Ferdinand the Faithful. Once upon a time lived a man and a woman who so long as they were rich had no children, but when they were poor they got a little boy. They could find no godfather for him, so the man said he would just go to another village to see if he could get one there. On his way he met a poor man, who asked him where he was going. He said he was going to see if he could get a godfather, because he was so poor that no one would stand as godfather for him. "Oh," said the poor man, "you are poor, and I am poor. I will be godfather for you, but I am so badly off I can give the child nothing. Go home and tell the midwife that she is to come to the church with the child." When they all got to the church together, the beggar was already there, and he gave the child the name of Ferdinand the Faithful. When he was going out of the church, the beggar said:	Ferenand getrü und Ferenand ungetrü Et was mal en Mann un 'ne Fru west, de hadden, so lange se rick wören, kene Kinner, as se awerst arm woren, da kregen se en kleinen Jungen. Se kunnen awerst kenen Paen dato kregen, da segde de Mann, he wulle mal na den annern Ohre (Orte) gahn un tosehn, ob he da enen krege. Wie he so gienk, begegnete ünn en armen Mann, de frog en, wo he hünne wulle, he segde, he wulle hünn un tosehn, dat he 'n Paen kriegte, he sie arm, und da wulle ünn ken Minske to Gevaher stahn. 'O,' segde de arme Mann, 'gi sied arm, un ik sie arm, ik will guhe (euer) Gevaher weren; ik sie awerst so arm, ik kann dem Kinne nix giwen, gahet hen un segget de Bähmoer (Wehmutter), sc sulle man mit den Kinne na der Kerken kummen.' Ase se nu tohaupe an der Kerken kummet, da is de Bettler schaun darinne, de givt dem Kinne den Namen Ferenand getrü. Wie he nu ut der Kerken gahet, da segd de Bettler
"Now go home, I can give you nothing, and you likewise ought to give me nothing." But he gave a key to the midwife, and told her when she got home she was to give it to the father, who was to take care of it until the child was fourteen years old, and then he was to go on the heath where there was a castle which the key would fit, and that all which was therein should belong to him. Now when the child was seven years old and had grown very big, he once went to play with some other boys, and each of them boasted that he had got more from his godfather than the other, but the child could say nothing, and was vexed, and went home and said to his father: "Did I get nothing at all, then, from my godfather?" "Oh, yes," said the father, "you have a key. If there is a castle standing on the heath, just go to it and open it." Then the boy went thither, but no castle was to be seen, or heard of. After seven years more, when he was fourteen years old, he again went thither, and there stood the castle. When he had opened it, there was nothing within but a horse, - a white one. Then the boy was so full of joy because he had a horse, that he mounted on it and galloped back to his father. "Now I have a white horse, and I will travel," said he.	'nu gahet man na Hus, ik kann guh (euch) nix giwen, un gi süllt mi ok nix giwen.' De Bähmoer awerst gav he 'n Schlüttel und segd er, se mögt en, wenn se na Hus käme, dem Vaer giwen, de sull'n verwahren, bis dat Kind vertein Johr old wöre, dann sull et up de Heide gahn, da wöre'n Schlott, dato paßte de Schlüttel, wat darin wöre, dat sulle em hören. Wie dat Kind nu sewen Johr alt wor un düet (tüchtig) wassen wor, gienk et mal spilen mit annern Jungens, da hadde de eine noch mehr vom Paen kriegt ase de annere, he awerst kunne nix seggen, un da grinde he un gienk nah Hus un segde tom Vaer 'hewe ik denn gar nix vom Paen kriegt?' 'O ja,' segde de Vaer, 'du hest en SchIüttel kriegt, wenn up de Heide 'n Schlott steit, so gah man hen un schlut et up.' Da gienk he hen, awerst et was kein Schlote to hören un to sehen. Wier na sewen Jahren, ase he vertein Johr old is, geit he nochmals hen, da steit en Schlott darup. Wie he et upschloten het, da is der nix enne ase 'n Perd, 'n Schümmel. Da werd de Junge so vuller Früden, dat he dat Perd hadde, dat he sik darup sett un to sinen Vaer jegd (jagt). 'Nu hew ik auck 'n Schümmel, nu will ik auck reisen,' segd he.
