April 24, 2023 • 24 mins
Show notes:
In which Carla tells the fairy tale within Virginia Woolf’s To the Lighthouse.
Sources:
“The Fisherman and His Wife”, from Grimm, Wilhelm; Grimm, Jacob. The Complete Folk & Fairy Tales of the Brothers Grimm https://bookshop.org/a/6560/9789176374559
To the Lighthouse by Virginia Woolf https://bookshop.org/a/6560/9780156907392
To join a FrizzLit book club/class: https://www.frizzlit.com/bookclubs
“The Charge of the Light Brigade”, by Alfred, Lord Tennyson https://bookshop.org/a/6560/9781400041879
Referenced: The Blind Side https://www.warnerbros.com/movies/blind-side
There Might Be Cupcakes on IMDb:
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt22815734/episodes
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt22815734/
How to Support Cupcakes:
Audible: https://www.audible.com/ep/creator?source_code=PDTGBPD060314004R
Care/Of Vitamins: https://takecareof.com/invites/chr4bw
Substack: http://theremightbecupcakes.substack.com
Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/theremightbecupcakes
and please visit my lovely sponsors that share their ads on my episodes.
Where to Find Cupcakes:
Substack: http://theremightbecupcakes.substack.com
Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/theremightbecupcakes
Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/theremightbecupcakes
Instagram: @theremightbecupcakes and @carlahaunted
Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/theremightbecupcakes * r/theremightbecupcakes
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/804047-there-might-be-cupcakes-podcast-group
Contact: carla@theremightbecupcakes.com
Complete list of ways to listen to the podcast on the sidebar at http://theremightbecupcakes.com
Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/there-might-be-cupcakes-podcast--4761852/support.
In which Carla tells the fairy tale within Virginia Woolf’s To the Lighthouse.
Sources:
“The Fisherman and His Wife”, from Grimm, Wilhelm; Grimm, Jacob. The Complete Folk & Fairy Tales of the Brothers Grimm https://bookshop.org/a/6560/9789176374559
To the Lighthouse by Virginia Woolf https://bookshop.org/a/6560/9780156907392
To join a FrizzLit book club/class: https://www.frizzlit.com/bookclubs
“The Charge of the Light Brigade”, by Alfred, Lord Tennyson https://bookshop.org/a/6560/9781400041879
Referenced: The Blind Side https://www.warnerbros.com/movies/blind-side
There Might Be Cupcakes on IMDb:
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt22815734/episodes
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt22815734/
How to Support Cupcakes:
Audible: https://www.audible.com/ep/creator?source_code=PDTGBPD060314004R
Care/Of Vitamins: https://takecareof.com/invites/chr4bw
Substack: http://theremightbecupcakes.substack.com
Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/theremightbecupcakes
and please visit my lovely sponsors that share their ads on my episodes.
Where to Find Cupcakes:
Substack: http://theremightbecupcakes.substack.com
Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/theremightbecupcakes
Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/theremightbecupcakes
Instagram: @theremightbecupcakes and @carlahaunted
Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/theremightbecupcakes * r/theremightbecupcakes
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/804047-there-might-be-cupcakes-podcast-group
Contact: carla@theremightbecupcakes.com
Complete list of ways to listen to the podcast on the sidebar at http://theremightbecupcakes.com
Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/there-might-be-cupcakes-podcast--4761852/support.
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
(00:20):
Hi, this is Carla, andwelcome back to There might be cupcakes on
my anniversary week. On Friday,April twenty eighth, the podcast will be
six years old. I wish Ihad more episodes under my belt. That
always bothers me, but that ischronic illness and disability for you, to
paraphrase John Lennon, fatigue in painor what happens when you're making other plans.
(00:45):
April's been weird in that regard.On the Saturday before Easter, I
had a cardiac event. I amthe er doctor thought I was having a
heart attack, but we're still notsure what happened yet. Because healthcare,
she wanted to admit me to thehospital, but she wouldn't have been able
(01:07):
to perform a stress test until afterthe holiday, and the insurance would have
balked at my just being monitored forthat day. God forbid, right,
So I am just now able tosee a cardiologist this Wednesday. That was
her first open emergent appointment and she'sfabulous. So you count the days.
(01:33):
So I have been extremely cautious,hydrating and electro lighting and making upwards and
monitoring everything I can monitor in themeantime, So that's an example of why
I don't have double or triple theamount of episodes in my archive. And
I'm sorry, but you've known allabout that from episode one. I'm pretty
(01:53):
transparent. I try to be,and hopefully you love me anyway. I'm
hoping to bank some after all thisis taken care of and in the words
Paul Ingles Mackay, while sunshines,so y'all have more to listen to.
I'm definitely going to bank my VictorianChristmas horror episodes early this year for you
(02:15):
make that happen. So there's that. Now here's this Why the strange title
to the Lighthouse to catch a wish? It's long enough, isn't it?
