To love a Swan Maiden
By zteve t evans
Under love's spell
Swan Maidens feature in many legends and folktales around the world and often share common components. There is often a hunter involved who falls in love with a shape-shifting creature that changes from a pure white swan to a beautiful human female. While she is in human form the hunter wins the Swan Maiden by stealing and withholding her clothing. She changes from a swan to a maiden by taking off a white feathery outer skin, or robe like garment. Without her clothing she often loses her power to shape shift into a swan and also appears to fall in love with the hunter and marries him often having children. When her clothing is returned to her she regains her power to change into a swan. and flies off back to her homeland leaving her husband and children behind despite years of domestic bliss.
The hunter is usually distraught at losing his beloved wife which results in him ever undertaking a long and dangerous quest to find her and win her back and live happily ever after as does happen in some versions or not strike out to find her and die of sorrow with out her. So although the hunter may be accused of in the first instance of kidnapping the Swan Maiden by stealing her feathery skin and in effect her power, he had in the first place fallen under love's spell, she eventually puts his love to a test that only the strong survive. The following account is based on a story from Germany by Ernst Meier called The Three Swans, published in his book, Deutsche Volksmärchen aus Schwaben (Stuttgart: C. P. Scheitlin's Verlagshandlung, 1852) and translated by D. L. Ashliman.
Swan Maidens feature in many legends and folktales around the world and often share common components. There is often a hunter involved who falls in love with a shape-shifting creature that changes from a pure white swan to a beautiful human female. While she is in human form the hunter wins the Swan Maiden by stealing and withholding her clothing. She changes from a swan to a maiden by taking off a white feathery outer skin, or robe like garment. Without her clothing she often loses her power to shape shift into a swan and also appears to fall in love with the hunter and marries him often having children. When her clothing is returned to her she regains her power to change into a swan. and flies off back to her homeland leaving her husband and children behind despite years of domestic bliss.
The hunter is usually distraught at losing his beloved wife which results in him ever undertaking a long and dangerous quest to find her and win her back and live happily ever after as does happen in some versions or not strike out to find her and die of sorrow with out her. So although the hunter may be accused of in the first instance of kidnapping the Swan Maiden by stealing her feathery skin and in effect her power, he had in the first place fallen under love's spell, she eventually puts his love to a test that only the strong survive. The following account is based on a story from Germany by Ernst Meier called The Three Swans, published in his book, Deutsche Volksmärchen aus Schwaben (Stuttgart: C. P. Scheitlin's Verlagshandlung, 1852) and translated by D. L. Ashliman.
The hunter
There once was a hunter who lived in the forest in a little cottage. He lived with his wife and they had enjoyed many happy years together. The hunter loved his wife very much but sadly one day she fell ill and passed away. This made the hunter very sad and he often went out for long walks on his own grieving for his much loved wife. Sometimes he felt so lonely that he fell to wondering if he should take another wife to keep him company. He did not because he believed he could never love another wife as he had loved his first so he continued to lived alone.
Nevertheless, in his loneliness he took to roaming deep into the forest. One day in a state of extreme depression he wandered much further into the heart of the forest than he had ever been before and came across a small hut made out of straw and twigs.
There once was a hunter who lived in the forest in a little cottage. He lived with his wife and they had enjoyed many happy years together. The hunter loved his wife very much but sadly one day she fell ill and passed away. This made the hunter very sad and he often went out for long walks on his own grieving for his much loved wife. Sometimes he felt so lonely that he fell to wondering if he should take another wife to keep him company. He did not because he believed he could never love another wife as he had loved his first so he continued to lived alone.
Nevertheless, in his loneliness he took to roaming deep into the forest. One day in a state of extreme depression he wandered much further into the heart of the forest than he had ever been before and came across a small hut made out of straw and twigs.
The old man
Looking all around the outside he could see no one so he poked his head inside the door and called an hello and stepped inside. When his eyes became accustomed to the dark he saw lying on the floor a very old man with a crucifix around his neck. The old man greeted him in a friendly manner seeming pleased to see him. He asked the hunter who he was and how he had found him and bid him to sit on the floor next to him and talk to him.
The hunter obeyed and told of how he had lost his beloved wife and of how lonely and depressed he had been without her. He told him he had thought about finding another wife but believed he could never love again. Anyway, living in the forest there were very few women and he told him he now believed he would never be happy again.
