Salman und Morolf (>1200)
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Oriental Romances
Salman und Morolf (>1200)
Karnein, A. (ed.): Salman und Morolf. (=ATB 85) Tübingen 1978.
SaMor-1:
A child is born in Jerusalem chosen to rule over all Christianity, King Salomon the wise. He marries a heathen woman from Eudian. Because of her, many a hero loses his life, because she was born under a bad sign. Her father’s name is Crispian, and Salomon takes her without his consent. After bringing her over the sea to Jerusalem, he has her baptized. Besides the Holy Scriptures he teaches her chess. She is of remarkable beauty and her name is Salome.
Motif References:
T 131.1.3 Marriage against will of parents
M 310.1 Prophecy: future greatness and fame
M 314 Prophecy: man (child) will become king
V 331 Conversion to Christianity
V 332 Baptism of heathen
M 359 Unfavorable prophecies - miscellaneous
M 369.2 Prophecies concerning love and marriage
SaMor-9:
One day Salome goes to the cathedral to attend mass. The Queen receives a Psalter book written in golden letters. As a donation she gives a red golden ring adorned with jewels. The queen is so beautiful that all knights stare at her and forget about Eucharist.
Motif References:
T 134 Conduct of bridal couple before ceremony
F 575 Remarkable beauty
SaMor-20:
When the fourth year of Salomon’s and Salome’s marriage has passed, the mighty heathen Fore, who loves beautiful women (his father’s name was Minnolt), learns of her beauty. He has thirty-six dukes, 50 counts and 16 kings in his service. One Sunday he asks for advice how to achieve the love of the most beautiful woman, a queen among the likes of her. His nobles speak up that there is no woman fit as queen for the kingdom Wendelse. An old man then tells him of the queen of Jerusalem. Salomon had abducted her but surely she would be a much better match for the king. The king decides that king Salomon should have her no longer and plans to abduct her. He promises riches for everyone who’ll support him. King Crispian confirms his daughter’s unjust abduction. If the king attempts to bring her back he will gladly give him 4000 men.
Motif References:
T 11.1.1 Beauty of woman reported to king causes quest for her as his bride
H 1381.3.1.1 Quest for bride for king (prince)
SaMor-33:
The King of Duscan promises 5000 men. King Princian who rules over thirty-six dukes, fifty counts who serve him, sends 6000 men: Thus an army of 30,000 men gathers. A messenger arrives at Salomon’s court, proposing King Fore’s wishes: the king intends to marry Salome.
Motif References:
P 14.15.2 Court messenger
T 51 Wooing by emissary
P 557.0.3 (Li) Military aid (alliance)
SaMor-40:
Infuriated, King Salomon threatens that it will cost the king’s life. They embark with forty ships with food and clothes for one year. On the tenth morning the army arrives at Jerusalem. On the shore they arm themselves and pitch up tents. Duke Eilan volunteers as messenger. In the palace’s dining hall he approaches king and queen and the king’s brother Morolf. Messenger Eilan is welcomed and delivers his message which brings a challenge to do battle or surrender his wife.
Motif References:
T 104 Foreign king wages war to enforce demand for princess in marriage
SaMor-46:
King Salomon refuses to give Salome up voluntarily. Morolf asks him about the power of the heathen army and learns that King Fore has sent 20,000 men. Morolf advises to set the battle in a fortnight’s time. Eilan brings the resolution to Fore.
Motif References:
P 550.1.2 (Li) Defense of legitimate rights by war
SaMor-59:
Now King Salomon hurries to send for his allies: the King of Morocco, citizens and nobles of Masseille, Sorent: 35,000 men gather. Although the heathens have 5000 more, the Christians trust in God. Morolf has a red silk banner made with a picture of the Lord. Horns blasts, a furious battle begins. The heathens flee down to the sea. Outside town the battle lasts for four days. 35,000 heathens die. King Fore is defeated and captured.