Apple Podcasts Spotify will probably balk.I hope not, because I like it
and it's appropope. I'm taking aFrizzol online class on to the Lighthouse,
(02:36):
the Stream of Consciousness novel by VirginiaWolf. If you would like to join
me in future classes. I'm alsotaking one on Emily Dickinson right now at
the same time. The links inthe show notes and we'll be on the
website. The upcoming announced classes areGiovanni's Room by James Baldwin and Anton Chekhov's
short stories. I'll probably be inboth. The classes are the highlight of
(02:59):
my week, and they offer scholarshipsfor folks like me on disability. Thank
you to everyone who pays extra tuitionso that folks like me can attend.
It means more than you know.So to the point we have reached in
the novel so far, two worksof literature have been referenced. One obliquely
offered Lord Tennis's poem The Charge ofthe Light Brigade about the Battle of Balaclava,
(03:23):
and when directly the brothers grimm fairytale The Fisherman and his Wife.
Even if you don't know the poem, you actually do. It's the source
of theirs is not to reason whyto do or die? So that's where
we get the phrase do or diefrom. It's also the poem quoted in
the movie The Blindside about the footballplayer Michael O'Hare. Now you know,
(03:45):
I love a good fairy tale,especially in nor rely one it's horror or
horror adjacent this one is the themesof this story fit right in with to
the Lighthouse. In my humble opinion, of course, not respecting boundary he's
wanting what other people have. I'mgoing to the sea to find yourself or
to find something else that you need. Hang on for a short but creepy
(04:08):
ride, and I will God willing, and the creek don't rise. See
you again this week to celebrate ouranniversary. Thank you for six years.
(04:41):
The fisherman and his wife by Jacoband Wilhelm Grom. I apologize. You
can hear my Toby, my Octoberbarking on the deck. He is protecting
us from wooden creatures seen and unseen. He thinks he's a warrior. He
is yet just a baby of ayear in five months. He's not worrying
(05:04):
anything. So I apologize. Letus begin. There was once upon a
time a fisherman who lived with hiswife in a miserable hovel close by the
sea, and every day he wentout fishing. And once, as he
was sitting with his rod looking atthe clear water, his line suddenly went
(05:27):
down far down below, and whenhe drew it up again, he brought
up a large flounder. Then theflounder said to him, hark, you,
fisherman, I pray you let melive. I'm no flounder, really,
but an enchanted prince. What goodwill it do to you to kill
me? I should not be goodto eat. Put me in the water
(05:49):
again and let me go. Come, said the fisherman. There's no need
for so many words about it.A fish that could talk, I should
certainly let go anyhow. With that, he put him back again into the
clear water, and the flounder wentto the bottom, leaving a long streak
of blood behind him. Then thefisherman got up and went home to his
(06:10):
wife in the hovel. Husband saidthe woman, have you caught nothing to
day? No, said the man. I did catch a flounder, who
said he was an enchanted prince,so I let him go again. Did
you not wish for anything first,said the woman. No, said the
man. What should I wish for? Ah? Said the woman. It
is surely hard to live always inthis dirty hovel. You might have wished
(06:33):
for a small cottage for us.Go back and call him, tell him
we want to have a small cottage. He will certainly give us that.
Huh, said the man. Whyshould I go there again? Why?
Said the woman. You did catchhim, and you let him go again.
He is sure to do it.Go at once, the man still
(06:56):
did not quite like to go,but did not like to oppose his wife,
and went to the sea. Whenhe got there, the sea was
all green and yellow, and nolonger so smooth. Still, he stood
still and said, flounder, flounderin the sea, Come, I pray
thee here to me for my wife. Good isabel Will's not as i'd have
(07:18):
her will? Then the flounder cameswimming to him and said, well,
what does she want? Then?Ah, said the man, I did
catch you, And my wife says, I really ought to have wished for
something. She does not like tolive in a wretched hovel any longer.
She would like to have a cottage. Go, then, said the flounder,
(07:40):
she has it already. When theman went home, his wife was
no longer in the hovel, butinstead of it there stood a small cottage,
and she was sitting on a benchbefore the door. Then she took
him by the hand and said tohim just come inside. Look now,
isn't this a great deal better?So they went in, and there was
a small porch and pretty little parlorand bedroom, and a kitchen and pantry
(08:03):
with the best of furniture. Andfit it up with the most beautiful things
made of tin and brass, whatsoeverwas wanted. And behind the cottage there
was a small yard with hens andducks, and a little garden with flowers
and fruit. Look, said thewife. Isn't that not nice? Yes,
(08:24):
said the husband, And so wemust always think it. Now we
will live quite contented. We'll thinkabout that, said the wife. With
that, they ate something and wentto bed. Everything went well for a
week or a fortnight, and thenthe woman said, hartue, husband,
this cottage is far too small forus, and the garden and the yard
(08:46):
are little. The flounder might aswell have just given us a larger house.
