格林童话故事第：两个国王的孩子The two kings' childr

格林童话故事第112篇：两个国王的孩子The two kings' children

　　《两个国王的孩子》，是德国格林兄弟的童话故事之一，下面是这篇童话故事的中英文版本，欢迎大家阅读!

　　从前有一个国王，有一个小男孩，巫师给他算卦说在十六岁那年，他的命将被一只公鹿所克。他长到十六岁了，一次他和猎人们外出狩猎，在森林里与其他人走散了，猛然间发现了一只大公鹿，他想开枪，可是没射中。他在公鹿后面追呀追，一直追出了森林。忽然，公鹿变成一个巨人站在他面前说："我可逮着你啦。为了追你我跑坏了六双玻璃溜冰鞋，可还是没能追上你。"然后他拽着国王的儿子过了一个大湖，来到一座大宫殿。原来那巨人是那个国家的国王，他两个坐在桌旁吃了些东西，吃完后那巨人国王说："我有三个女儿，你必须为我的大女儿守一晚上夜，从晚上九点到早晨六点，每当钟敲想的时候，我要亲自去叫你，如果你没有回答，明天早晨你就会被处死，如果你每次都回答我，你可以娶她为妻。"

　　当小伙子走到卧室，那里竖立着一尊圣耶稣的石像，国王的女儿对石像说："我父亲到九点钟来，然后每一小时来一次，直到三点，等他叫的时候，你替王子回答一声。"圣耶稣的石像很快地点头，点头越来越慢，最后停止。第二天早上国王对他说：你这活儿干的不错，不过我不能把女儿许出去，你必须为我的二女儿守一次夜，然后我才能考虑你是否能娶我的大女儿为妻，我可是每小时去一次，我叫你的时候，你得答应，如果你没有回答，我会使你的鲜血流尽。说完他们两个走进卧室，里面竖立着一尊更大些的圣耶稣的石像，国王的女儿对它说："如果我父亲叫，你就回答他。"圣耶稣的大石像又很快地点头，随后越来越慢，最后静止不动，王子则躺在门槛上，头枕在手上睡起觉来。第二天早上国王对他说："你这活儿干的真不错，不过我不能把女儿许出去，你必须为我的最小的公主守一次夜，然后我才能考虑你是否能娶我的大女儿为妻，我可是得每小时去一次，我叫你的时候，你得答应，如果你没有回答，我会亲自将你的鲜血流尽。"

　　然后他们两个走进卧室，里面竖立着一尊比前两个更大的圣耶稣的石像，公主对它说："如果我父亲叫，回答他。"这尊又高又大的圣耶稣的石像连续点了半个小时的头，方才停止不动。王子躺在门槛上，又入了梦乡。第二天早上国王说："你确确实实干的不错，可我现在不想让你娶走我的女儿。我有一片大森林，如果你能从早晨六点到晚上六点为我把树全都砍倒的话，我会考虑的。"然后他交给他一把玻璃斧头，一把玻璃楔子和一柄玻璃槌子。他走进林子，立刻开始砍伐，可是斧头断成了两节。接着他又拿起槌子砸楔子，楔子又被砸得粉碎。这时他感到十分绝望，相信自己活不了啦，于是坐在地上哭了起来。

　　时到中午，国王说："姑娘们，你们去一个人给他送些吃的。""不，"大女儿回答，"我可不能去，他最后一个为谁守的夜，谁就该去。"所以小公主就不得不去给他送食物。她到了森林后问他进展如何，"哦，"他答道，"别提多倒霉啦。"她劝他过来吃点东西。"不了，"他情绪低落地说，"我不吃，反正是个死，我吃不下去。"她轻声细语地开导他，求他多少吃一点，他这才过来吃了些食品。等他吃完后，她说："我给你抓一会儿虱子，你会觉得舒服点儿。"

