There lived a merchant in the city of Troyes. Things were going well for him, and everything would have been fine, but he had no children. And he decided to adopt an orphan boy. They named the adopted son Francois. The parents immediately fell in love with the boy, and the next year the merchant’s wife gave birth to twins, and the merchant became the father of three children - three sons.
Time flew quickly, and, imperceptibly, the three sons became grown-up young men, and the merchant, imperceptibly, grew old. He wondered, who should he hand over his business to? After all, in order to conduct trade, you need to have ingenuity and be able to talk to people, and most of all, maintain honesty.
Which of his three sons will succeed him in business?
The merchant decided to test them. But I must tell you, no one knows why, but he loved his adopted son Francois more, perhaps because he was brave, quick, and sincere. Still, the merchant wanted to do what was fair, and therefore he waited for an opportunity to test his sons.
We didn't have to wait long. One visiting guest brought him interesting news that a strange bird called the White Blackbird lives in a foreign country: whoever hears its singing will immediately be cured of all ailments. And what disease is worse than old age? And the merchant wanted to overcome old age, and at the same time this was a true test for young people.
He called his sons to him and told them about the White Blackbird. The brothers did not hesitate and immediately got ready for the road. At first, all three rode together, but at a fork in the road, the twins said goodbye to Francois and turned their horses in the other direction: they said they were not on their way with some adopted child.
Francois had long noticed that his brothers did not like him, and he did not become his fellow travelers, but rode on alone and, wherever he came, he asked everywhere: has anyone seen the wonderful bird White Blackbird? But no one has seen or even heard of her.
Meanwhile, the brothers moved from city to city, but not because they were looking for the treasured bird, but in pursuit of new entertainment. And gradually all their father’s money, which the generous merchant gave them for the journey, melted away. The twin brothers immediately sold their horses, and now they had nothing to return home with. They had to wander along the roads and beg.
Francois traveled around the world for a long time and once stopped in a dense forest. At the roots of a mighty oak tree he saw a cunning trap, and in the trap a gray wolf. The wolf rushes about in the trap, but cannot escape. Francois took pity on him and released him.
Oh, wasn’t it in vain that Francois released the gray wolf into the wild? What if the wolf takes him and eats him? Who then will get the White Blackbird for the good merchant?
No, not in vain! Never regret good deeds. As soon as the wolf broke free, he waved his tail and was gone.
And the next day Francois met a red fox in the forest.
-Where are you going, Francois? - the little fox asked him.
Francois was surprised how the little fox knew his name, but he didn’t say anything about it, but told him his concern:
- Yes, I’m walking around the world, looking for the White Blackbird. Whoever hears his singing will instantly be cured of all ailments: both from old age and from all diseases. Have you, by any chance, heard of this?
- Of course, of course! - says the little fox. “I know everything.” This thrush lives in the kingdom of the Three Green Hills. It is ruled by a king who has never been sick in his life, because in the mornings in his palace this same White Blackbird sings and sings. But the path to the kingdom of the Three Green Hills is long and dangerous.
“I’m not afraid,” says Francois. “I’ll go to the ends of the world for the White Blackbird.”
- Then listen...
And the little fox told Francois how to get to the kingdom of the Three Green Hills.
“And when you get there,” said the little fox, “hire yourself as a worker for the king.” He will accept you, I know. He keeps a white blackbird in a cage that hangs in the large hall. If the blackbird is in a silver cage, grab it and quickly get on your horse and back. And if it’s gold, don’t touch it. Remember!
That's what Francois did. He found the kingdom of the Three Green Hills, hired himself as a worker for the king, and waited for an opportunity to sneak into the large hall where the White Blackbird was kept in a cage. But here’s the annoyance: either guards stand at the doors to the hall all night, or the king gives balls and people dance in the hall until dawn.
Finally there was one quiet night, when everyone in the palace fell asleep, even the guards, and Francois slipped unnoticed into the hall. The moon peered through the window, and Francois saw a White Blackbird in a cage. In a silver cage, that's luck! And next to it hung a golden cage, empty.
“Oh, it’s a pity, the White Blackbird is in a silver cage,” sighed Francois. “It would be more beautiful and richer in gold!” Let me transplant him into a golden cage!
He completely forgot the red fox’s order and transplanted the White Blackbird into a golden cage. But as soon as he latched the cage, the thrush suddenly woke up, perked up, flapped its wings and sang loudly. Then the guards woke up and grabbed Francois. Such a commotion began, all the courtiers and even the king himself came running.
- Oh, you robber! - the king shouted. - I wanted mine
Steal a white blackbird? It’s not enough to execute you for such willfulness!
