Donkey Cabbages (Grimm)
Short summary
A huntsman helped an old woman who rewarded him with a wishing-cloak and instructions to find a bird whose heart would produce daily gold.
Following her advice, he obtained both treasures. He later arrived at a castle where a witch and her daughter lived.
The maiden tricked him into drinking a potion that made him vomit the bird's heart, which she swallowed. She then lured him to Garnet Mountain.
When he was asleep, she unfastened the mantle from his shoulders... picked up the garnets and stones, and wished herself back at home with them.
Abandoned, he discovered cabbages that turned people into donkeys and others that restored human form. Disguised, he tricked the three women into eating the transforming cabbage. After punishing them, he restored the maiden, forgave her, and they married.
Detailed summary
Division into chapters is editorial.
The huntsman receives magical gifts from the old crone
A young huntsman ventured into the forest to hunt, whistling cheerfully on a leaf as he walked. Along the way, he encountered an ugly old crone who greeted him and begged for alms, claiming she suffered from hunger and thirst.
The huntsman had compassion on the poor old creature, felt in his pocket, and gave her what he could afford... I will make you a present in return for your kindness.
The old woman instructed him to continue until he found nine birds fighting over a cloak in a tree. She told him to shoot among them to obtain both a magical wishing-cloak and the heart of the dead bird, which would produce a gold piece under his pillow each morning. The huntsman followed her directions exactly, found the birds as predicted, shot into their midst, and obtained both magical items.
Betrayal by the witch and her daughter
Each morning thereafter, the huntsman discovered a gold piece under his pillow as promised. After accumulating considerable wealth, he decided to explore the world. He took leave of his parents and set out on his journey.
Eventually, he came upon a fine castle where an old woman and a beautiful maiden stood at a window. The old woman was actually a witch who recognized the huntsman's magical treasures and plotted to steal them.
There comes one out of the forest, who has a wonderful treasure in his body, we must filch it from him... it is more suitable for us than for him.
The huntsman entered the castle and was warmly received. He quickly fell deeply in love with the maiden, becoming completely infatuated and doing whatever she desired. The witch prepared a special drink that caused the huntsman to vomit up the bird's heart when the maiden gave it to him. She secretly swallowed the heart herself, and from that day forward, the gold appeared under her pillow instead of his. Later, the maiden tricked him into using the wishing-cloak to transport them both to Garnet Mountain to gather precious stones. While there, she made him drowsy through the witch's sorcery, and when he fell asleep with his head in her lap, she stole the cloak and wished herself home with the gems, abandoning him on the mountain.
Stranded on the mountain and discovering the transforming cabbages
When the huntsman awoke and realized his betrayal, he despaired at being left alone on the wild mountain. Soon three giants who lived on the mountain approached him.
He pretended to be asleep as they debated whether to kill him. The third giant suggested letting him live, saying that if he climbed to the summit, the clouds would carry him away. Following their advice, the huntsman climbed to the summit where a cloud indeed lifted him up and carried him through the heavens before setting him down gently in a large cabbage garden surrounded by walls. Hungry and finding no other food, he reluctantly ate some cabbage leaves. After swallowing a few mouthfuls, he underwent a shocking transformation.
Four legs grew on him, a large head and two thick ears, and he saw with horror that he was changed into an ass... he again felt a change, and reassumed his former human shape.
Despite his horror at becoming a donkey, his hunger drove him to continue eating the leaves. Eventually, he discovered a different type of cabbage that restored his human form when consumed. Understanding the power of these magical vegetables, he carefully gathered both types and planned his revenge.
Revenge with the magic cabbages and happy resolution
The huntsman disguised himself by dyeing his face brown and returned to the castle, claiming to be a king's messenger carrying the most delicious salad that grows under the sun. The greedy witch eagerly accepted his offer to taste the wonderful cabbage. She and her maidservant both ate the transforming leaves and immediately became donkeys, running into the courtyard.
When the beautiful maiden also ate the salad, she too was transformed into a donkey. The huntsman bound all three donkeys together and took them to a miller, arranging specific treatment for each: the old witch received three beatings and one meal daily, the servant one beating and three meals, and the maiden no beatings but three meals.
After some time, the old witch died from the harsh treatment. Moved by pity, the huntsman retrieved the surviving donkeys and fed them the restorative cabbage, returning them to human form. The repentant maiden begged his forgiveness, explaining that her mother had forced her actions against her will. She returned his magical cloak and offered to restore the bird's heart to him, but he declined, choosing instead to marry her. They celebrated their wedding and lived happily together until death.