Jewish Fairy Tales and Fables. Gertrude Landa
image of Bar Shalmon.
“I ask of you mortals of the city,” the princess continued, “but one thing, justice—that same justice which we in the land of Ergetz did give unto Bar Shalmon when, after breaking his oath unto his father, he set sail for a foreign land and was delivered into our hands. We spared his life; we granted his petition for a new trial. I but ask that ye should grant me the same petition. Hear me in your Court of Justice.”
“Thy request is but reasonable, princess,” said the mayor. “It shall not be said that strangers here are refused justice. Bar Shalmon, follow me.”
He led the way into the Chamber of Justice, and the magistrates of the city heard all that the princess and her witnesses, among whom was the rabbi, and also all that Bar Shalmon, had to say.
“’Tis plain,” said the mayor, delivering judgment, “that her royal highness, the princess of the Fairyland of Ergetz, has spoken that which is true. But Bar Shalmon has in this city wife and child to whom he is bound by ties that may not be broken. Bar Shalmon must divorce the princess and return unto her the dowry received by him on their marriage.”
“If such be your law, I am content,” said the princess.
“What sayest thou, Bar Shalmon?” asked the mayor.
“Oh! I’m content,” he answered gruffly. “I agree to anything that will rid me of the demon princess.”
The princess flushed crimson with shame and rage at these cruel words.
“These words I have not deserved,” she exclaimed, proudly. “I have loved thee, and have been faithful unto thee, Bar Shalmon. I accept the decree of your laws and shall return to the land of Ergetz a widow. I ask not for your pity. I ask but for that which is my right, one last kiss.”
“Very well,” said Bar Shalmon, still more gruffly, “anything to have done with thee.”
The princess stepped proudly forward to him and kissed him on the lips.
Bar Shalmon turned deadly pale and would have fallen had not his friends caught him.
“Take thy punishment for all thy sins,” cried the princess, haughtily, “for thy broken vows and thy false promises—thy perjury to thy God, to thy father, to my father and to me.”
As she spoke Bar Shalmon fell dead at her feet. At a sign from the princess, her retinue of fairies and demons flew out of the building and up into the air with their royal mistress in their midst and vanished.
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