THE WATER-WITCH
ONCE upon a time, long long years ago, there was a shepherd called Duldy, who dwelt in the forests which clothed the base of the great mountain of Kel. This mountain was in the centre of an immense plain, watered by many rivers, and dotted over with many cities, for the kingdom of Metella was a very rich place indeed, so rich that the inhabitants looked upon gold in the same way as we look upon tin or iron, as quite a common thing. The plain was very fertile by reason of the great rivers which flowed through it like silver threads, and all these rivers took their rise in the mountain of Kel, a mighty snow-clad peak which shot up, white and shining, to the blue sky from amidst the bright green of its encircling forests.
There were old stories handed down from father to son, which said that the mountain was once a volcano, which, breathing nothing but fire, sent great streams of red-hot lava downto the fertile plain, to wither and blight all the beautiful gardens and rich corn-fields. But the fires in the breast of the mountain had long since died out, and for many centuries the black, rugged summit had been covered with snow, while countless streams, caused by the melting of the glaciers, fell down its rocky sides, and, flowing through the cool, green pine forests, spread themselves over the thirsty plain, so that it bloomed like a beautiful garden.
Duldy lived in these scented pine forests, and was supposed to be the son of an old couple called Dull and Day, from whence by joining both names he got his own Duldy; but he was really a lost child whom old Father Dull had found, seventeen years before, on the banks of the Foam, one of the bright sparkling streams which flowed from the snowy heights above. Dull took the child home to his wife Day, who was overcome with joy, for she ardently desired to have a little boy of her own, but never had the happiness to become a mother. This good couple took great care of Duldy, and he grew up to be a handsome youth, with golden hair, like the tint of ripe corn, and blue eyes, the colour of the sky. Any one who saw Duldy wouldhave said he was a prince, so noble and handsome did he look, but, alas! he was only a poor shepherd lad, for, in spite of all inquiries, Dull and Day never found out who were his parents.
Now, at eighteen years of age, Duldy was the bravest youth in the forest, for, while protecting his flock of sheep, as they browsed on the thin grass of the high lands, he had killed many wolves who would have carried off the lambs. All the forest maidens were in love with Duldy, for he looked noble and grand in his simple suit of green cloth; and, moreover, it was well known that Dull and Day would certainly leave their flock of sheep to their adopted son, so Duldy would one day be a rich man—that is, rich in the eyes of the simple country people around. But the handsome shepherd never troubled his head about the maidens who sighed so ardently at his feet, for the fact is, he had one day seen the beautiful Princess Elsa when she was hunting in the forest, and had fallen deeply in love with her.
She was really charming, the Princess Elsa, tall and stately, with dark hair and dark eyes; it was no wonder that Duldy loved her, but how hopeless was that love! She was the daughter of King Arago, who ruled over the kingdom of Metella, and he was a poor unknown shepherd lad. Still all these things happened in the days of the fairies, and when fairies take a fancy to any mortal, that mortal can gain anything, however lowly he may be, from the hand of a princess to the throne of a kingdom.
But did a fairy love Duldy? Ah, that is a difficult question to answer! He was not quite sure, and yet he was almost certain that he was loved by the Water-witch Foamina.
She was the fairy of the stream called Foam, whose sparklingwaters fell from a great height in a white veil down to a deep pool surrounded by delicate green ferns. From this pool the stream gushed out between two great stones, and babbled down the side of the mountain, glided round great moss-covered rocks rippled under the gnarled roots of ancient trees, and swirled into sombre pools beneath the cool shadow of its grass-fringed banks. After leaving the forest, it flowed broad and placid between rich fields of yellow corn, through old-fashioned villages, under the slender bridges which leaped from bank to bank, and at last mingled with the mighty river encircling the island upon which stood the city of Aurea, the capital of King Arago, wherein dwelt the beautiful Princess Elsa.
Dull and Day had both told Duldy how he had been found on the banks of the stream lying on a white bed of soft foam, and he was very fond of sitting by the brook, listening to its babbling talk, and thinking that it might tell him something about his unknown parents. One day, while he was thus sitting dreaming about the lovely princess, and wondering if he would ever see her again, he heard a light laugh, and thought he saw an arch face peering out at him from behind the falling foam of the waterfall. As he looked steadily, the face vanished, but he caught a glimpse of two white arms playing with the sparkling water, and again sawthe smiling face. Then the stream seemed to stop babbling and fretting among its stones, and form itself into words, which grew louder and clearer as he listened. It was not the murmur of the waterfall, nor the sighing of the wind, nor the babbling of the stream, but a voice, much more beautiful than all three, which sounded from behind the veil of foam, and sang this song:
“I am the daughterOf earth and water,Born of the sun and the snow so white.I fall in foamFrom my mountain home,Downward flash in a torrent bright.My streamlet rushesAnd sparkling gushes,Cold as ice from the virgin snow;And see these swirls,My foamy curlsRinglets white in the pool below.Now see me dancing,Chattering, glancing;Over and under the grey stones grimI slide, I creep,I bound, I leap,On and on thro’ the forest dim;Then, broadly flowing,Where corn is growing,Yellow fields ’neath the azure sky,Thro’ cities oldMy waters coldBy turret and tower go gliding by.I hear the laughingOf revellers quaffingWine, red wine, in the splendid night;At morning greyI pass away,Golden now in the gold dawn’s light.With ceaseless motionI flow to ocean,Encircle first the King’s chief town.From dark to light,From dawn till night,Ocean calls, and I hurry down.”
“I am the daughterOf earth and water,Born of the sun and the snow so white.I fall in foamFrom my mountain home,Downward flash in a torrent bright.My streamlet rushesAnd sparkling gushes,Cold as ice from the virgin snow;And see these swirls,My foamy curlsRinglets white in the pool below.Now see me dancing,Chattering, glancing;Over and under the grey stones grimI slide, I creep,I bound, I leap,On and on thro’ the forest dim;Then, broadly flowing,Where corn is growing,Yellow fields ’neath the azure sky,Thro’ cities oldMy waters coldBy turret and tower go gliding by.I hear the laughingOf revellers quaffingWine, red wine, in the splendid night;At morning greyI pass away,Golden now in the gold dawn’s light.With ceaseless motionI flow to ocean,Encircle first the King’s chief town.From dark to light,From dawn till night,Ocean calls, and I hurry down.”
“I am the daughterOf earth and water,Born of the sun and the snow so white.I fall in foamFrom my mountain home,Downward flash in a torrent bright.My streamlet rushesAnd sparkling gushes,Cold as ice from the virgin snow;And see these swirls,My foamy curlsRinglets white in the pool below.Now see me dancing,Chattering, glancing;Over and under the grey stones grimI slide, I creep,I bound, I leap,On and on thro’ the forest dim;Then, broadly flowing,Where corn is growing,Yellow fields ’neath the azure sky,Thro’ cities oldMy waters coldBy turret and tower go gliding by.I hear the laughingOf revellers quaffingWine, red wine, in the splendid night;At morning greyI pass away,Golden now in the gold dawn’s light.With ceaseless motionI flow to ocean,Encircle first the King’s chief town.From dark to light,From dawn till night,Ocean calls, and I hurry down.”
“I am the daughter
Of earth and water,
Born of the sun and the snow so white.
I fall in foam
From my mountain home,
Downward flash in a torrent bright.
My streamlet rushes
And sparkling gushes,
Cold as ice from the virgin snow;
And see these swirls,
My foamy curls
Ringlets white in the pool below.
Now see me dancing,
Chattering, glancing;
Over and under the grey stones grim
I slide, I creep,
I bound, I leap,
On and on thro’ the forest dim;
Then, broadly flowing,
Where corn is growing,
Yellow fields ’neath the azure sky,
Thro’ cities old
My waters cold
By turret and tower go gliding by.
I hear the laughing
Of revellers quaffing
Wine, red wine, in the splendid night;
At morning grey
I pass away,
Golden now in the gold dawn’s light.
With ceaseless motion
I flow to ocean,
Encircle first the King’s chief town.
From dark to light,
From dawn till night,
Ocean calls, and I hurry down.”
A burst of gay laughter ended the song, a great veil of white spray was flung over Duldy as he sat on the bank, and the stream resumed its inarticulate babbling. Duldy went home dreaming of the lovely face he had seen, but, feeling something cold clasping his wrist, he looked down and saw for a moment that it was encircled by a wreath of foam. The white bubbles vanished, but he still felt the cold clasp, and knew, though he could not see it, that the water bracelet was still on his wrist. As he stood perplexed at this wonder, the murmur of the waterfall sounding like soft thunder through the green woods shaped itself once more into words:
“’Tis I whom thou hearest.I stole thee, my dearest.I loved thee and kissed when thou wast a child.I love thee for ever,No Fate can us sever:The foam-ring will bind thee to me undefiled.”
“’Tis I whom thou hearest.I stole thee, my dearest.I loved thee and kissed when thou wast a child.I love thee for ever,No Fate can us sever:The foam-ring will bind thee to me undefiled.”
“’Tis I whom thou hearest.I stole thee, my dearest.I loved thee and kissed when thou wast a child.I love thee for ever,No Fate can us sever:The foam-ring will bind thee to me undefiled.”
“’Tis I whom thou hearest.
I stole thee, my dearest.
I loved thee and kissed when thou wast a child.
I love thee for ever,
No Fate can us sever:
The foam-ring will bind thee to me undefiled.”
And that is how Duldy knew he was loved by the Water-witch.
He came again to the side of the stream and heard Foamina sing the same song, and when he was going home, he once more heard her voice murmuring through the woods. This time he felt rather angry, because he did not want to be bound to the water-faery, as he was in love with the Princess Elsa. However, being a very polite youth, he said nothing, but went home laughing.
Next time he heard her singing, he could not help telling her the truth, and cried out,—
“I do not love you, but the Princess Elsa.”
Instantly the still waters of the pool foamed furiously and arose up like a great fountain, in the centre of which he saw the water-faery looking angrily at him. Terrified at the sight, he hastened away, and did not go to the stream again, but on his wrist he still felt the clasp of the foam-ring, which nothing, not even hot water, could wash away.
Shortly afterwards, a rumour crept through the kingdom that the Princess Elsa had fallen into a deep sleep, out of which no one could rouse her, and the King made a proclamation that whosoever should succeed in waking her would receive her hand in marriage, and be king after him.
