Page:Fairy tales and stories (Andersen, Tegner).djvu/314

282 done. It was still night, the king was asleep, and they dared not wake him. The brothers begged and prayed and threatened; the guard appeared, and even the king came out and asked what was the matter. But just at that moment the sun rose and there were no princes to be seen, but over the palace eleven wild swans were seen flying away. All the inhabitants were streaming out through the gate of the town to see the witch being burned. A miserable horse drew the carton which Elisa sat; she had been given a gown of coarse sackcloth to wear, her beautiful long hair hung loosely about her lovely head; her cheeks were as pale as death, her lips moved slowly, while her fingers were twisting the green flax: even on her way to death she would not give up the work she had begun. The ten shirts of mail lay at her feet, and she was now busy knitting the eleventh, while the mob was scoffing at her.

"Look at the witch, how she is mumbling to herself! She has n't got a hymn-book in her hand, — no! There she sits with some of her wicked witchery. Let us tear it into a thousand pieces!"

And all the people rushed at her and wanted to tear the shirts to pieces, when the eleven wild swans came flying and settled down around her on the cart, flapping their large wings. At this the crowd drew back in terror.

"It's a sign from heaven! She must be innocent!" many whispered; but they did not venture to say it aloud.

The executioner now took her by the hand, when suddenly she threw the eleven shirts over the swans, and there stood eleven handsome princes; but the youngest had a swan's wing instead of one of his arms, because one of the sleeves, which she had not been able to finish, was missing in his shirt.

"Now I may speak!" she said. "I am innocent!"

And the people, who had seen what had taken place, bowed before her as before a saint; but she sank insensible into her brothers' arms, overcome by all the excitement, anxiety, and grief she had gone through.

"Yes, she is innocent!" said the eldest brother; and now he related everything that had happened, and while he spoke a perfume as from millions of roses filled the air, for every log in the pile had taken root and put forth branches till they formed a fragrant hedge, broad and high, with red roses, above which bloomed a white, bright flower that shone like a star. This the king plucked and placed in Elisa's bosom when she awoke with peace and happiness in her heart.

And all the church bells began ringing of themselves, and the birds came flying into the town in great flocks. Such a wedding procession as that which returned to the palace no king had ever seen.