home She soon forgot the poor frog who was forced to go back into his well The next day the princess was seated at the table with the king and the nobles She was eating from her little golden plate Something came creeping splish splash splish splash up the marble staircase When it got up to the top it knocked at the door It cried Princess youngest Princess open the door for me The princess ran to see who was outside When she opened the door there sat the frog She slammed the door closed and sat down to dinner again but she was quite frightened My child what are you so afraid of the king said Is there a giant outside who wants to carry you away It is no giant but a disgusting frog the princess replied What does the frog want with you Dear Father yesterday I was in the forest sitting by the well and playing My golden ball 8
fell into the water The frog brought it out again for me Because he insisted I promised him he would be my companion I never thought he would be able to come out of his water Princess Youngest princess The frog knocked a second time and cried Open the door for me Do you not know what you said to me Yesterday by the cool waters of the well Princess youngest princess Open the door for me Then said the king That which you have promised you must perform Go let him in The princess opened the door The frog hopped in and followed her to her chair There he sat and cried Lift me up beside you The princess delayed until the king commanded her to do it Once the frog was on the chair he wanted to be on the table When he was on the table he said Push your little golden plate nearer to me that we 9
may eat together She did but it was easy to see she did not do it willingly The frog enjoyed what he ate But almost every mouthful she took choked her At length the frog said I have eaten and am satisfi ed Now I am tired Carry me into your little room and make your little silken bed ready We will lie down and go to sleep The king’s daughter began to cry She was afraid of the cold frog that was now to sleep in her pretty clean bed But the king grew angry He who helped you in your trouble should not afterward be despised by you he said So she took hold of the frog with two fi ngers carried him upstairs and put him in a corner But when she was in bed he crept up to her He said I am tired and want to sleep as well as you Lift me up or I will tell your father The princess was terribly angry She threw him with all her might against the wall Now will you be quiet horrid frog she said 10
But when he fell down he was no frog but a king’s son with kind and beautiful eyes He told her he had been cursed by a wicked witch No one could have delivered him but herself By her father’s will he was now her dear companion and husband Tomorrow they would go together into his kingdom Then they went to sleep The next morning a carriage came driving up with eight white horses They had ostrich feathers on their heads and were harnessed with golden chains Behind stood the young prince’s servant Faithful Henry Faithful Henry had been so unhappy when his master was turned into a frog He had three iron bands laid around his heart The bands were to keep his heart from bursting with grief and sadness The carriage was to conduct the king’s son into his kingdom Faithful Henry helped them both in and placed himself behind He was full 11