When Duldy heard this, he was anxious to go to the city and try to wake the beautiful Princess, but Dull and Day tried to make him give up the idea.
“You don’t know how to wake her,” said Dull; “it must be a magic sleep into which the Princess has fallen.”
“And no one can wake a princess out of a magic sleep except a faery,” observed Day sagaciously.
“At any rate I’ll try,” replied Duldy resolutely, “I have heard that a princess who slept for a hundred years was awakened by a kiss—perhaps if I kiss the Princess Elsa, she also will awake.”
“I don’t think so,” said Dull, shaking his head.
“And the King would never let a poor shepherd kiss the Princess, I’m certain,” said Day wisely.
“Perhaps I’m not a poor shepherd,” cried Duldy cheerfully. “I may be the son of a king for all you know; but I’ll go to the city and try to waken the Princess with a kiss: the King would not mind a kiss if I wakened her.”
Dull and Day shook their heads, for they were simple people, who did not know anything about courts, and were afraid Duldy, whom they loved fondly, would get into trouble.
However, Duldy was determined to try, for one does not get a chance of becoming a king every day, so, packing up a few things in a bundle, and, taking his trusty oaken staff, he set out in the cool of the evening to walk through the forest on his way to the city of Aurea.
It was a beautiful summer’s night, with a gentle wind blowing, and the silver moon shining down on the snowy peak of the mountain, cast strange shadows in the old forest. Duldy did not mind the dark,—for it was rather dark,—but marched bravely on, singing aloud to keep up his spirits. Very soon he found himself walking beside a brawling stream that sometimes ran directly across his path, and as it was deep and turbulent, he was unable to cross it, but had to walk along the bank to see if he could find a shallow place. He never came to any, however, for the stream still appeared deep and dangerous, and wound in and out and round about in the most serpent-like manner, babbling all the time to itself in a laughing way, as if it was delighted at keeping Duldy from pursuing his journey.
Duldy grew very angry, and tried to leap across, but when he was preparing for a spring, the stream broadened out into a wide river, and seeing that, however far he jumped, he would never land on the opposite bank, he wisely abandoned the attempt.
Then it suddenly struck him that the stream must beFoamina, who did not want him to leave the forest, so he determined to find out if it was really her, for he could not believe that it was only a common stream. In order to invoke her to appear, he stood still, and, lifting up his voice, sang these words:
“’Tis I whom thou hearest;If thou art my dearest,And loved me and kissed me when I was a child,I’ll leave thee for ever,Return to thee never,If thou wilt appear not, in woman shape mild.”
“’Tis I whom thou hearest;If thou art my dearest,And loved me and kissed me when I was a child,I’ll leave thee for ever,Return to thee never,If thou wilt appear not, in woman shape mild.”
“’Tis I whom thou hearest;If thou art my dearest,And loved me and kissed me when I was a child,I’ll leave thee for ever,Return to thee never,If thou wilt appear not, in woman shape mild.”
“’Tis I whom thou hearest;
If thou art my dearest,
And loved me and kissed me when I was a child,
I’ll leave thee for ever,
Return to thee never,
If thou wilt appear not, in woman shape mild.”
HE SAW THE FORM OF THE WATER-FAERY GLIMMERING GHOSTLY UNDER THE THIN WHITE VEIL
HE SAW THE FORM OF THE WATER-FAERY GLIMMERING GHOSTLY UNDER THE THIN WHITE VEIL
HE SAW THE FORM OF THE WATER-FAERY GLIMMERING GHOSTLY UNDER THE THIN WHITE VEIL
No sooner had he sung these words than a great jet of foam spouted up from the stream, scattering him all over with cool spray, and in the centre he saw the form of the water-faery glimmering ghostly under the thin white veil. She tossed her arms aloft, sending a shower of water-drops to sparkle in the moon, shining like jewels, and sang in answer:
“River king’s daughter,Here thou hast brought her,From the cool water;She smiles on thee, dear.Throw but a kiss to me,It will be bliss to me,If you do this to me,A maid I’ll appear.”
“River king’s daughter,Here thou hast brought her,From the cool water;She smiles on thee, dear.Throw but a kiss to me,It will be bliss to me,If you do this to me,A maid I’ll appear.”
“River king’s daughter,Here thou hast brought her,From the cool water;She smiles on thee, dear.Throw but a kiss to me,It will be bliss to me,If you do this to me,A maid I’ll appear.”
“River king’s daughter,
Here thou hast brought her,
From the cool water;
She smiles on thee, dear.
Throw but a kiss to me,
It will be bliss to me,
If you do this to me,
A maid I’ll appear.”
On hearing this, Duldy kissed his hand towards the tall white column of foam, whereupon it vanished, and in its place stood a slender, beautiful woman in an azure robe girdled with white water-lilies, the same flowers also being entwined in her golden hair, which fell in great waves down to the ground.
On seeing this beautiful faery with the profusion of golden tresses, Duldy could only stare, whereupon she came forward with a smile and took his hand. Her touch was bitterly cold, and he shivered in the chilly atmosphere which she seemed to spread around her.
“Are you Foamina?” asked Duldy cautiously.
“Yes, I am the Spirit of the River,” she replied, nodding her golden head. “Why do you wish to see me?”
