"therearesomany,"repliedtheemperor,"whoapplyforplaces,thatforthepresentihavenovacancy,butiwillrememberyou.butwaitamoment;itjustcomesintomymind,irequiresomebodytolookaftermypigs,forihaveagreatmany."

thustheprincewasappointedimperialswineherd,andassuchhelivedinawretchedlysmallroomnearthepigsty;thereheworkedalldaylong,andwhenitwasnighthehadmadeaprettylittlerewerelittlebellsroundtherim,andwhenthewaterbegantoboilinit,thebellsbegantoplaytheoldtune:

"ajollyoldsowoncelivedinasty,

threelittlepiggieshadshe,"&c.butwhatwasmorewonderfulwasthat,whenoneputafingerintothesteamrisingfromthepot,onecouldatoncesmellwhatmealstheywerepreparingoneveryfireinthewholetown.thatwasindeedmuchmoreremarkablethantherose.whentheprincesswithherladiespassedbyandheardthetune,shestoppedandlookedquitepleased,forshealsocouldplayit-infact,itwastheonlytuneshecouldplay,andsheplayeditwithonefinger.

"thatisthetuneiknow,"sheexclaimed."hemustbeawell-educatedswineherd.goandaskhimhowmuchtheinstrumentis."

oneoftheladieshadtogoandask;butsheputonpattens.

"whatwillyoutakeforyourpot?"askedthelady.

"iwillhavetenkissesfromtheprincess,"saidtheswineherd.

"godforbid,"saidthelady.

"well,icannotsellitforless,"repliedtheswineherd.

"whatdidhesay?"saidtheprincess.

ireallycannottellyou,"repliedthelady.

"youcanwhisperitintomyear."

"itisverynaughty,"saidtheprincess,andwalkedoff.

butwhenshehadgonealittledistance,thebellsrangagainsosweetly: