Pagina 116 di 626

One day, as they were riding along by a brook, the princess began

to feel very thirsty: and she said to her maid, 'Pray get down,

and fetch me some water in my golden cup out of yonder brook, for

I want to drink.' 'Nay,' said the maid, 'if you are thirsty, get

off yourself, and stoop down by the water and drink; I shall not

be your waiting-maid any longer.' Then she was so thirsty that

she got down, and knelt over the little brook, and drank; for she

was frightened, and dared not bring out her golden cup; and she

wept and said, 'Alas! what will become of me?' And the lock

answered her, and said:

'Alas! alas! if thy mother knew it, Sadly, sadly, would she rue

it.'

But the princess was very gentle and meek, so she said nothing to

her maid's ill behaviour, but got upon her horse again.