“Because I want to leave the forest,” said Duldy quickly.
“I know you do,” cried Foamina, with a laugh which sounded like the ripple of water; “but you’ll never do so; I’ll foam round you like a brook, and you’ll never be able to jump across.”
“But why will you do so?” asked the shepherd.
“Because I love you—I love you!” she murmured, bending towards him; “and I won’t let you go to the Princess.”
“But I want to waken the Princess with a kiss.”
“I know you do,” said Foamina again; “but you’ll never kiss her—even if you did it would be no good. I plunged her into that magic sleep by my enchantments, and she’ll never awaken until you promise to marry me.”
“Oh, I’ll never do that!” exclaimed Duldy.
“Very well; then she’ll sleep on for ever,” said the Water-witch, laughing cruelly, while the air round her grew bitterly cold, and the yellow locks of her hair and the blue folds of her robe seemed to undulate over her lovely form like waves of water.
“Then, as you won’t let me leave the forest, I suppose I must stay here,” said Duldy in despair.
“Yes, unless you promise to marry me,” replied Foamina tenderly.
“In that case I’ll remain here for ever,” cried Duldy angrily; “and as it’s so cold, I’ll light a fire.”
“No, don’t do that,” said the Water-witch, shivering; “I don’t like fire,—a cruel, hot thing which burns me up.”
“I don’t care,” retorted Duldy, beginning to collect sticks for his fire; “I’m not going to perish with cold for your sake, especially when I don’t love you.”
“I’ll put your fire out,” cried Foamina in a rage.
“Oh no, you won’t,” replied Duldy coolly; “I won’t let you. Besides, I can talk to you much more comfortably when I’m warm.”
Foamina stood sulkily on one side as Duldy lighted his fire; for, in spite of her threat, she was so afraid of the flames that she dared not approach them. Very soon the shepherd had a large fire blazing away merrily, and the red glare lighted up the sombre branches of the trees and the beautiful face of Foamina, who retired to some little distance when the fire began to burn, singing a strange, sweet song:—
“Fire red,Thee I dread;Water blue,I love you;Fire—waterMaketh hotter;Water—fireMakes expire.”
“Fire red,Thee I dread;Water blue,I love you;Fire—waterMaketh hotter;Water—fireMakes expire.”
“Fire red,Thee I dread;Water blue,I love you;Fire—waterMaketh hotter;Water—fireMakes expire.”
“Fire red,
Thee I dread;
Water blue,
I love you;
Fire—water
Maketh hotter;
Water—fire
Makes expire.”
Now, while she was singing, and Duldy was warming himself at the bright flames, a small brown lizard came creeping out of a bunch of ferns and ran across the open space between Foamina and the shepherd.
As soon as the witch saw it, she flung herself on to it with a wild cry, and dissolved into a wide pool of seething foam, apparently trying to drown the lizard. But Duldy, who was kind to all animals, put his hand into the foam and picked up the lizard, which was nearly dead amid the angry water. He put it on the ground near the fire, but the white foam rolled forward right to the edge of the flames, so the poor lizard had no choice but to be drowned or burned, and Duldy put out his hand once more to save it from the cruel witch. To his dismay, however, the lizard, finding itself hard pressed by the foaming waves of the pool, ran into the fire and hid itself among the burning embers; upon which the water retreated with an angry cry, and spouted up into a snow-white column, out of which stepped Foamina in a fearful rage.
“Why did you not let me kill him?” she cried, throwing some cold spray over Duldy. “I wanted to drown him.”
“The poor lizard was not hurting you,” replied Duldy, laughing.
“It was not a lizard!” shrieked Foamina, stamping her foot. “It was my great enemy Salamander, and you saved him,stupid.”
“I don’t think so,” said Duldy, pointing to the fire. “Salamander ran in there, so he must be burned to a cinder by this time.”
“No, he isn’t!” cried the Water-witch, coming nearer; “that is where he lives! but I’ll put the fire out—I’ll put the fire out and drown him!”
She dissolved once more into a wave of foam, and, rolling forward, flung a great sheet of water over the fire. Duldy expected to see the fire go black out, but instead of that it shot up into a tall column of red flame, and he hastily arose, afraid of being burned by the fierce heat. The wave of foam recoiled with an angry hiss, and, changing into a turbulent brook, flowed away through the forest with fretful murmurings, leaving not a trace behind on the smooth green lawn.
“I’m glad she’s gone,” said Duldy, with a sigh of relief. “Now, perhaps, I’ll be able to go on to the Princess.”
“You shall,” said a clear voice behind him; “and I shall help you.”
Duldy turned, and saw the tall column of flame still glowing fiercely red. Afterwards it changed to a beautiful rose colour, and out of it there stepped a handsome youth of his own height and age, dressed in a short red tunic, with golden sandals, and a flashing band of jewels bound round his head. His face was as bright as the sun, and under his skin Duldy could see a rosy flushing, as though fire was burning inside him, while under his feet were the dull red embers and flickering flames.
“I am Salamander,” said the youth, with a smile. “You saved me as a lizard from my greatest enemy, the Fairy ofWater, and now I am going to reward you.”
“By waking the Princess?” asked Duldy eagerly.
