Читать книгу The Element Encyclopedia of Magical Creatures: The Ultimate A–Z of Fantastic Beings from Myth and Magic - John Matthews - Страница 366

Among the waterways of Normandy, France, Cheval Bayard is a water horse which sometimes takes human shape. Like many other water horses around the world, he tempts passers-by to mount his back by appearing as an appealing pony. But as soon as someone mounts him, he tosses them into the water.

Cheval Bayard took human form and went courting a lonely peasant woman whose husband was away. On his return, the husband was suspicious that his wife was seeing callers, so he put a bar of iron in the fire and, dressed in his wife’s clothes, he pretended to spin while awaiting the unknown caller. Finally, Cheval Bayard, looking just like a very handsome man, called by. Trying to capitalize on his last visit and win the good wife’s trust, he asked her her name. ‘Myself’, said the disguised husband, and threw the red-hot iron at the visitor. Cheval Bayard was so outraged and shocked that he called upon the help of other water horses to assist him. They gathered at the door enquiring who was attacking Cheval Bayard, to which he replied, ‘Myself is attacking me.’ ‘Then you had better stop doing it,’ was all they said.