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FAITHFUL JOHN. 49
hall a dish, and the wrought bride-shirt that lay on it seemed
as if of gold and silver. ‘The young King went up to it and
was going to put it on, but Faithful John pushed him away,
picked it up with his gloved hands, threw it quickly on the
fire, and there let it burn. ‘The other servants began grumbling
again, and said,
“ Look, he is even burning up the king’s bridal shirt!” But
the young King said,
‘Who knows but that there may be a good reason for it P
let him be, he is my Faithful John.”
Then the wedding feast was held; and the bride led the
dance; Faithful John watched her carefully, and all at once
she grew pale and fell down as if she were dead. ‘Then he
went quickly to her, and carried her into a chamber hard by,
laid her down, and: kneeling, took three drops of blood from
her right breast. Immediately she drew breath again and
raised herself up, but the young King witnessing all, and not
knowing why Faithful John had done this, grew very angry,
and cried out, |
‘Throw him into prison !”
The next morning Faithful John was condemned to death
and led to the gallows, and as he stood there ready to suffer,
he said,
‘He who is about to die is permitted to speak once before
his end; may I claim that right?”
‘‘ Yes,” answered the King, “it is granted to you.” Then
said Faithful John,
“T have been condemned unjustly, for I have always been
faithful,” and he related how he had heard on the sea voyage
the talk of the ravens, and how he had done everything in
6 O my Faithful John, pardon! pardon! lead him down!”
became stone.
The King and Queen had great grief because of this, and
the King said, |
“ Ah, how could I have evil-rewarded such faithfulness ! ”
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