Motif References:
R 5 Capture on field of battle
R 75 Surrendering
P 555 Defeat in battle [single combat]
P 557.0.3 (Li) Military aid (alliance)
F 1084 Furious battle [fight]
SaMor-66:
The captured King Fore is taken to King Salomon’s court. The king asks his counselors about an appropriate punishment for the king and they sentence him to death. But Salomon decides to have him imprisoned and Salome has to watch him. Morolf warns against it calling unwise to let Salome and Fore together. Salomon takes Morolf’s comment as an insult to the faithfulness of the queen and discharges him.
Motif References:
R 41 Captivity in tower (castle, prison)
SaMor-77:
Salome and Fore see each other every day. Her uncle, a magician, sends a ring with a magic jewel. As soon as Salome wears it she falls in love with Fore. Although she fears Salomon and Morolf’s wisdom, Fore is able to persuade to yield.
Motif References:
D 812.6 Magic object received from witch or wizard
D 1076 Magic ring
D 1355.4 Ring produces love
D 1426 Magic object draws woman to man
SaMor-89:
Salomon thinks that there never was a human being who had only the tenth of Morolf’s wisdom. Fore informs Salome that thirty-six dukes serve him, 50 counts, 16 kings would serve her. Her father Crispian promises to set him free. Salome agrees. Fore tells her that in a half a year he’ll send a minstrel with two turtle doves to the queen. He will carry a harp made of jewels and bring a magic herb. She has to place it in her mouth to fall ill and lie in a death-like state.
Motif References:
T 41 Communication of lovers
T 92 Rivals in love
T 249 Faithlessness in marriage - miscellaneous
K 2213 Treacherous wife
SaMor-103:
Salome frees Fore and he elopes. The faithless queen begs him to send the messenger soon because she has begun to hate being Salomon’s wife. Morolf knows that the queen has freed the heathen king. Salomon doesn’t believe his suspicion. But the suspicious Morolf prophecies that the king will lose her within one year.
Motif References:
T 32.1 Lovers’ meeting: hero in heroine’s father’s [husband’s] prison from which she helps him to escape
R 162 Rescue by captor’s daughter (wife, mother)[niece]
M 359 Unfavorable prophecies - miscellaneous
SaMor-111:
After half a year the minstrel appears and brings two turtle doves. The queen recognizes him because of the German harp. He brought the magic root which makes invisible. She should go to church and meet the minstrel. They exchange harp and herb; she takes the harp, removes the herb and returns the harp. She warns him to go away otherwise Morolf will learn the truth.
Motif References:
H 82 Identifying tokens sent with messenger
D 1361.11 Magic herb [root] renders invisible
SaMor-118:
Salome can hardly await the end of mass and before the blessing she takes the root. Clandestinely she places it in her mouth and immediately falls ill and in a sham death. Suspicious Morolf realizes that her death is the result of magic. Miserable, King Salomon pulls his hair in excessive grief.
Motif References:
D 967 Magic roots
D 1364.31 Plant produces [deathlike] sleep
K 1884 Illusion of death
D 1960.4 Deathlike sleep
D 1962 Means of inducing magic sleep
F1041.21.6 Tearing hair and clothes from excessive grief
SaMor-122:
Morolf has been a surgeon’s assistant and therefore pleads to see the queen to see if he can help her. But King Salomon refuses because he thinks Morolf is up to mischief. Morolf decides that he has to see the queen who otherwise will escape and he must search for her in foreign lands. He goes to the queen and pours molten gold into her hand, but she cannot feel it. The King complains of mistreatment. Morolf argues that the queen’s color is that of living not of a dead person.
Motif References:
K 522.0.1 Death feigned to escape unwelcome marriage
K 1860 Deception by feigned death (sleep)
K 1884 Illusion of death
SaMor-129:
Salomon bans Morolf who hides in an oven. Salomon has Salome’s body put into a precious coffin of red gold. Morolf says it’s a waste of the precious gold, better to place her into wild moss. Clandestinely he puts a stone on the coffin but after three days she awakes and escapes with the heathen minstrel over the sea.