Looking all around the outside he could see no one so he poked his head inside the door and called an hello and stepped inside. When his eyes became accustomed to the dark he saw lying on the floor a very old man with a crucifix around his neck. The old man greeted him in a friendly manner seeming pleased to see him. He asked the hunter who he was and how he had found him and bid him to sit on the floor next to him and talk to him.
The hunter obeyed and told of how he had lost his beloved wife and of how lonely and depressed he had been without her. He told him he had thought about finding another wife but believed he could never love again. Anyway, living in the forest there were very few women and he told him he now believed he would never be happy again.
The Swan-Maidens
The old man told him that perhaps there was hope and that soon three white swans would be arriving at a nearby pond. The swans transformed into beautiful maidens who used the pond to bathe and the old man told him he should hide so they did not see him. The swans would then take off their feathered dresses, hang them on nearby beaches and swim in the water. He should then steal one of the dresses and run back to the hut with it.
Soon after the old man had spoken the hunter heard a flurry of powerful wings fly over the hut. Running outside he watched as they gracefully glided down to settle on the pond. The hunter crept stealthily to the water and saw that the swans transform into beautiful maidens who were now on the bank taking off their feathery white dresses. They then plunged laughing and singing into the water. Stealthily the hunter crept up to where they had hung their dresses and took one and took it quietly back to the old man's hut.
Eventually after much singing and laughing the Swan-Maidens came out of the water. Two of them dressed but the third wearing only in a thin shift was frantically looking for her feathery dress. The two waited patiently but as the time was drawing towards sundown it was necessary for them to leave and with that they flew off into the sunset.
The hunter marries the Swan-Maiden
The remaining Swan-Maiden was very beautiful but she was distraught at losing her clothing and found her way to the old man's hut seeking help. Finding the hunter there who had hidden her dress she instantly fell in love with him and he with her. The hunter asked the Swan-Maiden to marry him and she agreed.
After staying with the old man for a while the hunter told him it was time for him to take his wife to the church for marriage and then go and live back at his cottage. The old man agreed but before they left he took the hunter aside and told him to make sure the Swan-Maiden never finds her swan dress and to make sure it was well hidden. The hunter did this and they married and lived together as man and wife for fifteen years having several children and were very happy.
The Swan-Maiden flies off
One morning bright and early the hunter told his wife that he would go deep into the forest to hunt and that he would return in time for the noon meal. His wife stood in the doorway of their cottage waving to him until he was out of sight. She then ran up stairs and tried the attic door which for once he had left unlocked. In the attic she found a chest which was also unlocked and lifting the lid she found her swan dress. Running downstairs with the dress she quickly put it on and immediately transformed into a most beautiful swan and flew far, far away.
The hunter had a good morning hunting in the forest and returned in time for the noon meal as he said he would, but it was not ready. He looked all around the cottage and garden but could not find his wife. He called his children and asked them where she was but they told him they did not know.
The hunter returns to see the old man
Now the hunter loved his second wife as dearly as he had loved his first and he did not want to lose her so he went back into the forest to ask the old man for help. The old man told him that he could not have hidden the swan dress well enough. His wife must have found it and put it on and been transformed back into a swan and flown back to join the other Swan-Maidens in the Swan Castle where she had come from.
The hunter was distraught at his carelessness and very sad at the thought of losing his wife again. He asked the old man if there was anything he could do to get her back. The old man told him it was possible but it would be very, very, dangerous and could cost him his life.
The old man told him that perhaps there was hope and that soon three white swans would be arriving at a nearby pond. The swans transformed into beautiful maidens who used the pond to bathe and the old man told him he should hide so they did not see him. The swans would then take off their feathered dresses, hang them on nearby beaches and swim in the water. He should then steal one of the dresses and run back to the hut with it.
Soon after the old man had spoken the hunter heard a flurry of powerful wings fly over the hut. Running outside he watched as they gracefully glided down to settle on the pond. The hunter crept stealthily to the water and saw that the swans transform into beautiful maidens who were now on the bank taking off their feathery white dresses. They then plunged laughing and singing into the water. Stealthily the hunter crept up to where they had hung their dresses and took one and took it quietly back to the old man's hut.
Eventually after much singing and laughing the Swan-Maidens came out of the water. Two of them dressed but the third wearing only in a thin shift was frantically looking for her feathery dress. The two waited patiently but as the time was drawing towards sundown it was necessary for them to leave and with that they flew off into the sunset.
The hunter marries the Swan-Maiden
The remaining Swan-Maiden was very beautiful but she was distraught at losing her clothing and found her way to the old man's hut seeking help. Finding the hunter there who had hidden her dress she instantly fell in love with him and he with her. The hunter asked the Swan-Maiden to marry him and she agreed.
