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TRUSTY JOHN
ONCE upon a time there was an old king who was so
ill that he thought to himself； 〃I am most likely on my
death…bed。〃 Then he said； 〃Send Trusty John to me。〃
Now Trusty John was his favorite servant； and was so
called because all his life he had served him so faithfully。
When he approached the bed the King spake to him：
〃Most trusty John； I feel my end is drawing near； and I
could face it without a care were it not for my son。 He
is still too young to decide everything for himself； and
unless you promise me to instruct him in all he should
know； and to be to him as a father； I shall not close my
eyes in peace。〃 Then Trusty John answered： 〃I will
never desert him； and will serve him faithfully； even
though it should cost me my life。〃 Then the old King
said： 〃Now I die comforted and in peace〃； and then he
went on： 〃After my death you must show him the whole
castle； all the rooms and apartments and vaults； and all
the treasures that lie in them； but you must not show
him the last room in the long passage； where the picture
of the Princess of the Golden Roof is hidden。 When he
beholds that picture he will fall violently in love with it
and go off into a dead faint； and for her sake he will
encounter many dangers； you must guard him from this。〃
And when Trusty John had again given the King his
hand upon it the old man became silent； laid his head
on the pillow； and died。
When the old King had been carried to his grave
Trusty John told the young King what he had promised
his father on his death…bed； and added： 〃And I shall
assuredly keep my word； and shall be faithful to you as
I have been to him； even though it should cost me my
life。
Now when the time of mourning was over； Trusty
John said to him： 〃It is time you should see your
inheritance。 I will show you your ancestral castle。〃 So
he took him over everything； and let him see all the riches
and splendid apartments； only the one room where the
picture was he did not open。 But the picture was placed
so that if the door opened you gazed straight upon it；
and it was so beautifully painted that you imagined it
lived and moved； and that it was the most lovable and
beautiful thing in the whole world。 But the young
King noticed that Trusty John always missed one door；
and said： 〃Why do you never open this one for me？〃
〃There is something inside that would appall you；〃 he
answered。 But the King replied： 〃I have seen the whole
castle； and shall find out what is in there〃； and with
these words he approached the door and wanted to force
it open。 But Trusty John held him back； and said：
〃I promised your father before his death that you
shouldn't see what that room contains。 It might bring
both you and me to great grief。〃 〃Ah！ no；〃 answered
the young King； 〃if I don't get in； it will be my certain
destruction； I should have no peace night or day till I
had seen what was in the room with my own eyes。 Now
I don't budge from the spot till you have opened the
door。
Then Trusty John saw there was no way out of it； so
with a heavy heart and many sighs he took the key from
the big bunch。 When he had opened the door he stepped
in first； and thought to cover the likeness so that the
King might not perceive it； but it was hopeless： the King
stood on tiptoe and looked over his shoulder。 And when
he saw the picture of the maid； so beautiful and glittering
with gold and precious stones； he fell swooning to the
ground。 Trusty John lifted him up； carried him to bed；
and thought sorrowfully： 〃The curse has come upon us；
gracious heaven！ what will be the end of it all？〃 Then
he poured wine down his throat till he came to himself
again。 The first words he spoke were： 〃Oh！ who is the
original of the beautiful picture？〃 〃She is the Princess
of the Golden Roof；〃 answered Trusty John。 Then the
King continued： 〃My love for her is so great that if all
the leaves on the trees had tongues they could not express
it； my very life depends on my winning her。 You are
my most trusty John： you must stand by me。〃
The faithful servant pondered long how they were to
set about the matter； for it was said to be difficult even
to get into the presence of the Princess。 At length he
hit upon a plan； and spoke to the King： 〃All the things
she has about hertables； chairs； dishes； goblets； bowls；
and all her household furnitureare made of gold。 You
have in your treasure five tons of gold； let the goldsmiths
of your kingdom manufacture them into all manner
of vases and vessels； into all sorts of birds and game
and wonderful beasts； that will please her。 We shall go
to her with them and try our luck。〃 The King summoned
all his goldsmiths； and they had to work hard
day and night； till at length the most magnificent things
were completed。 When a ship had been laden with them
the faithful John disguised himself as a merchant； and
the King had to do the same； so that they should be
quite unrecognizable。 And so they crossed the seas and
journeyed till they reached the town where the Princess
of the Golden Roof dwelt。
Trusty John made the King remain behind on the
ship and await his return。 〃Perhaps；〃 he said； 〃I may
bring the Princess back with me； so see that everything
is in order； let the gold ornaments be arranged and the
whole ship decorated。〃 Then he took a few of the gold
things in his apron； went ashore； and proceeded straight
to the palace。 When he came to the courtyard he found
a beautiful maiden standing at the well； drawing water
with two golden pails。 And as she was about to carry
away the glittering water she turned round and saw the
stranger； and asked him who he was。 Then he replied：
〃I am a merchant；〃 and opening his apron； he let her
peep in。 〃Oh！ my；〃 she cried； 〃what beautiful gold
wares！〃 she set down her pails； and examined one thing
after the other。 Then she said： 〃The Princess must see
this； she has such a fancy for gold things that she will
buy up all you have。〃 She took him by the hand and
let him into the palace； for she was the lady's maid。
When the Princess had seen the wares she was quite
enchanted； and said： 〃They are all so beautifully made
that I shall buy everything you have。〃 But Trusty
John said： 〃I am only the servant of a rich merchant；
what I have here is nothing compared to what my master
has on his ship； his merchandise is more artistic and costly
than anything that has ever been made in gold before。〃
She desired to have everything brought up to her； but
he said： 〃There is such a quantity of things that it
would take many days to bring them up； and they would
take up so many rooms that you would have no space
for them in your house。〃 Thus her desire and curiosity
were excited to such an extent that at last she said：
〃Take me to your ship； I shall go there myself and view
your master's treasures。〃
Then Trusty John was quite delighted； and brought
her to the ship； and th