But however loud he croaked it did him no good She paid him no attention but hurried home and soon forgot all about the poor frog who had to climb down into his well again Next day when she was sitting at the dinner table with the king and all the courtiers eating from her little golden plate something came crawling up the marble steps outside the castle slip slop slip slop and when it was at the top of the flight of steps it knocked on the door and called Youngest daughter of the king open the door to let me in She went to see who was outside the door but when she opened it there sat the frog Then she quickly slammed the door and sat down again feeling very frightened The king could see that her heart was beating fast and he asked What are you afraid of my child Is there a giant outside the door wanting to take you away No she said it's not a giant it's a nasty frog What does the frog want Oh dear father when I was sitting beside the well in the forest yesterday my golden ball fell into the water And the frog fetched it out because I was crying so hard and when he insisted I promised to be his friend but I never thought he could get out of the water Now he's outside the door and wants to come in And already there was a second knock on the door and a voice called out Youngest king's daughter Open the door Don't you remember The promise you swore Beside the cool water Youngest king's daughter Open the door Then the king said If you made a promise you must keep it so go and open the door to him She went and opened the door and the frog hopped in and followed her back to her chair He sat there on the floor and said Pick me up so that I can sit beside you She hesitated until at last the king told her to do as the frog said Once he was on the chair he wanted to get up on the table and when he was on the table he said Push your little golden plate closer to me so that we can eat from it together She did as the frog said but anyone could tell that she was reluctant to do so The frog ate a good dinner but she could hardly swallow a morsel At last the frog said I've eaten all I want and now I'm tired so carry me into your little bedchamber make up the bed with silken sheets and we'll lie down to sleep
The king's daughter began to weep because she was afraid of the cold clammy frog She didn't like to touch him and now she must let him sleep in her lovely clean little bed But the king was angry and said If someone helps you in your hour of need then you must not despise him afterwards So she picked up the frog with the tips of two fingers carried him to her bedchamber and put him down in a corner However when she was lying in bed he came crawling up and said I'm tired I want to sleep in as much comfort as you so pick me up or I'll tell your father At that she lost her temper seized the frog and threw him against the wall with all her might saying That will keep you quiet you nasty frog However when he fell to the floor he wasn't a frog any more he had turned into a king's son with kind and beautiful eyes And now as her father the king wished he was to be her dear friend and her husband He told her that a wicked witch had cast a spell on him and no one but the king's youngest daughter could break the spell and release him from the water in the well Tomorrow he said they would go off to his own kingdom together Then they went to sleep and at sunrise next morning a carriage drawn by eight white horses came driving up The horses had white ostrich plumes on their heads and were harnessed to the carriage with golden chains and behind the carriage stood the young king's servant Faithful Henry Faithful Henry had been so upset when his master was turned into a frog that he had had three iron bands fastened around his heart to keep it from breaking with misery and sadness Now that the carriage was to take the young king away to his kingdom Faithful Henry helped him and his young wife into it got up behind them again and was full of joy to see that the spell had been broken When they had gone part of the way the king's son heard a cracking noise behind him like something breaking So he turned round and called Henry the carriage is breaking But Faithful Henry replied No sir that was my heart waking Cracking one of the iron bands Forged around it when from your lands You were exiled by the witch's spell To be a frog and live in a well As they drove along there was a second cracking sound and then a third and each time the king's son thought the carriage was breaking but it was only the iron bands falling away from Faithful Henry's heart because now his master was released from the spell and was happy 10