“What are you talking about, Your Majesty,” answered the frightened Francois, stammering. “I just passionately wanted to admire what he looked like in a golden cage.”
- Do you like my White Blackbird? - says the king. - Do you want me to give it to you? But only if you bring me a lame mule that walks with leaps and bounds. Hands down?
They shook hands. What could poor Francois do? And again he set out on the road to look for the lame mule.
He would have searched for a long time, or maybe he wouldn’t have found it at all, if he hadn’t met the red fox again. Francois wanted to hide from him, he was very ashamed, but the little fox himself called out to him:
- Well, Francois? On the road again? You didn’t listen to my advice, now you have yourself to blame.
“Don’t tell me,” agreed Francois. “I don’t know what happened to me.” I wanted so badly to put the blackbird in a golden cage that I forgot about everything in the world. And now I must bring the lame mule to the king, otherwise I will never see the White Blackbird and my home again.
“Because you confessed everything to me sincerely, I love you even more,” said the little fox. “And I will try to help you again.” Just do everything as I say. The lame mule lives in the kingdom of the Seven Green Hills. The path there is long and dangerous. When you get there, ask the king to serve as a groom. There you will see a lame mule walking with leaps and bounds. So, if he has a silver harness on him, you, without delay, mount and ride back to the kingdom of the Three Green Hills. And if it's gold, don't touch it. Remember?
And Francois set off again on a long journey. He reached the kingdom of the Seven Green Hills and hired himself as a groom at the palace. He gave oats to the horses, cleaned them, groomed them, and he kept looking at the lame mule, what kind of harness was he in - silver or gold? But the mule, without any harness, stood and rested. François was completely exhausted from waiting. And then one evening he sees: they put a silver harness on a mule. So, the cherished hour has struck!
Francois approached the mule and patted it on the withers. The mule glanced sideways at him, but did not move. And suddenly something seemed to come over Francois: he imagined a lame mule in a golden harness. How beautiful this must be! And, as luck would have it, the golden harness hangs right there in the stable, glittering. Francois forgot everything in the world, tore the silver saddle off the mule and was about to put on a gold one instead, but the mule began to beat its hooves and roar at the top of its voice. The grooms, the courtiers, and the king himself came running to the stable.
“Oh, villain!” the king shouted at Francois. “Are you planning to steal my mule?” It’s not enough to execute you for such arbitrariness!
“But no,” Francois found something to answer, “I just wanted to admire him in his golden harness, that’s all.”
- That's right, my mule is good! Both in harness and without harness. Do you want me to give it to you? And for him, bring me a beauty with golden hair.
- Where can I get it, Your Majesty?
- This is your business! Bring a beauty and the mule is yours.
And poor Francois set off on his journey again. Well, it's my own fault. Why didn't the little fox listen? If he now had a lame mule, he would exchange the mule for the White Blackbird and would now be riding home with the White Blackbird.
- Hey, Francois, why did you hang your head? - he suddenly heard.
He looked around and saw a familiar little fox running towards him. So and so, Francois told him everything and did not forget to scold himself. The little fox praised him for this, but scolded him for not listening.
“I’ll help you for the last time,” said the little fox. “Now your luck is in your hands: if you make a mistake, it’s gone, it will fly away like a White Blackbird, run away seven miles like a lame mule, and then you won’t be able to catch it.” And the little fox told Francois what he had to do: “Ride to the blue sea, there is a castle in the middle of the sea, and a beauty with golden hair lives in it.” Evil monsters guard her. No hero can defeat them. But I will give you a magic wand, make sure you don’t lose it! When you gallop to the blue sea, listen.
If a beauty starts singing a sad song, tap your stick three times, saying: “Make way for me, the depths of the sea!” The waves will part and you will walk on dry land to the castle.
Well, don’t yawn there! But remember: the magic wand will only help you if you hear the beauty with golden hair sing, because she sings when all her guards are fast asleep. Understood?
How can you not understand! Francois grabbed his magic wand and galloped towards the blue sea. Just like that, and you didn’t say thank you to the little fox? What did you say, of course, but we don’t have time to dwell on this, we need to follow Francois and hurry to the blue sea, where the beauty with golden hair is languishing in captivity. Well, do you think Francois will keep his promise this time and listen to the red fox?
Let's see!
Day and night Francois galloped to the blue sea, and another day and night, and many more days and nights. Finally he saw a rock in the middle of the sea, and on the rock a gloomy castle. He grabbed his magic wand and...
