THE PRINCE OF THE SEVEN GOLDEN COWS
There was, once, a prince rich as the sea, and even more generous than rich. He was called the Prince of the Seven Golden Cows, because he really had seven golden cows in his coat of arms, painted on the great door of his castle.
Every day, the Prince of the Seven Golden Cows gave large alms after leaving mass. Every day he invited a hundred friends to dinner, who returned loaded with presents. Also, the poor and the guests said to him everywhere and always:
“Prince of the Seven Golden Cows, you are one and only. For you, we would go through water and fire."
"Thank you, my friends."
One evening when the Prince of the Seven Golden Cows was alone in his room, he saw a young man come in who was crying.
“My friend, what are you asking? Tell me why you're crying."
"Prince of the Seven Golden Cows, I ask you a great favor, and I have every reason to cry. When I was seven years old, I lost my father and my mother. But I did not lack alms until I was old enough to earn my living. I had made myself a mistress, beautiful as day, and wise as a saint. We were going to get married, but my mistress died this morning. Now I'm done talking to the girls. If I knew Latin, to understand what is written in the missal, I would become a monk. Prince of the Seven Golden Cows, you are rich and a chaplain. Give me ten pistoles, to mourn my mistress, and to have masses celebrated for her.
"My friend, you will not have ten pistoles. Here are a hundred pistoles. Take it or leave it."
"Prince of the Seven Golden Cows, may the Good Lord and the Blessed Virgin Mary reward you for your charity."
The young man left with his hundred pistoles. Three days later he returned dressed in mourning.
“Prince of the Seven Golden Cows, you have done me a lot of good. If you want, I will serve you all my life. But I don't want any wages. Take it or leave it."
"My friend, I take you into my service. You will have no wages. You will be called the Black Valet, and you will have great power over all the other servants of the castle."
At the end of a month, the Black Valet knew his master's affairs better than anyone, and he came to tell him in great secret:
“Prince of the Seven Golden Cows, you give and spend beyond your means. Another year of this life, and I see you on the brink."
"Black Valet, you don't know what you're saying. I have no wife or children. If by chance I were broke, my friends would not let me lack anything."
"Prince of the Seven Golden Cows, don’t be fooled."
The next day, during dinner, the Prince of the Seven Golden Cows said to his guests:
“Are you my friends?”
"Yes, Prince of the Seven Golden Cows. For you, we would go through water and fire."
“Well, the Black Valet told me to be wary of you."
"The Black Valet is a scoundrel. He robs you night and day. Chase him away."
The Prince of the Seven Golden Cows therefore chased away, like a thief, the Black Valet, who had actually stolen enough gold and silver from him, to buy a beautiful mill on the river Gers, and a castle, with a wood and seven farms.
A year later, the Prince of the Seven Golden Cows received a visit from the bailiffs and the catchpoles. He called all his friends.
“My friends, you tell me every day: “Prince of the Seven Golden Cows, your equal is to be born. For you, we would go through water and fire." Well, I have nothing left. I'm broke. The bailiffs and catchpoles are kicking me out of my house. Help me according to your means."
“Ah, glorious! You ruined yourself by giving alms. Tell the poor to help you."
The Prince of the Seven Golden Cows left, insulted by his former friends.
Source: Le Prince des Sept Vaches d'Or, from the French book Contes populaires de la Gascogne, tome 2, published in 1886
Previous 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.
People that only receive from you and never give you anything are not really your friends. And most often, they will betray you when you are in need.
Only the Black Valet is the friend of the Prince of the Seven Golden Cows, even though it seems that he has stolen from him.
Today, Kati, her mother, her daughter, and her two granddaughters went to visit the Cathedral of Pécs.
This cathedral has four bell towers. it is possible to climb one of these towers, but I don't think they are doing this today.
Not far from the cathedral, there is a big mosque that has been converted into a catholic church.
The building was built during the Turkish occupation of Hungary. After the Turks left Hungary, it has been converted to a catholic church.
Inside, you can still see the architecture of a mosque, but the decoration is definitely catholic.
-- Vincent Celier