JEAN DE CALAIS
Jean de Calais had his plan. The following Sunday, he hid two pistols loaded with powder under his clothes and nailed the three portraits to the right side of the car. This done, he said to the coachman:
“Go by the side of the cathedral. The king and queen will return from high mass. Try to pass close to their carriage, showing them the right side of mine."
"Master, you will be obeyed."
As he passed near the king's carriage, Jean de Calais discharged his two pistols into the air. Then the people rioted.
“To death, the stranger! Kill the assassin! He shot the king and the queen. To death! To death!"
“Stranger,” said the king, “what have we done to you? Why did you want to kill me and the queen?
"King, these two pistols were only loaded with powder. I wanted to force you to look at these three portraits."
Then the king and queen looked at the three portraits and began to cry.
“Stranger, speak. Speak quickly. Tell us about these three portraits."
"King, this is my wife. King, this is our son. King, here is my wife's younger sister, whom I recognized as my child."
"Stranger, these two girls are mine."
"King, I paid six thousand pistoles for them to the pirate captain who stole them from you."
"Stranger, what is your name?"
"King, my name is Jean de Calais."
"Jean de Calais, get into my carriage and come and dine with us."
Jean de Calais obeyed. The king had him seated at his right, before the greatest nobles of the country.
“My friends, this is my son-in-law. This is the man who will command you when I am dead. Jean de Calais, this very evening, you are going to leave on a great journey. So, drink, eat, don't let yourself lack anything. This very evening, you will return to your country, and bring back here my two daughters and my grandson."
What was said was done. That same evening, Jean de Calais embarked on a beautiful ship, full of handsome gentlemen and beautiful ladies, who were going to Bordeaux. Among these passengers was a young man, honest and helpful like no other. Jean de Calais quickly made him his great friend and confided to him all his secrets.
One night, the two of them were chatting, as usual, leaning over the side of the ship. The weather was superb, and the moon rose clear and bright in the sky.
“What happiness! My great friend", said Jean de Calais. "Every day brings me closer to Bordeaux. Soon I will see my wife and children again. Soon, the four of us will leave again, to live happily in Lisbon, Portugal. My great friend, I will never forget your services. Let's not leave each other again. I have what it takes to make you rich."
"Jean de Calais, I am willing."
But this man was a traitor, who had been watching for a long time for the opportunity to do something bad. He pretended to pick up something from the ground, quickly grabbed Jean de Calais by the legs, and threw him into the deep sea. The unfortunate man was swimming, crying for help. No one came. Already the ship was moving as far as the eye could see.
Jean de Calais was still swimming. But he felt that this could not last.
“Holy Virgin, have pity on me."
At that moment, a Great White Bird was flying through the night, skimming the great sea.
“Jean de Calais, I am the soul of the poor dead man. Jean de Calais, you have done me a favor. I haven't forgotten it. You will not miss my help."
And the Great White Bird flew away I don’t know where.
Jean de Calais was still swimming. But he felt that this could not last.
“The Great White Bird lied. Holy Virgin, have mercy on me."
At that moment, a beam passed floating on the sea. Quickly, Jean de Calais seized it and climbed on it.
“Thank you, Holy Virgin. You took pity on me. The Great White Bird did not lie."
For three days and three nights, Jean de Calais floated, without eating or drinking, without seeing anything but the sky and the water. Finally, he landed almost dead on a rock, on a rock without trees or greenery, in the middle of the great sea.
Source: Jean de Calais, from the French book Contes populaires de la Gascogne, tome 2, published in 1886
Hello, my name is Vincent Celier.
I am writing translations of folk tales that I found in public domain French books, so that people who do not understand French may enjoy them too.
Jean de Calais was well received by the king and queen in Lisbon because he gave him the news that their daughters were alive and well.
Unfortunately, during the trip from Lisbon to Bordeaux, Jean de Calais was tricked by someone he thought was a friend. What will happen to him on the rock in the middle of the sea? And what will happen to the two princesses and his son?
This morning, Kati and I visited her sister Gabi (Gabriella) to give her the used books that we bought yesterday.
Gabi is collecting the fantasy books this author wrote, whose pen name is either in Hungarian "Lőrincz L. Làszlò" or in English "Leslie L Lawrence". I know that this guy is Hungarian and neither of these two pen names is his real name.
Tomorrow, Agi (Agnes), the daughter of Kati, is arriving from Edinburgh with her two daughters. They are coming for the celebration of the 90th birthday of their grandmother and great-grandmother next Sunday. Tomorrow morning, Kati and I will go to Budapest Airport to greet them and bring them to Pécs.
Here is a picture of the two girls that is displayed in the living room of Kati's mother.
-- Vincent Celier