Fortunately, before he had time to hit the ground with this stick, he suddenly heard a sad, sad song from afar. It was a beauty with golden hair who was imprisoned in a castle in the middle of the sea who sang. Francois heard a song, and it was then that he hit the ground three times with his magic wand, saying:
- Make way for me, the abyss of the sea! Make way for me, the abyss of the sea! Make way for me, the abyss of the sea!
The blue sea parted before him, the high waves subsided, and Francois rode along the seabed to the castle on a horse.
The beauty saw him and was incredibly happy: she never expected that she would break free again. She stretched out her hands to Francois, but could not utter a word, she was afraid of waking up the terrible monsters. Instead of fur, the monsters have sharp needles on their backs, and crooked teeth protrude from each mouth like sabers. But Francois didn’t even look at the monsters, he picked up the beauty with golden hair, put her on a horse and galloped off to the shore.
The monsters heard the clatter of horse hooves, instantly woke up and rushed in pursuit of Francois. But Francois and the beauty had already galloped to the shore. And as soon as his horse stepped on the ground, high waves closed behind them, the blue sea rustled and roared and forever swallowed up the gloomy castle and all the monsters.
Well, Francois galloped back to the kingdom of the Seven Green Hills. And the beauty with golden hair, of course, along with him. Everything went so well this time! But it’s strange: the closer to the goal, the sadder Francois’s soul became. Why do you think?
- I know why! “Suddenly, out of nowhere, a red fox appeared on the road again.” “Well done, Francois!” he said. “This time you acted smartly.” And I know why you are sad. You don't want to part with your beauty, right?
- Right. How did you guess? - Francois was surprised.
- Well, guessing is a simple matter. But what you should do next in order to get the White Blackbird, keep the mule, and not part with the beauty, you need to think about it.
And this is what little fox Francois advised:
“When you arrive in the kingdom of the Seven Green Hills and exchange the golden-haired beauty for a lame mule, you ask the king for permission to kiss the beauty goodbye.” After all, it was you who saved her from the monsters and brought her to the royal castle. The king will not refuse you. And when the princess approaches you, you immediately put her on a lame mule and gallop without looking back. By the time the king comes to his senses, you will already be seven miles away.
Francois thanked the little fox for his good advice.
“Thank you, little fox,” he said, “you are our faithful assistant in love.” I don't know how to thank you.
“You’ve already thanked me, but you’ll find out how later.”
Francois galloped with his beloved to the palace of the ruler of the Seven Green Hills. When the king saw the beauty with golden hair, he gasped - he had never seen such a beauty in his life! The king happily exchanged the lame mule for the golden-haired beauty and hurried to say goodbye to Francois. And Francois says to him:
- Allow me, Your Majesty, to kiss the beauty one last time. After all, it was I who saved her from terrible monsters and brought her to your palace.
The king just grinned and did not argue. And Francois rode up to the beauty on a lame mule, leaned towards her as if he wanted to kiss her goodbye, and - hop! - he grabbed her into the saddle, and before the king had time to come to his senses, the mule had already galloped seven seven miles. Thus the Lord of the Seven Green Hills was left a fool. Well, don't yawn!
And our heroes at that time rushed to the distant kingdom of the Three Green Hills.
- Get the mule, Your Majesty! - Francois said to the king when they rode there. - And give me Whitebird in a silver cage, as agreed.
But as soon as the king saw the beauty with golden hair, he did not want to hear about anything else, but only repeated:
“I’ll give you a White Blackbird, and you’ll give me a Golden-haired Beauty!” If you don't want to, leave! Ride your lame mule seven miles.
Here's your royal word of honor!
But Francois did not argue, but ordered to quickly bring the cage with the White Blackbird. He received the treasured blackbird, sat astride a lame mule and said:
- Allow me, Your Majesty, to kiss the beauty one last time. After all, after all, it was I who saved her from terrible monsters and brought her to your palace.
Well, the king reluctantly agreed. And Francois leaned towards the beauty, as if he wanted to kiss her goodbye, and - hop! - he picked her up, put her on a mule in front of him, and before the king had time to come to his senses, the lame mule had already galloped seven seven miles.
Francois and the beauty are driving through forests and fields, heading home, rejoicing in their good fortune. But isn't it too early for them to rejoice?
One day they met two beggars on the road. Francois held the mule to talk to them, looked - yes, these were his twin brothers. “Yes, that’s how evil fate dealt with them!” - Francois was amazed. His heart sank with grief, and he called out to his brothers. They came closer and immediately recognized their adopted brother.
- No way, Francois! - they rejoiced. - And the cage with the White Blackbird, and the beauty with golden hair. What a lucky man you are, brother!
