The Benevolent Goblin
by Gesta Romanorum
In the kingdom of England there is a hillock in
the midst of a dense wood. Thither in old days
knights and their followers were wont to repair
when tired and thirsty after the chase. When one
of their number called out, "I thirst!" there
immediately started up a Goblin with a cheerful
countenance, clad in a crimson robe, and bearing
in his outstretched hand a large drinking-horn
richly ornamented with gold and precious jewels,
and full of the most delicious, unknown beverage.
The Goblin presented the horn to the thirsty
knight, who drank and instantly felt refreshed
and cool. After the drinker had emptied the horn,
the Goblin offered a silken napkin to wipe the
mouth. Then, without waiting to be thanked, the
strange creature vanished as suddenly as he had
come.
Now once there was a knight of churlish
nature, who was hunting alone in those parts. Feeling
thirsty and fatigued, he visited the hillock and
cried out:
"I thirst!"
Instantly the Goblin appeared and presented
the horn.
When the knight had drained it of its delicious
beverage, instead of returning the horn, he thrust
it into his bosom, and rode hastily away.
He boasted far and wide of his deed, and his
feudal lord hearing thereof caused him to be
bound and cast into prison; then fearing lest he,
too, might become partaker in the theft and
ingratitude of the knight, the lord presented the
jeweled horn to the King of England, who carefully
preserved it among the royal treasures. But
never again did the benevolent Goblin return to
the hillock in the wood.
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