　　她给他抓虱子时，他感到一阵倦意袭来，便昏昏入了睡。这时她掏出手帕，系了一个结，在地上敲了三下，说道："地神，地神，快出来。"眨眼间钻出了小地神，问公主有何旨意。她说："用三个小时把这座大林子全部砍倒，并将所有的木头堆放好。"小地神们领旨后分头离去，召集了全体家族来帮忙砍树。他们开工迅速，经过三个小时，工作已经完成，他们回来向公主作了汇报。这时她又拿起白手帕说："地神，回家吧。"顿时，他们全都消失啦。王子醒来后很高兴，公主对他说："到敲响六点的时候，咱们就回家。"他听了她的话，回到了王宫后国王问他："你把树都砍完了吗?""是的。"王子回答。可是国王又说："我还是不能把我的女儿嫁给你，你得为她再做些事。"他问是什么活儿。"我有个大鱼塘，"国王说，"你必须明天一早就去把里面的污泥都掏出来，塘里的水要变得清如明镜，还要有各种各样的鱼。"第二天一早国王给他一把玻璃锹并告诉他："鱼塘的活必须在六点钟干完。"他到了鱼塘将锹往泥里一插，锹就断成了两节。他又挥起镐，镐也碎了，他可是烦透啦。中午公主来送饭，问他情况如何。王子说一团糟，他肯定要掉脑袋了。"我的工具又都成了碎片。""噢，"她说，"你过来吃点饭，心情就会好点儿。""不，"他拒绝，"我不吃，一点胃口都没有。"她又跟他说了许多好话，使他终于过来吃了些东西。她再次为他抓虱子，这时他又睡着了。她掏出手帕，系了一个结，在地上敲了三下，说道："地神，地神，快出来。"眨眼间钻出了许多小地神，问公主有何吩咐。她告诉他们用两个小时把鱼塘彻底掏干净，塘里的水必须清洁得能让人照出自己的影子，里面还得有各种各样的鱼。小地神们领旨后分头离去，集合了全体家族来帮忙。在两个小时内，工作便完成了，他们回来向公主作了汇报："奉您的旨意，我们已经干完啦。"这时她又拿起白手帕，往地上敲了三下，说："地神，回家吧。"他们全都走了。

　　王子醒来时，鱼塘的活儿已经完成了，公主也已经离去，在走之前，她要他等到六点钟的时候回到宫里。当他回到了宫中，国王问他："你把鱼塘的活儿干完啦?""是的，"王子答道。活儿完成得很漂亮。

　　当他们再次坐到桌旁时，国王却说："你虽然把鱼塘掏净了，可我仍不能将女儿嫁给你，你还得再作一件事。""什么事?"王子问。国王说他有一座大山，山上除了荆棘外，不长别的，荆棘必须被砍光，然后要在山顶上盖一座大城堡，城堡要牢固无比，里面的陈设要应有尽有。第二天他起床的时候，国王给他一把玻璃斧头和一把玻璃手钻，要他六点钟的时候将所有的活儿干完。然而他刚砍第一簇灌木时，斧子就断了，碎片蹦得满地都是，手钻也没法使了。这时他变得痛苦不堪，盼望他的心上人能来帮他一把。中午时分她来送饭，他走上前去迎接并告诉了他的遭遇，她给他抓虱子，他便又睡着了。此时她又掏出手帕结，敲着地面说道：""地神，地神，快出来。"瞬间又钻出了许多小地神，问公主有何旨意。她告诉他们："你们用两个小时的时间把所有的荆棘都砍光，然后在山顶上盖一座大城堡，城堡要牢固无比，里面的陈设要应有尽有。"他们离去，号召全体家族来帮忙，等时间一到，所有的事情便都结束了，他们回来向公主作了汇报。这时她拿起手帕，敲了三下地说："地神，回家吧。"他们立刻全都消失了。王子醒后见事情全部完成，高兴得就像一只在天空中飞翔的小鸟。当时钟敲响六点钟时，他们一同回了家。国王问："城堡盖好啦?""是的。"王子回答。国王又说："在她的两个姐姐嫁出去之前，我不能放我的小女儿走。"王子和国王的女儿为此十分难过，王子想不出任何办法。他只好等到晚上和国王的女儿一起逃走了。跑了不远，国王的女儿回头一瞅，发现国王在后面追呢。"噢，"她说，"我们可怎么办呀?我父亲在后面呐，他会把我们带回去的。我立刻把你变成一簇荆棘，我自己变成一朵玫瑰，藏在灌木丛中吧。"父亲赶到了，看见一簇荆棘，上面有一枝玫瑰，他伸手想摘那玫瑰，可是荆棘上的刺扎了他的指头，他不得不回宫去了。王后问他为何没有把他们的女儿带回来。他说就在他快要追上她的时候，她不见啦，眼前是一簇荆棘，上面长着一枝玫瑰。