So he set out, and as he was on his way, a pen was lying on the road. At first he thought he would pick it up, but then again he thought to himself: "You should leave it lying there, you will easily find a pen where you are going, if you have need of one." As he was thus riding away, a voice called after him: "Ferdinand the Faithful, take it with you." He looked around, but saw no one, so he went back again and picked it up. When he had ridden a little way farther, he passed by a lake, and a fish was lying on the bank, gasping and panting for breath, so he said: "Wait, my dear fish, I will help you to get into the water," and he took hold of it by the tail, and threw it into the lake. Then the fish put its head out of the water and said: "As you have helped me out of the mud I will give you a flute. When you are in any need, play on it, and then I will help you, and if ever you let anything fall in the water, just play and I will reach it out to you." Then he rode away, and there came to him a man who asked him where he was going. "Oh, to the next place." "What is your name?" "Ferdinand the Faithful."	Da treckt he weg, un wie he unnerweges is, ligd da ,ne Schriffedder up 'n Wegge, he will se eist (erst) upnümmen, da denkt he awerst wier bie sich 'o, du süst se auck liggen laten, du findst ja wull, wo du hen kümmst, ,ne Schriffedder, wenn du eine bruckest.' Wie he so weggeit, do roppt et hinner üm 'Ferenand getrü, nimm se mit.' He süt sik ümme, süt awerst keinen, da geit he wier torugge un nümmt se up. Wie he wier 'ne Wile rien (geritten) is, kümmt he bie 'n Water vorbie, so ligd da en Fisk am Oewer (Ufer) un snappet un happet na LuPc; so segd he 'töv, min lewe Fisk, ik will die helpen, dat du in,t Water kümmst,' un gript 'n bie'n Schwans un werpt 'n in't Water. Da steckt de Fisk den Kopp ut den Water un segd 'nu du mie ut den Kot holpen hest, will ik die ,ne Flötenpiepen giwen, wenn du in de Naud bist, so flöte derup, dann will ik die helpen, un wenn du mal wat in Water hest fallen laten, so flöte man, so will ik et die herut reicken.' Nu ritt he weg, da kümmt so 'n Minsk to üm, de frägt 'n, wo he hen wull. 'O, na den neggsten Ohre.' Wu he dann heite? 'Ferenand getrü.' 'Sü, da hewe wie ja fast den sülwigen Namen, ik heite Ferenand ungetrü.' Da trecket se beide na den neggsten Ohre in dat Wertshus.
"So, then we have almost the same name, I am called Ferdinand the Unfaithful." And they both set out to the inn in the nearest place. Now it was unfortunate that Ferdinand the Unfaithful knew everything that the other had ever thought and everything he was about to do. He knew it by means of all kinds of wicked arts. There was in the inn an honest girl, who had a bright face and behaved very prettily. She fell in love with Ferdinand the Faithful because he was a handsome man, and she asked him whither he was going.	Nu was et schlimm, dat de Ferenand ungetrü allet wuste, wat 'n annerer dacht hadde un doen wulle; dat wust he döre so allerhand slimme Kunste. Et was awerst im Wertshuse so 'n wacker Mäken, dat hadde 'n schier (klares) Angesicht un drog sik so hübsch, dat verleiv sik in den Ferenand getrü, denn et was 'n hübschen Minschen west, un frog'n, wo he hen to wulle.
