Great Myths and Legends: The 1984 Childcraft Annual

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Great Myths and Legends The 1984 An

Childcraft

Annual

annual supplement to

—The How and Why Library

Childcraft

World Book,

Inc.

a Scott Fetzer company

Chicago London Sydney Toronto

W*

Copyright

WorU

I

1964

Book, foe

MarchandiM

Man Plan

Chicago, Dlinoi

All rights rasarvad

Printad in tin

[8BN

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Initad Statai of

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Library hi

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Acknowledgments Houghton MiHIin Company "A Song i>l Greatness" Thr Childrtn Sing in the Fur West by Mary

truiii

Austin opyright 1928 bj Mary Austin Copyright© renewed 1966 b) Kenneth M Chapman and Mary C. Wheelwright Reprinted by permission of Houghton i

Mifflin

Companj

Contents 7

Preface

9

The Dragon Slayer

21

The Sea Monster

33

The Terrible Lion-Man

45

The Dreadful Guest

51

The Captive Princess

73

The Saving of Tarn Lin

83

The Journey

105

The Creature

117

The Island of the Ogres

129

Finn and the Goblin

149

The Changing of the Sea People

161

The Prince and the

176

The Brave Coward

191

The Monster

205

The Green Knight's Challenge

219

The

237

The City Without a King

249

The Many-Headed Monster

257

The Quest

281

The Wicked Enchantment

292

A

304

Illustration

Evil Old

to Find the

Sun

in the Forest

in the

Evil Sorcerer

Maze

Witch

for the

Sampo

Short Dictionary of Myth and Legend

Acknowledgments

Editorial Advisory for Childcraft

The How and

Why

Board Library

Staff

Product Production

Publisher

Executive Director Peter Mollman, A.B.

William

H

Manufacturing

Nault. Bd.D.

Joseph C. LaCount, Director

D

Chairman. William M Nm.lt. AII.MA, General chairman. Editorial Advisor) Boards,

Kd

Pre-Press Services

Editorial

Jerry Stack, A.B., Director

World Book, Im

US M

Kd Kd.D. Student and Alumni Affairs,

N.iim.i Jaail AihIii-.'M

Editor in Chief Roberl O. Zelenv, B.A.

Production Control Sandra Van den Broucke, Madelyn Krzak

,

Aaaociata Data for I ni\

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< A\

^ Dreadful to hear was Louhi's shriek of rage and despair as she began to slip into the sea. finger, she

reached out and seized the

the deck. Clutching the Sampo, she

As the Sampo struck the water, was at

left

With her one

Sampo

fell

lying

on

into the water.

broke apart. Louhi

it

with only one tiny piece. Her dark eyes glared

Vainamoinen.

screamed

"I shall

have

my

revenge," she

Then she turned and began

in fury.

to

swim

toward the north, back to frozen and foggy Pohjola. Sadly did old Vainamoinen gaze down into the water

where the Sampo had

fallen.

was the world's greatest

up with

joy.

He saw Land

But then

and were

it

seemed,

his eyes

Sampo were

drifting in

toward the

He

set the

young men and women

leaped onto the land and hurried

along the beach, picking up pieces of the Sampo. piece

was

still full

lit

of Heroes!

Then Vainamoinen rowing for shore.

treasure.

forever,

that pieces of the

floating to the surface

shore of the

Gone

of magic,

and

all

of

Each

them together

were nearly as powerful as the whole Sampo had been!

Thus the magic

of the

Sampo came

to the

Land

of

275

Heroes, where

it

truly belonged.

happiness, and wealth

fill all

Then

did peace,

that land.

In dark and foggy Pohjola, Louhi ground her teeth in

anger

when she heard how

the pieces of the

Sampo

were bringing good luck, good crops, and wealth to the

Land

how

of Heroes. For

to punish

many

long days she brooded on

Vainamoinen and

his people. Finally, she

decided. In the dark of night she performed foul magic,

and sent forth nine

evil

demons and monsters

to spread

death and disease throughout the Land of Heroes.

Soon the wailing of across the land.

sick

and miserable people echoed

But wise old Vainamoinen knew what

was happening, and knew what to

do.

