Georgic and Merlin facts for kids

Georgic and Merlin is a classic fairy tale from France. It was collected by François Cadic in a book called "La Paroisse bretonne." This story is a type of folk tale known as Aarne-Thompson type 502. Older tales like Guerrino and the Savage Man and Iron John share similar themes.

The Story of Georgic and Merlin

The Mysterious Singing Bird

Near a rich lord's castle, a special bird sang in the woods. The lord was fascinated and had the bird captured. But once caught, the bird stopped singing. The lord warned everyone not to free it.

One day, the bird spoke to the lord's son, Georgic. It begged him to set it free. Georgic did, and the bird told him its name was Merlin. Merlin promised to help Georgic whenever he needed it, then flew away. Georgic's mother worried his father would be angry. She gave Georgic money and arranged for a salt-vendor to take him far away.

A Shepherd's Clever Tricks

The salt-vendor took Georgic's money. At the next castle, he offered Georgic as a shepherd. People warned him about wolves that often attacked the sheep. When the salt-vendor tried to leave, Georgic demanded his money back. The man refused.

Georgic then called out to Merlin. The bird appeared, and an invisible hand with a club hit the salt-vendor. It kept hitting him until he gave Georgic the money. Georgic then asked Merlin for a special whistle. This whistle could summon the wolves. He also asked for muzzles to keep them from biting. With these magical tools, Georgic kept the sheep perfectly safe.

Battling the Seven-Headed Dragon

In the same area, a terrible dragon with seven heads lived. Every year, the dragon demanded a young maiden as a sacrifice. That year, the unlucky choice was Georgic's master's daughter. She was very scared.

When she was sent to the dragon, Georgic asked Merlin for a horse, a sword, and a black cloak. He rode his horse, picked up the daughter, and took her to the dragon's lair. He called for the dragon. The dragon said it wasn't hungry that day and told her to come back tomorrow. Georgic took her back home. She was too upset to notice him, but she secretly cut a piece from his black cloak.

The next day, Georgic wore a gray cloak. The same thing happened: the dragon sent her away. She cut a piece from his gray cloak too. On the third day, Georgic wore a purple cloak. Before reaching the dragon, he borrowed a long iron fork from a man working at a stove. He used the fork to pull the dragon from its lair. Then, with his sword, he bravely cut off all seven of its heads. He also cut out the dragon's tongues as proof. The daughter cut another piece from his purple cloak.

Finding the Real Hero

A coal miner later claimed he had killed the dragon. The daughter told everyone that the true dragon slayer had cut out the tongues. The coal miner lied, saying he had eaten them.

The lord held a big feast. The daughter saw Georgic wearing his black cloak. It had the exact hole she had cut in it! But Georgic quickly disappeared. The lord held a second banquet. Georgic wore the gray cloak, and it also had the matching hole. The lord asked if he was the one who saved his daughter. Georgic said he might be. At the third banquet, Georgic arrived in a grand way. The daughter recognized him by the hole in his cloak. They soon got married.

A Quest for Magical Cures

Not long after, Georgic's father-in-law became very ill. A wizard said he could be cured with special items. These were: a piece of orange from the orange tree of the Armenian Sea, water from the Fountain of Life, and some bread and wine from the Yellow Queen.

Georgic had two brothers-in-law who were jealous of him. They set out to find the items but got lost. Georgic also began his quest. In the woods, he met a wise hermit. The hermit gave him a magic wand to guide him. The wand would lead him to the orange tree. He was to cut the orange into four parts and take one.

Next, he would find the Fountain of Life. But first, he had to go to the Yellow Queen's castle. There, he would take some wine and bread. He also needed a lance. He had to call out that these items were for his father-in-law's health. After that, he would find a stag to ride to the Fountain. If a lion guarding the fountain woke up, he should use the lance to kill it. Georgic followed these instructions and got all the magical items.

Tricky Brothers-in-Law

On his way back, Georgic met his lost brothers-in-law. He traded some of his magical items with them. In exchange, he took the ear and wedding ring of one brother-in-law. From the other, he took a toe. The hermit had warned Georgic that he would have to return what he took from the Yellow Queen after a month. Georgic did not warn his brothers-in-law.

When the Yellow Queen came to reclaim her items, Georgic was gone. His brothers-in-law were beaten for having the items. They had to run to Georgic and beg for his help. Georgic, being kind, helped them.