The Black Bull of Norroway
by Andrew Lang · from The Blue Fairy Book
Adapted Version
Once upon a time, there were three sisters. They lived with their mother.
The oldest sister went to find her fortune. A kind old woman helped her. She saw a big coach. It took her away.
The middle sister went next. The old woman helped her too. She saw a smaller coach. It took her away.
The youngest sister went to the old woman. She looked and looked. She saw a big Black Bull. He came down the road. She was scared. But she got on his back.
They went and went. The bull had a magic bag. She ate from it. They came to a castle. She got a shiny apple. "Save it," they said. They went on. They came to another castle. She got a shiny pear. "Save it," they said. They went on. They came to a last castle. She got a shiny plum. "Save it," they said.
They came to a dark place. The bull had to fight a dragon. "Sit on this stone," he said. "Do not move." She sat. Everything turned blue. He won! She was so happy. She moved her foot. The bull could not find her. She was alone.
She walked and walked. She found a glass hill. She could not climb it. She found a helper. She worked for many days. He made her strong shoes. She climbed the glass hill.
She found the old washerwoman again. A knight needed his dirty shirts washed. The washerwoman tried. Her daughter tried. The shirts stayed dirty. The youngest daughter washed them. They became clean. The washerwoman lied. She said her daughter did it.
The knight would marry the washerwoman's daughter. The youngest daughter was sad. She broke her apple. It was full of gold! She gave it to the washerwoman. "Let me sit with the knight tonight." The washerwoman gave the knight sleepy juice. He slept all night. The daughter sang a sad song.
She broke her pear. It was full of jewels! She gave them away. She got another night. The knight drank sleepy juice again. He slept. She sang her sad song.
The knight heard about the singing. He pretended to drink the juice. She broke her plum. It had the most jewels! She got a third night. She sang her song. The knight was awake! He heard her.
He turned to her. She told him her story. He knew she washed his shirts. He knew she was brave. The washerwoman and her daughter left. They never came back.
The knight and the youngest daughter got married. Kindness and not giving up bring love and happiness. And they lived happily ever after.
Original Story
THE BLACK BULL OF NORROWAY
And many a hunting song they sung,
And song of game and glee;
Then tuned to plaintive strains their tongue,
“Of Scotland’s luve and lee.”
To wilder measures next they turn
“The Black, Black Bull of Norroway!”
Sudden the tapers cease to burn,
The minstrels cease to play.
“The Cout of Keeldar,” by J. Leyden.
In Norroway, langsyne, there lived a certain lady, and she had three
dochters. The auldest o’ them said to her mither: “Mither, bake me a
bannock, and roast me a collop, for I’m gaun awa’ to seek my fortune.”
Her mither did sae; and the dochter gaed awa’ to an auld witch
washerwife and telled her purpose. The auld wife bade her stay that day,
and gang and look out o’ her back door, and see what she could see. She
saw nocht the first day. The second day she did the same, and saw nocht.
On the third day she looked again, and saw a coach-and-six coming along
the road. She ran in and telled the auld wife what she saw. “Aweel,”
quo’ the auld wife, “yon’s for you.” Sae they took her into the coach,
and galloped aff.
The second dochter next says to her mither: “Mither, bake me a bannock,
and roast me a collop, fur I’m gaun awa’ to seek my fortune.” Her mither
did sae; and awa’ she gaed to the auld wife, as her sister had dune. On
the third day she looked out o’ the back door, and saw a coach-and-four
coming along the road. “Aweel,” quo’ the auld wife, “yon’s for you.” Sae
they took her in, and aff they set.
The third dochter says to her mither: “Mither, bake me a bannock, and
roast me a collop, for I’m gaun awa’ to seek my fortune.” Her mither did
sae; and awa’ she gaed to the auld witch-wife. She bade her look out
o’ her back door, and see what she could see. She did sae; and when she
came back said she saw nocht. The second day she did the same, and saw
nocht. The third day she looked again, and on coming back said to the
auld wife she saw nocht but a muckle Black Bull coming roaring alang the
road. “Aweel,” quo’ the auld wife, “yon’s for you.” On hearing this she
was next to distracted wi’ grief and terror; but she was lifted up and
set on his back, and awa’ they went.
