Page:Fairy tales and stories (Andersen, Tegner).djvu/209



HERE was once upon a time a poor prince who had a kingdom which was very small, but quite big enough to get married upon, and married he would be.

It was rather bold of him, to be sure, that he should dare to say to the emperor's daughter: "Will you have me?" But he did do it, for his name was renowned far and wide, and hundreds of princesses would have said, "Yes," and thanked him into the bargain; but do you think she did?

Now you shall hear.

On the grave of the prince's father there grew a rose-tree—oh, such a lovely rose-tree! It blossomed only every fifth year, and then it bore only a single rose, the fragrance of which was so sweet that every one who smelled it forgot all his cares and troubles. And then he had a nightingale which could sing as if every possible melody was fixed in its little throat. This rose and this nightingale the princess should have, and they were therefore both put into two large silver caskets and sent to her.

The emperor ordered the presents to be carried into the large hall, where the princess was playing at "receiving visitors" with her maids of honor,—they had nothing else to do,—and when she saw the large silver caskets with the presents she clapped her hands with joy.