I should like to live in agreat stone kestle. Go to the
flounder, tell him to give usa castle. Ah, wife, said
the man. The cottage is quitegood enough. Why should we live in
a castle? What? Said thewife? Just go there. The flounder
(09:11):
can always do that. No,wife, said the man. The flounder
has just given us the cottage.I do not like to go back so
soon, and might make it angry. Go, said the woman. He
can do it quite easily, andwe'll be glad to do it. Just
you go to him. The man'sheart grew heavy, and he would not
(09:33):
go. He said to himself,it is not right. And yet he
went, And when he came tothe sea, the water was quite purple
and dark blue and gray and thick, and no longer so green and yellow.
But it was still quiet. Andhe stood there and said, flounder,
(09:58):
flounder in the sea. Come,I pray thee here to me for
my wife. Good Isabel will's notas i'd have her? Will? Well,
let's she want, then, saidthe flounder. Alas said the man,
half scared. She wants to livein a great stone castle. Go
(10:22):
to it. Then, she's standingbefore the door, said the flounder.
Then the man went away, intendingto go home. But when he got
there he found a great stone palace, and his wife was just standing on
the steps going in. And shetook him by the hand and said come
in. So he went in withher. And in the castle was a
great hall, paved with marble,and many servants who flung wide. The
(10:43):
doors and the walls were all brightwith beautiful hangings, and in the rooms
were chairs and tables of pure gold, and crystal. Chandeliers hung from the
ceilings, and all the rooms andbedrooms had carpets, and food and wine
of the very best were standing onall the tables, so that they nearly
broke down beneath it. Behind thehouse, too, there was a great
(11:05):
courtyard with stables for horses and cows, and the very best of carriages.
There was a magnificent large garden twowith the most beautiful flowers and fruit trees,
and a park quite half a milelong, in which there were stags,
deers, and hares and everything elsethat could be desired. Come,
said the woman. Isn't that beautiful? Yes? Indeed, said the man.
(11:28):
Now let it be, and wewill live in this beautiful castle and
be content. We'll consider about that, said the woman, and sleep upon
it. Thereupon they went to bed. Next morning, the wife awoke first,
and it was just daybreak, andfrom her bed she saw the beautiful
country lying before her. Her husbandwas still stretching himself, so she poked
(11:50):
him in aside with her elbow andsaid, get up, husband, and
just peep out the window. Look, you couldn't we be the king over
all that land? Go to theflounder. We will be the king,
Ah, wife, said the man. Why shall we be king? I
do not want to be king?Well, said the wife. If you
won't be king, I will goto the flounder, for I will be
(12:11):
king. Ah, wife, saidthe man, Why do you want to
be king? I do not liketo say that to him. Why not,
said the woman, go to himthis instant, I must be king.
So the man went and was quiteunhappy because his wife wished to be
king. It is not right,it is not right, thought he.
(12:35):
He did not wish to go,but yet he went. And when he
came to the sea, it wasquite dark gray, and the water heaved
up from below and smelled putred.Then he went and stood by it and
said, flounder, flounder in thesea. Come, I pray thee here
to me for my wife. GoodIsabel, not as i'd have her will.
(13:03):
Well, what does she want,then, said the founder? Alas,
said the man, she wants tobe king God, or she is
king already. So the man went, and when he came to the palace,
the castle had become much larger,and had a great tower and magnificent
ornaments, and the sentinel was standingbefore the door, and there were numbers
(13:26):
of soldiers with kettle drums and trumpets. And when he went inside the house,
everything was of real marble and gold, with velvet covers and great gold
tassels. Then the doors of thehall were opened, and there was in
the court all the splendor. Andhis wife was sitting on a high throne
of gold and diamonds, with agreat crown of gold on her head,
and a scepter of pure golden jewelsin her hand. And on both sides
(13:48):
of her stood her maids, andwaiting in a row, each of them
always one head shorter than the last. Then he went and stood before her
and said, a wife, andnow you are king, Yes, said
the woman. Now I am king. So he stood and looked at her.
And when he had looked at herthus for some time, he said,
and now that you are a king, let all else be. Now
(14:11):
we will wish for nothing more.Nay, husband, said the woman quite
anxiously. I find time pass veryheavily. I can bear it no longer.
Go to the flounder. I amking, But I must be emperor
too. A last wife, whydo you wish to be emperor? Husband,
(14:33):
said she? Go to the founder, I will be emperor. A
last wife, said the man.He cannot make you emperor. I may
not say that to the fish.There is only one emperor in the holand
an emperor the flounder cannot make you, I assure you he cannot. What
said the woman. I am theking and you are nothing but my husband.
