The Princess Who Was Hidden Underground
by Andrew Lang · from The Violet Fairy Book
Adapted Version
A king had a pretty daughter. She was very nice. He built a secret palace under the ground. The palace was big and hidden. Then he made a tricky challenge. Many young men tried to find her. They all tried and failed. No one could win.
One day, a young man tried. He was brave and smart. He asked a herdsman for help. The herdsman was kind. The herdsman put him in a golden sheepskin. He looked like a golden lamb. It was a good trick.
The herdsman took the lamb to the king. The king saw the golden lamb. He liked it very much. He borrowed it for three days. The king took the lamb to his daughter. He said magic words to open the doors. "Open, earth doors!" he said. The doors opened with a noise.
Inside, the princess lived in a silver room. The room was shiny and pretty. The young man came out of the sheepskin. He and the princess became good friends. They talked and played with each other. They had fun together.
The princess told him a secret. She spoke softly. "Next time, father will trick us," she said. "He will turn us into ducks." "I will clean my wings with my beak." "Then you will know me." The young man listened carefully.
Three days later, the king returned the lamb. The young man came out of the sheepskin. He went to the king. He was ready. "I can find your daughter," he said.
The king had to keep his promise. He was not happy. He took the young man to the doors. "Say the magic words," the young man said. "Open, earth doors!" said the king. The doors opened again.
They found the princess. The king was not happy. He turned the princess and maidens into ducks. There were many ducks. "Which duck is my daughter?" he asked.
The young man looked carefully. One duck was cleaning her wings. He knew the secret. "That one is the princess," he said.
The king had to let her go. He was sad but kept his word. The young man and the princess got married. They had a big wedding. They were very happy. The clever young man won the princess. Being smart is good. And they lived happy ever after.
Original Story
THE PRINCESS WHO WAS HIDDEN UNDERGROUND
Once there was a king who had great riches, which, when he died, he
divided among his three sons. The two eldest of these lived in rioting
and feasting, and thus wasted and squandered their father’s wealth till
nothing remained, and they found themselves in want and misery. The
youngest of the three sons, on the contrary, made good use of his
portion. He married a wife and soon they had a most beautiful daughter,
for whom, when she was grown up, he caused a great palace to be built
underground, and then killed the architect who had built it. Next he
shut up his daughter inside, and then sent heralds all over the world to
make known that he who should find the king’s daughter should have her
to wife. If he were not capable of finding her then he must die.
Many young men sought to discover her, but all perished in the attempt.
After many had met their death thus, there came a young man, beautiful
to behold, and as clever as he was beautiful, who had a great desire to
attempt the enterprise. First he went to a herdsman, and begged him to
hide him in a sheepskin, which had a golden fleece, and in this disguise
to take him to the king. The shepherd let himself be persuaded so to do,
took a skin having a golden fleece, sewed the young man in it, putting
in also food and drink, and so brought him before the king.
When the latter saw the golden lamb, he asked the herd: ‘Will you sell
me this lamb?’
But the herd answered: ‘No, oh king; I will not sell it; but if you find
pleasure therein, I will be willing to oblige you, and I will lend it to
you, free of charge, for three days, after that you must give it back to
me.’
This the king agreed to do, and he arose and took the lamb to his
daughter. When he had led it into her palace, and through many rooms,
he came to a shut door. Then he called ‘Open, Sartara Martara of the
earth!’ and the door opened of itself. After that they went through many
more rooms, and came to another closed door. Again the king called out:
‘Open, Sartara Martara of the earth!’ and this door opened like the
other, and they came into the apartment where the princess dwelt, the
floor, walls, and roof of which were all of silver.
When the king had embraced the princess, he gave her the lamb, to her
great joy. She stroked it, caressed it, and played with it.
After a while the lamb got loose, which, when the princess saw, she
said: ‘See, father, the lamb is free.’
But the king answered: ‘It is only a lamb, why should it not be free?’
Then he left the lamb with the princess, and went his way.
In the night, however, the young man threw off the skin. When the
princess saw how beautiful he was, she fell in love with him, and asked
him: ‘Why did you come here disguised in a sheepskin like that?’
Then he answered: ‘When I saw how many people sought you, and could not
find you, and lost their lives in so doing, I invented this trick, and
so I am come safely to you.’
The princess exclaimed: ‘You have done well so to do; but you must know
that your wager is not yet won, for my father will change me and my
maidens into ducks, and will ask you, “Which of these ducks is the
princess?” Then I will turn my head back, and with my bill will clean my
wings, so that you may know me.’