With powerful

magic, he drove the horrors sent by Louhi up into the

mountains and sealed them

in a cave.

Then with

soothing, magical medicines he healed the sick

saddened people of the Land of Heroes, until

and

all

were

well again.

Hearing of this in frozen Pohjola, Louhi again made

276

W

i -OS

dire magic.

She awakened the huge and

the Frozen Plains from into the

Land

its

terrible

slumber and sent

of Heroes. It

smashed

its

again, dependable

He had

snarling

way through

village after village. All fled in fear before

But

it

Bear of

it.

Vainamoinen knew what

to do.

Ilmarinen forge a spear of shining copper, into

which Vainamoinen wove strong

spells.

Then

did the

brave old magician hurry forth to battle the bear! Back

he came, ere long, dragging the bear behind him Its skin

was made

was simmered people for

into

until

many

it

warm

garments, and

became a

its

tasty feast for

—dead!

flesh all

the

leagues around.

277

Now

did Louhi's rage and hatred

forest fire.

Summoning

disposal, she

all

become

the powers of darkness at her

performed a deed so dreadful that

the world into danger! For, from where a

fir tree,

as a roaring

put

perched atop

it

And from where

she stole the sun!

it

hung

it

among

the branches of a birch, she took the moon! She

carried

them

into the far northern

them deep

Pohjola. There she hid iron,

mountains of in a

mountain of

behind locked doors bound with chains.

And

so,

save for the dim twinkle of the stars,

went out of the world and cold came creeping

all light

In

in.

trie

Land

of Heroes, the crops grew hard and brittle from

frost.

The

huddled

cattle froze

in their

where they stood. The people

dark houses, weeping.

Grimly did old Vainamoinen use his magic to find

where the sun and moon had been hidden. Then he

made

his

way

to his brother's workplace.

"Now you must

forge

brother," said he. "I

me

a dozen sharp axes,

must have them

to

chop through

the chains that bind the doors in the iron mountain.

Forge

me

me

a dozen keys to unlock the doors.

a collar of iron to

fit

And

forge

around the neck of Louhi!"

Ilmarinen donned his apron of oxhide and heated the fires of his forge.

ringing of his

Soon the land was

hammer

into axes, keys,

and a

filled

with the

as he beat the hot, soft metal collar.

The wind

carried the sound

through the darkness to distant Pohjola, where Louhi heard

it

and wondered what

herself into a gray

hawk and

it

meant. She turned

flew to the

Land

of Heroes

to find out.

She came

to

where Ilmarinen was working and

perched in a tree to watch him. "What are you forging,

O 278

Greatest of Smiths?" she asked.

"Axes to chop through chains. Keys to unlock doors.

And

a collar to

fit

around the neck of Louhi so that she

can be chained to a mountainside forever," answered Ilmarinen.

Then Louhi was

filled

with

fear.

She saw that

Vainamoinen intended dreadful punishment

for

what

she had done. Swiftly she flew back to frozen Pohjola. Straight to the iron mountain she went. Unchaining the

doors and flinging them open, she freed the sun and

moon, carried them outside, and put them back

The Land

of Heroes grew bright and

warm

in place.

again.

Vainamoinen looked up and saw that the sun and moon were once more where they belonged. Picking up his kantele, he

children

began to play and

came rushing

sing.

Men, women, and

forth to dance

magic of his music. All was well

and

in the

listen to the

Land

of Heroes,

and never again did Louhi dare make mischief.

The Wicked Enchantment This

is

one of many tales about King Arthur and his

Knights of the Round Table. parts of Britain

It

was probably told

more than a thousand years

In most of the King Arthur tales, the hero

brave knight dangers.

But

heroine, of a

who

in

ago. is

a

risks his life against all kinds of

this is the tale not of a hero but of a

young woman who

risks her life to save

one of Arthur's knights from a horrible death.

281

m

The Wicked Enchantment

mong

the knights

who

served King Arthur

were two brave young warriors by the names of Sir

Caradoc and Sir Cador. They were firm as

if

they were brothers. In

Cador's

Like

sister, all

believed

it

of

was

their duty to fight against evil

in doing this,

himself in great

He punished

Sir

and

injustice.

of their time riding throughout the

it

and bravery to help people.

happened that

Sir

Caradoc put

peril.

a wicked

noblewoman who was causing

hardship and suffering to a great

many

people.