Motif References:
F 852.2 Golden coffin
D 1978 Waking from sleep
SaMor-135:
On the fifth day Salomon learns that the coffin has been broken and the queen has escaped. A maiden who has the duty to incense the coffin brings the bad news to court. Salomon pretends that he hears it for the first time and tells Morolf, calling him brother. The king wants him to find the queen and promises Morolf half the country of Jerusalem. Morolf agrees.
Motif References:
Q 72.1 Reward for loyalty to king
Q 112 Half of kingdom as reward
R 227.2 Flight from hated husband
SaMor-147:
Morolf visits an old Jew with a snow-white beard hanging over his belt. His name is Berman. Morolf pretending to ask for advice kills the Jew and takes his skin and embalms it. Then he puts it on as disguise. He even goes to the king, demands his ring, which Salomon gives him. Morolf then leaves, takes off the skin, returns to the king and asks him for the ring. When Salomon says he gave it away, Morolf produces the ring, thus proving his extraordinary skillfullness.
Motif References:
K 839 Fatal deception into trickster’s power - miscellaneous
K 1821 Disguise by changing bodily appearance
K 2010 Hypocrite pretends friendship but attacks
SaMor-158:
The king hopes that Morolf will rescue the queen with his tricks. He takes a walking stick and a bag and promises that he’ll find the presumed dead queen or he’ll carry the stick for ever. He has a boat made of skin prepared with cobbler’s wax that he carries with him. Morolf’s child is promised Morolf’s property and is placed under the king’s protection. His journey lasts seven years. When finally arriving in the country Wendelse he asks a passer by about king and queen of the country under pain of death. The frightened man answers but Morolf stabs him nevertheless.
Motif References:
S 115 Murder by stabbing
M 125 Vow not to change clothes till a certain time
M 155.2 Vow to find vanished sister [queen]
K 833 Man lured into aiding trickster who has feigned an accident or needs help
H 1220 Quests voluntarily undertaken
SaMor-171:
Morolf throws the corpse into a dump so no one will know that he has asked. He disguises himself with the clothes on his back and takes a pitcher in his hand. He arrives at the castle and sees Fore. The heathen knights train for battle. A linden tree grows in court with a bench where only noble men are allowed to sit. Morolf sits down. A gong announces that the king is carried to the temple. Servants demand that Morolf should step back and make way. When he refuses they want to beat him up. Morolf threatens to hit them with his walking stick. King Fore laughs and allows him to sit on bench, because he is convinced that he is of noble birth.
Motif References:
H 41.9 King [noble] recognized by unique ability to occupy certain seat
D 1151 Magic seat
H 1574.1 Test for noble blood
K 1817.2 Disguise as palmer (pilgrim)
K 2357.2 Disguise as pilgrim to enter enemy’s camp (castle)
SaMor-183:
After King Fore Queen Salome arrives. Morolf recognizes her but remains seated. He then bows before the queen and sits down again. The queen welcomes him asking his whereabouts. The disguised Morolf asks for alms. The queen gives him food and drink. He wants to stay for three days. Then the queen asks about Salomon and Morolf. He answers that he was in Jerusalem seven years ago. The queen died and the devil abducted her from the coffin. The queen laughs. A young duchess notices his armor under the pilgrim’s clothes and draws the queen’s attention to it. When the queen starts inquiring he postpones the questioning until the next morning. When the duchess insists, Morolf in dismay pretends to be too tired. So the queen demands to see him next morning. Morolf bets on a game of chess: his head against her gold.
Motif References:
N 1.3 Betting contest between two kings [nobles]
N 2.3.1 Head wagered
H 31.10 Recognition by unique ability to play chess
H 509.3 Chess game as test
F 679.8 Skill at chess-playing
SaMor-208:
Salome has brought an extraordinarily ornate chess set inlaid with many jewels. The queen bets thirty gold marks. But he demands her most beautiful maid. The queen asks why he, a pious pilgrim, would need a maid. He answers that the maid would have to carry his pilgrim bag. The queen allows him to choose. Morolf chooses King Fore’s sister. The queen constantly threatens that his head is lost. Morolf farts. The queen, embarrassed, asks why. He answers that it happened out of fear. Morolf begs her to change places because he is irritated by the sun. Morolf has a golden ring with a nightingale with him. When he puts it on his finger, the bird sings. The queen’s attention is diverted and she forgets about chess.
