear Brother,--Take the bearer and marry her to my son immediately. - [33](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg7439/41/33/) — “Yours affectionately, - [34](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg7439/41/34/) — “Albert.” - [35](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg7439/41/35/) — And then he gave it to the girl, bidding her begone. - [36](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg7439/41/36/) — So she went on to the Baron's brother at Scarborough, a noble knight, with whom the Baron's son was staying. - [37](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg7439/41/37/) — When she gave the letter to his brother, he gave orders for the wedding to be prepared at once, and they were married that very day. - [38](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg7439/41/38/) — Soon after, the Baron himself came to his brother's castle, and what was his surprise to find that the very thing he had plotted against had come to pass. - [39](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg7439/41/39/) — But he was not to be put off that way; and he took out the girl for a walk, as he said, along the cliffs. - [40](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg7439/41/40/) — And when he got her all alone, he took her by the arms, and was going to throw her over. - [41](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg7439/41/41/) — But she begged hard for her life. - [42](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg7439/41/42/) — “I have not done anything,” she said: “if you will only spare me, I will do whatever you wish. - [43](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg7439/41/43/) — I will never see you or your son again till you desire it.” - [44](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg7439/41/44/) — Then the Baron took off his gold ring and threw it into the sea, saying: “Never let me see your face till you can show me that ring;” and he let her go. - [45](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg7439/41/45/) — The poor girl wandered on and on, till at last she came to a great noble's castle, and she asked to have some work given to her; and they made her the scullion girl of the castle, for she had been used to such work in the fisherman's hut. - [46](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg7439/41/46/) — Now one day, who should she see coming up to the noble's house but the Baron and his brother and his son, her husband. - [47](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg7439/41/47/) — She didn't know what to do; but thought they would not see her in the castle kitchen. - [48](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg7439/41/48/) — So she went back to her work with a sigh, and set to cleaning a huge big fish that was to be boiled for their dinner. - [49](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg7439/41/49/) — And, as she was cleaning it, she saw something shine inside it, and what do you think she found? - [50](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg7439/41/50/) — Why, there was the Baron's ring, the very one he had thrown over the cliff at Scarborough. - [51](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg7439/41/51/) — She was right glad to see it, you may be sure. - [52](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg7439/41/52/) — Then she cooked the fish as nicely as she could, and served it up. - [53](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg7439/41/53/) — Well, when the fish came on the table, the guests liked it so well that they asked the noble who cooked it. - [54](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg7439/41/54/) — He said he didn't know, but called to his servants: “Ho, there, send up the cook that cooked that fine fish.” - [55](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg7439/41/55/) — So they went down to the kitchen and told the girl she was wanted in the hall. - [56](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg7439/41/56/) — Then she washed and tidied herself and put the Baron's gold ring on her thumb and went up into the hall. - [57](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg7439/41/57/) — When the banqueters saw such a young and beautiful cook they were surprised. - [58](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg7439/41/58/) — But the Baron was in a tower of a temper, and started up as if he would do her some violence. - [59](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg7439/41/59/) — So the girl went up to him with her hand before her with the ring on it; and she put it down before him on the table. - [60](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg7439/41/60/) — Then at last the Baron saw that no one could fight against Fate, and he handed her to a seat and announced to all the company that this was his son's true wife; and he took her and his son home to his castle; and they all lived as happy as could be ever afterwards. - ← previous: [The Cat and the Mouse](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg7439/40/) - next →: [The Magpie's Nest](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg7439/42/) - ↑ back to [English Fairy Tales](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg7439/)