The Water-lily. the Gold-spinners · page 21 2101Let the water flow all over the flower, and drift with the current until thou comest to a mountain ash tree on the left bank.102There is near it a large stone.103Stop there and say: ‘From a crab into a man, from a water-lily into a maiden,’ and ye both will be restored to your own forms.”104Full of doubt and fear, the Prince let some time pass before he was bold enough to attempt to rescue the maiden.105Then a crow said to him: “Why dost thou hesitate?106The old wizard has not told thee wrong, neither have the birds deceived thee; hasten and dry the maiden’s tears.”107“Nothing worse than death can befall me,” thought the Prince, “and death is better than endless sorrow.”108So he mounted his horse and went to the bridge.109Again he heard the water-lily’s lament, and, hesitating no longer, smeared himself all over with mud, and, saying: “From a man into a crab,” plunged into the river.110For one moment the water hissed in his ears, and then all was silent.111He swam up to the plant and began to loosen its roots, but so firmly were they fixed in the mud and reeds that this took him a long time.112He then grasped them and rose to the surface, letting the water flow over the flower.113The current carried them down the stream, but nowhere could he see the mountain ash.114At last he saw it, and close by the large stone.115Here he stopped and said: “From a crab into a man, from a water-lily into a maiden,” and to his delight found himself once more a prince, and the maiden was by his side.116She was ten times more beautiful than before, and wore a magnificent pale yellow robe, sparkling with jewels.117She thanked him for having freed her from the cruel witch’s power, and willingly consented to marry him.118But when they came to the bridge where he had left his horse it was nowhere to be seen, for, though the Prince thought he had been a crab only a few hours, he had in reality been under the water for more than ten days.119While they were wondering how they should reach his father’s court, they saw a splendid coach driven by six gaily caparisoned horses coming along the bank.120In this they drove to the palace.121The King and Queen were at church, weeping for their son, whom they had long mourned for dead.122Great was their delight and astonishment when the Prince entered, leading the beautiful maiden by the hand.123The wedding was at once celebrated and there was feasting and merry-making throughout the kingdom for six weeks.124Some time afterward the Prince and his bride were sitting in the garden, when a crow said to them: “Ungrateful creatures!125Have you forgotten the two poor maidens who helped you in your distress?126Must they spin gold flax for ever?127Have no pity on the old witch.128The three maidens are princesses, whom she stole away when they were children together, with all the silver utensils, which she turned into gold flax.129Poison were her fittest punishment.”130The Prince was ashamed of having forgotten his promise and set out at once, and by great good fortune reached the hut when the old woman was away.131The maidens had dreamed that he was coming, and were ready to go with him, but first they made a cake in which they put poison, and left it on a table where the old woman was likely to see it when she returned.132She _did_ see it, and thought it looked so tempting that she greedily ate it up and at once died.133In the secret chamber were found fifty wagon-loads of gold flax, and as much more was discovered buried.134The hut was razed to the ground, and the Prince and his bride and her two sisters lived happily ever after.1 2← previousThe White Cat, part 3next →The Terrible Head↑ back to The Blue Fairy BookThis page in Markdown → https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg503/26/page/2/