After staying with the old man for a while the hunter told him it was time for him to take his wife to the church for marriage and then go and live back at his cottage. The old man agreed but before they left he took the hunter aside and told him to make sure the Swan-Maiden never finds her swan dress and to make sure it was well hidden. The hunter did this and they married and lived together as man and wife for fifteen years having several children and were very happy.
The Swan-Maiden flies off
One morning bright and early the hunter told his wife that he would go deep into the forest to hunt and that he would return in time for the noon meal. His wife stood in the doorway of their cottage waving to him until he was out of sight. She then ran up stairs and tried the attic door which for once he had left unlocked. In the attic she found a chest which was also unlocked and lifting the lid she found her swan dress. Running downstairs with the dress she quickly put it on and immediately transformed into a most beautiful swan and flew far, far away.
The hunter had a good morning hunting in the forest and returned in time for the noon meal as he said he would, but it was not ready. He looked all around the cottage and garden but could not find his wife. He called his children and asked them where she was but they told him they did not know.
The hunter returns to see the old man
Now the hunter loved his second wife as dearly as he had loved his first and he did not want to lose her so he went back into the forest to ask the old man for help. The old man told him that he could not have hidden the swan dress well enough. His wife must have found it and put it on and been transformed back into a swan and flown back to join the other Swan-Maidens in the Swan Castle where she had come from.
The hunter was distraught at his carelessness and very sad at the thought of losing his wife again. He asked the old man if there was anything he could do to get her back. The old man told him it was possible but it would be very, very, dangerous and could cost him his life.
Swan Castle
The hunter loved his wife and was prepared to face any danger to get her back so he begged the old man to tell him what he must do. The old man told him that there was a mill that supplied the Swan Castle with flour to make bread and if he could persuade the miller to hide him in a sack and send him to the castle with the rest of his deliveries then that would be the best chance to get in as it was very well guarded. Once he had found his wife she would be able to tell him what else would need to be done.
The hunter told the old man that he would try anything and asked for directions to find the miller and the Swan Castle. Following the old man's directions the hunter found his way through to the other side of the forest where the Swan Castle was situated on top of a high hill. He found the miller and persuaded him to hide him in one of the sacks amid the sacks of flour that he delivered to the Swan Castle by horse and cart.
The hunter finds his wife
The plan worked and he found himself inside the castle where the miller untied the sack and set him free. Thanking the miller he went off to explore the castle in the hope of finding his wife. Luckily he soon found her and I am glad to say she was overjoyed to see him. She told him she was sorry for what she had done but she had missed her sisters and family and desperately wanted to see them again. The hunter was so glad to have her back he told her he understood and of course forgave her.
The three dragons
He asked her if she wanted to go back home with him and she said she did more than anything in the world but that to do so he would have to face an ordeal that would put his life in great danger. She told him that to win her freedom he had to fight three dragons who dwelt in the Swan Castle. These would appear to him on three consecutive days in different forms. They would torment and torture him for one hour each day and that he must withstand this without making a single sound. To survive and win her he must not make a single sound or they would tear him to pieces. If he could keep silent throughout the three ordeals they could not harm him and she would be set free from the spell. The hunter told his wife he would try the ordeal as if he could not have her he did not want to live so he prepared himself for what was to come.
The three ordeals
The next day three great dragons appeared which transformed into three great snakes wrapping themselves around his legs and body and hissing in his face they tormented him. The hunter was fearful but he thought of his wife and did not cry out or make a sound. After the hour the snakes disappeared and he was left alone.
The next day the three dragons appeared again and transformed themselves into horned turtles that spat balls of fire at the hunter. He thought he would surely go mad but he remembered his wife and he endured it silently for one hour and the turtles disappeared.
The spell is broken
One the third day the dragons again materialized and again turned into three monstrous snakes who writhed around his legs and body taking his head fully into their jaws. The hunter was terrified but thought of his wife and kept silent. After one hour of torment the one of the snakes swallows the hunter passes through its body to be reborn. At his rebirth the dragons disappeared and in their place stood three princesses who through his silence and courage had been set free from the spell that had bound them.
His wife told him that she and her two sisters had been had been placed under a spell many years ago by an old, wicked hag. Jealous of their youth and beauty she put a spell on them that had transformed them into Swan-Maidens but the hunter had broken the spell and they were now free to live normally.