　　王后接着埋怨道："如果你摘下玫瑰，那荆棘就非得跟来。"于是他又回去采玫瑰，可是他俩已经早过了平原了，国王仍在后面紧追不舍。这时公主又一次回头看见她父亲追来，她说："我们现在怎么办哪?让我马上把你变成一座教堂，我自己变成一个牧师吧，我站在讲坛上布道。"当国王追到时，发现面前是一座教堂，讲坛上有个牧师正在布道，他听了一会儿弥撒，就又回宫了。

　　王后问为什么没有把他们的女儿带回来，他说："别提啦，我在后边追了好长时间，眼看快追上了，前面却是一座教堂，里面有个牧师正在布道。""你应该把牧师带回来，"王后说："那教堂不一会儿就会跟来。让你去真没用，我还是自己去吧。"她走了一段时间，看见了远处那俩人，国王的女儿回头，看见了她母亲来了，便说："我们可没辙啦，我母亲亲自追过来了，我得把你马上变成一个鱼塘，我自己变成一条鱼。"

　　母亲追到这里，面对的是一口大鱼塘，水中间有一条鱼快活地跳来跳去，而且不时地探出脑袋张望。她竭力想抓住那条鱼，可是力不从心。她不由得怒火上升，为抓住那条鱼，她一口气喝干了鱼塘里的水，但是感到非常不舒服，不得不又将水又吐了出来。她难过地哭了起来："我非常清楚这是没有办法的事儿"。她于是央求他们跟她回去。国王的女儿被感动了，回到母亲的身边，王后给了女儿三个胡桃，告诉她："这三个胡桃在你最需要的时候会帮你忙的。"小伙子也和她们一同回去了。他们走了约十里路，来到了王子当初出走的城堡，附近有一个村庄。他们走进村庄，王子说："在这里等一会儿，亲爱的，我先进宫去，安排马车和侍从来接你。"