"Oh, I am just traveling round about," said he. Then she said he ought to stay there, for the king of that country wanted an attendant or an outrider, and he ought to enter his service. He answered he could not very well go to any one like that and offer himself. Then said the maiden: "Oh, but I will soon do that for you." And so she went straight to the king, and told him that she knew of an excellent servant for him. He was well pleased with that, and had Ferdinand the Faithful brought to him, and wanted to make him his servant. He, however, liked better to be an outrider, for where his horse was, there he also wanted to be, so the king made him an outrider. When Ferdinand the Unfaithful learnt that, he said to the girl: "What? Do you help him and not me?" "Oh," said the girl, "I will help you too." She thought, I must keep friends with that man, for he is not to be trusted. She went to the king, and offered him as a servant, and the king was willing.	'O, he wulle so herümmer reisen.' Da segd se, so sull he doch nur da bliewen, et wöre hier to Lanne 'n Künig, de neime wull geren 'n Bedeenten oder 'n Vorrüter: dabie sulle he in Diensten gahn. He andworde, he kunne nig gud so to einen hingahen un been sik an. Da segde dat Mäken 'o, dat will ik dann schon dauen.' Un so gienk se auck straks hen na den Künig und sehde ünn, se wüste ünn 'n hübschen Bedeenten. Dat was de wol tofreen un leit 'n to sik kummen un wull 'n tom Bedeenten macken. He wull awerst leewer Vorrüter sin, denn wo sin Perd wöre, da möst he auck sin; da mackt 'n de Künig tom Vorrüter. Wie düt de Ferenand ungetrü gewahr wore, da segd he to den Mäken 'töv, helpest du den an un mie nig?' 'O,' segd dat Mäken, 'ik will 'n auck anhelpen.' Se dachte 'den most du die tom Frünne wahren, denn he is nig to truen.' Se geit alse vorm Künig stahn un beed 'n als Bedeenten an; dat is de Künig tofreen.
Now when the king met his lords in the morning, he always lamented and said: "Oh, if I only had my love with me." Ferdinand the Unfaithful, however, was always hostile to Ferdinand the Faithful. So once, when the king was complaining thus, he said: "You have the outrider, send him away to get her, and if he does not do it, his head must be struck off." Then the king sent for Ferdinand the Faithful, and told him that there was, in this place or in that place, a girl he loved, and that he was to bring her to him, and if he did not do it he should die. Ferdinand the Faithful went into the stable to his white horse, and complained and lamented:	Wenn he nu also det Morgens den Heren antrock, da jammerte de jümmer 'o wenn ik doch eist mine Leiveste bie mie hädde.' De Ferenand ungetrü was awerst dem Ferenand getrü jümmer uppsettsig, wie asso de Künig mal wier so jammerte, da segd he 'Sie haben ja den Vorreiter, den schicken Sie hin, der muß sie herbeischaffen, und wenn er es nicht tut, so muß ihm der Kopf vor die Füße gelegt werden.' Da leit de Künig den Ferenand getrü to sik kummen un sehde üm, he hädde da un da ,ne Leiveste, de sull he ünn herschappen, wenn he dat nig deie, sull he sterwen. De Ferenand getrü gienk in Stall to sinen Schümmel un grinde un jammerte.