(14:56):
Will you go this moment? Goat once. If he can make
me king, he can make anemperor. I will be emperor. Go
instantly. So he was forced togo. As the man went, however,
he was troubled in mind and thoughtto himself, it will not end
well. It will not end well. Emperor is too shameless. The flounder
at last will be tired out withoutHe reached the sea, and the sea
(15:20):
was quite black and thick, andbegin to boil up from below, so
that it threw up bubbles, andsuch a sharp wind blew over it that
it curdled. And the man wasafraid. And he went and stood by
it, and said, flounder,flounder in the sea, Come, I
(15:43):
pray thee here to me from mywife goods abell will's not as i'd have
her. Will? Well? Whatdoes she want, then, said the
flounder. Alas flounder said he,my wife wants to be emperor Godor said
(16:04):
the flounder, She is emperor.Already the man went, and when he
got there, the whole palace wasmade of polished marble, with alabaster figures
and golden ornaments. And soldiers weremarching before the door, blowing trumpets and
beating cymbals and drums. And inthe house barons and counts and dukes were
going about as servants. And thenthey opened the doors to him, which
(16:26):
were of pure gold. And whenhe entered there sat his wife on a
throne which was made of one pieceof gold, and was quite two miles
high. And she wore a greatgolden crown that was three yards high and
set with diamonds and carbuncles. Andin one hand she had the scepter,
and in the other the imperial orb. And on both sides of her stood
(16:49):
the yeomen of the garden, tworows, each being smaller than the one
before him, from the biggest giant, who was two miles high, the
very smile, hollish dwarf, justas big as my little finger. And
before it stood a number of princesand dukes. Then the man went and
stood among them and said, wife, are you emperor? Now? Yes,
(17:15):
said she, Now I am emperor. Then he stood and looked at
her well. And when he lookedat her thus for some time, he
said, Ah, wife, becontent now that you were emperor. Husband
said she, Why are you standingthere now? I am emperor, but
(17:40):
I will be pope too. Goto the flounder a last wife, said
the man, what will you notwish? For you cannot be pope.
There is only but one in Christendom. He cannot make you pope. Husband
said she, I will be pope. Go immediately. I must be pope
(18:02):
this very day. No, wife, said the man. I do not
like to say that to him thatwould not do. It is too much.
The flounder cannot make you pope.Husband said she, what nonsense.
If he can make an emperor,he can make a pope. Go to
him directly. I am emperor andyou are nothing but my husband. Will
(18:22):
you go at once? Then hewas afraid and went, But he was
quite faint, and shivered and shook, and his knees and legs trembled,
and a high wind blew over theland, and the clouds flew, and
toward evening all grew dark, andthe leaves fell from the trees, and
(18:44):
the water rose and roared as ifit was boiling and splashed upon the shore,
and in the distance he saw shipswhich were firing guns, and their
sore need pitching and tossing on thewaves. And yet in the midst of
the sky there was still a smallbit of blue, though on either side
of it it was as red asin a heavy storm. So full of
(19:07):
despair he went and stood in muchfear, and said flounder, flounder in
the sea, Come might pray theehere to me for my wife? Good?
Isabelle will's not as i'd have her? Will? Well, what does
she want, then, said theflounder, alas said the man. She
(19:33):
wants to be Go to her,then, said the flounder. She was
pope already. So he went,and when he got there he saw what
seemed to be a large church surroundedby palaces. He pushed his way through
the crowd. Inside, however,everything was lighted up with thousands and thousands
of candles, and his wife wasclad in gold, and she was sitting
(19:55):
on a much higher throne, andhad three great golden rounds on and round
about her. There was much ecclesiasticalsplendor, and on both sides of her
was a row of candles. Thelarge as the witch was as tall as
the very tallest tower down to thesmallest kitchen candle, and all the emperors
and kings were on their knees beforeher, kissing her shoe. Wife,
(20:18):
said the man, and looked attentivelyat her. Are you now pope?
Yes, said she, I amnow pope. So he stood looked at
her, and it was just asif he were looking at the bright sun.
When he had stood looking at herthus for a short time, he
said, ah, wife, ifyou are pope, do let well enough
(20:41):
alone. But she looked as stiffas a post and did not move or
show any signs of life. Thensaid he, wife, now that you
are pope, be satisfied. Youcannot become anything greater. Now I will
consider about that, said the woman. Thereupon they both went to bed,
(21:06):
but she was not satisfied, andgreed in us let her have no sleep,
for she was continually thinking about whatthere was left to be. The
man slept well and soundly, forhe had run about a great deal during
the day. But the woman couldnot fall asleep at all, and flung
herself from one side to the otherthe whole night through, thinking about always
(21:27):
what more was left for her tobe, but unable to call to mind
anything else. At length, thesun began to rise, and when the
woman saw the red of dawn,she sat up in bed and looked at
it. And when through the windowshe saw the sun thus rising, she
said, cannot I too order thesun and moon to herrise? Husband,
(21:52):
she said, poking him in theribs with her elbows, wake up,
go to the flounder, for Iwish to be even as God is.