　　王子回到了王宫。他的归来让上上下下的人皆大欢喜。他告诉大家他已有未婚妻，她在村子里，他们得赶快准备车辆去接她。大家便七手八脚地套好了马车，大群侍从在车外各就各位。王子上车了，上车前他母亲吻了他一下，他在这一瞬间忘记了以前所发生的一切事情，以及他将要做的事情。这时他母亲下令把马车卸套，大家都回屋去。在村子里坐等的姑娘等呀、盼呀，真是望眼欲穿，但是没有一个人来接她。她没有办法，只好到属于王宫的一家磨房里去干活，她的工作是每天下午到水池旁去刷洗器皿。一天王后从王宫里散步出来，路过水池，看见一位体态丰满的姑娘蹲在那里，她不禁感叹："那姑娘可真是丰润多姿呀!她太让我高兴啦!"她和全体随从仔细观察着姑娘，但无人认识她。姑娘为磨房主工作了很长的时间，她干活卖力，待人诚实。与此同时，王后为王子从很远的地方娶来一位新娘。新娘一到，他们便要就举行婚礼。那天，许多人热热闹闹地集结在一起，都想看盛大的婚礼。姑娘向磨房主请假也想去看看，磨房主答应说："行啊，去吧。"她在走之前，打开了三个胡桃中的一个，发现里面有一件漂亮衣裳。她穿上衣裳，走进教堂，站在了祭坛旁。后来来了一对新人，坐在了祭坛的前面，正当牧师要为他祝福的时候，新娘往边上看了一眼，发现了站在那里姑娘。当时她就站了起来说她得有和那个女士一样漂亮的衣服，否则不会结婚。他们只好又回到宫里，然后派人去问那姑娘卖不卖那件衣服。不，她不卖衣服，可是新娘或许有机会拥有那件衣服，她说。新娘忙问她该怎么做才能拥有那件衣服。姑娘说只要让她在王子的门外睡一个晚上，新娘就可以得到她想要的，新娘说她乐意这么做，但侍从受命给王子喝了安眠药，姑娘在门槛前躺了下来，整个一晚上她都在倾诉自己的悲伤。为了他，她砍倒了整座森林;为了他，她清除了鱼塘里的污泥;为了他，她建造了那座城堡;她把他变成一簇荆棘，然后又变成一座教堂，最后又变成一个鱼塘，万万没想到他这么快就把她忘到脑后了。可是沉睡中的王子没听到一个字，侍从倒是醒了，并听见了姑娘的话，但是不解其意。第二天，大家起了床，新娘穿上那件衣服，和新郎一起去了教堂。姑娘打开第二个胡桃，里面有一件更加漂亮的衣裳。她穿上了它，站在教堂的祭坛旁，以后发生的事情和以前一样。姑娘又在王子卧室的门槛前躺了一个晚上，侍从再次受命给王子喝安眠药。然而这次侍从却给王子喝了些提神醒脑的东西。在王子上床就寝的时候，磨房主的女仆同昨晚一样在门槛前哭诉自己的遭遇和悲伤。这次王子可一字一句全都听清楚啦，他感到非常难过，从前的记忆都涌入了脑海之中，他想立刻走到她的身边，可是他母亲把门锁上了。第二天一早，他马上找到了心上人，告诉了她自己的经过，并真心实意地请求她不要因为自己的忘却而对他耿耿于怀。国王的女儿打开第三个胡桃，里面是一件比前两件更为漂亮的衣裳，她穿上了它，和她的新郎共同走向教堂。一群孩子跑来给新人献花，并用彩带围在他们的脚上，牧师为他们祝福，婚礼上一片欢乐。那伪善的母亲和未婚的新娘从此遭到流放，而最后讲述这个故事的人现在仍在讲个不停呢。

　　两个国王的孩子英文版：

　　The two kings' children

　　There was once on a time a King who had a little boy of whom it had been foretold that he should be killed by a stag when he was sixteen years of age, and when he had reached that age the huntsmen once went hunting with him. In the forest, the King's son was separated from the others, and all at once he saw a great stag which he wanted to shoot, but could not hit. At length he chased the stag so far that they were quite out of the forest, and then suddenly a great tall man was standing there instead of the stag, and said, "It is well that I have thee. I have already ruined six pairs of glass skates with running after thee, and have not been able to get thee." Then he took the King's son with him, and dragged him through a great lake to a great palace, and then he had to sit down to table with him and eat something. When they had eaten something together the King said, "I have three daughters, thou must keep watch over the eldest for one night, from nine in the evening till six in the morning, and every time the clock strikes, I will come myself and call, and if thou then givest me no answer, to-morrow morning thou shall be put to death, but if thou always givest me an answer, thou shalt have her to wife."

　　When the young folks went to the bed-room there stood a stone image of St. Christopher, and the King's daughter said to it, "My father will come at nine o'clock, and every hour till it strikes three; when he calls, give him an answer instead of the King's son." Then the stone image of St. Christopher nodded its head quite quickly, and then more and more slowly till at last it stood still. The next morning the King said to him, "Thou hast done the business well, but I cannot give my daughter away. Thou must now watch a night by my second daughter, and then I will consider with myself, whether thou canst have my eldest daughter to wife, but I shall come every hour myself, and when I call thee, answer me, and if I call thee and thou dost not reply, thy blood shall flow." Then they both went into the sleeping-room, and there stood a still larger stone image of St. Christopher, and the King's daughter said to it, "If my father calls, do you answer him." Then the great stone image of St. Christopher again nodded its head quite quickly and then more and more slowly, until at last it stood still again. And the King's son lay down on the threshold, put his hand under his head and slept. The next morning the King said to him, "Thou hast done the business really well, but I cannot give my daughter away; thou must now watch a night by the youngest princess, and then I will consider with myself whether thou canst have my second daughter to wife, but I shall come every hour myself, and when I call thee answer me, and if I call thee and thou answerest not, thy blood shall flow for me."