“No; you must do that,” said Salamander, laughing, “but it will take something more than a kiss to wake her. Listen. Foamina is in love with you, and when you said you loved the Princess Elsa, she revenged herself by plunging her into a magic sleep. She did this by sending to King Arago a golden fountain, and when it was set up in the palace, the water which spouted out of it sent the Princess Elsa to sleep by spreading the odour of poppies through the rooms. This odour affects no one but the Princess, so, in order to release her from the spell, you must make a fire of pine cones and sprinkle on the flames some of this powder, then you will see what happens.”
“Oh, thank you!” cried Duldy, taking a small gold box from Salamander. “And will I be King?”
“If you wake the Princess, you certainly will be King after Arago dies,” said Salamander; “but you have a stronger claim to the throne than by marrying the Princess. Do what I tell you, and you’ll find out the secret of your birth.”
“I’ll go at once,” said Duly joyfully, picking up his bundle and stick.
“One word,” observed Salamander, as Duldy turned to go. “On your way to Aurea, do not let any water of stream, river, pool, or brook touch you, or Foamina will get you into her power again.”
“I’m afraid I am in her power now,” said Duldy mournfully. “I’ve got the foam-ring on my wrist; cannot you take it off?”
“I cannot,” said Salamander, shaking his head; “but the Princess will be able to do that. Foamina will be very angrywhen you marry the King’s daughter, and will try to do you mischief. If she does, call on me, and I’ll help you.”
He stepped into the rosy-coloured column again, which immediately changed to a fiery red, and sank lower and lower until it vanished in the ground, when Duldy saw to his surprise that his fire had also vanished, the grass being as smooth and green as if no fire had been lighted at all.
Delighted at having things made so smooth for him, Duldy went on through the forest on his way to Aurea, but, remembering Salamander’s command, he was careful to let no water touch him. Many streams lay across his path, but he either jumped over them or clambered over by the trunks of trees, and when he got down to the plain he crossed all the rivers by the bridges. Looking back, he saw the great white peak of the mountain flashing like a jewel in the blue sky, and the green forests encircling its base like emerald waves, but he espied nothing of Foamina, so trudged merrily along on his way to release the Princess Elsa from her enchantment.
Aftertravelling for some days, Duldy at last arrived, footsore and weary, at the gate of Aurea. It was the entrance to a long stone bridge which crossed the river, encircling the city, and at the farther end was another gate which opened into the principal street. Duldy entered under the wonderfully carved archway, and looked open-mouthed at the smart soldiers on guard, whosered uniforms were all bedizened with gold lace, and who wore helmets of the same metal. To be sure, the good people of Aurea did not think much of gold, as they had such quantities of it, but Duldy, having been brought up very simply in his forest home, was quite amazed at the glare and glitter around him.
All the houses were built of white marble, with latticed windows of yellow gold, and in the centre of the principal square, which was at the end of the great street, a tall slender column of marble wreathed round with bands of gold soared aloft in the clear air. The floor of the square was also of white marble, with four fountains, one at each corner, which threw up jets of sparkling water in shining profusion. Indeed, there seemed to be a great deal of water about this marvellous city; it ran down the sides of every street, it rushed out of the mouths of lions heads of white marble fastened to the walls, and in the centre of some of the squares were great still pools, encircled by marblerims, flashing like mirrors in the sunlight. Flowers! flowers everywhere!—wreathed round the houses, growing by the fountains, and all the people who passed by Duldy wore chaplets on their heads. White pigeons were flashing through the still air, and the whole city was perfumed with the scent of myriad blossoms. Oh, really it was a wonderful city, and Duldy, looking shabby and dusty in his simple dress, seemed rather out of place among all this magnificence. His face and form, however, were so noble that an old white-haired man who was passing turned back to speak to him.
“Fair youth,” he said in a thin, piping voice, “why do you look so tired and dusty? have you not yet tasted of thehospitality of our city?”
“No,” replied Duldy quietly; “I have been too much astonished at the beauties of this place to ask yet for hospitality. I have come to cure the Princess.”
The old man shook his head sadly.
“Ah, many have come to cure the Princess, but none have yet succeeded; for not doing so they lost their heads; so do not try, my son, or maybe you will fail, and your comely golden head will be cut off.”
“Oh, I’m not afraid,” said Duldy, laughing. “I know all about this magic sleep, and will certainly succeed in awakening her, although the others have failed. But tell me, why does the King promise his throne to the person who cures Princess Elsa; has he no son?”
“None,” answered the old man, whose name was Onaro. “The Princess Elsa is his only child. You are a stranger here, I take it, so perhaps do not know how the King Arago came to the throne.”
“No, I do not.”
“Then I will tell you,” said Onaro; “it will show you how merit sometimes succeeds. The last King had the misfortune to be loved by the Water-witch Foamina, who dwells on the summit of the great mountain of Kel. He refused her love, and in revenge she drowned his queen and only son when sailing in a boat. The King was so overcome with grief at the loss of his wife and child that he died, and as there was no one of the blood royal to succeed him, the citizens elected the prime minister, Arago, to be king, and their choice was very wise; but as he is not of royal blood, none of the neighbouring princes will marry his daughter, so King Aragohas promised her hand and his throne to the lucky youth who awakens her from this long sleep.”