"Oh, what an unhappy man am I." Then someone behind him cried: "Ferdinand the Faithful, why do you weep?" He looked round but saw no one, and went on lamenting. "Oh, my dear little white horse, now must I leave you, now I must die." Then someone cried once more: "Ferdinand the Faithful, why do you weep?" Then for the first time he was aware that it was his little white horse who was putting that question. "Do you speak, my little white horse? Can you do that?" And again, he said: "I am to go to this place and to that, and am to bring the bride. Can you tell me how I am to set about it?" Then answered the white horse: "Go to the king, and say if he will give you what you must have, you will get her for him. If he will give you a ship full of meat, and a ship full of bread, it will succeed. Great giants dwell on the lake, and if you take no meat with you for them, they will tear you to pieces, and there are the large birds which would pluck the eyes out of your head if you had no bread for them. Then the king made all the butchers in the land kill, and all the bakers bake, that the ships might be filled." When they were full, the little white horse said to Ferdinand the Faithful: "Now mount me, and go with me into the ship, and then when the giants come, say:	'O wat sin ik 'n unglücksch Minschenkind.' Do röppet jeimes hinner üm 'Ferdinand getreu, was weinst du?' He süt sik um, süt awerst neimes, un jammerd jümmer fort 'o min lewe Schümmelken, nu mot ik die verlaten, nu mot ik sterwen.' Da röppet et wier 'Ferdinand getreu, was weinst du?' Do merket he eist, dat dat sin Schümmelken dei, dat Fragen. 'Döst du dat, min Schümmelken, kannst du küren (reden)?' Un segd wier 'ik sull da un da hen, un sull de Brut halen, west du nig, wie ik dat wol anfange?' Do antwoerd dat Schümmelken 'gah du na den Künig un segg, wenn he die giwen wulle, wat du hewen möstest, so wullest du se ünn schappen: wenn he die 'n Schipp vull Fleisk un 'n Schipp vull Brod giwen wulle, so sull et gelingen; da wöde grauten Riesen up den Water, wenn du denen ken Fleisk midde brächtes, so terreitn sie die: un da wören de grauten Vüggel, de pickeden die de Ogen ut den Koppe, wenn du ken Brod vor se häddest.' Da lett de Künig alle Slächter im Lanne slachten un alle Becker backen, dat de Schippe vull werdt. Wie se vull sied, sagd dat Schümmelken tom Ferenand getrü 'nu gah man up mie sitten un treck mit mie in ,t Schipp, wenn dann de Riesen kümmet, so segg 'stfll, still, meine lieben Riesechen, ich hab euch wohl bedacht, ich hab euch was mitgebracht.' Un wenn de Vüggel kümmet, so segst du wier
- peace, peace, my dear little giants, I have had thought of ye, something I have brought for ye. And when the birds come, you shall again say: - peace, peace, my dear little birds, I have had thought of ye, something I have brought for ye. Then they will do nothing to you, and when you come to the castle, the giants will help you. Then go up to the castle, and take a couple of giants with you. There the princess lies sleeping. You must, however, not awaken her, but the giants must lift her up, and carry her in her bed to the ship." And now everything took place as the little white horse had said, and Ferdinand the Faithful gave the giants and the birds what he had brought with him for them, and that made the giants willing, and they carried the princess in her bed to the king. And when she came to the king, she said she could not live, she must have her writings, they had been left in her castle. Then by the instigation of Ferdinand the Unfaithful, Ferdinand the Faithful was called, and the king told him he must fetch the writings from the castle, or he should die. Then he went once more into the stable, and bemoaned himself and said: "Oh, my dear little white horse, now I am to go away again, how am I to do it?" Then the little white horse said he was just to load the ships full again. So it happened again as it had happened before, and the giants and the birds were satisfied, and made gentle by the meat. When they came to the castle, the white horse told Ferdinand the Faithful that he must go in, and that on the table in the princess's bed-room lay the writings. And Ferdinand the Faithful went in, and fetched them. When they were on the lake, he let his pen fall into the water. Then said the white horse: "Now I cannot help you at all." But he remembered his flute, and began to play on it, and the fish came with the pen in its mouth, and gave it to him. So he took the writings to the castle, where the wedding was celebrated.	