　　Then they once more went to the sleeping-room together, and there was a much greater and much taller image of St. Christopher than the two first had been. The King's daughter said to it, "When my father calls, do thou answer." Then the great tall stone image of St. Christopher nodded quite half an hour with its head, until at length the head stood still again. And the King's son laid himself down on the threshold of the door and slept. The next morning the King said, "Thou hast indeed watched well, but I cannot give thee my daughter now; I have a great forest, if thou cuttest it down for me between six o'clock this morning and six at night, I will think about it." Then he gave him a glass axe, a glass wedge, and a glass mallet. When he got into the wood, he began at once to cut, but the axe broke in two, then he took the wedge, and struck it once with the mallet, and it became as short and as small as sand. Then he was much troubled and believed he would have to die, and sat down and wept.

　　Now when it was noon the King said, "One of you girls must take him something to eat." - "No," said the two eldest, "We will not take it to him; the one by whom he last watched, can take him something." Then the youngest was forced to go and take him something to eat. When she got into the forest, she asked him how he was getting on? "Oh," said he, "I am getting on very badly." Then she said he was to come and just eat a little. "Nay," said he, "I cannot do that, I shall still have to die, so I will eat no more." Then she spoke so kindly to him and begged him just to try, that he came and ate something. When he had eaten something she said, "I will comb thy hair a while, and then thou wilt feel happier."

　　So she combed his hair, and he became weary and fell asleep, and then she took her handkerchief and made a knot in it, and struck it three times on the earth, and said, "Earth-workers, come forth." In a moment, numbers of little earth-men came forth, and asked what the King's daughter commanded? Then said she, "In three hours' time the great forest must be cut down, and the whole of the wood laid in heaps." So the little earth-men went about and got together the whole of their kindred to help them with the work. They began at once, and when the three hours were over, all was done, and they came back to the King's daughter and told her so. Then she took her white handkerchief again and said, "Earth-workers, go home." On this they all disappeared. When the King's son awoke, he was delighted, and she said, "Come home when it has struck six o'clock." He did as she told him, and then the King asked, "Hast thou made away with the forest?" - "Yes," said the King's son. When they were sitting at table, the King said, "I cannot yet give thee my daughter to wife, thou must still do something more for her sake." So he asked what it was to be, then? "I have a great fish-pond," said the King. "Thou must go to it to-morrow morning and clear it of all mud until it is as bright as a mirror, and fill it with every kind of fish." The next morning the King gave him a glass shovel and said, "The fish-pond must be done by six o'clock." So he went away, and when he came to the fish-pond he stuck his shovel in the mud and it broke in two, then he stuck his hoe in the mud, and broke it also. Then he was much troubled. At noon the youngest daughter brought him something to eat, and asked him how he was getting on? So the King's son said everything was going very ill with him, and he would certainly have to lose his head. "My tools have broken to pieces again." - "Oh," said she, "thou must just come and eat something, and then thou wilt be in another frame of mind." - "No," said he, "I cannot eat, I am far too unhappy for that!" Then she gave him many good words until at last he came and ate something. Then she combed his hair again, and he fell asleep, so once more she took her handkerchief, tied a knot in it, and struck the ground thrice with the knot, and said, "Earth-workers, come forth." In a moment a great many little earth-men came and asked what she desired, and she told them that in three hours' time, they must have the fish-pond entirely cleaned out, and it must be so clear that people could see themselves reflected in it, and every kind of fish must be in it. The little earth-men went away and summoned all their kindred to help them, and in two hours it was done. Then they returned to her and said, "We have done as thou hast commanded." The King's daughter took the handkerchief and once more struck thrice on the ground with it, and said, "Earth-workers, go home again." Then they all went away.

