THE FELLOW-TRAVELLER
185
There were so many spectators in the large hall of the palace, that they stood as thick as radishes tied in a bunch. The council sat on their arm-chairs with the soft cushions, and the old king was dressed in new clothes ; his golden crown and sceptre had been furbished up ; and the whole scene looked very solemn. But the princess was pale as ashes, and wore a coal-black dress, as though she were attending a funeral. " What have I thought of? " asked she of Johannes. And he immediately opened the silk handkerchief, when he was himself quite startled on beholding the ugly magician's head. Everybody shuddered, for it was frightful to look at ; but the princess sat like a statue, and could not speak a word. At length she rose and gave her hand to Johannes, for he had guessed aright. She looked neither to the right nor the left, but sighed out : " Now you are my master ! Our wedding will be celebrated this evening."
" So much the better," said the old king, " that's just what I wish." All present cried " Hurrah ! " The soldiers on parade struck up their music in the streets, the bells were set a-ring- ing, the pastry-cooks took the black crape off their sugar-husbands, and rejoicings were held every- where. Three oxen, stuffed with ducks and chickens, and roasted whole, were placed in the middle of the market-place, and everyone was free to cut a slice ; the fountains spouted the most delicious wine ; and if one bought a penny cracknel at the baker's, one received six large biscuits as a pre- sent — and the biscuits had raisins in them !
Towards night the whole town was illuminated, the soldiers fired cannons, and the boys let off pop-guns ; and there was a deal of eating, and drinking, and crushing, and capering at the palace. All the fine gentlemen and the beautiful young ladies danced together, and one might hear them from afar singing the following song : —
" Here are many maidens fair.
Who twirl like any spinninjf-wheel, And tread the floor as light as air ;
Still round and round, sweet maiden, reel, And d 'nee aw.iy the mazes through, Until the sole has left your shoe"
But the princess was still a witch, and could not endure Johannes. This struck his fellow-traveller, and therefore he gave Johannes three feathers out of the swan's wings, and a small phial con- taining only a few drops, and told him to place a large vat full of water in front of the princess's bed, and when the princess was about to get into bed, he
must give her a slight push, so that she should fall into the water, into which he must dip her three times, having taken care first to shake in the feathers and the contents of the phial. The magic spell would then be broken, and she would love him tenderly.
Johannes did all that his fellow-traveller suggested. The princess shrieked aloud when he dipped her into the water, and struggled out of his hands under the form of a coal-black swan with fiery c>'es. The second time she rose to the surface the swan had become white, all but a black ruff round its neck. Johannes pra-ed to God, and made the bird dive down a third time, when it was suddenly transformed to the most beautiful princess. She was far lovelier than before, and thanked him, with tears in her eyes, for having broken the spell that bound her.
On the following morning, the old king came with all his court, and the congratulations lasted till late in the day. Last of all came Johannes' fellow-traveller, with his stick in his hand, and his knap.sack at his back. Johannes embraced him affectionately, and said that he must not go away, but stay with him, for he was the cause of all his happiness. But his fellow-traveller shook his head, and said in a mild and friendly voice : " No ; m' time is now up. I have but paid a debt. Do you remember the dead man whom his wicked creditors would fain have ill-used ? You gave all you possessed that he might rest in peace in his grave. I am that dead man ! "
And at the same moment he vanished.
The wedding rejoicings now lasted a full month. Johannes and the princess loved each other dearly, and the old king lived to see many a happy day, and dandled his little grandchildren on his knee, and let them play with his sceptre. And Johannes became king over the whole land.
THE Ol.U KING . . .
DANDLED HIS GRAND- CHILDREN ON HIS KNEES, AND
LET THEM PLAY WITH HIS SCEPTRE.
