صفحة 88 من 626

The next morning when Dame Ilsabill awoke it was broad daylight,

and she jogged the fisherman with her elbow, and said, 'Get up,

husband, and bestir yourself, for we must be king of all the

land.' 'Wife, wife,' said the man, 'why should we wish to be the

king? I will not be king.' 'Then I will,' said she. 'But, wife,'

said the fisherman, 'how can you be king--the fish cannot make

you a king?' 'Husband,' said she, 'say no more about it, but go

and try! I will be king.' So the man went away quite sorrowful to

think that his wife should want to be king. This time the sea

looked a dark grey colour, and was overspread with curling waves

and the ridges of foam as he cried out:

'O man of the sea! Hearken to me! My wife Ilsabill Will have her

own will, And hath sent me to beg a boon of thee!'

'Well, what would she have now?' said the fish. 'Alas!' said the

poor man, 'my wife wants to be king.' 'Go home,' said the fish;

'she is king already.'