Stranica 49 [49]
THE GOOSE GIRL. a
“ Here I sit forsaken of all the world, and I am a King’s
daughter, and a wicked waiting-woman forced me to give up
my royal garments and my place at the bridegroom’s side, and
I am made a goose-girl, and have to do mean service. And
if my mother knew, it would break her heart.”
Now the old King was standing outside by the oven-door
listening, and he heard all she said, and he called to her and
told her to come out of the oven. And he caused royal
clothing to be put upon her, and it was a marvel to see how
beautiful she was, ‘The old King then called his son and
proved to him that he had the wrong bride, for she was really
only a waiting-woman, and that the true bride was here at
hand, she who had been the goose-girl. ‘The Prince was glad
at heart when he saw her beauty and gentleness ; and a great
feast was made ready, and all the court people and good
friends were bidden to it, The bridegroom sat in the midst
with the Princess on one side and the waiting-woman on the
other; and the false bride did not know the true one, because
she was dazzled with her glittering braveries. When all the
company had eaten and drunk and were merry, the old King
gave the waiting-woman a question to answer, as to what such
an one deserved, who had deceived her masters in such and
such a manner, telling the whole story, and ending by asking,
- Now, what doom does such an one deserve ?”
“ No better than this,” answered the false bride, “that she
be put naked into a cask, studded inside with sharp nails, and
be dragged along in it by two white horses from street to street,
until she be dead.” |
. "Thou hast spoken thy own doom,” said the old King; "as
thou hast said, so shall it be done.” And when the sentence
was fulfilled, the Prince married the true bride, and ever after
they ruled over their kingdom in peace and blessedness.
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