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212 GRIMM S FAIRY TALES.
which she put in her pockets, intending to take home. Anc
then the prince himself passed in clothed in silk and velvet |
with a gold chain round his neck. And when he saw the |
beautiful woman standing in the doorway, he seized her hanc
and urged her to dance with him, but she refused, all trem
bling, for she saw it was King Thrushbeard, who had come tc
court her, whom she had turned away with mocking. It wa:
of no use her resisting, he drew her into the room; and all ai
once the band to which her pockets were fastened broke, anc
the pots fell out, and the soup ran about, and the fragment:
were scattered all round. And when the people saw that, there
was great laughter and mocking, and she felt so ashamed, that
she wished herself a thousand fathoms underground. She
rushed to the door to fly from the place, when a man caughi
her just on the steps, and when she looked at him, it was
King Thrushbeard again. He said to her in a kind tone,
“Do not be afraid, I and the beggar-man with whom you
lived in the wretched little hut are one. For love of you |
disguised myself, and it was I who broke your pots in the
guise of a horse-soldier. I did all that to bring down you
proud heart, and to punish your haughtiness, which caused
you to mock at me.” ‘Then she wept bitterly, and said,
“IT have done great wrong, and am not worthy to be you
wife.”
But he said,
“Take courage, the evil days are gone over; now let us
keep our wedding-day.”
Then came the ladies-in-waiting and put on her splendid
clothing; and her father came, and the whole court, and
wished her joy on her marriage with King Thrushbeard ; and
then the merry-making began in good earnest. I cannot help
wishing that you and I could have been there too.