68 ASHIEPATTLE: OR HANS SEEKS HIS LUCK 



the Mdrchen king with the Smaakonge is not unnoticed 

 by tradition itself, for we read in De drei Vugelkens : 



Et is wul dusent un meere Jaare hen, da woren hier in 

 Lanne luter kleine Kiinige, da hed auck einer up den Keuterberge 

 wiint. . . . 



Nay, even the thousand and more years since there 

 were innumerable " little kings " literally Smaakonge 

 living in the land, may not be such a very poor 

 chronological approximation of the story - teller, if we 

 bear in mind the variety of estimates which far greater 

 scientific authorities have formed of the age of the 

 earth ! Admitting for the present that the Marchen 

 kings belong to the type which we find in both primitive 

 Scandinavian and Greek tradition, let us examine what 

 material the brothers Grimm have provided for an 

 appreciation of the mode of life which they led. 



In the first place, let us collect evidence of the 

 association of kings and queens with those following 

 humble, especially agricultural, pursuits. 1 For the 

 moment putting on one side the character of Hans who 

 marries the king's daughter, let us consider the type of 

 bride selected by kings' sons. In Die drei Spinnerin- 

 nen the king's mother chooses a bride for her son, because 

 she believes her untiring with the spinning-wheel. 



Ich hore nichts lieber als spinnen, und bin nicht vergniigter 

 als wenn die Rader schnurren ; gebt mir eure Tochter mit ins 



home and angels appear. In Konig Drosselbart we have a new patch on an old 

 tale, the marriage is patriarchal and performed by a priest ; so in Die seeks 

 Diener, the prince takes his bride home and they go to church, etc. 



1 In Der Vogel Greif we note how valuable these little kings hold sheep, 

 cows, and goats to be ; as among peasants a king's importance is measured by 

 his herds. 



