Strona 107 z 626

He told her that he had been enchanted by a spiteful fairy, who

had changed him into a frog; and that he had been fated so to

abide till some princess should take him out of the spring, and

let him eat from her plate, and sleep upon her bed for three

nights. 'You,' said the prince, 'have broken his cruel charm, and

now I have nothing to wish for but that you should go with me

into my father's kingdom, where I will marry you, and love you as

long as you live.'

The young princess, you may be sure, was not long in saying 'Yes'

to all this; and as they spoke a gay coach drove up, with eight

beautiful horses, decked with plumes of feathers and a golden

harness; and behind the coach rode the prince's servant, faithful

Heinrich, who had bewailed the misfortunes of his dear master

during his enchantment so long and so bitterly, that his heart

had well-nigh burst.