Long ago in a coastal kingdom of the Benga people, there lived a mighty king whose wealth stretched beyond measure. His palace was filled with ivory, coral, and gold, yet none of these treasures brought him greater joy than his only daughter. She was a young woman of unmatched beauty, with skin like polished ebony and eyes that shone as brightly as the morning sun. Her laughter could make even the saddest heart feel lighter, and her wisdom made the elders marvel.
The king loved her dearly, and he guarded her carefully. He told himself, “No harm will ever come to my daughter. I will protect her with my life.” But fate often tests even the strongest vows, and soon the king’s love was put to trial.
Not far from the kingdom, in the deep forests where humans rarely ventured, lived a dark and cunning spirit. Some called him the Devil, others whispered his name only at night. He was a deceiver, always searching for ways to bring sorrow where there had once been joy. His eyes glowed like embers, and his voice could change from sweet as honey to sharp as thunder. When he heard of the king’s daughter, his greedy heart burned with desire.
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One evening, as the moon rose high over the sea, the Devil disguised himself as a handsome young man. He wore fine clothes, his smile was charming, and his words flowed like music. He walked boldly into the king’s court and bowed deeply before the ruler.
“Great king,” he said smoothly, “I have traveled from far lands. I have heard of your daughter’s beauty and her wisdom. I ask for her hand in marriage.”
The king studied the stranger. The young man seemed noble, his face untroubled, his manners refined. Yet the daughter felt a shiver as she looked upon him. Something in his eyes made her uneasy, though she could not explain why.
“Father,” she whispered later, “I do not trust this man. His smile does not reach his heart.”
But the Devil pressed on, showering the king with flattering words and promises of gifts beyond imagining. Slowly, the king’s judgment grew clouded, for the Devil’s tongue was sweet and his tricks were deep. Against his daughter’s fears, the king agreed to the marriage.
The wedding was grand, with music and feasting, but the joy of the day quickly faded. The daughter soon discovered the truth. At night, the Devil’s disguise would melt away, and his terrible form was revealed. His eyes blazed red, his breath stank of smoke, and his laughter shook the walls. The young woman trembled but kept her courage. She knew that she must rely on her wisdom and faith to escape his grip.
The Devil grew harsh and demanding. He ordered her to obey him without question. He tried to frighten her with storms and shadows, but she refused to surrender her spirit. Each day she prayed and each night she thought of a way to outwit him.
One morning, as the Devil left to wander the forest, she called upon the spirits of her ancestors. She lit a small fire, offered palm wine, and begged for their guidance. That night, in a dream, her grandmother’s voice came to her:
“Child, the Devil’s power is only strong when you fear him. Do not show fear. Test him, and you will see his weakness.”
The next evening, the Devil returned boasting of his strength. The daughter looked him straight in the eyes and said calmly, “If you are as powerful as you claim, prove it. Lie still as a stone, as if you were dead, and let no fire nor knife wake you.”
Pride swelled in the Devil’s heart. He lay down upon the ground, laughing. “See, I cannot be harmed.”
Quickly, the daughter lit a fire and dropped hot coals upon his skin. At first he remained still, grinning proudly. But when the flames bit deeper, he roared in pain and leapt up, his disguise broken, his trick exposed. The animals of the forest, who had long suffered his cruelty, rushed forward. With their claws and teeth, they drove him deep into the shadows where he could harm no one again.
The daughter returned safely to her father. The king wept with both shame and relief, for he had allowed himself to be fooled. He begged his daughter’s forgiveness and vowed never again to ignore her wisdom. From that day forward, he listened not only to flattering words but also to the quiet truth spoken by those who loved him.
Moral Lesson
The story of the King’s Daughter and the Devil teaches that appearances can deceive even the wisest of rulers. Sweet words and charming smiles may hide dangerous intentions. True wisdom lies in listening to intuition and testing what is uncertain. Fear loses its power when met with courage, and deception falls apart when faced with truth.
Knowledge check
What is the main lesson in the King’s Daughter and the Devil folktale?
The tale teaches that appearances can be deceiving and that courage and wisdom are stronger than fear and flattery.Why did the Devil disguise himself as a handsome man?
He wanted to trick the king into giving him the daughter’s hand in marriage.How did the daughter realize the Devil’s true nature?
She felt uneasy when she looked into his eyes and later saw his terrible form at night.What advice did the grandmother’s spirit give the daughter?
She told her not to fear the Devil and to test him to reveal his weakness.How was the Devil defeated in the story?
He leapt up in pain when tested with fire, exposing himself, and the animals drove him away.What change did the king make after his daughter’s return?
He vowed never again to be blinded by flattery and to trust the wisdom of those who loved him.
Cultural Origin: Benga Folktale, Equatorial Guinea
Source: Robert H. Nassau, Where Animals Talk: West African Folklore Tales (1914)