The hunter and his wife sent for their children and took over the Swan Castle. There with their family and along with his wife’s two sisters they all lived happily together for many, many years.
The hunter loved his wife and was prepared to face any danger to get her back so he begged the old man to tell him what he must do. The old man told him that there was a mill that supplied the Swan Castle with flour to make bread and if he could persuade the miller to hide him in a sack and send him to the castle with the rest of his deliveries then that would be the best chance to get in as it was very well guarded. Once he had found his wife she would be able to tell him what else would need to be done.
The hunter told the old man that he would try anything and asked for directions to find the miller and the Swan Castle. Following the old man's directions the hunter found his way through to the other side of the forest where the Swan Castle was situated on top of a high hill. He found the miller and persuaded him to hide him in one of the sacks amid the sacks of flour that he delivered to the Swan Castle by horse and cart.
The hunter finds his wife
The plan worked and he found himself inside the castle where the miller untied the sack and set him free. Thanking the miller he went off to explore the castle in the hope of finding his wife. Luckily he soon found her and I am glad to say she was overjoyed to see him. She told him she was sorry for what she had done but she had missed her sisters and family and desperately wanted to see them again. The hunter was so glad to have her back he told her he understood and of course forgave her.
The three dragons
He asked her if she wanted to go back home with him and she said she did more than anything in the world but that to do so he would have to face an ordeal that would put his life in great danger. She told him that to win her freedom he had to fight three dragons who dwelt in the Swan Castle. These would appear to him on three consecutive days in different forms. They would torment and torture him for one hour each day and that he must withstand this without making a single sound. To survive and win her he must not make a single sound or they would tear him to pieces. If he could keep silent throughout the three ordeals they could not harm him and she would be set free from the spell. The hunter told his wife he would try the ordeal as if he could not have her he did not want to live so he prepared himself for what was to come.
The three ordeals
The next day three great dragons appeared which transformed into three great snakes wrapping themselves around his legs and body and hissing in his face they tormented him. The hunter was fearful but he thought of his wife and did not cry out or make a sound. After the hour the snakes disappeared and he was left alone.
The next day the three dragons appeared again and transformed themselves into horned turtles that spat balls of fire at the hunter. He thought he would surely go mad but he remembered his wife and he endured it silently for one hour and the turtles disappeared.
The spell is broken
One the third day the dragons again materialized and again turned into three monstrous snakes who writhed around his legs and body taking his head fully into their jaws. The hunter was terrified but thought of his wife and kept silent. After one hour of torment the one of the snakes swallows the hunter passes through its body to be reborn. At his rebirth the dragons disappeared and in their place stood three princesses who through his silence and courage had been set free from the spell that had bound them.
His wife told him that she and her two sisters had been had been placed under a spell many years ago by an old, wicked hag. Jealous of their youth and beauty she put a spell on them that had transformed them into Swan-Maidens but the hunter had broken the spell and they were now free to live normally.
The hunter and his wife sent for their children and took over the Swan Castle. There with their family and along with his wife’s two sisters they all lived happily together for many, many years.
To love a Swan Maiden
In this tale the hunter's love for his wife and his resolve to find her and bring her back are stronger than the perils he faces and he wins through. He breaks the spell that held her and her sisters leaving his wife free to return as a normal woman to her husband and family and presumably a life of domestic bliss. It is was a powerful trial for him but it seems that if you must fall in love with a Swan Maiden your love will be tested and if you want to keep her you must show that love by fighting for her, at least in this story, but what do you think?
© 09/08/2015 zteve t evans
In this tale the hunter's love for his wife and his resolve to find her and bring her back are stronger than the perils he faces and he wins through. He breaks the spell that held her and her sisters leaving his wife free to return as a normal woman to her husband and family and presumably a life of domestic bliss. It is was a powerful trial for him but it seems that if you must fall in love with a Swan Maiden your love will be tested and if you want to keep her you must show that love by fighting for her, at least in this story, but what do you think?
© 09/08/2015 zteve t evans
References and Attributions
Copyright August 9th 2015 zteve t evans
Copyright August 9th 2015 zteve t evans
- Swan Maidens - Illustration by Harry George Theaker for Children's Stories from the Northern Legends by M. Dorothy Belgrave and Hilda Hart, 1920
- Fragment of a painting The Swan Princess by Mikhail Aleksandrovich Vrubel (cropped) Public Domain
- Swan Maidens
- Swan maiden - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
- Essays: The Swan Maiden's Feathered Robe - In the Labyrinth