Fairy Tales of Old Germany, Volume 4

The Sultan`s Daughter is the story of a nobleman who goes off on the Crusades, but gets captured by the Saracens. After a while in prison, he is put in charge of creating a new garden for the Sultan. Here he encounters Melechsala, and after some misunderstanding, they fall for each other. There are lots of complications, not least the fact that he is already happily married. Not strictly a fairy-story, as no magic is involved, unless one counts prophetic dreams. Th stolen veil tells of part-fairy maidens who turn into swans to fly to a magic lake to renew their youth. An enterprising youth falls in love at first sight of one, and steals her magic veil, which she needs to turn back into a swan and fly home. Th Treasure-Seeker is a master-chef who has a string of bad luck, as well as a shrewish wife, until he overhears an old shepherd tell a tale about some hidden treasure, and determines to go and find it for himself. Includes a strange bird and a magic root.