Monday, March 23, 2026

Hans Christian Andersen / The Talisman

THE

TALISMAN

A fairytale by Hans Christian Andersen

A prince and a princess were still on their honeymoon. They felt so exceptionally happy; only one thought worried them, it was this: Will we always be as happy as we are now? For that reason, they wished to own a talisman, by means of which they could protect themselves against every source of discontent in their marriage. They had often heard people speak about a man who lived deep in the forest and who was respected by everyone for his wisdom; in every distressing or troublesome situation he was able to give good counsel. The prince and the princess went to him and told him what weighed so heavily on their minds. When the wise man had heard this, he answered: ‘Travel through all the countries of the world and wherever you meet a truly contented married couple, ask for a small piece of the linen they are wearing, and when you receive it, always carry it with you. That is an effective measure.’

The prince and the princess rode off and soon they heard a knight mentioned who was said to live the happiest of lives with his wife. They came up to the castle, asked them personally if in their marriage they were so exceptionally contented as rumour had it. ‘Yes, indeed!’ was their answer, ‘except for one thing – we have no children!’ So here the talisman was not to be found, and the prince and princess had to continue their travels to find a completely contented married couple.

They then came to a city where they heard of an honest burgher who lived with his wife in the greatest harmony and contentment. They went to him and asked him likewise – if in his marriage he was really as happy as people said. ‘Oh yes, I am!’ the man answered, ‘my wife and I live the best possible life with each other, if only we didn’t have so many children that cause us much sorrow and concern!’ – So the talisman could not be found there either, and the prince and princess rode on further through the country, asking everywhere about contented married couples, but no one came forward.

One day, as they were riding past fields and meadows, they noticed – not far from the road – a shepherd who was blowing his shawm with great gusto. At the same time, they saw coming towards him a woman with a child on her arm, holding a little boy by the hand. As soon as the shepherd caught sight of her, he went towards her and took up the infant, which he kissed and fondled. The shepherd’s dog went over to the boy, licked his little hand, barked and leapt in the air with joy. Meanwhile the woman put down the pot she had brought with her and said: ‘Husband, come and eat!’ The man sat down and took some of the food, but the first bite he gave to the little child, the second he shared with the boy and the dog. The prince and princess saw and heard all of this, they now approached, spoke to them and said: ‘Aren’t you what people call a happy and contented married couple?’

‘That we are!’ the man replied. ‘God be praised! No prince or princess could be more so than we are!’

‘Then listen,’ the prince said, ‘do us a favour that you will not come to regret. Give us a small piece of the linen you are wearing!’

When so addressed, the shepherd and his wife looked strangely at each other; finally he said: ‘God knows, we would willingly do so, and not just a small piece but the whole shirt and sark entire, had we but such – but we do not own a single thread!’

So the prince and princess had to travel on their mission unaccomplished. At last they grew tired of their futile wanderings and decided to turn homewards. When they happened to pass the wise man’s hut, they scolded him for having given them such bad advice. He was told of their entire journey.

Then the wise man smiled and said: ‘Have you really travelled completely in vain? Are you not returning home rich in experience?’

‘Yes,’ the prince replied, ‘I have experienced that contentment is a rare commodity on this earth!’

After which, the prince gave the princess his hand, they looked at each other with an expression of the most fervent love, and the wise man blessed them and said: ‘In your heart you have found the true talisman! Watch over it with great care, and never in all eternity will the evil spirit of discontent gain a hold over you!’

1836