The History of Dwarf Long Nose, part 3 · page 21 2101‘I do believe this is the very herb which changed me from a squirrel into my present miserable form.102Shall I try an experiment?’103‘Not yet,’ said the goose.104‘Take a good handful of the herb with you, and let us go to your rooms.105We will collect all your money and clothes together, and then we will test the powers of the herb.’106So they went back to Jem’s rooms, and here he gathered together some fifty ducats he had saved, his clothes and shoes, and tied them all up in a bundle.107Then he plunged his face into the bunch of herbs, and drew in their perfume.108As he did so, all his limbs began to crack and stretch; he felt his head rising above his shoulders; he glanced down at his nose, and saw it grow smaller and smaller; his chest and back grew flat, and his legs grew long.109The goose looked on in amazement.110‘Oh, how big and how beautiful you are!’ she cried.111‘Thank heaven, you are quite changed.’112Jem folded his hands in thanks, as his heart swelled with gratitude.113But his joy did not make him forget all he owed to his friend Mimi.114‘I owe you my life and my release,’ he said, ‘for without you I should never have regained my natural shape, and, indeed, would soon have been beheaded.115I will now take you back to your father, who will certainly know how to disenchant you.’116The goose accepted his offer with joy, and they managed to slip out of the palace unnoticed by anyone.117They got through the journey without accident, and the wizard soon released his daughter, and loaded Jem with thanks and valuable presents.118He lost no time in hastening back to his native town, and his parents were very ready to recognise the handsome, well-made young man as their long-lost son.119With the money given him by the wizard he opened a shop, which prospered well, and he lived long and happily.120I must not forget to mention that much disturbance was caused in the palace by Jem’s sudden disappearance, for when the grand duke sent orders next day to behead the dwarf, if he had not found the necessary herbs, the dwarf was not to be found.121The prince hinted that the duke had allowed his cook to escape, and had therefore broken his word.122The matter ended in a great war between the two princes, which was known in history as the ‘Herb War.’123After many battles and much loss of life, a peace was at last concluded, and this peace became known as the ‘Pasty Peace,’ because at the banquet given in its honour the prince’s cook dished up the Queen of Pasties--the Suzeraine--and the grand duke declared it to be quite excellent.1 2← previousThe History of Dwarf Long Nose, part 2next →The Nunda, Eater of People↑ back to The Violet Fairy BookThis page in Markdown → https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg641/28/page/2/