Aye they traveled, and on they traveled, till the lady grew faint wi’
hunger. “Eat out o’ my right lug,” says the Black Bull, “and drink out
o’ my left lug, and set by your leavings.” Sae she did as he said, and
was wonderfully refreshed. And lang they gaed, and sair they rade, till
they came in sight o’ a very big and bonny castle. “Yonder we maun be
this night,” quo’ the bull; “for my auld brither lives yonder”; and
presently they were at the place. They lifted her aff his back, and took
her in, and sent him away to a park for the night. In the morning,
when they brought the bull hame, they took the lady into a fine shining
parlor, and gave her a beautiful apple, telling her no to break it till
she was in the greatest strait ever mortal was in in the world, and that
wad bring her o’t. Again she was lifted on the bull’s back, and after
she had ridden far, and farer than I can tell, they came in sight o’ a
far bonnier castle, and far farther awa’ than the last. Says the bull
till her: “Yonder we maun be the night, for my second brither lives
yonder”; and they were at the place directly. They lifted her down
and took her in, and sent the bull to the field for the night. In the
morning they took the lady into a fine and rich room, and gave her the
finest pear she had ever seen, bidding her no to break it till she was
in the greatest strait ever mortal could be in, and that wad get her out
o’t. Again she was lifted and set on his back, and awa’ they went. And
lang they gaed, and sair they rade, till they came in sight o’ the far
biggest castle, and far farthest aff, they had yet seen. “We maun be
yonder the night,” says the bull, “for my young brither lives yonder”;
and they were there directly. They lifted her down, took her in, and
sent the bull to the field for the night. In the morning they took her
into a room, the finest of a’, and gied her a plum, telling her no to
break it till she was in the greatest strait mortal could be in, and
that wad get her out o’t. Presently they brought hame the bull, set the
lady on his back, and awa’ they went.
And aye they gaed, and on they rade, till they came to a dark and ugsome
glen, where they stopped, and the lady lighted down. Says the bull to
her: “Here ye maun stay till I gang and fight the deil. Ye maun seat
yoursel’ on that stane, and move neither hand nor fit till I come back,
else I’ll never find ye again. And if everything round about ye turns
blue I hae beated the deil; but should a’ things turn red he’ll hae
conquered me.” She set hersel’ down on the stane, and by-and-by a’ round
her turned blue. O’ercome wi’ joy, she lifted the ae fit and crossed it
owre the ither, sae glad was she that her companion was victorious. The
bull returned and sought for but never could find her.
Lang she sat, and aye she grat, till she wearied. At last she rase and
gaed awa’, she kedna whaur till. On she wandered till she came to a
great hill o’ glass, that she tried a’ she could to climb, bat wasna
able. Round the bottom o’ the hill she gaed, sabbing and seeking a
passage owre, till at last she came to a smith’s house; and the smith
promised, if she wad serve him seven years, he wad make her iron shoon,
wherewi’ she could climb owre the glassy hill. At seven years’ end she
got her iron shoon, clamb the glassy hill, and chanced to come to the
auld washerwife’s habitation. There she was telled of a gallant young
knight that had given in some bluidy sarks to wash, and whaever washed
thae sarks was to be his wife. The auld wife had washed till she was
tired, and then she set to her dochter, and baith washed, and they
washed, and they better washed, in hopes of getting the young knight;
but a’ they could do they couldna bring out a stain. At length they set
the stranger damosel to wark; and whenever she began the stains came
out pure and clean, but the auld wife made the knight believe it was her
dochter had washed the sarks. So the knight and the eldest dochter were
to be married, and the stranger damosel was distracted at the thought
of it, for she was deeply in love wi’ him. So she bethought her of her
apple, and breaking it, found it filled with gold and precious jewelry,
the richest she had ever seen. “All these,” she said to the eldest
dochter, “I will give you, on condition that you put off your marriage
for ae day, and allow me to go into his room alone at night.” So
the lady consented; but meanwhile the auld wife had prepared a
sleeping-drink, and given it to the knight, wha drank it, and never
wakened till next morning. The lee-lang night ther damosel sabbed and
sang:
“Seven lang years I served for thee,
The glassy hill I clamb for thee,
The bluidy shirt I wrang for thee;
And wilt thou no wauken and turn to me?”