But Francois saw how tattered and dirty they were, and did not ask them anything: it was already clear that their father’s money was not going to be good for the brothers. He put them with him on a lame mule, and they hurried to their home. Little did he know that the twin brothers were being consumed by evil envy. Just think, some foster kid has jumped ahead of them and now he will appear as a hero before his father, and they themselves will forever remain a laughing stock, little children will be teased with their name. No, this won't happen!
And so, when they passed by a deep well, the brothers complained that they were thirsty, and asked Francois to bring a jug of water to drink. Francois untied the jug from the saddle and was about to jump to the ground, but the beauty whispered in his ear:
- Don't get off the mule! Don't leave me alone with them!
- Why should you be afraid? These are my brothers! - Francois grinned, jumped off the mule and headed towards the well with a jug.
But the brothers did not waste time and followed him. When Francois was bending over the well, they pushed him, and Francois flew down. It’s good that he didn’t crash and didn’t choke on water, but he couldn’t get out, the well was too deep.
The brothers returned without Francois, jumped on a mule and galloped to their father's house.
Poor Francois sat in the well all night, and the next morning he looked in... well, who do you think? Yes, of course, the red fox, without him Francois would be completely lost. And our fairy tale would have quickly come to an end if it weren’t for the nimble little fox, a smart adviser and a generous helper.
— How did you spend the night in a deep well? - he asked Francois. “Do you want to go upstairs?”
How can you not want to! Francois was delighted, but couldn’t utter a word from excitement. And the little fox lowered his long red tail into the well, Francois grabbed the tip and climbed up.
- How can I thank you? - he asks the little fox.
- Yes, you have already thanked me! - says the little fox. “Do you remember the gray wolf that you released from the trap?” So know, Francois, that was my older brother. He sent me to help you. So I helped. And now you’ve gone through the whole science of life, you no longer need my help, so let’s say goodbye to you. You need to hurry home!
What was there to object to? Miracles, and that’s all! But Francois had already begun to get used to various miracles. He was only amazed at the rare wolfish gratitude. This is truly a miracle...
He said goodbye to the red fox and hurried home.
And at home, the father kept asking the twins what had happened to their older brother, where had he gone? But those in the know deny it: they say they don’t know anything and don’t know anything; their brother separated from them a long time ago and went his own way to seek luck.
Yes, that’s how the twin brothers answered their father. And then, like a bolt from the blue, Francois came home. The merchant even shed tears of joy, and then told him all the news:
“You know, son, your brothers also returned home.” They had great luck! I just don’t know how to evaluate it. They brought with them a White Blackbird in a silver cage, but the blackbird does not sing, it sits in the corner of the cage, ruffled. They also brought a lame mule with them. We feed him hay and oats, but he still doesn’t want to run, he stands in the stall all day, beating with his hooves and roaring in a bad voice. And on that mule a beauty with golden hair came to us. Who she is and where she comes from, I don’t know anything, because she is silent, doesn’t want to utter a word and refused to eat. These are the nice gifts I received from my twins.
“Don’t be sad, father, I think I know how to fix the matter.” Take me to the stables first.
As soon as Francois approached the lame mule and stroked his withers, the mule perked up and cheerfully slapped itself on the back with its tail. Francois sat astride him, whispered the cherished word in his ear, and the mule galloped off, instantly disappearing from sight, leaving only a cloud of dust behind him. Before the merchant had time to marvel at such a miracle, the mule had already galloped back.
- Yes, lame, but fast! — the merchant praised the mule.
“I got hungry from the road,” says Francois, “he and I rode seven miles there and seven miles back in an instant.” It would be nice to have lunch now.
When everyone sat down at the table, the merchant asked to invite the beauty with golden hair. They barely persuaded her to come to the table; but as soon as she saw Francois, she laughed merrily and started a conversation with him. The merchant was even more amazed. And when dinner was over, everyone went out into the garden, where the White Blackbird sat, ruffled, in a silver cage. François snapped his fingers in front of him, and then the White Blackbird perked up and sang loudly. And the merchant suddenly felt young and happy.
Only one sadness still troubled his heart: it turns out that his twin sons had deceived him. He asked his adopted son Francois how it all turned out, but Francois did not want to disgrace his brothers, but advised them to leave their father’s house wherever they looked.
And the next day, in the merchant’s house, the wedding of Francois and the beauty with golden hair was cheerfully celebrated. I myself was at their wedding, I heard the songs of the White Blackbird, and since then nothing has hurt me and old age has not taken over me. So I have lived to this day, that’s why you heard this story from me.
Translated from Russian · original on wisdomlib.ru