Motif References:
N 2.6.3 Damsel as wager
N 8 Gambler’s attention distracted by women [trickster]
F 899.2 Extraordinary game-board
D 1620.2 Automatic statue of animal
SaMor-226:
Morolf begins to sing a song of King David in a wonderful voice. The queen asks him where he heard the song. He answers that he was a minstrel once by the name of Stolzelin. He has been in many countries but learned the song in Endian and heard it sung in Jerusalem by Morolf. The queen now recognizes him. First he denies it, then throws away his disguise and threatens to do her harm if Fore tries to kill him.
Motif References:
H 12 Recognition by song (music)
F 556 Remarkable voice
SaMor-250:
Morolf demands truce until the next morning. Then he is brought to the sea where he begs to make confession. But the queen refuses and has twelve knights watch over him. She threatens to kill them all if he escapes. Morolf tells wonderful stories. Suddenly he coughs into his goblet and asks for another. While they are busy he puts strange wine into a golden pitcher. He offers it to them, watering their mouths by telling them it is Cyprian wine. He also promises to give them the gold pitcher. All fall asleep drugged.
Motif References:
K 625 Escape by giving narcotic to guards
K 625.2 Escape by making the watchman drunk
SaMor-275:
With his scissors Morolf cuts the hair of the twelve watchmen and with a razor he cuts out squares. Then he approaches the doorkeeper claiming he has to get in, but the man refuses. Morolf persuades the man with the promise to reveal his future by the means of the stars. The porter agrees and Morolf kills him and his wife by crushing their heads with a stone.
Motif References:
S 116.4 Murder by crushing head
S 139 Miscellaneous cruel murders
K 629 Escape by deceiving the guard - miscellaneous
SaMor-289:
Morolf escapes to the harbor where he gets into the small boat. When the queen learns that he escaped, she cries and promises thirty gold marks for his recapture. 50 men go on quest. Meanwhile Morolf is sitting on a small beach. The heathens catch and bind him cruelly, so that blood springs from his nails. Messengers inform the queen and she rewards them with precious gifts. Twelve watch over him. Morolf promises to tell them his adventures if they untie him. Four agree. Then after a while he takes out his potion and pretends to drink offering it to them. They fall asleep. Morolf beheads the two who bound him. Morolf takes eleven of them by their hair and roughly throws them over the hill into the valley. Then he cuts off their hair with a razor making them bald. With the chamberlain’s clothes he escapes into his little boat over the lake.
Motif References:
S 133 Murder by beheading
S 182.2 Girl [man] pulled about by her [his] hair
R 350 Recapture of fugitive
Q 488.2 Head shaved as punishment
K 625 Escape by giving narcotic to guards
SaMor-307:
Morolf arrives and introduces himself as chamberlain who wants to tell the queen that Morolf is captured. He tells his story before king and queen. With a sleeping potion he lulls king and queen unconscious as well as the twelve heathen priests and lays them on top of each other. Slyly he lays the priest beside the queen. With his scissors he cuts the king’s hair and then cuts out a tonsure with the razor.
Motif References:
Q 488 Cutting [tousling] hair as punishment
K 873 Fatal deception by giving narcotic
K 1240 Deception into humiliating position - miscellaneous
K 1810.1 Disguise by putting on clothes (carrying accoutrements) of certain person
SaMor-317:
Morolf disappears with his boat. In the morning when King Fore awakes he is in the mood for love-making. At his side lies the young heathen priest. The priest slaps him twice and the king complains. Then he notices that he wears the oldest priest’s cap on his head and that he is again a victim of Morolf’s pranks. In his own bed he sees a stark naked priest at the queen’s side. He throws him out. When the queen awakes, she asks who shaved him. Ashamed he answers that it had been God’s voice that ordered it. Morolf sings on the lake. Fore tells him to wait and meanwhile many ships encircle him, and he lets himself sink to the bottom of the lake.