Next day she kentna what to do for grief. She then brak the pear, and
found it filled wi’ jewelry far richer than the contents o’ the apple.
Wi’ thae jewels she bargained for permission to be a second night in
the young knight’s chamber; but the auld wife gied him anither
sleeping-drink, and he again sleepit till morning. A’ night she kept
sighing and singing as before:
“Seven lang years I served for thee,” &c. Still he sleepit, and she
nearly lost hope a’thegither. But that day when he was out at the
hunting, somebody asked him what noise and moaning was yon they heard
all last night in his bedchamber. He said he heardna ony noise. But they
assured him there was sae; and he resolved to keep waking that night
to try what he could hear. That being the third night, and the damosel
being between hope and despair, she brak her plum, and it held far the
richest jewelry of the three. She bargained as before; and the auld
wife, as before, took in the sleeping-drink to the young knight’s
chamber; but he telled her he couldna drink it that night without
sweetening. And when she gaed awa’ for some honey to sweeten it wi’, he
poured out the drink, and sae made the auld wife think he had drunk it.
They a’ went to bed again, and the damosel began, as before, singing:
“Seven lang years I served for thee,
The glassy hill I clamb for thee,
The bluidy shirt I wrang for thee;
And wilt thou no wauken and turn to me?”
He heard, and turned to her. And she telled him a’ that had befa’en her,
and he telled her a’ that had happened to him. And he caused the auld
washerwife and her dochter to be burned. And they were married, and he
and she are living happy till this day, for aught I ken.(1)
(1) Chambers, Popular Traditions of Scotland.
Story DNA
Moral
Perseverance through hardship and loyalty to one's true love will ultimately be rewarded, while deceit and treachery lead to ruin.
Plot Summary
The youngest of three sisters is reluctantly paired with a mysterious Black Bull, who takes her on a magical journey to his brothers' castles, giving her enchanted fruits. When she disobeys his instructions in a glen, he vanishes, leaving her to endure seven years of servitude to climb a glassy hill. She eventually finds him as a knight, cursed and about to marry another, but through her perseverance and the use of her magical fruits, she breaks the spell, exposes the wicked washerwife and her daughter, and marries her true love.
Themes
Emotional Arc
suffering to triumph
Writing Style
Narrative Elements
Cultural Context
This tale is a variant of the 'Animal as Bridegroom' type (ATU 425A), common across Europe, often involving a cursed prince who must be freed by a maiden's loyalty and perseverance. The specific Scottish elements give it a distinct flavor.
Plot Beats (15)
- A lady in Norroway has three daughters who each decide to seek their fortune.
- The first two daughters are sent to an old witch-washerwife, who directs them to coaches-and-six and coaches-and-four, respectively.
- The third daughter is also sent to the washerwife, who directs her to a muckle Black Bull, terrifying the daughter but she is placed on its back.
- The Black Bull carries the daughter on a long journey, providing sustenance from his ears, and they visit his three brothers' castles, where she receives an apple, a pear, and a plum, each with a warning not to break it until in dire straits.
- They arrive at a dark glen where the Bull instructs the daughter to wait on a stone without moving while he fights the 'deil', indicating victory by blue surroundings and defeat by red.
- The surroundings turn blue, and the daughter, overcome with joy, crosses her feet, causing the Bull to be unable to find her upon his return.
- The daughter wanders until she finds a smith, serving him for seven years to earn iron shoes to climb a glassy hill.
- After climbing the hill, she arrives at the old washerwife's habitation, where she learns a knight (her Black Bull) is seeking a wife for whoever can wash his bloody shirts.