“But are you sure the young prince was drowned?” asked Duldy, who remembered how he had been found on the banks of the river Foam.
“Some say he was, others that he was not,” said Onaro, shaking his head. “I do not know; but it is fabled that the enchantress Foamina carried him off with her to her mountain home, but I know not if this be true.”
“How long ago was the Prince lost?” asked the shepherd breathlessly.
“Just seventeen years ago,” replied Onaro; “and he was a year old then, so if he had lived he would now be eighteen years of age.”
“My age,” thought Duldy, with great exultation. “Perhaps, after all, I am the Prince stolen by Foamina;” but he was too wise to say this aloud, lest the King should hear of it, and hang him for high treason.
“As you look tired, you had better come to my house,” said Onaro in a kind voice.
“No, thank you,” replied Duldy, “I’m in too great a hurry; but please tell me how to reach the palace of the King.”
“Go straight on, and you will find it at the end of the street,” said Onaro; “but if you are wise you will not go.”
He spoke these last words to the empty air, for Duldy, as soon as he heard where the palace was to be found, darted up the street like a swallow, so Onaro turned away sighing, thinking that Duldy would soon lose his head, like the rest who had come to cure the Princess.
But Duldy had no idea of losing his head, for it was a very wise head, and useful to him, seeing he could never get another; besides, feeling sure that Salamander would not deceive him, he determined to follow out his instructions about the fire of pine cones and the magic powder.
He soon reached the palace, which was built of dazzling white marble on an elevation at the end of a square, and was approached by a splendid staircase with statues of beautiful women on either side. Duldy looked at the glittering building, with its great towers and pinnacles of gold, its innumerable slender pillars, its golden lattices, and the great dome swelling against the blue sky like an enormous white soap bubble. All this matchless building blazed in the hot sunshine with such splendour that his foot faltered as he placed it on the lowest step, and thought what a poor unknown lad he was to dare such a quest. But the remembrance of the Princess, and the half belief he had in his own royal birth, gave him courage, and he raced lightly up the steps, never halting until he stood at the top, looking down on the wonderful city of white marble and gold spread out before him.
Then he turned and went into a large hall, through the mighty doors, which were of sandalwood, all curiously diapered with gold.
“What do you want?” asked a soldier who was on guard at the door.
“To see the King and cure the Princess,” said Duldy boldly.
The soldier burst out laughing, and, calling to his comrade, whispered in his ear, whereupon they both looked pityingly at Duldy.
“You’ll never succeed,” they said.
“I’ll try, anyhow,” replied Duldy, taking off his cap to a gorgeously-dressed officer who approached. The soldiers told the officer what Duldy wanted, the officer told the groom of the chambers, the groom of the chambers told the prime minister, and the prime minister told the King; whereupon Duldy was ordered before the monarch, who sat upon his throne in the great Hall of Audience.
A splendid hall it was, all of white marble, with a roof of fretted gold, and rich curtains of pale blue velvet hanging between the slender pillars. The throne of solid gold flashed like a jewel, and Duldy’s feet sank in the soft velvet carpets as he stood before the King, a royal-looking man with a crown of silver, for in Aurea silver was thought to be much more precious than gold. But Duldy did not look upon the King, as his attention was fixed upon a great golden fountain in the centre of the hall, out of which spouted the most beautiful coloured water, which first ascended and fell into the topmost basin like liquid silver, then fell from the first to the second basin a sheet of gold, from the second to the third a beautiful crimson tint, from the third to the fourth a bright blue, and from the fourth to the lowest and last a pale green colour. All these different coloured waters glittered like gems in the sunlight which came through the wide windows of the hall, so that the fountain was called the Fountain of Jewels, and Duldy guessed it to be the one which Foamina had sent to the King.
Meanwhile Arago was rather angry at Duldy staring at the fountain instead of himself, for no king likes to be neglected, so he called out to him in a loud voice,—
“Well, my lad, what do you want?”
“To cure the Princess, sire,” said Duldy, quickly turning to the throne.
“You know the penalty if you fail?” said Arago, looking at him steadily.
“Yes, I lose my head.”
“Are you not afraid?”
“No, not a bit; but if I succeed, of course I marry the Princess Elsa, and succeed your Majesty on the throne of Metella,” said Duldy frankly.
“We have passed our royal word that such will be the case,” replied the King, smiling. “Now, begin at once and awaken the Princess.”
“First of all, I must have the Princess brought into this hall,” declared the shepherd.
“Impossible!” said Arago, frowning; “my daughter is asleep on a couch in her bedroom.”
“Then she must be brought here, couch and all,” said Duldy boldly, determined to have his own way; “I can only break the spell here.”
“How so?” asked the King.
“Because the Princess Elsa’s sleep is caused by that fountain,” said Duldy.
“What! the Fountain of Jewels!” cried the King. “That’s nonsense; it was sent to me by the Queen of Faeryland, and she would not send me anything hurtful.”
“I daresayshewould not,” said Duldy, with emphasis; “but she did not send that fountain. It came from Foamina.”
“From Foamina!” cried every one, with a start of terror, for the water-faery was much dreaded in Aurea.
“This is very serious,” said the King gravely. “Young man, you must prove the truth of what you say, and if such is the case, I shall have the fountain removed.”
