hisfellow-travellerstoodbywithfoldedhands,gazingonthedarkwoodandthetownsbathedinthewarmsunshine.atthismomenttheresoundedovertheirheadssweetmusic.theylookedup,anddiscoveredalargewhiteswanhoveringintheair,andsingingasneverbirdsangbefore.butthesongsoonbecameweakerandweaker,thebird'sheaddrooped,andhesunkslowlydown,andlaydeadattheirfeet.

"itisabeautifulbird,"saidthetraveller,"andtheselargewhitewingsareworthagreatdealofmoney.iwilltakethemwithme.youseenowthataswordwillbeveryuseful."

sohecutoffthewingsofthedeadswanwithoneblow,andcarriedthemawaywithhim.

theynowcontinuedtheirjourneyoverthemountainsformanymiles,tilltheyatlengthreachedalargecity,containinghundredsoftowers,thatshoneinthesunshinelikesilver.inthemidstofthecitystoodasplendidmarblepalace,roofedwithpureredgold,inwhichdwelttheking.johnandhiscompanionwouldnotgointothetownimmediately;sotheystoppedataninnoutsidethetown,tochangetheirclothes;fortheywishedtoappearrespectableastheywalkedthroughthestreets.thelandlordtoldthemthatthekingwasaverygoodman,whoneverinjuredanyone:butastohisdaughter,"heavendefendus!"

shewasindeedawickedprincess.shepossessedbeautyenough-nobodycouldbemoreelegantorprettierthanshewas;butwhatofthat?forshewasawickedwitch;andinconsequenceofherconductmanynobleyoungprinceshadlosttheirlives.anyonewasatlibertytomakeheranoffer;wereheaprinceorabeggar,itmatterednottoher.shewouldaskhimtoguessthreethingswhichshehadjustthoughtof,andifhesucceed,hewastomarryher,andbekingoverallthelandwhenherfatherdied;butifhecouldnotguessthesethreethings,thensheorderedhimtobehangedortohavehisheadcutoff.theoldking,herfather,wasverymuchgrievedatherconduct,buthecouldnotpreventherfrombeingsowicked,becauseheoncesaidhewouldhavenothingmoretodowithherlovers;shemightdoasshepleased.eachprincewhocameandtriedthethreeguesses,sothathemightmarrytheprincess,hadbeenunabletofindthemout,andhadbeenhangedorbeheaded.theyhadallbeenwarnedintime,andmighthaveleftheralone,iftheywould.theoldkingbecameatlastsodistressedatallthesedreadfulcircumstances,thatforawholedayeveryyearheandhissoldierskneltandprayedthattheprincessmightbecomegood;butshecontinuedaswickedasever.theoldwomenwhodrankbrandywouldcoloritquiteblackbeforetheydrankit,toshowhowtheymourned;andwhatmorecouldtheydo?

"whatahorribleprincess!"saidjohn;"sheoughttobewellflogged.ifiweretheoldking,iwouldhaveherpunishedinsomeway."

justthentheyheardthepeopleoutsideshouting,"hurrah!"and,lookingout,theysawtheprincesspassingby;andshewasreallysobeautifulthateverybodyforgotherwickedness,andshouted"hurrah!"twelvelovelymaidensinwhitesilkdresses,holdinggoldentulipsintheirhands,rodebyhersideoncoal-blackprincessherselfhadasnow-whitesteed,deckedwithdiamondsandrubies.herdresswasofclothofgold,andthewhipsheheldinherhandlookedlikeasunbeam.thegoldencrownonherheadglitteredlikethestarsofheaven,andhermantlewasformedofthousandsofbutterflies'wingssewntogether.yetsheherselfwasmorebeautifulthanall.

whenjohnsawher,hisfacebecameasredasadropofblood,andhecouldscarcelyutteraword.theprincesslookedexactlylikethebeautifulladywiththegoldencrown,ofwhomhehaddreamedonthenighthisfatherdied.sheappearedtohimsolovelythathecouldnothelplovingher.

"itcouldnotbetrue,"hethought,"thatshewasreallyawickedwitch,whoorderedpeopletobehangedorbeheaded,iftheycouldnotguessherthoughts.everyonehaspermissiontogoandaskherhand,eventhepoorestbeggar.ishallpayavisittothepalace,"hesaid;"imustgo,foricannothelpmyself."

thentheyalladvisedhimnottoattemptit;forhewouldbesuretosharethesamefateastherest.hisfellow-travelleralsotriedtopersuadehimagainstit;butjohnseemedquitesureofsuccess.hebrushedhisshoesandhiscoat,washedhisfaceandhishands,combedhissoftflaxenhair,andthenwentoutaloneintothetown,andwalkedtothepalace.

"comein,"saidtheking,asjohnknockedatthedoor.johnopenedit,andtheoldking,inadressinggownandembroideredslippers,cametowardshim.hehadthecrownonhishead,carriedhissceptreinonehand,andtheorbintheother."waitabit,"saidhe,andheplacedtheorbunderhisarm,sothathecouldoffertheotherhandtojohn;butwhenhefoundthatjohnwasanothersuitor,hebegantoweepsoviolently,thatboththesceptreandtheorbfelltothefloor,andhewasobligedtowipehiseyeswithhisdressinggown.pooroldking!"