The

swore to have revenge. She sought out a

powerful magician

known

as Eliaures the Enchanter,

who agreed to help her against Caradoc. One day Caradoc was riding through

a forest

sunset. Stopping in a glade beside a stream,

he began to

make camp 282

marry

King Arthur's knights, Cador and Caradoc

land, using their strength

woman

to

the beautiful Lady Guimier.

They spent much But

they were to become

fact,

brothers-in-law, for Sir Caradoc

friends, as close

for the night. After taking off his armor,

at

he

pitched his tent and sat dozing before his campfire.

Suddenly a wintery flickered tall

man

and went in a

chill

out.

came over the

glade.

The

fire

Caradoc looked up and beheld a

hooded robe. The stranger gazed

at

him

with eyes that seemed to burn a fiery red!

"Who "I am

are you?" exclaimed Caradoc.

Eliaures the Enchanter," said the man. "I bring

you the vengeance of the Lady Morgaine."

He

stretched forth his hand toward Sir Caradoc.

Clutched

The its

in his fist

was a

snake's yellow eyes glared at the young knight, and

tongue flickered in

hatred. felt

small, slim, green serpent.

Then

its

red

mouth

as

it

hissed with

there was a sudden flash of light. Caradoc

a burning pain in his arm. Looking down, he

with horror that the serpent was

arm and

its

now

coiled

jaws were fastened in his flesh!

saw

around his

Caradoc leaped to his feet and grasped the snake firmly, to pull

it off.

But he found that no matter how

hard he tugged, the horrible creature would not budge.

He drew

his dagger to slash the snake

the sharp blade

made not

a

and

mark on the

kill it.

But

creature's scaly

skin.

"It is

no

use, Sir Caradoc," said the magician.

serpent can never be slain nor removed. you, sucking until

you

die.

away the blood and

You

are doomed!"

flesh of your

With

Caradoc did everything he could to dreadful serpent.

He

It will

that,

"The

stay with

body

he vanished.

rid himself of the

traveled to see wise doctors and

visited skilled magicians.

But no one could remove the

deadly snake from his arm. Each day, Caradoc found himself becoming weaker and weaker. His

arm was now

thin and shriveled. Finally,

Caradoc decided there was nothing that could

be done for him.

He would

simply grow thinner and

weaker

he died.

until

told him. Sadly, the

He was doomed,

young knight rode

as Eliaures

had

to the castle

that was his home, to die there.

Word

of Caradoc's awful plight soon reached King

Arthur's court, at Camelot, where Sir Cador and the

Lady Guimier were

staying.

to go to Caradoc's aid.

At once, these two

Guimier

felt

certain that

set out if

she

could look after Caradoc and nurse him, her love would

keep him

alive.

But when Caradoc learned they were coming

to his

He was now weak and gaunt, his eyes and hollow. And the arm to which the snake was he wept.

castle,

dark

arm

fastened was like the bony did not

want

Guimier to see him

his beloved

terrible condition.

no one see him

of a skeleton. Caradoc

That night he

go,

left

in this

the castle, letting

and rode to a distant monastery. He

begged the priests to

let

him

stay there until he died.

Thus, when Sir Cador and the Lady Guimier arrived

he was gone and no one knew

at Caradoc's castle,

where.

"He has hidden himself from us because he

ashamed

to let us see

is

what the wicked enchantment has

done to him," sobbed Guimier. "You must search for him, Cador. "I

vow

You must

that

I will

find

him before

not rest until

I

it is

too late."

find him," declared

Sir Cador.

He

set forth at once, seeking

friend.

He

and

in

crowded

and

in caves.

some word or

sign of his

asked about Caradoc at lonely farmhouses villages.

And,

He

in time,

which Caradoc lay dying.

searched through forests

he came to the monastery in

When

the priests saw that

Cador was a true friend to Caradoc, they took him to the young knight's room.