- The washerwife and her daughter fail to clean the shirts, but the heroine succeeds, though the washerwife claims her daughter did it.
- The knight and the washerwife's daughter are to be married; the heroine, in despair, breaks her apple, revealing gold and jewels, which she uses to buy one night in the knight's chamber.
- The washerwife gives the knight a sleeping potion, and the heroine laments her journey and loyalty to a sleeping knight.
- The heroine breaks her pear, revealing richer jewels, and buys a second night, but the knight is again drugged and sleeps through her lament.
- The knight, having heard whispers of a noise, feigns drinking the potion on the third night (bought with the plum's richest jewels), hears the heroine's song, and recognizes her.
- The knight and heroine reunite, she tells him her story, and he orders the washerwife and her daughter to be burned.
- The knight and heroine marry and live happily ever after.
Characters
Third Dochter ★ protagonist
No specific details given, but implied to be beautiful enough to attract a knight.
Attire: Simple homespun dress, later adorned with the jewels from the magical fruit
Brave, resourceful, persistent, loving
Image Prompt & Upload
A young woman in her late teens with a determined yet kind expression, walking forward with purpose. She has long, chestnut brown hair woven into a single thick braid over her shoulder, with a few loose strands framing her face. She wears a simple, practical dress of faded blue linen, cinched at the waist with a worn leather belt, and a sturdy brown apron. Her sleeves are rolled to her elbows, and her sturdy boots are dusty from travel. She carries a small, cloth-wrapped bundle in one hand. Plain white background, full body visible head to toe, single figure, no watermark, no text, no signature.
Black Bull of Norroway ◆ supporting
Large, muscular, black bull
Helpful, loyal, protective, magical
Image Prompt & Upload
A massive, imposing black bull with a sleek, muscular build and large, gently curved horns. Its dark fur has a subtle sheen, and its eyes are deep and intelligent. The bull stands calmly but alertly on all fours in a misty, ancient forest clearing. The pose is noble and watchful, with its head slightly turned. Plain white background, full body visible head to toe, single figure, no watermark, no text, no signature.
Young Knight ◆ supporting
Handsome, gallant
Attire: Fine clothing befitting a knight, hunting attire
Gullible, easily deceived, ultimately good-hearted
Image Prompt & Upload
A young man in his late teens with short, tousled brown hair and a determined expression. He wears polished steel plate armor with a blue tunic over it, a simple sword at his hip. He stands in a slight contrapposto pose, one hand resting on the pommel of his sword, the other holding a wooden practice shield. He is in a sunlit castle courtyard with stone walls in the soft-focus background. Plain white background, full body visible head to toe, single figure, no watermark, no text, no signature.
Auld Washerwife ⚔ antagonist
Warty, wrinkled
Attire: Simple, worn clothing
Deceitful, greedy, manipulative
Image Prompt & Upload
An elderly hag with a gaunt, wrinkled face, sharp piercing eyes, and a cruel, thin-lipped smile. Her wild, unkempt grey hair is tied back with a dirty rag. She wears a tattered, mud-stained grey dress and a frayed apron, her posture hunched over a gnarled wooden staff. She stands on a misty riverbank at dusk, clutching a bloodied washing beetle in one skeletal hand. Her expression is malicious and cunning. Plain white background, full body visible head to toe, single figure, no watermark, no text, no signature.
Eldest Dochter ○ minor
No specific details given.
Attire: Simple dress
Envious, opportunistic
Image Prompt & Upload
A young woman in her late teens with long, chestnut brown hair neatly braided over one shoulder. She wears a simple, high-necked dress of faded blue wool with a white linen apron. Her posture is straight but relaxed, hands clasped gently in front of her. Her expression is calm and thoughtful, with kind, hazel eyes. Plain white background, full body visible head to toe, single figure, no watermark, no text, no signature.
Locations
Witch Washerwife's Cottage
A simple dwelling with a back door used for seeing the future
Mood: Mysterious, magical
The three daughters each visit to find their fortune.
