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EAST OF THE SUN AND WEST OF THE MOON
Once upon a time there was a poor husbandman who
had many children and little to give them in the way
either of food or clothing。 They were all pretty； but the
prettiest of all was the youngest daughter； who was so
beautiful that there were no bounds to her beauty。
So onceit was late on a Thursday evening in autumn；
and wild weather outside； terribly dark； and raining so
heavily and blowing so hard that the walls of the cottage
shook againthey were all sitting together by the fireside；
each of them busy with something or other； when
suddenly some one rapped three times against the window…
pane。 The man went out to see what could be the matter；
and when he got out there stood a great big white bear。
〃Good…evening to you；〃 said the White Bear。
〃Good…evening；〃 said the man。
〃Will you give me your youngest daughter？〃 said the
White Bear； 〃if you will； you shall be as rich as you are
now poor。
Truly the man would have had no objection to be rich；
but he thought to himself： 〃I must first ask my daughter
about this；〃 so he went in and told them that there was a
great white bear outside who had faithfully promised to
make them all rich if he might but have the youngest
daughter。
She said no； and would not hear of it； so the man went
out again； and settled with the White Bear that he should
come again next Thursday evening； and get her answer。
Then the man persuaded her； and talked so much to her
about the wealth that they would have； and what a good
thing it would be for herself； that at last she made up her
mind to go； and washed and mended all her rags； made
herself as smart as she could； and held herself in readiness
to set out。 Little enough had she to take away with her。
Next Thursday evening the White Bear came to fetch
her。 She seated herself on his back with her bundle； and
thus they departed。 When they had gone a great part of
the way； the White Bear said： 〃Are you afraid？〃
〃No； that I am not；〃 said she。
〃 Keep tight hold of my fur； and then there is no
danger；〃 said he。
And thus she rode far； far away； until they came to a
great mountain。 Then the White Bear knocked on it； and
a door opened； and they went into a castle where there
were many brilliantly lighted rooms which shone with
gold and silver； likewise a large hall in which there was a
well…spread table； and it was so magnificent that it would
be hard to make anyone understand how splendid it was。
The White Bear gave her a silver bell； and told her that
when she needed anything she had but to ring this bell；
and what she wanted would appear。 So after she had
eaten； and night was drawing near； she grew sleepy after
her journey； and thought she would like to go to bed。
She rang the bell； and scarcely had she touched it before
she found herself in a chamber where a bed stood ready
made for her； which was as pretty as anyone could wish
to sleep in。 It had pillows of silk； and curtains of silk
fringed with gold； and everything that was in the room
was of gold or silver； but when she had lain down and
put out the light a man came and lay down beside her；
and behold it was the White Bear； who cast off the form
of a beast during the night。 She never saw him； however；
for he always came after she had put out her light； and
went away before daylight appeared。
So all went well and happily for a time； but then she
began to be very sad and sorrowful； for all day long she
had to go about alone； and she did so wish to go home to
her father and mother and brothers and sisters。 Then the
White Bear asked what it was that she wanted； and she
told him that it was so dull there in the mountain； and
that she had to go about all alone； and that in her parents'
house at home there were all her brothers and sisters； and
it was because she could not go to them that she was so
sorrowful。
〃There might be a cure for that；〃 said the White Bear；
〃if you would but promise me never to talk with your
mother alone； but only when the others are there too； for
she will take hold of your hand；〃 he said； 〃and will want
to lead you into a room to talk with you alone； but that
you must by no means do； or you will bring great misery
on both of us。〃
So one Sunday the White Bear came and said that they
could now set out to see her father and mother； and they
journeyed thither； she sitting on his back； and they went
a long； long way； and it took a long； long time； but at last
they came to a large white farmhouse； and her brothers
and sisters were running about outside it； playing； and it
was so pretty that it was a pleasure to look at it。
〃Your parents dwell here now；〃 said the White Bear；
〃but do not forget what I said to you； or you will do much
harm both to yourself and me。〃
〃No； indeed；〃 said she； 〃I shall never forget；〃 and as
soon as she was at home the White Bear turned round and
went back again。
There were such rejoicings when she went in to her
parents that it seemed as if they would never come to an
end。 Everyone thought that he could never be sufficiently
grateful to her for all she had done for them all。 Now they
had everything that they wanted； and everything was as
good as it could be。 They all asked her how she was getting
on where she was。 All was well with her too； she said；
and she had everything that she could want。 What other
answers she gave I cannot say； but I am pretty sure that
they did not learn much from her。 But in the afternoon；
after they had dined at midday； all happened just as the
White Bear had said。 Her mother wanted to talk with
her alone in her own chamber。 But she remembered what
the White Bear had said； and would on no account go。
〃What we have to say can be said at any time；〃 she
answered。 But somehow or other her mother at last
persuaded her； and she was forced to tell the whole story。 So
she told how every night a man came and lay down beside
her when the lights were all put out； and how she never
saw him； because he always went away before it grew
light in the morning； and how she continually went about
in sadness； thinking how happy she would be if she could
but see him； and how all day long she had to go about
alone； and it was so dull and solitary。 〃Oh！〃 cried the
mother； in horror； 〃you are very likely sleeping with a
troll！ But I will teach you a way to see him。 You shall
have a bit of one of my candles； which you can take away
with you hidden in your breast。 Look at him with that
when he is asleep； but take care not to let any tallow drop
upon him。〃
So she took the candle； and hid it in her breast； and
when evening drew near the White Bear came to fetch her
away。 When they had gone some distance on their way；
the White Bear asked her if everything had not happened
just as he had foretold； and she could not but own that it
had。 〃Then； if you have done what your mother wished；〃
said he； 〃you have brought great misery on both of us。〃
〃No；〃 she said； 〃I have not done anything at all。〃 So
when she had reached home and had gone to bed it was
just the same as it had been before； and a man came and
lay down beside her； and late at night； when she could
hear that he was sleeping； she got up and kindled a light；
lit her candle； let her light shine on him； and saw him； and
he was the handsomest prince that eyes had ever beheld；
and she loved him so much that it seemed to her that she
must die if she did not kiss him that very moment。 So
she did kiss him； but while she was doing it she let three
drops of hot tallow fall upon his shirt； and he awoke。
〃What have you done now？〃 said he； 〃you have brought
misery on both of us。 If you had but held out for the
space of one year I should have been free。 I have a step…
mother who has bewitched me so that I am a white bear
by day and a man by night； but now all is at an end
between you and me； and I must leave you； and go to her。
She lives in a castle which lies east of the sun and west of
the moon； and there too is a princess with a nose which
is three ells long； and she now is the one whom I must
marry。〃
She wept and lamented； but all in vain； for go he must。
Then she asked him if she could not go with him。 But
no； that could not be。 〃Can you tell me the way then；
and I will seek youthat I may surely be allowed to do！〃
〃Yes； you may do that；〃 said he； 〃but there is no way
thither。 It lies east of the sun and west of the moon； and
never would you find your way there。〃
When she awoke in the morning both the Prince and
the castle were gone； and she was lying on a small green
patch in the midst of a dark； thick wood。 By her side lay
the self…same bundle of rags which she had brought with
her from her own home。 So when she had rubbed the
sleep out of her eyes； and wept till she was weary； she
set out on her way； and thus she walked for