United States or Somalia ? Vote for the TOP Country of the Week !
IN old times, when all kinds of wonderful things happened in Brittany, there lived in the village of Lanillis a young man named Houarn Pogamm and a girl called Bellah Postik. They were cousins, and as their mothers were great friends, and constantly in and out of each other's houses, they had often been laid in the same cradle, and had played and fought over their games.
'I do not wonder, exclaimed Houarn, who now felt quite at home 'I do not wonder that the people on the earth have so much to say about you. 'The rich are always envied. 'For myself, he added, with a laugh, 'I only ask for the half of your wealth. 'You can have it, if you will, Houarn, answered the fairy. 'What do you mean? cried he.
As soon as the young man had recovered from his surprise, he prepared to jump into the lake and swim to shore. But the bird had guessed his intentions, and plunged beneath the water, carrying Houarn with him to the palace of the Groac'h. Now, unless you have been under the sea and beheld all the wonders that lie there, you can never have an idea what the Groac'h's palace was like.
So Houarn went down to the sea, and found a boatman who engaged to take him to the isle of Lok. The island was large, and lying almost across it was a lake, with a narrow opening to the sea. Houarn paid the boatman and sent him away, and then proceeded to walk round the lake. At one end he perceived a small skiff, painted blue and shaped like a swan, lying under a clump of yellow broom.
This was better than being parted, of course, but not so good as having a little cottage of their own, where they could do as they liked, and soon they might have been heard bewailing to each other the hardness of their lots. 'If we could only manage to buy a cow and get a pig to fatten, grumbled Houarn, 'I would rent a bit of ground from the master, and then we could be married.
The Groac'h seemed overjoyed to see her, and told her that never before had she beheld such a handsome young man. Very soon she led her visitor into the great hall, where wine and fruit were always waiting, and on the table lay the magic knife, left there by Houarn.
'Strangers and handsome youths are always welcome here. Do not be shy, but tell me how you found your way, and what you want. 'My name is Houarn, he answered, 'Lanillis is my home, and I am trying to earn enough money to buy a little cow and a pig to fatten. 'Well, you can easily get that, replied she; 'it is nothing to worry about.
'And who will restore you to your proper shapes, said Bellah, drawing the knife from her pocket. But just as she was going to touch the foremost fish, her eyes fell on a green frog on his knees beside her, his little paws crossed over his little heart. Bellah felt as if fingers were tightening round her throat, but she managed to cry: 'Is this you, my Houarn? Is this you?
Houarn sat down and took out the knife which Bellah had given him, but as soon as the blade touched the fish the enchantment ceased, and four men stood before him. 'Houarn, save us, we entreat you, and save yourself too! murmured they, not daring to raise their voices. 'Why, it must have been you who were crying out in the pot just now! exclaimed Houarn. 'Yes, it was us, they answered.
In a large hall the Groac'h was lying on a couch of gold. The pink and white of her face reminded you of the shells of her palace, while her long black hair was intertwined with strings of coral, and her dress of green silk seemed formed out of the sea. At the sight of her Houarn stopped, dazzled by her beauty. 'Come in, said the Groac'h, rising to her feet.
Word Of The Day