“Then bring in the Princess,” said Duldy, and, kneeling down, he opened his bundle, which was full of pine cones he had picked up in the forest. “I must have your Majesty’s permission to light a fire with these on the marble floor.”
“Very well,” said Arago, nodding his head; “only take care you don’t spoil the pavement.”
Duldy laughed, and while some of the courtiers went out to bring in the Princess, he removed a portion of the carpet, then piling up the pine cones in a little heap, he set them on fire. While he was doing this, the waters of the fountain kept changing to all sorts of colours, and at last every tint faded into a bright yellow, which looked like liquid gold, and breathed a strong perfume, nearly sending Duldy to sleep. However, he pinched himself to keep awake, and attended to his fire, which was now glowing red-hot, while the King and the courtiers all looked on with great curiosity, being much astonished at the change of the Fountain of Jewels.
The Princess was brought in, sleeping on her couch of purple, with a cloth of gold coverlet thrown over her, and she looked truly beautiful, with her black hair falling in disorder over the couch, and her rose-tinted cheek supported by one hand, while the other was pressed on her faintly beating heart. Duldy fell more in love with her than ever, but, suppressing all outward signs of his passion, he ordered her couch to be placed midway between the fire and the throne.
The pine cones were now a small heap of red-hot embers,so Duldy took out the golden box given to him by Salamander, and began to sing, while he sprinkled some of the powder from the box upon the fire,—
“O my lovely Princess sleeping,By the spells of evil chained,At thy side I’m vigil keeping,Longing, hoping, smiling, weeping,While the day hath slowly waned.In thy sleep are visions gleaming,Faery visions from above,Yet tho’ lovely be thy dreaming,All these visions are but seeming,Wake once more to life and love.Lovely Princess, I have found theeSleeping like a night-closed flower,Of my heart I queen have crowned thee,So tho’ evil spells have bound thee,Laugh to scorn all magic power.”
“O my lovely Princess sleeping,By the spells of evil chained,At thy side I’m vigil keeping,Longing, hoping, smiling, weeping,While the day hath slowly waned.In thy sleep are visions gleaming,Faery visions from above,Yet tho’ lovely be thy dreaming,All these visions are but seeming,Wake once more to life and love.Lovely Princess, I have found theeSleeping like a night-closed flower,Of my heart I queen have crowned thee,So tho’ evil spells have bound thee,Laugh to scorn all magic power.”
“O my lovely Princess sleeping,By the spells of evil chained,At thy side I’m vigil keeping,Longing, hoping, smiling, weeping,While the day hath slowly waned.
“O my lovely Princess sleeping,
By the spells of evil chained,
At thy side I’m vigil keeping,
Longing, hoping, smiling, weeping,
While the day hath slowly waned.
In thy sleep are visions gleaming,Faery visions from above,Yet tho’ lovely be thy dreaming,All these visions are but seeming,Wake once more to life and love.
In thy sleep are visions gleaming,
Faery visions from above,
Yet tho’ lovely be thy dreaming,
All these visions are but seeming,
Wake once more to life and love.
Lovely Princess, I have found theeSleeping like a night-closed flower,Of my heart I queen have crowned thee,So tho’ evil spells have bound thee,Laugh to scorn all magic power.”
Lovely Princess, I have found thee
Sleeping like a night-closed flower,
Of my heart I queen have crowned thee,
So tho’ evil spells have bound thee,
Laugh to scorn all magic power.”
Duldy now emptied all the powder on the fire, and a thick violet mist arose, which, trailing along the floor like a sinuous serpent, writhed across to the fountain and commenced to coil around it. Coil after coil it curled around, till it reached the topmost basin, so that the whole fountain could not be seen, but only the slender jet of water which shot out of the violet mist like the yellow horn of a trumpet lily. Duldy, waving his arms towards the fountain, began to sing again,—
“I have found her—long I’ve sought her,To my heart this maid I take.Cease thy spells, O river-daughter,Vanish, fountain—vanish, water,Let my Princess fair awake.”
“I have found her—long I’ve sought her,To my heart this maid I take.Cease thy spells, O river-daughter,Vanish, fountain—vanish, water,Let my Princess fair awake.”
“I have found her—long I’ve sought her,To my heart this maid I take.Cease thy spells, O river-daughter,Vanish, fountain—vanish, water,Let my Princess fair awake.”
“I have found her—long I’ve sought her,
To my heart this maid I take.
Cease thy spells, O river-daughter,
Vanish, fountain—vanish, water,
Let my Princess fair awake.”
At this the yellow jet shot up as high as the fretted ceiling of the hall, and then sank down till it vanished in the violet mist, which began to whirl round and round, growing smaller and smaller, sinking at every whirl till it vanished altogether, and with it the fountain, leaving nothing but the bare white gleaming marble floor. But the Princess still slept on, although Duldy could see a faint flutter of her eyelids, which showed she was awaking, so, bending forward, he kissed her red lips three times, and sang once more,—
“Now the end of all things this is,Thou art free from magic snare.Life for thee hath many blisses,Words of love and endless kisses.Ope thine eyes, O maiden fair.”