When they had spent three days together, chatting and caressing one
another, the herd came back to the king, and demanded his lamb. Then the
king went to his daughter to bring it away, which troubled the princess
very much, for she said they had played so nicely together.
But the king said: ‘I cannot leave it with you, my daughter, for it is
only lent to me.’ So he took it away with him, and gave it back to the
shepherd.
Then the young man threw the skin from off him, and went to the king,
saying: ‘Sire, I am persuaded I can find your daughter.’
When the king saw how handsome he was, he said: ‘My lad, I have pity on
your youth. This enterprise has already cost the lives of many, and will
certainly be your death as well.’
But the young man answered, ‘I accept your conditions, oh king; I will
either find her or lose my head.’
Thereupon he went before the king, who followed after him, till they
came to the great door. Then the young man said to the king: ‘Speak the
words that it may open.’
And the king answered: ‘What are the words? Shall I say something like
this: “Shut; shut; shut”?’
‘No,’ said he; ‘say “Open, Sartara Martara of the earth.”’
When the king had so said, the door opened of itself, and they went
in, while the king gnawed his moustache in anger. Then they came to the
second door, where the same thing happened as at the first, and they
went in and found the princess.
Then spoke the king and said: ‘Yes, truly, you have found the princess.
Now I will turn her as well as all her maidens into ducks, and if you
can guess which of these ducks is my daughter, then you shall have her
to wife.’
And immediately the king changed all the maidens into ducks, and he
drove them before the young man, and said: ‘Now show me which is my
daughter.’
Then the princess, according to their understanding, began to clean her
wings with her bill, and the lad said: ‘She who cleans her wings is the
princess.’
Now the king could do nothing more but give her to the young man to
wife, and they lived together in great joy and happiness.
(From the German.)
Story DNA
Moral
Cunning and intelligence can overcome even the most formidable and cruel obstacles.
Plot Summary
A king's youngest son builds an elaborate underground palace for his daughter, then traps her inside and issues a deadly challenge: any man who finds her wins her hand, but failure means death. Many perish until a clever young man disguises himself in a golden sheepskin and is brought before the king. The king, unaware, takes the 'lamb' to his daughter, revealing the secret passwords to the magical doors. The young man and princess fall in love and devise a plan for the final test. When the young man later presents himself to the king, he uses the king's own passwords to reach the princess. For the final challenge, the king transforms the princess and her maidens into ducks, but the princess signals her identity by cleaning her wings, allowing the young man to win her hand and live happily ever after.
Themes
Emotional Arc
danger to triumph
Writing Style
Narrative Elements
Cultural Context
Andrew Lang collected this tale, likely from a German source, reflecting common European fairy tale motifs of hidden princesses, impossible tasks, and clever heroes.
Plot Beats (13)
- A king divides his wealth among three sons; the youngest builds an underground palace for his daughter, traps her, kills the architect, and sets a deadly challenge for suitors.
- Many young men fail and die trying to find the princess.
- A clever young man decides to attempt the quest.
- He persuades a herdsman to sew him inside a golden sheepskin and present him to the king as a 'golden lamb'.
- The king, intrigued, borrows the lamb and takes it to his daughter, revealing the secret password 'Open, Sartara Martara of the earth!' for the two magical doors.
- Inside the princess's silver apartment, the young man sheds his disguise, and he and the princess fall in love.
- The princess warns him of a final challenge: her father will turn her and her maidens into ducks, and she will signal him by cleaning her wings.
- After three days, the king retrieves the 'lamb' and returns it to the herdsman.
- The young man emerges from the sheepskin and presents himself to the king, declaring he can find the princess.
- The king, despite his warnings, is forced to lead the young man, who then prompts the king to speak the secret passwords to open the doors.
- They reach the princess, and the king, angered but bound by his challenge, transforms the princess and her maidens into ducks.
- The young man correctly identifies the princess by her pre-arranged signal.
- The king, defeated, gives the princess to the young man in marriage, and they live happily ever after.