　　When the King's son awoke the fish-pond was done. Then the King's daughter went away also, and told him that when it was six he was to come to the house. When he arrived at the house the King asked, "Hast thou got the fish-pond done?" - "Yes," said the King's son. That was very good.

　　When they were again sitting at table the King said, "Thou hast certainly done the fish-pond, but I cannot give thee my daughter yet; thou must just do one thing more." - "What is that, then?" asked the King's son. The King said he had a great mountain on which there was nothing but briars which must all be cut down, and at the top of it the youth must build up a great castle, which must be as strong as could be conceived, and all the furniture and fittings belonging to a castle must be inside it. And when he arose next morning the King gave him a glass axe and a glass gimlet with him, and he was to have all done by six o'clock. As he was cutting down the first briar with the axe, it broke off short, and so small that the pieces flew all round about, and he could not use the gimlet either. Then he was quite miserable, and waited for his dearest to see if she would not come and help him in his need. When it was mid-day she came and brought him something to eat. He went to meet her and told her all, and ate something, and let her comb his hair and fell asleep. Then she once more took the knot and struck the earth with it, and said, "Earth-workers, come forth!" Then came once again numbers of earth-men, and asked what her desire was. Then said she, "In the space of three hours they must cut down the whole of the briars, and a castle must be built on the top of the mountain that must be as strong as any one could conceive, and all the furniture that pertains to a castle must be inside it." They went away, and summoned their kindred to help them and when the time was come, all was ready. Then they came to the King's daughter and told her so, and the King's daughter took her handkerchief and struck thrice on the earth with it, and said, "Earth-workers, go home," on which they all disappeared. When therefore the King's son awoke and saw everything done, he was as happy as a bird in air.

　　When it had struck six, they went home together. Then said the King, "Is the castle ready?" - "Yes," said the King's son. When they sat down to table, the King said, "I cannot give away my youngest daughter until the two eldest are married." Then the King's son and the King's daughter were quite troubled, and the King's son had no idea what to do. But he went by night to the King's daughter and ran away with her. When they had got a little distance away, the King's daughter peeped round and saw her father behind her. "Oh," said she, "what are we to do? My father is behind us, and will take us back with him. I will at once change thee into a briar, and myself into a rose, and I will shelter myself in the midst of the bush." When the father reached the place, there stood a briar with one rose on it, then he was about to gather the rose, when the thorn came and pricked his finger so that he was forced to go home again. His wife asked why he had not brought their daughter back with him? So he said he had nearly got up to her, but that all at once he had lost sight of her, and a briar with one rose was growing on the spot.

　　Then said the Queen, "If thou hadst but gathered the rose, the briar would have been forced to come too." So he went back again to fetch the rose, but in the meantime the two were already far over the plain, and the King ran after them. Then the daughter once more looked round and saw her father coming, and said, "Oh, what shall we do now? I will instantly change thee into a church and myself into a priest, and I will stand up in the pulpit, and preach." When the King got to the place, there stood a church, and in the pulpit was a priest preaching. So he listened to the sermon, and then went home again.

　　Then the Queen asked why he had not brought their daughter with him, and he said, "Nay, I ran a long time after her, and just as I thought I should soon overtake her, a church was standing there and a priest was in the pulpit preaching." - "Thou shouldst just have brought the priest," said his wife, "and then the church would soon have come. It is no use to send thee, I must go there myself." When she had walked for some time, and could see the two in the distance, the King's daughter peeped round and saw her mother coming, and said, "Now we are undone, for my mother is coming herself: I will immediately change thee into a fish-pond and myself into a fish.

