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like the stars of heaven； and her mantle was formed of thousands of
butterflies' wings sewn together。 Yet she herself was more beautiful
than all。
When John saw her； his face became as red as a drop of blood；
and he could scarcely utter a word。 The princess looked exactly like
the beautiful lady with the golden crown； of whom he had dreamed on
the night his father died。 She appeared to him so lovely that he could
not help loving her。
〃It could not be true；〃 he thought； 〃that she was really a
wicked witch； who ordered people to be hanged or beheaded； if they
could not guess her thoughts。 Every one has permission to go and ask
her hand； even the poorest beggar。 I shall pay a visit to the palace；〃
he said； 〃I must go； for I cannot help myself。〃
Then they all advised him not to attempt it； for he would be
sure to share the same fate as the rest。 His fellow…traveller also
tried to persuade him against it； but John seemed quite sure of
success。 He brushed his shoes and his coat； washed his face and his
hands； combed his soft flaxen hair； and then went out alone into the
town； and walked to the palace。
〃Come in；〃 said the king； as John knocked at the door。 John opened
it； and the old king； in a dressing gown and embroidered slippers；
came towards him。 He had the crown on his head； carried his sceptre in
one hand； and the orb in the other。 〃Wait a bit；〃 said he； and he
placed the orb under his arm； so that he could offer the other hand to
John； but when he found that John was another suitor； he began to weep
so violently； that both the sceptre and the orb fell to the floor； and
he was obliged to wipe his eyes with his dressing gown。 Poor old king！
〃Let her alone；〃 he said； 〃you will fare as badly as all the others。
Come； I will show you。〃 Then he led him out into the princess's
pleasure gardens； and there he saw a frightful sight。 On every tree
hung three or four king's sons who had wooed the princess； but had not
been able to guess the riddles she gave them。 Their skeletons
rattled in every breeze； so that the terrified birds never dared to
venture into the garden。 All the flowers were supported by human bones
instead of sticks； and human skulls in the flower…pots grinned
horribly。 It was really a doleful garden for a princess。 〃Do you see
all this？〃 said the old king； 〃your fate will be the same as those who
are here； therefore do not attempt it。 You really make me very
unhappy；… I take these things to heart so very much。〃
John kissed the good old king's hand； and said he was sure it
would be all right； for he was quite enchanted with the beautiful
princess。 Then the princess herself came riding into the palace yard
with all her ladies； and he wished her 〃Good morning。〃 She looked
wonderfully fair and lovely when she offered her hand to John； and
he loved her more than ever。 How could she be a wicked witch； as all
the people asserted？ He accompanied her into the hall； and the
little pages offered them gingerbread nuts and sweetmeats； but the old
king was so unhappy he could eat nothing； and besides； gingerbread
nuts were too hard for him。 It was decided that John should come to
the palace the next day； when the judges and the whole of the
counsellors would be present； to try if he could guess the first
riddle。 If he succeeded； he would have to come a second time； but if
not； he would lose his life；… and no one had ever been able to guess
even one。 However； John was not at all anxious about the result of his
trial； on the contrary； he was very merry。 He thought only of the
beautiful princess； and believed that in some way he should have help；
but how he knew not； and did not like to think about it； so he
danced along the high…road as he went back to the inn； where he had
left his fellow…traveller waiting for him。 John could not refrain from
telling him how gracious the princess had been； and how beautiful
she looked。 He longed for the next day so much； that he might go to
the palace and try his luck at guessing the riddles。 But his comrade
shook his head； and looked very mournful。 〃I do so wish you to do
well；〃 said he； 〃we might have continued together much longer； and now
I am likely to lose you； you poor dear John！ I could shed tears； but I
will not make you unhappy on the last night we may be together。 We
will be merry； really merry this evening； to…morrow； after you are
gone； shall be able to weep undisturbed。〃
It was very quickly known among the inhabitants of the town that
another suitor had arrived for the princess； and there was great
sorrow in consequence。 The theatre remained closed； the women who sold
sweetmeats tied crape round the sugar…sticks； and the king and the
priests were on their knees in the church。 There was a great
lamentation； for no one expected John to succeed better than those who
had been suitors before。
In the evening John's comrade prepared a large bowl of punch；
and said； 〃Now let us be merry； and drink to the health of the
princess。〃 But after drinking two glasses； John became so sleepy； that
he could not keep his eyes open； and fell fast asleep。 Then his
fellow…traveller lifted him gently out of his chair； and laid him on
the bed； and as soon as it was quite dark； he took the two large wings
which he had cut from the dead swan； and tied them firmly to his own
shoulders。 Then he put into his pocket the largest of the three rods
which he had obtained from the old woman who had fallen and broken her
leg。 After this he opened the window； and flew away over the town；
straight towards the palace； and seated himself in a corner； under the
window which looked into the bedroom of the princess。
The town was perfectly still when the clocks struck a quarter to
twelve。 Presently the window opened； and the princess； who had large
black wings to her shoulders； and a long white mantle； flew away
over the city towards a high mountain。 The fellow…traveller； who had
made himself invisible； so that she could not possibly see him； flew
after her through the air； and whipped the princess with his rod； so
that the blood came whenever he struck her。 Ah； it was a strange
flight through the air！ The wind caught her mantle； so that it
spread out on all sides； like the large sail of a ship； and the moon
shone through it。 〃How it hails； to be sure！〃 said the princess； at
each blow she received from the rod； and it served her right to be
whipped。
At last she reached the side of the mountain； and knocked。 The
mountain opened with a noise like the roll of thunder； and the
princess went in。 The traveller followed her； no one could see him； as
he had made himself invisible。 They went through a long； wide passage。
A thousand gleaming spiders ran here and there on the walls； causing
them to glitter as if they were illuminated with fire。 They next
entered a large hall built of silver and gold。 Large red and blue
flowers shone on the walls； looking like sunflowers in size； but no
one could dare to pluck them； for the stems were hideous poisonous
snakes； and the flowers were flames of fire； dart