The man was still half asleep,but he was so horrified that he fell
out of bed. He thought hemust have heard a miss, and rubbed
his eyes and said, A lastwife, what are you saying? Husband?
(22:15):
Said she? If I cannot orderthe sun and moon to rise and
have to look on it and seethe sun and moon rising, I can't
bear it. I shall not knowwhat it is to have another happy hour
unless I can make them rise myself. Then she looked at him so terribly
that a shudder ran over him,and said, go at once. I
(22:38):
wish to be like unto God,a last wife, said the man,
falling on his knees before her.The flounder cannot do that. He can
make an emperor and a pope.I beseech you go on as you are
and be pope. Then she fellinto a rage, and her hair flew
(22:59):
wildly about her head, and shecried, I will and endured this.
I will not bear it any longer, would thou go. Then he put
on his trousers and ran away likea madman. But outside of Great Stormer's
raging and blowing so hard that hecould scarcely keep his feet, houses and
trees toppled over the mountains, trembledrocks rolled into the sea. The sky
(23:19):
was pitch black, and it thunderedand lightning, and the sea came in
with black waves, its highest churchtowers and mountains, and all with crests
of white foam at the top.Then he cried, but he could not
hear his own words. Flounder,flounder in the sea. Come, I
pray THEE here to me for mywife. Good Isabel wills not as I
(23:40):
would have her will? Well,what does she want, then, said
the flounder, Alas said, shewants to be like unto God. Go
to her and you will find herback in the dirty hovel. And there
they are still at this very time,
Hi, this is Carla, andwelcome back to There might be cupcakes on
my anniversary week. On Friday,April twenty eighth, the podcast will be
six years old. I wish Ihad more episodes under my belt. That
always bothers me, but that ischronic illness and disability for you, to
paraphrase John Lennon, fatigue in painor what happens when you're making other plans.
(00:45):
April's been weird in that regard.On the Saturday before Easter, I
had a cardiac event. I amthe er doctor thought I was having a
heart attack, but we're still notsure what happened yet. Because healthcare,
she wanted to admit me to thehospital, but she wouldn't have been able
(01:07):
to perform a stress test until afterthe holiday, and the insurance would have
balked at my just being monitored forthat day. God forbid, right,
So I am just now able tosee a cardiologist this Wednesday. That was
her first open emergent appointment and she'sfabulous. So you count the days.
(01:33):
So I have been extremely cautious,hydrating and electro lighting and making upwards and
monitoring everything I can monitor in themeantime, So that's an example of why
I don't have double or triple theamount of episodes in my archive. And
I'm sorry, but you've known allabout that from episode one. I'm pretty
(01:53):
transparent. I try to be,and hopefully you love me anyway. I'm
hoping to bank some after all thisis taken care of and in the words
Paul Ingles Mackay, while sunshines,so y'all have more to listen to.
I'm definitely going to bank my VictorianChristmas horror episodes early this year for you
(02:15):
make that happen. So there's that. Now here's this Why the strange title
to the Lighthouse to catch a wish? It's long enough, isn't it?
Apple Podcasts Spotify will probably balk.I hope not, because I like it
and it's appropope. I'm taking aFrizzol online class on to the Lighthouse,
(02:36):
the Stream of Consciousness novel by VirginiaWolf. If you would like to join
me in future classes. I'm alsotaking one on Emily Dickinson right now at
the same time. The links inthe show notes and we'll be on the
website. The upcoming announced classes areGiovanni's Room by James Baldwin and Anton Chekhov's
short stories. I'll probably be inboth. The classes are the highlight of
(02:59):
my week, and they offer scholarshipsfor folks like me on disability. Thank
you to everyone who pays extra tuitionso that folks like me can attend.
It means more than you know.So to the point we have reached in
the novel so far, two worksof literature have been referenced. One obliquely
offered Lord Tennis's poem The Charge ofthe Light Brigade about the Battle of Balaclava,
(03:23):
and when directly the brothers grimm fairytale The Fisherman and his Wife.
Even if you don't know the poem, you actually do. It's the source
of theirs is not to reason whyto do or die? So that's where
we get the phrase do or diefrom. It's also the poem quoted in
the movie The Blindside about the footballplayer Michael O'Hare. Now you know,
(03:45):
I love a good fairy tale,especially in nor rely one it's horror or
horror adjacent this one is the themesof this story fit right in with to
the Lighthouse. In my humble opinion, of course, not respecting boundary he's
wanting what other people have. I'mgoing to the sea to find yourself or
to find something else that you need. Hang on for a short but creepy
(04:08):
ride, and I will God willing, and the creek don't rise. See
you again this week to celebrate ouranniversary. Thank you for six years.
