AI interpretation of the translated tale.
Coat, build and affected limb interpreted.
Overview
The youngest of three princesses says she would accept the husband fate gives her, even a lame dog, and a dog becomes her suitor. He leads her on foot to a richly supplied castle and treats her kindly, asking only that she never look at him while he sleeps. By day he goes into the forest; at night he returns and assumes human form. After her sisters stir her curiosity, she watches the sleeping youth by lamplight on successive nights. A drop of warm oil finally wakes him, and he changes back into a dog and limps away. The castle also disappears from her reach.
During her search, the princess encounters a talking toad and a gray wolf, each offering help in exchange for becoming her dearest friend. She refuses to replace her husband. A huge lion weighed down by iron chains then makes a similar offer, and a nightingale urges her to free him. When she removes the last chain while again affirming her love for the dog, the lion becomes the same prince and declares his enchantment ended. The narrative explicitly joins dog, sleeping youth and lion; it does not explicitly identify the toad or wolf as further forms of him. Its note attributes the tale to South Smaland and mentions Scandinavian parallels, which are not treated here as identical individuals or independently inspected versions.
Origins & earliest records
The Swedish Fairy Book, Stroebe and Martens, 1921; XIII, pp. 112–123, with source note.
Records & interpretation
Complete tale and note; edition title, copyright and complete preface.
Selected bibliography
Documented works and useful reading. This is not a list of every appearance.
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Family & connections
A source-supported family tree or inspiration record has not yet been compiled for this profile. Related reading below indicates a connection in subject matter, not a proven lineage or creative influence.
References
Sources supporting this profile. Linked pages have their own scope and editorial standards.
- Historical translated folk-taleThe Lame Dog, complete XIII and noteResearch access: 2026-10-18
Image credits
AI-generatedAI interpretation of the translated tale.
Coat, build and affected limb interpreted.