Motif References:
R 219 Escapes - miscellaneous
SaMor-328:
With the help of a reed and a leather leash he is able to breathe and hide for a couple of days. Then he spends thirty-six days returning to Jerusalem. No one is able to recognize him, because his hair has turned half gray. He speaks to the king about his adventures. The king asks about Morolf. Morolf pretends that Morolf was his pilgrim companion and died in heathen country. King Salomon asks where to find his bones so he can carry them to Christian soil to Jerusalem. He mourns him. Then Morolf reveals his identity and that he had found the queen.
Motif References:
J 641 Escaping before enemy can strike
J 647 Avoiding enemy’s revenge
F 1041.9 Extraordinary illness
SaMor-342:
Salomon asks Morolf for his advice how to win back the queen. Morolf suggests holding a tournament and having Morolf choose 10,000 knights to attend. The king rewards them with silver, gold and jewels. Then Salomon has to go to the castle and see the queen. Salomon first refuses, as he is reluctant to endanger his life. He admits that he now is in love no more because the queen is a heathen’s wife.
Motif References:
P 14.15.1 (Old, wise) Counsellors of court [King’s council]
SaMor-359:
The king covers his armor with a pilgrim’s habit and his spike helmet with a slouch hat. Morolf gives him a little horn which he can blow and the 10,000 knights will come to his help. Salomon arrives in the castle and is welcomed by the king’s sister. She politely asks his whereabouts and invites him to stay but he claims being an errant man forced to restless wandering pilgrimage. She answers that a beautiful wife would suit him more than pilgrimage. The sister tells the queen of the arrival of the most handsome pilgrim. It might as well be the King of Jerusalem who came for the queen. Salome is curious and sets off to see the pilgrim herself. She welcomes Salomon and tells him that she regrets Morolf’s escape because she would have killed him. Salomon demands that she should be his wife again or Morolf will kill her.
Motif References:
R 187 Horn of Roncevalles. Hero calls aid of waiting soldiers on horn
K 1812 King in disguise
K 1817.2 Disguise as palmer (pilgrim)
K 2357.2 Disguise as pilgrim to enter enemy’s camp (castle)
SaMor-399:
But Salome scourns his love telling him that she is in love with the heathen king whom she loves three times better than him. Salomon begs to depart and promises never to send Morolf again after her. She has Salomon brought into a small chamber from where he watches the court dinner. At dinner she tells Fore about Salomon’s arrival and asks him what they are to do with him. Fore wants to send him back over the sea.
Motif References:
T 70 Scorned lover
M 290 Bargains and promises - miscellaneous
SaMor-412:
But the queen fears Salomon’s power. The king’s sister speaks for Salomon and pleads that her brother should send back the queen to Salomon. She offers Salomon good wine. Salomon steps forward and demands the queen. But Fore laughs at him and asks him what Salomon would do if he were in his shoes. Salomon answers that he would have sentenced him to death by hanging. In the morning a high gallows would be prepared for him and he’ll hang him personally. Fore answers that Salomon has spoken his own verdict.
Motif References:
M 20 Short sighted judgements
N 831 Girl [woman] as helper
SaMor-431:
The queen promises her love forever if Fore hangs Salomon. They bind him with strong iron chains and shut him into two barrels. Again the king’s sister pleads for him. She pledges half a kingdom for Salomon. If he elopes the king shall cut off her head. Thus Salomon is unchained.
Motif References:
M 290 Bargains and promises - miscellaneous
K 2213.3 Faithless wife plots with paramour against husband’s life
SaMor-446:
The king’s sister leads him to a beautiful chamber. A minstrel entertains him with harp music. She offers him food and drinks. Then Salomon plays the harp, remembering his father David who invented the first string instrument. He plays extraordinarily well. The princess wants to persuade him to flee saying her brother would not stick to his promise to behead her.