(04:41):
The fisherman and his wife by Jacoband Wilhelm Grom. I apologize. You
can hear my Toby, my Octoberbarking on the deck. He is protecting
us from wooden creatures seen and unseen. He thinks he's a warrior. He
is yet just a baby of ayear in five months. He's not worrying
(05:04):
anything. So I apologize. Letus begin. There was once upon a
time a fisherman who lived with hiswife in a miserable hovel close by the
sea, and every day he wentout fishing. And once, as he
was sitting with his rod looking atthe clear water, his line suddenly went
(05:27):
down far down below, and whenhe drew it up again, he brought
up a large flounder. Then theflounder said to him, hark, you,
fisherman, I pray you let melive. I'm no flounder, really,
but an enchanted prince. What goodwill it do to you to kill
me? I should not be goodto eat. Put me in the water
(05:49):
again and let me go. Come, said the fisherman. There's no need
for so many words about it.A fish that could talk, I should
certainly let go anyhow. With that, he put him back again into the
clear water, and the flounder wentto the bottom, leaving a long streak
of blood behind him. Then thefisherman got up and went home to his
(06:10):
wife in the hovel. Husband saidthe woman, have you caught nothing to
day? No, said the man. I did catch a flounder, who
said he was an enchanted prince,so I let him go again. Did
you not wish for anything first,said the woman. No, said the
man. What should I wish for? Ah? Said the woman. It
is surely hard to live always inthis dirty hovel. You might have wished
(06:33):
for a small cottage for us.Go back and call him, tell him
we want to have a small cottage. He will certainly give us that.
Huh, said the man. Whyshould I go there again? Why?
Said the woman. You did catchhim, and you let him go again.
He is sure to do it.Go at once, the man still
(06:56):
did not quite like to go,but did not like to oppose his wife,
and went to the sea. Whenhe got there, the sea was
all green and yellow, and nolonger so smooth. Still, he stood
still and said, flounder, flounderin the sea, Come, I pray
thee here to me for my wife. Good isabel Will's not as i'd have
(07:18):
her will? Then the flounder cameswimming to him and said, well,
what does she want? Then?Ah, said the man, I did
catch you, And my wife says, I really ought to have wished for
something. She does not like tolive in a wretched hovel any longer.
She would like to have a cottage. Go, then, said the flounder,
(07:40):
she has it already. When theman went home, his wife was
no longer in the hovel, butinstead of it there stood a small cottage,
and she was sitting on a benchbefore the door. Then she took
him by the hand and said tohim just come inside. Look now,
isn't this a great deal better?So they went in, and there was
a small porch and pretty little parlorand bedroom, and a kitchen and pantry
(08:03):
with the best of furniture. Andfit it up with the most beautiful things
made of tin and brass, whatsoeverwas wanted. And behind the cottage there
was a small yard with hens andducks, and a little garden with flowers
and fruit. Look, said thewife. Isn't that not nice? Yes,
(08:24):
said the husband, And so wemust always think it. Now we
will live quite contented. We'll thinkabout that, said the wife. With
that, they ate something and wentto bed. Everything went well for a
week or a fortnight, and thenthe woman said, hartue, husband,
this cottage is far too small forus, and the garden and the yard
(08:46):
are little. The flounder might aswell have just given us a larger house.
I should like to live in agreat stone kestle. Go to the
flounder, tell him to give usa castle. Ah, wife, said
the man. The cottage is quitegood enough. Why should we live in
a castle? What? Said thewife? Just go there. The flounder
(09:11):
can always do that. No,wife, said the man. The flounder
has just given us the cottage.I do not like to go back so
soon, and might make it angry. Go, said the woman. He
can do it quite easily, andwe'll be glad to do it. Just
you go to him. The man'sheart grew heavy, and he would not
(09:33):
go. He said to himself,it is not right. And yet he
went, And when he came tothe sea, the water was quite purple
and dark blue and gray and thick, and no longer so green and yellow.
But it was still quiet. Andhe stood there and said, flounder,
(09:58):
flounder in the sea. Come,I pray thee here to me for
my wife. Good Isabel will's notas i'd have her? Will? Well,
let's she want, then, saidthe flounder. Alas said the man,
half scared. She wants to livein a great stone castle. Go
(10:22):
to it. Then, she's standingbefore the door, said the flounder.
Then the man went away, intendingto go home. But when he got
there he found a great stone palace, and his wife was just standing on
the steps going in. And shetook him by the hand and said come
in. So he went in withher. And in the castle was a
great hall, paved with marble,and many servants who flung wide. The
(10:43):
doors and the walls were all brightwith beautiful hangings, and in the rooms
were chairs and tables of pure gold, and crystal. Chandeliers hung from the
ceilings, and all the rooms andbedrooms had carpets, and food and wine
of the very best were standing onall the tables, so that they nearly
broke down beneath it. Behind thehouse, too, there was a great
(11:05):
courtyard with stables for horses and cows, and the very best of carriages.
