The Magic Horn

In ancient times, there lived a knight in England. On his shield was depicted a fearsome winged dragon, but as you will soon see, it did not help him.

One day, the knight was hunting far from Gloucester and ventured into a forest where many wild boars, deer, and other beasts roamed. In the middle of a clearing in the forest stood a small mound, no taller than a man. Knights and hunters always rested there when they were weary from the heat or thirst.

But this place was not ordinary—it was enchanted. One could only ascend the mound alone, without companions.

As the knight rode through the forest and neared the wondrous mound, he encountered a woodcutter. The knight began to question him about the mound.

"Climb the mound alone," the woodcutter advised the knight, "and say, as if speaking to someone: 'I am thirsty!' And immediately, a cupbearer with a radiant face and dressed in rich crimson robes will appear before you. He will hand you a large horn adorned with gold and precious gems—just as our ancestors once decorated their horns. The horn will be filled to the brim with a mysterious fragrant drink. Take a sip, and your thirst and fatigue will vanish. If you are weary, your strength will return. And when you drain the horn to the last drop, the cupbearer will hand you a towel to wipe your mouth and, without waiting for questions or thanks, will disappear."

The knight with the winged dragon on his shield merely laughed at the woodcutter's tale.

"Surely, there is no fool," he thought, "who, upon seeing such a beautiful horn, would not try to seize it!"

That same day, the knight returned from the hunt tired; he was tormented by the heat and thirst, and he remembered the wondrous mound and the magical horn. He sent his companions away and, as the woodcutter had instructed, climbed the mound alone and loudly declared:

"I am thirsty!"

And immediately—just as the woodcutter had foretold—a cupbearer in crimson robes appeared and handed him a large horn studded with precious gems.

Greed overcame the knight when he saw this treasure. He grabbed the horn and, after only taking a sip, felt his blood boil with desire, and he resolved to steal the horn.

And so he drank the entire contents to the last drop, but instead of returning the horn to the cupbearer, as befitted a noble knight, he rushed down the mound and fled.

Now listen to what fate befell this knight, who bore a winged dragon on his shield but lost his knightly honor and stole the magical horn!

In those days, the Earl of Gloucester himself often climbed the wondrous mound to quench his thirst from the magical horn and rest. And so he learned that the dishonorable knight had violated this good custom. The Earl attacked the thief in his own castle and slew him in fair combat, reclaiming the magical horn. But—alas!—the Earl did not return the treasure to the wizard-cupbearer. Instead, he gave it to his sovereign and lord, King Henry the Elder.

And from that day on, even if you stood on the enchanted mound all day and repeated, "I am thirsty!", you would no longer be fortunate enough to drink from the magical horn.

↑ To the top

The Magic Horn

More fairy tales