"Ah, Caradoc,

286

it

grieves

me

to see

you

like this," cried

who has done

Cador. "Tell me, dear friend,

this terrible

thing to you?" "Eliaures the Enchanter," whispered Caradoc in a

weak

voice.

and make him end

"I shall seek out this Eliaures

wicked enchantment," Sir Cador

on the

cried,

this

pounding his

fist

table.

"Beware," warned Caradoc. "He magician and an

evil

man! There

is

a powerful

is

no

telling

what he

might do to you."

Cador

Sir

Eliaures. It

set out again, this time to search for

was easy

knew

people

to find the magician, for

many

of him. However, he lived in a castle

guarded by dangerous magical creatures and enchantments.

It

was certain death

for

anyone to enter

Eliaures' castle without the magician's permission.

But

Sir

Cador drew

castle gate.

sword and strode through the

As he entered the

lion sprang at it

his

courtyard, a huge yellow

him with a thunderous

with a thrust of his sword.

A

roar,

but he slew

gigantic black serpent as

thick as a tree trunk slithered toward him, hissing.

head with a

He

single blow. Terrifying, ghostly

cut off

its

figures

crowded around him, moaning and shrieking, but

Sir

Cador stalked

on, paying

them no

heed.

Eliaures appeared. "Hold, Sir Knight," said he.

"What

do you seek from me?" "I

Sir

you

would know how the enchantment you put upon

Caradoc can be removed," answered Cador. to tell

me

or

I

vow

I

shall slay

you despite

"I

urge

all

your

powers of magic!" Eliaures

felt fear

grow within him,

for

he was not a

brave man. Perhaps Cador could slay him in spite of his magical powers. "I shall tell you,"

he

all

said.

287

"Only someone who loves Caradoc more than

and who

itself,

is

life

willing to take Caradoc's place can

break the enchantment. That person must stand near

Caradoc and

call out, 'Serpent, I offer fresh food.'

Then

the snake will leave Caradoc and crawl, swift as a flash of lightning, to the other person.

Caradoc,

it

can be

But

killed.

Once the snake has

if it is

left

not killed before

it

reaches the other person, that person will be doomed.

Caradoc

new food and

serpent's Sir

but the other

will live,

Cador

left

will

become the

will die!"

the Enchanter's castle and rode back to

the castle of Sir Caradoc, where his sister waited. told her

what he had learned.

"I will take Caradoc's place!" will offer

myself to the serpent.

you must

kill it,

"But what said

it

will

if I

move

be doomed!

it

leaves Caradoc,

as swiftly as a lightning flash. If if

my

You cannot

do not try to help him. life

When

cannot?" cried Cador. "The Enchanter

"I must," said she. "Sir

my

exclaimed Guimier. "I

Cador."

should be too slow, or will

He

I

sword misses risk

its

blow, you

such a dreadful

Caradoc

I

fate."

will surely die if

love him, and

I

we

will gladly risk

to save him."

Hastily, they rode to the

lay dying.

He was

monastery where Caradoc

when Guimier

close to death now, but

and Cador told him what they wanted to

do,

he feebly

shook his head. "I

would rather

die than let

you take such a

Guimier," he whispered. "You must not do "It is the only said,

way we can save

risk,

dear

it."

you, Caradoc," she

with tears in her eyes. "I must do

it."

toward Sir Cador. "Have your sword ready,

She looked

my

brother," said she.

289

With a grim and worried

face, Sir

Cador drew

his

sword. "Serpent,

I

The snake

offer fresh food," cried Guimier, bravely. lifted its

head from Caradoc's arm and

gazed at Guimier. Here, indeed, was fresh, tempting food.

Caradoc was now nothing but skin and bones, but

Guimier was plump and healthy. Swiftly as a bolt of lightning slashing through a stormy sky, the serpent

sped down Caradoc's body and across the floor toward Guimier.

With a prayer, Cador

The

serpent was no

Guimier's foot

when

struck.

Down

more than three

flashed his sword.

fingers

the blade struck

it

away from

and cut

it

cleanly in two!

Thus

did the great bravery of the

Lady Guimier

rescue Sir Caradoc from the wicked enchantment. In time, Sir Caradoc grew strong

and healthy again, and he

and Guimier were married. And,

in truth, they lived

happily ever after.

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