There was a magnificent large garden twowith the most beautiful flowers and fruit trees,
and a park quite half a milelong, in which there were stags,
deers, and hares and everything elsethat could be desired. Come,
said the woman. Isn't that beautiful? Yes? Indeed, said the man.
(11:28):
Now let it be, and wewill live in this beautiful castle and
be content. We'll consider about that, said the woman, and sleep upon
it. Thereupon they went to bed. Next morning, the wife awoke first,
and it was just daybreak, andfrom her bed she saw the beautiful
country lying before her. Her husbandwas still stretching himself, so she poked
(11:50):
him in aside with her elbow andsaid, get up, husband, and
just peep out the window. Look, you couldn't we be the king over
all that land? Go to theflounder. We will be the king,
Ah, wife, said the man. Why shall we be king? I
do not want to be king?Well, said the wife. If you
won't be king, I will goto the flounder, for I will be
(12:11):
king. Ah, wife, saidthe man, Why do you want to
be king? I do not liketo say that to him. Why not,
said the woman, go to himthis instant, I must be king.
So the man went and was quiteunhappy because his wife wished to be
king. It is not right,it is not right, thought he.
(12:35):
He did not wish to go,but yet he went. And when he
came to the sea, it wasquite dark gray, and the water heaved
up from below and smelled putred.Then he went and stood by it and
said, flounder, flounder in thesea. Come, I pray thee here
to me for my wife. GoodIsabel, not as i'd have her will.
(13:03):
Well, what does she want,then, said the founder? Alas,
said the man, she wants tobe king God, or she is
king already. So the man went, and when he came to the palace,
the castle had become much larger,and had a great tower and magnificent
ornaments, and the sentinel was standingbefore the door, and there were numbers
(13:26):
of soldiers with kettle drums and trumpets. And when he went inside the house,
everything was of real marble and gold, with velvet covers and great gold
tassels. Then the doors of thehall were opened, and there was in
the court all the splendor. Andhis wife was sitting on a high throne
of gold and diamonds, with agreat crown of gold on her head,
and a scepter of pure golden jewelsin her hand. And on both sides
(13:48):
of her stood her maids, andwaiting in a row, each of them
always one head shorter than the last. Then he went and stood before her
and said, a wife, andnow you are king, Yes, said
the woman. Now I am king. So he stood and looked at her.
And when he had looked at herthus for some time, he said,
and now that you are a king, let all else be. Now
(14:11):
we will wish for nothing more.Nay, husband, said the woman quite
anxiously. I find time pass veryheavily. I can bear it no longer.
Go to the flounder. I amking, But I must be emperor
too. A last wife, whydo you wish to be emperor? Husband,
(14:33):
said she? Go to the founder, I will be emperor. A
last wife, said the man.He cannot make you emperor. I may
not say that to the fish.There is only one emperor in the holand
an emperor the flounder cannot make you, I assure you he cannot. What
said the woman. I am theking and you are nothing but my husband.
(14:56):
Will you go this moment? Goat once. If he can make
me king, he can make anemperor. I will be emperor. Go
instantly. So he was forced togo. As the man went, however,
he was troubled in mind and thoughtto himself, it will not end
well. It will not end well. Emperor is too shameless. The flounder
at last will be tired out withoutHe reached the sea, and the sea
(15:20):
was quite black and thick, andbegin to boil up from below, so
that it threw up bubbles, andsuch a sharp wind blew over it that
it curdled. And the man wasafraid. And he went and stood by
it, and said, flounder,flounder in the sea, Come, I
(15:43):
pray thee here to me from mywife goods abell will's not as i'd have
her. Will? Well? Whatdoes she want, then, said the
flounder. Alas flounder said he,my wife wants to be emperor Godor said
(16:04):
the flounder, She is emperor.Already the man went, and when he
got there, the whole palace wasmade of polished marble, with alabaster figures
and golden ornaments. And soldiers weremarching before the door, blowing trumpets and
beating cymbals and drums. And inthe house barons and counts and dukes were
going about as servants. And thenthey opened the doors to him, which
(16:26):
were of pure gold. And whenhe entered there sat his wife on a
throne which was made of one pieceof gold, and was quite two miles
high. And she wore a greatgolden crown that was three yards high and
set with diamonds and carbuncles. Andin one hand she had the scepter,
and in the other the imperial orb. And on both sides of her stood
(16:49):
the yeomen of the garden, tworows, each being smaller than the one
before him, from the biggest giant, who was two miles high, the
very smile, hollish dwarf, justas big as my little finger. And
before it stood a number of princesand dukes. Then the man went and
stood among them and said, wife, are you emperor? Now? Yes,
(17:15):
said she, Now I am emperor. Then he stood and looked at
her well. And when he lookedat her thus for some time, he
said, Ah, wife, becontent now that you were emperor. Husband
said she, Why are you standingthere now? I am emperor, but
(17:40):
I will be pope too. Goto the flounder a last wife, said
the man, what will you notwish? For you cannot be pope.