Characters
The King ⚔ antagonist
Richly dressed, but increasingly frustrated and angry
Attire: Royal robes, crown, possibly jeweled rings
Deceptive, possessive, cunning
Image Prompt & Upload
A middle-aged man with a cruel, sharp-featured face, a thin smile, and cold, calculating eyes. He has slicked-back dark hair with streaks of grey at the temples. He wears an opulent, high-collared robe of deep crimson and black velvet, trimmed with dark fur and heavy gold embroidery. A large, ornate golden crown sits atop his head. He is seated on a grand, imposing throne made of dark wood and black iron, leaning forward slightly with a possessive, aggressive posture, one hand gripping the armrest tightly. Plain white background, full body visible head to toe, single figure, no watermark, no text, no signature.
The Princess ★ protagonist
Beautiful, trapped, but resourceful
Attire: Silken gowns befitting a princess, jewelry
Intelligent, observant, compliant but with hidden agency
Image Prompt & Upload
A young woman in her late teens with a gentle, determined expression and warm brown eyes. She has long, flowing chestnut hair adorned with a delicate silver tiara set with small sapphires. She wears an elegant ball gown of ivory silk with a fitted bodice embroidered with gold thread and a full skirt that pools slightly at her feet. Her posture is poised yet approachable, standing tall with one hand lightly resting on her gown's skirt. Plain white background, full body visible head to toe, single figure, no watermark, no text, no signature.
The Young Man ★ protagonist
Beautiful to behold, clever
Attire: Initially disguised in a sheepskin, later richly dressed as a suitor
Brave, clever, determined
Image Prompt & Upload
A young man in his late teens with a determined expression, short tousled brown hair, and clear eyes. He wears a simple off-white linen tunic, brown leather trousers, and worn knee-high boots. A dark green woolen cloak is fastened at his shoulder with a simple bronze clasp. He stands tall, holding a wooden walking staff in his right hand, with a small leather satchel slung over his left shoulder. Plain white background, full body visible head to toe, single figure, no watermark, no text, no signature.
The Herdsman ◆ supporting
Simple, rustic appearance
Attire: Simple shepherd's clothing, sheepskin cloak
Helpful, easily persuaded
Image Prompt & Upload
A middle-aged man with a sun-weathered face and kind, crinkled eyes. He has a thick, neatly trimmed brown beard and short, tousled hair. He wears a rough-spun, off-white tunic with rolled-up sleeves, a brown leather vest, and sturdy dark trousers tucked into worn leather boots. He stands in a relaxed, attentive posture, leaning slightly on a long wooden shepherd's staff. His expression is calm and watchful. Plain white background, full body visible head to toe, single figure, no watermark, no text, no signature.
Locations
Underground Palace Entrance
A great door, magically sealed, requiring a specific incantation to open.
Mood: mysterious, foreboding
The hero first gains entry to the underground palace.
Image Prompt & Upload
Ancient stone staircase descending into a vast, torchlit cavern. A colossal obsidian door, intricately carved with dormant runes, stands sealed shut. A faint, ethereal blue light pulses from the seams of the door and the carved symbols, casting a soft glow on the damp, moss-covered stone walls. The air is still and heavy with the smell of ancient earth and ozone. Flickering torchlight from unseen sconces creates long, dancing shadows across the polished floor. The atmosphere is one of deep silence and powerful, waiting magic. No border, no frame, no watermark, no text, no signature, edge-to-edge illustration.
Silver Apartment
A room where the princess dwells, the floor, walls, and roof of which were all of silver.
Mood: luxurious, isolated
The hero first meets the princess.
Image Prompt & Upload
A silver apartment room at dawn, with floor, walls, and ceiling entirely crafted from polished silver, reflecting soft morning light. Ornate silver carvings with intricate nature-inspired motifs, such as vines and leaves, adorn the surfaces. The atmosphere is serene and magical, with cool metallic hues, subtle blue reflections, and a luminous, ethereal glow from the interplay of light on silver. Calm and still, emphasizing the pristine, reflective environment. no border, no frame, no watermark, no text, no signature, edge-to-edge illustration
Duck Pond
A place where the princess and her maidens are transformed into ducks.
Mood: magical, tense
The hero must identify the princess among the ducks.
Image Prompt & Upload
At twilight, a still, circular pond reflects the last lavender and peach streaks of sunset. An ancient, gnarled willow tree with trailing moss drapes over one bank, its roots disappearing into the dark, glassy water. Scattered white duck feathers float on the surface, each glowing faintly with a soft, magical luminescence. The surrounding grass is lush and deep green, dotted with small white wildflowers. A gentle, ethereal mist rises from the water, catching the fading light. The air feels heavy with enchantment and quiet mystery. no border, no frame, no watermark, no text, no signature, edge-to-edge illustration.
