THE RETURN OF THE LORD
For a year, the three brothers led the same life, without the lady and her son finding either a relative or a friend to defend them. Night and day, these beggars feasted at the castle, and sold the crops, to gamble.
When it was just six years since the departure of the lord, the three brothers said to his wife:
“My lady, the time of your mourning is over. You must marry one of us three."
“Gentlemen, I have chosen my husband between you three. But I won't name him until I leave for church. Give me another year to sew my wedding dress."
The Devil was hidden in the lady's room. A hundred times faster than lightning, he went to find the lord, prisoner in his tower, in the Holy Land.
"Listen. The three brothers still lead the same life, without your wife and your son having found either a relative or a friend to defend them. Night and day, these beggars feast at the castle, and sell the crops to gamble. Say: "My Devil, I'm yours," and I'll carry you, in three days, a hundred paces from your castle."
"Damn, you're asking too much of me."
The Devil left, and the lord remained alone, a prisoner in his tower, in the Holy Land.
For a year minus three days, the three brothers led the same life, without the lady and her son finding either a relative or a friend to defend them. Night and day, they feasted at the castle, and sold the crops, to gamble.
So the Devil left a hundred times faster than lightning, and went to find the lord, prisoner in his tower, in the Holy Land.
"Listen. The three brothers still lead the same life, without your wife and your son having found either a relative or a friend to defend them. Night and day, these beggars feast at the castle, and sell the crops, to gamble. The time is near when your wife will be forced to marry one of the three. Promise me a portion of the first meal to take with your wife and son, and I'll take you, in three days, a hundred paces from your castle."
"Devil, keep your word, and I promise you a portion of the first meal that I will make with my wife and my son."
Then, the Devil took the lord on horseback on his back. With a swipe of its wings, it carried it above the clouds, and flew away a hundred times faster than lightning.
On the first day, the Devil said:
"Hold on. Look down. What do you see ?"
"I see towns and villages go by. I see the rivers flowing by and the great woods. I see the mountains and the plains spinning."
"Say: 'My dear, I am yours." Otherwise, I'll throw you down.
"Damn, you'll only get what I promised you."
On the second day, the Devil said:
"Hold on. Look down. What do you see ?"
"I see the great sea spinning by. I see the islands spinning. I see the ships slip by."
"Say: 'My dear, I am yours." Otherwise, I'll throw you down.
"Damn, you'll only get what I promised you."
On the third day, the Devil said:
"Hold on. Look down. What do you see ?"
"I see my country. I see my castle. I see my wife at the window combing my son with a beautiful golden comb. She looks far, far away, if I don't come back."
"Say: 'My dear, I am yours." Otherwise, I'll throw you down.
"Damn, you'll only get what I promised you."