Image Prompt & Upload
A humble thatched-roof cottage at twilight, nestled in a quiet forest clearing. The simple stone walls are draped with creeping ivy and moss, and a faint, ethereal glow emanates from the weathered wooden back door, hinting at its magical purpose. The surrounding air is still and misty, with soft purple and blue hues in the sky. A well-trodden dirt path leads to the door, flanked by overgrown ferns and peculiar, softly luminous mushrooms. A single lantern hangs by the door, casting a warm, flickering light that contrasts with the cool twilight. The atmosphere is serene yet mysterious, inviting quiet observation. no border, no frame, no watermark, no text, no signature, edge-to-edge illustration
Glen with a Stone
A dark and desolate glen with a single stone for sitting
Mood: Eerie, suspenseful
The bull fights the devil, and the lady breaks her promise.
Image Prompt & Upload
A desolate, mist-shrouded glen at dusk, under a heavy, overcast sky. The atmosphere is profoundly quiet and lonely. In the center sits a single, large, flat-topped glacial boulder, worn smooth by time, its grey surface damp and slick. The surrounding landscape is a tapestry of deep, shadowy greens and browns: gnarled, ancient oak trees with twisted, bare branches frame the scene, their bark dark and moss-covered. The ground is a carpet of thick, wet moss and decaying leaves, with patches of dark, peaty soil. A faint, ethereal mist clings to the ground and swirls around the stone. The only light is a dim, ambient glow from the clouded sky, casting no sharp shadows but creating a deep, melancholic mood. no border, no frame, no watermark, no text, no signature, edge-to-edge illustration.
Hill of Glass
A steep, unclimbable hill made entirely of glass
Mood: Desolate, hopeless
The lady is trapped and must find a way to cross it.
Image Prompt & Upload
A steep, unclimbable hill made entirely of polished, translucent glass rises sharply from a misty valley at dawn. The glass surface is smooth and sharp-edged, fractured into large, geometric facets that catch the first light of sunrise. The sky is a gradient of soft lavender and pale gold, with low-hanging clouds brushing the peak. The surrounding landscape is a dark, ancient forest of deep green pines and moss-covered stones, their reflections warped and distorted in the glass slopes. A shallow, crystal-clear stream circles the base, mirroring the sky. The air is cool and still, with a faint, ethereal glow emanating from within the glass structure itself. No border, no frame, no watermark, no text, no signature, edge-to-edge illustration.
Smith's House
A simple dwelling with a forge
Mood: Industrial, hard-working
The lady serves seven years to earn iron shoes.
Image Prompt & Upload
A cozy stone and timber cottage at dusk, its thatched roof glowing amber from the forge's light spilling through the open door. A large stone chimney releases a thin plume of smoke into the deep blue twilight sky. The forge itself is visible inside, a heart of brilliant orange fire beside an anvil and hanging tools. Weathered wooden shutters frame small windows emitting a warm, golden light. The cottage is nestled at the edge of a dark, ancient forest of towering pines and moss-covered stones. A narrow dirt path leads to the door, flanked by a small, well-tended herb garden. The air feels still and cool, with the distant sound of a forest stream. Magical fireflies begin to blink in the gathering shadows. no border, no frame, no watermark, no text, no signature, edge-to-edge illustration
Knight's Bedchamber
A richly decorated room with a bed
Mood: Romantic, tense
The lady sings to awaken the knight.
Image Prompt & Upload
A grand medieval bedchamber at dusk, lit by the warm glow of a stone fireplace and flickering beeswax candles in iron sconces. A massive, canopied bed with deep crimson velvet drapes and fur throws dominates the room. Stone walls are adorned with faded tapestries depicting hunts and battles, and a polished suit of armor stands sentinel in an alcove. A heavy oak table holds an illuminated manuscript and a silver goblet. Moonlight streams through a narrow, arched window, casting a cool blue highlight on the worn wooden floor and a bearskin rug. The air is still, filled with the scent of woodsmoke and old stone. Rich, deep colors of burgundy, gold, and shadowed grey. no border, no frame, no watermark, no text, no signature, edge-to-edge illustration.
