the court and all the ways leading to it full of the grunts of the hogs who had accompanied the wooer, he had nothing to say for himself, and promised the hog that he would do what it asked. But the hog was not content with his bare promise, but insisted that the wedding should take place within a week. Only when it had obtained the Emperor's word that it should be so did it go away.
The Emperor told his daughter that she must submit to her fate, as it was clearly the will of God. Then he added: "My daughter, the speech and sensible bearing of this hog belong to no brute beast with which I am acquainted. I'll wager my head upon it that he was never born a hog. There must be a touch of sorcery here, or some other devilry. If thou art obedient, thou wilt not depart from thy given word, for God will not allow thee to be tormented for long."
"If thou dost think it good, dear father," replied the girl, "I will obey thee, and put my trust in God. Let Him do what He will with me. It must be so, I have no other way to turn."
In the meantime the wedding-day arrived. The marriage was celebrated in secret. Then the hog got into one of the imperial carriages with his bride, and so they set off homewards.
On the journey they had to pass by a large marsh.