Motif References:
P 428.1 Harper
A 1461.2.1 Origin of harp
SaMor-460:
Salomon refuses. In the morning 2000 come to court. Fore’s verdict is death sentence by hanging. They ride into a forest in order to execute the sentence. Morolf is lying there in wait. When he sees them coming, he rides to Solomon’s army and mobilizes help for the king. The army vows to fight until their king is rescued or die.
Motif References:
M 161.2 Vow to revenge (king, friends, father, [husband, queen]) (or die)
SaMor-472:
Two knights have order to watch the path to the castle to ward off the heathens if they take to flight. The others sit down and watch the preparations for the execution. Salomon asks the queen if he is allowed to keep his horn. The queen laughs at him but he says the little horn shall be buried with him. Morolf has three pale clad battalions waiting on the beach. The princess notices the warriors and informs Salomon. He tells her that they are the devils who claim his soul together with the angels. They fight for his soul. But she realizes that they are his men. She begs him to take her with him and Salomon swears an oath of loyalty. He promises to take her to Jerusalem.
Motif References:
M 290 Bargains and promises - miscellaneous
SaMor-502:
Salomon blows his horn twice. Morolf appears with his pale army. Frightened, Salome cries out, knowing he will kill her. Fore quiets her with the promise to hang Salomon first. Salomon pulls a concealed sword from his walking stick. Fore’s knights attack him. A furious battle begins. Twelve knights attack him. He kills them, and then King Fore charges him. He strikes him so heavily that Salomon sinks to ground but Morolf comes to his help. The brave hero cuts through the heathen army on three sides, dismounts from his horse and carries Salomon away. Fore attacks him. He falls on his knees but jumps up again. Fore flees and Morolf threatens to kill the king and the unfaithful queen.
Motif References:
R 187 Horn of Roncevalles. Hero calls aid of waiting soldiers on horn
F 1084 Furious battle [fight]
SaMor-518:
The queen pleads to Salomon for her life. She pretends to regret her infidelity and promises to return to Jerusalem. Morolf catches Fore and Salome, and presents Salome to Salomon. Morolf leads both to the gallows. Salome accuses Fore of having bewitched her claiming that she is innocent. Fore accuses her of infidelity. She relates her prophetic dream she had the night before: She was in Salomon’s arms and two hawks flew from her head. She is convinced that it was their future son who shall inherit Solomon’s kingdom.
Motif References:
M 302.7 Prophecy through dreams
M 311.4 Prophecy: unborn child to become king
D 1812.3.3 Future revealed in dream
K 2213 Treacherous wife
SaMor-527:
Morolf rebukes her with a very different interpretation: one high oak as gallows. Salomon laughs and gives Fore to Morolf but demands to set Salome free. Morolf denies it fearing Salomon’s fickleness. He hangs Fore, destroys the castle and burns the country. Then Morolf sends for the young princess to take her to Jerusalem. When she learns of the death of her brother, she cries. She begs Morolf to have her brother buried in the family grave. When Morolf grants it, she rewards him and his knights with gold and jewels. A tournament is set outside town. Afterwards they embark in the ships.
Motif References:
Q 413 Punishment: hanging
SaMor-544:
The heathen king Isolt learns of Fore’s death and summons an army of 30,000 men. The duke carries a banner: a panther and two dragons. They come to Wendelse destroy and burn it. When Morolf watches out for the army he realizes that it is Isolt’s banner. His father Berzin was killed before Jerusalem. King Fore was his uncle. Salomon has 4000 men in battalion, Duke Friedrich 3000 knights and Morolf his pale battalion.
Motif References:
P 91 (Li) Heraldic figures and symbols - coat-of-arms
Q 595 Loss or destruction of property as punishment
SaMor-552:
Morolf speaks no word until he cuts the enemies banner to ground. 450 are killed by Morolf in a furious battle. Duke Friedrich kills 3000. Isolt has set out to win the queen. But Salomon cuts off his head. 15,000 heathens are killed. They travel to Jerusalem. But the queen mourns the heathen and is unfaithful again. Morolf tries to persuade Fore’s sister to convert to Christianity. First she refuses but when Morolf tells her that after the queen’s death she’ll be queen at Salomon’s side, she is persuaded.
