Black Bull of Norroway

Synopsis

A washerwoman's three daughters each ask her to cook food for a journey to seek their fortune. They consult a witch, who tells them to look out her back door. On the third day, the eldest sees a coach-and-six and leaves with it; the second finds a coach-and-four; the youngest finds only a black bull, which the witch says she must accompany. Terrified, the girl goes with the bull, who is kind and gentle.

When hungry, he tells her to eat from his right ear and drink from his left. The first night they stay at a castle belonging to the bull's eldest brother; the girl receives a parting gift of a beautiful apple, to be used only at the first great need of her life. The second night they stay at the second brother's castle, and she receives a pear for the second great need. The third night they stay at the youngest brother's castle, and she receives a plum for the third great need.

They arrive at a valley of glass. The bull tells her to wait without moving, as he will fight the devil who rules the valley. If the sky turns blue, he has won; if red, he has lost. The sky turns blue, but the girl shifts her position slightly, and the bull does not return.

Unable to climb out, she finds a blacksmith who agrees to make her shoes after seven years of service. After seven years, the blacksmith makes iron shoes nailed to her feet, allowing her to climb out of the glass valley.

Analysis

The tale is classified as ATU 425A, 'The Animal as Bridegroom', in which a human maiden marries a prince cursed to be an animal. She betrays his trust, he disappears, and she must quest for him.

Hans-Jörg Uther noted that the main feature of this type is 'bribing the false bride for three nights with the husband', and that an essential trait is the 'wife's quest and gifts' and 'nights bought'. Jan-Öjvind Swahn's study of Cupid and Psyche variants suggested that variants with an enchanted bull husband may originate from Ireland or Britain. The chivalric romance Generides features a garment whose lady's tears can only be washed out by herself, a detail unusual enough to point as a source for this tale or The Feather of Finist the Falcon.

Variants

Robert Chambers published a similar tale in 1842 in Popular Rhymes of Scotland, titled 'The Red Bull of Norroway', sourced from Dumfriesshire. In this variant, a king has three daughters: the elder two ugly, the youngest beautiful and kind. They discuss marriage wishes: the elder wants a king, the middle a prince or great duke, and the youngest wishes for the Red Bull o' Norroway. The next morning the Red Bull appears and demands his wife.

The king tries to trick him with a henwife, but the bull notices and turns back. After sending servants and elder daughters, the king surrenders his youngest. The Red Bull takes her to a lord's castle. In their chambers, the princess removes a pin from the bull's back, turning him into a prince.

Celebrations follow, but the prince disappears. The princess wanders until she finds a hut in dark woods where an old woman gives her three nuts. She later spots a wedding procession for the Duke o' Norroway, who is the prince. She follows to his castle and cracks open each nut: inside appear a 'wee wifie' carding, spinning, and reeling.

She uses the spinning instruments to bribe the Duke's bride for one night in his chambers each. On the first two nights, the Duke drinks a sleeping potion and does not wake despite her sorrowful singing. On the third night, he avoids the potion and reunites with the princess, while the enchantress flees.

Did You Know?

• The tale is mentioned in The Complaynt of Scotland (1548).
• James Orchard Halliwell republished the Scottish tale The Bull of Norroway in his Popular Rhymes and Nursery Tales.
• Joseph Jacobs remarked on its mention in The Complaynt of Scotland and in Philip Sidney's Arcadia.