　　When the mother came to the place, there was a large fish-pond, and in the midst of it a fish was leaping about and peeping out of the water, and it was quite merry. She wanted to catch the fish, but she could not. Then she was very angry, and drank up the whole pond in order to catch the fish, but it made her so ill that she was forced to vomit, and vomited the whole pond out again. Then she cried, "I see very well that nothing can be done now," and said that now they might come back to her. Then the King's daughter went back again, and the Queen gave her daughter three walnuts, and said, "With these thou canst help thyself when thou art in thy greatest need." So the young folks went once more away together. And when they had walked quite ten miles, they arrived at the castle from whence the King's son came, and close by it was a village. When they reached it, the King's son said, "Stay here, my dearest, I will just go to the castle, and then will I come with a carriage and with attendants to fetch thee."

　　When he got to the castle they all rejoiced greatly at having the King's son back again, and he told them he had a bride who was now in the village, and they must go with the carriage to fetch her. Then they harnessed the horses at once, and many attendants seated themselves outside the carriage. When the King's son was about to get in, his mother gave him a kiss, and he forgot everything which had happened, and also what he was about to do. On this his mother ordered the horses to be taken out of the carriage again, and everyone went back into the house. But the maiden sat in the village and watched and watched, and thought he would come and fetch her, but no one came. Then the King's daughter took service in the mill which belonged to the castle, and was obliged to sit by the pond every afternoon and clean the tubs.

　　And the Queen came one day on foot from the castle, and went walking by the pond, and saw the well-grown maiden sitting there, and said, "What a fine strong girl that is! She pleases me well!" Then she and all with her looked at the maid, but no one knew her. So a long time passed by during which the maiden served the miller honorably and faithfully. In the meantime, the Queen had sought a wife for her son, who came from quite a distant part of the world. When the bride came, they were at once to be married. And many people hurried together, all of whom wanted to see everything. Then the girl said to the miller that he might be so good as to give her leave to go also. So the miller said, "Yes, do go there." When she was about to go, she opened one of the three walnuts, and a beautiful dress lay inside it. She put it on, and went into the church and stood by the altar. Suddenly came the bride and bridegroom, and seated themselves before the altar, and when the priest was just going to bless them, the bride peeped half round and saw the maiden standing there. Then she stood up again, and said she would not be given away until she also had as beautiful a dress as that lady there. So they went back to the house again, and sent to ask the lady if she would sell that dress. No, she would not sell it, but the bride might perhaps earn it. Then the bride asked her how she was to do this? Then the maiden said if she might sleep one night outside the King's son's door, the bride might have what she wanted. So the bride said, "Yes, she was willing to do that." But the servants were ordered to give the King's son a sleeping-drink, and then the maiden laid herself down on the threshold and lamented all night long. She had had the forest cut down for him, she had had the fish-pond cleaned out for him, she had had the castle built for him, she had changed him into a briar, and then into a church, and at last into a fish-pond, and yet he had forgotten her so quickly. The King's son did not hear one word of it, but the servants had been awakened, and had listened to it, and had not known what it could mean. The next morning when they were all up, the bride put on the dress, and went away to the church with the bridegroom. In the meantime the maiden opened the second walnut, and a still more beautiful dress was inside it. She put it on, and went and stood by the altar in the church, and everything happened as it had happened the time before. And the maiden again lay all night on the threshold which led to the chamber of the King's son, and the servant was once more to give him a sleeping-drink. The servant, however, went to him and gave him something to keep him awake, and then the King's son went to bed, and the miller's maiden bemoaned herself as before on the threshold of the door, and told of all that she had done. All this the King's son heard, and was sore troubled, and what was past came back to him. Then he wanted to go to her, but his mother had locked the door. The next morning, however, he went at once to his beloved, and told her everything which had happened to him, and prayed her not to be angry with him for having forgotten her. Then the King's daughter opened the third walnut, and within it was a still more magnificent dress, which she put on, and went with her bridegroom to church, and numbers of children came who gave them flowers, and offered them gay ribbons to bind about their feet, and they were blessed by the priest, and had a merry wedding. But the false mother and the bride had to depart. And the mouth of the person who last told all this is still warm.