Motif References:
V 331 Conversion to Christianity
V 332 Baptism of heathen
F 628.2 Strong man kills men
F 1084 Furious battle [fight]
SaMor-575:
The heathen princess is baptized and tutored in the Christian faith for four and a half years. After a while Queen Salome bears a son. King Princian learns that Salome is the most beautiful woman, so he disguises himself as pilgrim and travels to Jerusalem. At vespertime king and queen welcome the pilgrim.
Motif References:
T 11.1 Love from mere mention or description
K 2357.2 Disguise as pilgrim to enter enemy’s camp (castle)
SaMor-591:
Princian comes forward and demands something to drink from the queen. The queen has a red gold goblet brought and offers it herself. When the heathen drinks he throws a magic ring into the goblet. Then the queen drinks and immediately falls in love with the heathen. The heathen takes her hand and Morolf watches and informs the king that the queen is being unfaithful again. King Salomon rejects the very idea. Although Morolf warns him, the queen manages to escape over the sea. Morolf promises the king to seek her if Salomon allows him to kill her. Salomon agrees.
Motif References:
R 227.2 Flight from hated husband
T 230 Faithlessness in marriage [love]
D 1355.4 Ring produces love
K 2213 Treacherous wife
SaMor-606:
Morolf has his head clean shaven, his disguise consists of two earrings and a pilgrim’s collar. He puts an herb into his mouth that changes his complexion. His disguise is so perfect that Salomon wants to prevent his journey. He binds his horse and walks like a cripple and cross-eyed. He embarks on a ship with his donkey and after 36 days he arrives in Akers, where the queen and Princian live. At the door he dismounts from the donkey and crawls on all fours to the gate. On the compassionate gatekeeper’s inquiry he pretends to be crippled since twenty years. The queen lives in a in a white stone building. A tunnel leads from the king’s chamber to the queen’s building. Twelve counts watch over the tunnel. Morolf begs the gatekeeper to ask the king to talk to him. The king agrees and offers Morolf food and drink. Morolf shows his mutilated body and tells the king that he has no money for a physician. Morolf eats his magic herb and looks very ill and claims his illness is called aging. The chamberlain tries to stretch his legs. Morolf flees in dismay.
Motif References:
D 967 Magic roots
D 1360 Magic object effects temporary change in person
K 1815.2 Ugly disguise
K 1817.2 Disguise as palmer (pilgrim)
K 1818 Disguise as sick man
K 1821 Disguise by changing bodily appearance
D 1870 Magic hideousness
SaMor-625:
Morolf’s performance as cripple is so convincing that everyone gives him money. Morolf notices a healing ring on the king’s finger and asks for it. The King gives it to him and Morolf rides away. He jumps on the donkey so that it jumps into the castle moat. The king helps him out. Then he farts three times and takes the root out of his mouth. His complexion turns healthy and he disguises himself as pilgrim with beard.
Motif References:
P 320 Hospitality
D 1342.1 Magic ring gives health
K 1817.2 Disguise as palmer (pilgrim)
SaMor-645:
The queen notices that the healing ring is missing. She asks about the whereabouts of the ring. When Princian tells her of the handicapped beggar, she knows that it was Morolf in disguise. She demands that the cripple be brought to her and promises his weight in gold. The king personally looks for him and meets Morolf in disguise on the way. Morolf sends them away when they inquire about the beggar. Later the king learns it was Morolf himself who tricked him again. The servants bring Morolf’s donkey to the queen. Meanwhile Morolf has disguised as minstrel. They ask the minstrel about the pilgrim. Morolf tells them he is in Akers.