“Now the end of all things this is,Thou art free from magic snare.Life for thee hath many blisses,Words of love and endless kisses.Ope thine eyes, O maiden fair.”
“Now the end of all things this is,Thou art free from magic snare.Life for thee hath many blisses,Words of love and endless kisses.Ope thine eyes, O maiden fair.”
“Now the end of all things this is,
Thou art free from magic snare.
Life for thee hath many blisses,
Words of love and endless kisses.
Ope thine eyes, O maiden fair.”
At this the beautiful Princess opened her eyes, and looked long and steadily at Duldy, then, rising to her feet, she smiled, and flung her white arms round his neck.
“It is the face of my dreams,” she sighed. “Oh, my love, I have waited for thee long years!”
So the spell was broken, for the Princess had awakened, to the delight of King Arago, who descended from his throne and joined her hand to that of Duldy.
“I will keep my word,” he said gaily. “You have released not only the Princess, but all of us, from the power of Foamina, so you will be married at once, and to-night I’ll give a great ball in honour of you both.”
Oh, how everybody cheered, and the courtiers ran hither and thither, telling the good news to one another. The city was in a great state of excitement, and all the poor people weregiven plenty of food to eat. Duldy led his Princess to her room, and then retired in order to dress himself in his wedding clothes, while the people cheered in the city, the joy bells rang out, and even Foamina in her mountain solitude heard the cry, “Long live Prince Duldy!”
Youmay be sure Foamina was very angry when she heard the rejoicings in the city of Aurea, for by her magic power she knew that in spite of all her enchantments Duldy was going to marry the Princess. She was sitting on a couch of snow high up on the mountain of Kel, and the moon was shining down on her as she looked far across the plain to the illuminated city, where Duldy was being married to Elsa. As she thought of this, Foamina arose quickly, stamping her foot with rage, so that a great mass of snow came thundering down the side of the mountain and crashed through the green trees.
“I won’t let him be happy!” cried Foamina in a rage, “he still has the foam bracelet on his wrist, so I’ll part him from his Princess yet, in spite of Salamander and his threats.”
So she flung herself off the snow bed and poured down the valley in a torrent of angry foam. First she went to the faery of one stream, and then to the faery of another—making them promise that they would roar like torrents down the mountain, through the plain, and make the great river round the rockupon which Aurea was built rise higher and higher till it flooded the whole city. They all promised gladly, for they were very much afraid of offending Foamina, who was a very malignant faery, and could do them all harm.
Then the Water-witch flowed away through the plain to the great river, and, rising up in the principal fountain of the city, she spoke to all the streams and fountains of the city, in order to make them pour out as much water as they could to drown the city, and this they promised to do, so Foamina was now quite satisfied she would be revenged upon Duldy and Salamander for destroying the Fountain of Jewels and awaking the Princess Elsa.
At the palace all was festivity and rejoicing, and the King was giving a great ball in honour of the marriage; for Duldy and the Princess were now married, and sat on two golden thrones, looking wonderfully handsome and happy. Below them on the marble floor all the lords and ladies were dancing the most graceful dances in the world, and the musicians placed up in a high gallery sang and played the most delightful music, while tables covered with nice tarts and cakes and other beautiful things ran down on each side of the hall.
But notwithstanding that Duldy had married the Princess, and was going to be king when Arago died, he felt quite unhappy, as the foam bracelet still clasped his wrist.
“What is the matter, Prince?” asked Elsa, putting her beautiful white arms round his neck; “you look so sad.”
“I’m afraid of Foamina,” said Duldy, showing Elsa his wrist. “Look at the foam bracelet chaining my wrist; I cannotget it off. Look, you can see it quite plainly.”
And indeed they could, a slender ring of white foam which clasped his wrist so tightly that Duldy felt as though it were the hand of the enchantress grasping him, to drag him away from his lovely bride to the depths of her cold pool.
“Is it cold?” asked Elsa.
“Yes, very cold,” replied Duldy disconsolately. “I wish I could take it off.”
“I think I can do that,” said the Princess, laughing. “If it’s cold, it will soon melt away under my warm kisses;” and so saying, she bent down and kissed his wrist three times with her red lips. Much to Duldy’s surprise, at the first kiss the foam bracelet seemed to grow loose, at the second it fell off his wrist and lay on the floor like a white ring, and at the third it vanished with a loud noise.
Duldy was overjoyed that he was now free from the power of the enchantress, and led the Princess out on to the balcony which overlooked the river. It was a beautiful night, and Duldy saw the great white peak of Kel shining against the dark blue sky, and the heaving waters of the river at his feet. Just as he kissed the lips of his Princess, a confused noise sounded from the city below. The river, lashing itself into angry waves, began to rise, and as Duldy and the Princess, full of dismay, retreated to the hall, a crowd of people rushed in and stopped the dancing.
“Sire! sire!” they called out to the King, “the river is rising round the city, and all the fountains are spouting foam! We are lost! we are lost!”
Everything was in confusion, people rushing here and there shrieking and crying, while the lights of the city died out, andthe cruel, dark waters kept on rising, until every one thought the whole city would sink beneath the flood.
Duldy knew it was the work of Foamina, and his mind was quite satisfied on that point when a great white wave of foam rolled into the hall over the balcony. On this the Water-witch was riding, singing loudly,—