Once upon a time, across seven and seven lands, there was a king, and his daughter was as fair as a star in the sky. And the king of the neighbouring country had a son, and he was as poor and ugly as the dark night. When the prince heard the news of the world-famous and beautiful princess, he went to see her.
He goes up to the king's palace, tells the king his heart's desire. The king summons his daughter, and the princess comes, but when she sees the ugly king, she says:
- I wouldn't even get my shoes cleaned with this kind of legume.
The poor prince was very sad, and went out of the palace in great shame. But he could not get the beautiful princess out of his mind.
He said to himself, "One life, one death, this girl will be mine!"
He thought of this, he thought of that, what he thought, what he thought not, He made a hen of gold with twelve chickens, Then a golden gown with golden hemp, And a golden mirror, so beautiful that one had only to look into it, And the mirror made such beautiful music that the angels up there in the bright heaven were not more beautiful.
Then he put on his disguise, went back to the king, and came to him as a footman. He put the golden horns and the chickens, the golden gown and the golden mirror under the bed.
But the next day he took the golden hen and the golden chickens and put them in the middle of the room. There the princess's maid saw it. The maid ran to the princess and said with great enthusiasm:
- Serene Princess, come with me, I'll show you something you've never seen before. They go out to the butler's room, and the princess sees the golden hen and the twelve chickens. She claps her hands together.
- Oh, how beautiful, oh, how beautiful! Give me these! - As much as you want, that's what you and my father paid for them.
The butler said:
- I won't give it for money, pretty princess, give me a kiss and it's yours.
The princess hesitated a little, but then, thank God, she kissed the footman. Then she picked up her apron, the twelve chickens, and ran off to her room with great joy.
The next day, the butler brought the golden gown. The maid sees this too, runs to the princess and reports:
- Your Majesty, your golden hens are beautiful, your chickens are beautiful, but I saw something even more beautiful in the butler's room.
They ran into the butler's room, and as soon as they entered, the princess's eyes were dazzled with the unconceited glow.
- What a beautiful guzsaly, what a beautiful hemp! But I would like to weave a dress out of it! - "Whatever you wish, I will pay for it.
The butler said:
- I don't wish for much, fair queen, give me two kisses, and I'll give you the golden gown.
The princess thought for a moment, but she kissed the footman and ran back to her room.
It was what it was, and now it's the real thing. On the third day he took the gold mirror, hung it on the wall, and waited for the maid to come, knowing for sure she would stop in front of him. And sure enough, the maid came, saw the mirror, ran over, looked in, and at that moment the mirror started to make music. She thought it was angels playing music. She ran to the princess.
- Come, come, serene queen, have you ever seen a mirror that makes music?
They go to the butler's room, but when they entered, the mirror didn't work.
- "It doesn't make music," said the princess.
The butler said:
- Just stand in front of it, pretty princess, and see for yourself!
The princess went and looked in the mirror, and suddenly her music started, and she sang so beautifully, so bitterly, that the princess's heart was broken.
- Give me this mirror! - begged the princess.
Says the butler:
- I'll give it to you, of course I will, but I'll give you three kisses.
But now the princess didn't even think, she hugged and kissed the ugly boy three times.
Just at that moment the King entered. He was terribly angry when he saw his daughter, the world-famous beautiful queen, kissing this nasty, ugly boy.
- 'Out of my house,' cried the king, 'if your life is dear! - And he drove his daughter out, and the servant out.
They went out of the town in great sorrow, but what can I say, only the princess was sorrowful, the lad was very happy. He would not for the world have told who he was, so they went and went through the country, till they came to the town of the prince who had been made a vassal.
There was an inn at the end of the town, and there they went in, and there the prince who had been made a footman said:
- Now I'll wash it, and you clean my boots so I can go into town. Then I'll be back, you just wait for me.
Without a word, the princess took the boots and saved them. Then the prince went into the city, up to his father's palace, and there he put on his gold and diamond-encrusted gown, and took six horses in velvet harness, and drove to the inn to fetch the princess.
He goes in to the princess, and she just looks and looks, not wanting to believe her eyes.
- 'Remember,' said the prince, 'when you said you wouldn't even let me clean your shoes? Well, you see, I wasn't so proud, I let you clean my boots.
The princess laughed a great laugh, and threw herself on the neck of the prince, and said with a hearty laugh:
- Whatever I have said, you are mine, I am yours, spade, hoe and big bell shall separate us.
They got into the carriage, drove into the king's court, and that very day there was a great feast, a dino-dance, a wedding. They are still alive today, if they are not dead.
(Elek Benedek: Hungarian tale- and mythology Volume 3)