There is only but one in Christendom. He cannot make you pope. Husband
said she, I will be pope. Go immediately. I must be pope
(18:02):
this very day. No, wife, said the man. I do not
like to say that to him thatwould not do. It is too much.
The flounder cannot make you pope.Husband said she, what nonsense.
If he can make an emperor,he can make a pope. Go to
him directly. I am emperor andyou are nothing but my husband. Will
(18:22):
you go at once? Then hewas afraid and went, But he was
quite faint, and shivered and shook, and his knees and legs trembled,
and a high wind blew over theland, and the clouds flew, and
toward evening all grew dark, andthe leaves fell from the trees, and
(18:44):
the water rose and roared as ifit was boiling and splashed upon the shore,
and in the distance he saw shipswhich were firing guns, and their
sore need pitching and tossing on thewaves. And yet in the midst of
the sky there was still a smallbit of blue, though on either side
of it it was as red asin a heavy storm. So full of
(19:07):
despair he went and stood in muchfear, and said flounder, flounder in
the sea, Come might pray theehere to me for my wife? Good?
Isabelle will's not as i'd have her? Will? Well, what does
she want, then, said theflounder, alas said the man. She
(19:33):
wants to be Go to her,then, said the flounder. She was
pope already. So he went,and when he got there he saw what
seemed to be a large church surroundedby palaces. He pushed his way through
the crowd. Inside, however,everything was lighted up with thousands and thousands
of candles, and his wife wasclad in gold, and she was sitting
(19:55):
on a much higher throne, andhad three great golden rounds on and round
about her. There was much ecclesiasticalsplendor, and on both sides of her
was a row of candles. Thelarge as the witch was as tall as
the very tallest tower down to thesmallest kitchen candle, and all the emperors
and kings were on their knees beforeher, kissing her shoe. Wife,
(20:18):
said the man, and looked attentivelyat her. Are you now pope?
Yes, said she, I amnow pope. So he stood looked at
her, and it was just asif he were looking at the bright sun.
When he had stood looking at herthus for a short time, he
said, ah, wife, ifyou are pope, do let well enough
(20:41):
alone. But she looked as stiffas a post and did not move or
show any signs of life. Thensaid he, wife, now that you
are pope, be satisfied. Youcannot become anything greater. Now I will
consider about that, said the woman. Thereupon they both went to bed,
(21:06):
but she was not satisfied, andgreed in us let her have no sleep,
for she was continually thinking about whatthere was left to be. The
man slept well and soundly, forhe had run about a great deal during
the day. But the woman couldnot fall asleep at all, and flung
herself from one side to the otherthe whole night through, thinking about always
(21:27):
what more was left for her tobe, but unable to call to mind
anything else. At length, thesun began to rise, and when the
woman saw the red of dawn,she sat up in bed and looked at
it. And when through the windowshe saw the sun thus rising, she
said, cannot I too order thesun and moon to herrise? Husband,
(21:52):
she said, poking him in theribs with her elbows, wake up,
go to the flounder, for Iwish to be even as God is.
The man was still half asleep,but he was so horrified that he fell
out of bed. He thought hemust have heard a miss, and rubbed
his eyes and said, A lastwife, what are you saying? Husband?
(22:15):
Said she? If I cannot orderthe sun and moon to rise and
have to look on it and seethe sun and moon rising, I can't
bear it. I shall not knowwhat it is to have another happy hour
unless I can make them rise myself. Then she looked at him so terribly
that a shudder ran over him,and said, go at once. I
(22:38):
wish to be like unto God,a last wife, said the man,
falling on his knees before her.The flounder cannot do that. He can
make an emperor and a pope.I beseech you go on as you are
and be pope. Then she fellinto a rage, and her hair flew
(22:59):
wildly about her head, and shecried, I will and endured this.
I will not bear it any longer, would thou go. Then he put
on his trousers and ran away likea madman. But outside of Great Stormer's
raging and blowing so hard that hecould scarcely keep his feet, houses and
trees toppled over the mountains, trembledrocks rolled into the sea. The sky
(23:19):
was pitch black, and it thunderedand lightning, and the sea came in
with black waves, its highest churchtowers and mountains, and all with crests
of white foam at the top.Then he cried, but he could not
hear his own words. Flounder,flounder in the sea. Come, I
pray THEE here to me for mywife. Good Isabel wills not as I
(23:40):
would have her will? Well,what does she want, then, said
the flounder, Alas said, shewants to be like unto God. Go
to her and you will find herback in the dirty hovel. And there
they are still at this very time,
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