'still, still, meine lieben Vögelchen, ich hab euch wohl bedacht, ich hab euch was mitgebracht.' Dann doet sie die nix, un wenn du dann bie dat Schlott kümmst, dann helpet die de Riesen, dann gah up dat Schlott un nümm 'n paar Riesen mit, da ligd de Prinzessin un schlöppet; du darfst se awerst nig upwecken, sonnern de Riesen mött se mit den Bedde upnümmen un in dat Schipp dregen.' Und da geschah nun alles, wie das Schimmelchen gesagt hatte, und den Riesen und den Vögeln gab der Ferenand getrü, was er ihnen mitgebracht hatte, dafür wurden die Riesen willig und trugen die Prinzessin in ihrem Bett zum König. Un ase se tom Künig kümmet, segd se, se künne nig liwen, se möste ere Schriften hewen, de wören up eren Schlotte liggen bliwen. Da werd de Ferenand getrü up Anstifften det Ferenand ungetrü roopen, un de Künig bedütt ünn, he sulle de Schriften van dem Schlotte halen, süst sull he sterwen. Da geit he wier in Stall un grind und segd 'o min lewe Schümmelken, nu sull ik noch 'n mal weg, wie süll wie dat macken?' Da segd de Schümmel, se sullen dat Schipp man wier vull laen (laden). Da geht es wieder wie das vorigemal, und die Riesen und die Vögel werden von dem Fleisch gesättigt und besänftigt. Ase se bie dat Schlott kümmet, segd de Schümmel to ünn, he sulle man herin gahn, in den Schlapzimmer der Prinzessin up den Diske, da lägen de Schriften. Da geit Ferenand getrü hün un langet se. Ase se up 'n Water sind, da let he sine Schriffedder in,t Water fallen, da segd de Schümmel 'nu kann ik die awerst nig helpen.' Da fällt'n dat bie mit de Flötepiepen, he fänkt an to flöten, da kümmt de Fisk un het de Fedder im Mule un langet se,m hen. Nu bringet he de Schriften na dem Schlotte, wo de Hochtid hallen werd.
The queen, however, did not love the king because he had no nose, but she would have much liked to love Ferdinand the Faithful. Once, therefore, when all the lords of the court were together, the queen said she could do feats of magic, that she could cut off anyone's head and put it on again, and that one of them ought just to try it. But none of them would be the first, so Ferdinand the Faithful, again at the instigation of Ferdinand the Unfaithful, undertook it and she hewed off his head, and put it on again for him, and it healed together directly, so that it looked as if he had a red thread round his throat. Then the king said to her: "My child, and where have you learnt that?" "Oh," she said, "I understand the art. Shall I just try it on you also." "Oh, yes," said he. So she cut off his head, but did not put it on again, and pretended that she could not get it on, and that it would not stay. Then the king was buried, but she married Ferdinand the Faithful.	De Künigin mogte awerst den Künig nig lien, weil he keine Nese hadde, sonnern se mogte den Ferenand getrü geren lien. Wie nu mal alle Herens vom Hove tosammen sied, so segd de Künigin, se könne auck Kunststücke macken, se künne einen den Kopp afhoggen und wier upsetten, et sull nur mant einer versöcken. Da wull awerst kener de eiste sien, da mott Ferenand getrü daran, wier up Anstifften von Ferenand ungetrü, den hogget se den Kopp af un sett'n ünn auck wier up, et is auck glick wier tau heilt, dat et ut sach, ase hädde he 'n roen Faen (Faden) üm 'n Hals. Da segd de Künig to ehr 'mein Kind, wo hast du denn das gelernt?' 'Ja,' segd se, 'die Kunst versteh ich, soll ich es an dir auch einmal versuchen?' 'O ja,' segd he. Do hogget se en awerst den Kopp af un sett'n en nig wier upp, se doet, as ob se'n nig darup kriegen künne, und as ob he nig fest sitten wulle. Da werd de Künig begrawen, se awerst frigget den Ferenand getrü.
He, however, always rode on his white horse, and once when he was seated on it, it told him that he was to go on to the heath which he knew, and gallop three times round it. And when he had done that, the white horse stood up on its hind legs, and was changed into a king's son.	He ride awerst jümmer sinen Schümmel, un ase he mal darup sat, da segd he to em, he sulle mal up 'ne annere Heide, de he em wist, trecken un da dreimal mit em herumme jagen. Wie he dat dahen hadde, da geit de Schümmel up de Hinnerbeine stahn un verwannelt sik in 'n Künigssuhn.