THE MAN OF ALL COLORS
The people shouted:
“Long live the Man of All Colors!”
But the mare white as snow left faster than ever. An hour later, the Man of All Colors had returned underground to his great castle.
The Man of All Colors became very sad again. Night and day he thought about what the eagle had told him. The Sunday after, the eagle noticed that its master was crying.
“Man of all colors, I know why you are crying, and I would like to put you out of trouble. Unfortunately, the paths where the three mares passed are now closed forever. All that remains is the hole through which you descended with the Dwarf. You will ride on my back, and I will carry you away. But this is no small job. To go all the way, I will need to be well-fed during the trip. Take a lot of raw meat, to feed me on the way. »
The Man of All Colors went to get a lot of raw meat and climbed on the back of the eagle which took its flight.
“Go, my eagle!”
And the eagle flew straight and strong. At all times he shouted: “Raw meat!” Raw meat!"
And the Man of All Colors fed him, still shouting:
"Go, my eagle!”
A hundred fathom below the ground, there was no more raw meat.
“Raw meat!” Raw meat!"
Then the Man of All Colors drew his knife, cut off a piece of his thigh, fead the eagle, and made him drink his warm blood. Five minutes later, both arrived in the city of Babylon.
It was eight o'clock in the morning. Everyone had their Sunday clothes. In all the churches, the bells were ringing loudly for the wedding of the king's daughter.
“Man of all colors,” said the king of Babylon, “you will only have my daughter when you have returned her three sisters to me."
Then the eagle said:
— “Wait for me there. »
The eagle took its flight, and returned, an hour later, bringing by the hair the bearded Dwarf, not two spans high. The Dwarf struck the earth with his heel. Immediately the three mares appeared: one white as snow, the other black as a crow, and the third red as blood. These three mares were the three eldest daughters of the king of Babylon, whom the Dwarf had changed into beasts, to hide them better. Immediately they resumed their first form.
“Man of All Colors,” said the king of Babylon, “I have nothing more to refuse you."
So the marriage took place. Never have we seen, never will we see the like. The Man of All Colors sent for his father. He also called for his three brothers, who had assisted the poor man, and each of them married one of the three princesses. At the end of the wedding, which lasted a whole month, the eagle said:
“Man of All Colors, I have served you for a long time. However, you haven't paid me yet."
"Eagle, ask whatever you want."
"Man of all colors, give me, to build my nest, the tallest tower in Babylon. Give me also the bearded Dwarf, not two spans high."
"Eagle, that’s right. Take what you need."
Then the eagle carried the bearded Dwarf, not two spans high, to the highest tower in Babylon. There he gouged out his eyes and gnawed him to the bone.
Source: L'Homme de Toutes Couleurs, from the French book Contes populaires de la Gascogne, tome 2, published in 1886
Part 1 - Part 2 - Part 3 - Part 4 - Part 5
Next Tale: Jean de Calais
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.
As expected, the Man of All Colors was able to leave the castle where the dwarf, not two spans high, had put him. And, he was able to marry the princess.
And the three brothers who helped his father also married a princess.
Finally, the dwarf, not two spans high, was killed by the eagle.
Everything is fine now.
Today, I went to explore the neighborhood of Kati's mother's house.
Above the cemetery, there is a small catholic church.
I was not able to see the inside, as the door was locked.
Two hundred meters from the house there is a large dog park.
Unfortunately, we are not able to bring Kormi there, as she does not move when we put the leash on her.
And we can also see the Pécs TV Tower from a nearby road. This is the highest building in Hungary: 197 m from the ground to the top of the antenna.
-- Vincent Celier