Motif References:
K 1817.3 Disguise as harper (minstrel)
K 1817.1 Disguise as beggar
K 1834 Multiple disguise: one person disguising successively seems to be many
SaMor-667:
Morolf plays the harp. The messengers return saying that they have not found the pilgrim. The queen realizes that the minstrel who told them about the pilgrim was Morolf again. Salome demands to bring the minstrel and promises thirty Marks. Morolf puts on gray clothes and disguises himself as cattle monger and butcher. He stays in town for three days and changes into a merchant’s guise. Finally he hurries to his ship and sails back to Jerusalem.
Motif References:
K 1816 Disguise as menial
K 1817.4 Disguise as merchant
SaMor-692:
After half a year absence, Morolf returns to Jerusalem. He informs Salomon about the queen’s abode in a stone building situated on a rock in the sea and about the underground passage. Both Duke Widrion with 1000 warriors and Salomon with 3000 men travel over the sea to a castle near a high mountain. The castle is ruled by a mermaid and many dwarfs.
Motif References:
F 451.10 Dwarfs and other supernatural beings
K 1344 Tunnel entrance to guarded maiden’s chamber
B 81 Mermaid
SaMor-712:
The mermaid advises the dwarf Madelfor to wear a mist cap and go outside because she can smell German harnesses. When Madelfor recognizes Morolf he takes off the cap and greets Morolf as his uncle. He brings him to the mermaid, who receives him well. When asking her advice on how to capture the unfaithful queen, she promises to send six dwarves at dusk who’ll build a new passage. She advises him to capture Princian and the other heathens. In the morning Morolf calls out to Princian from under a window, claiming that he wants to give back the ring. When the queen recognizes him she cries.
Motif References:
D 1361.15 Magic cap renders invisible: tarnkappe
D 1960 Magic sleep
SaMor-729:
The frightened king takes Salome by the hand and tries to escape through the tunnel but the wall cracks. Morolf and his army destroy the castle and the stone building. Morolf lets Princian escape. He flees to his brother Pellion asking for help. Meanwhile Morolf kills many heathens in a furious battle. Pellion knocks Morolf to his knees, but he jumps up again, and cuts his enemy’s head in two.
Motif References:
F 1084 Furious battle [fight]
SaMor-742:
The next morning Morolf challenges Princian to single combat. He promises that if he loses, his men shall return over the sea and if he wins he will let the heathens escape. Princian beats Morolf to the ground. Morolf prays to God for help. God sends him strength and Morolf cuts off Princian’s head. He takes the head and brings it to the queen. He threatens to bring her back over the sea and kill her.
Motif References:
V 52 Miraculous power of prayer
T 243.1 (Bm) Man slays wife-stealer
P 555 Defeat in battle [single combat]
P 556.0.1 (Bm) Challenge to single combat [feud]
SaMor-772:
Morolf kills the heathens and travels back to Jerusalem. He has a tub of water brought for Salome’s bath and drowns her in it. Then he hides her death by pretending to give her a drink. Salomon cries when he learns of the queen’s death. The queen is buried in her first grave. Salomon marries king Fore’s sister and lives with her for thirty three years.
Motif References:
S 131 Murder by drowning
T 200 Married life
SaMor-778:
(continuation in a Straßburgian print verse 783, 3) The young queen is a very faithful wife. She bears him two sons. Son Isaac becomes king of Jerusalem. King and queen lead an ascetic life. Morolf regrets his sins. He repents so hard that blood streams from nose and mouth and eventually he falls down dead. An angel takes Morolf’s soul to heaven. (72b) The queen mourns Morolf’s death so deeply that she dies of grief. (72b-73a) Salomon’s heart breaks out of grief. His sons bury Morolf and king and queen in the same grave. 73a-74a: A gold coffin contains the three bodies. The second son of Salomon becomes a priest in Constantinople and leads a pious life. When he falls ill after twenty years, an angel carries him to heaven.
Motif References:
T 86 Lovers buried in same grave [coffin]
Q 172.3 Man admitted to heaven as reward for penance
T 210.1 Faithful wife
V 232.2 Angel carries mortal [to heaven]
V 462 Asceticism
Q 520 Penances
E 754.2.2 Souls carried to heaven by angels
F 1041.1.2 Death from grief for death of lover or relative
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