Page:Tales and Legends from the Land of the Tzar.djvu/206

190 stood sleeping in the fields, with the ploughmen by their sides. All created animals were asleep. The leaves on the trees did not rustle, no wind brushed through the air, all was as still as in the grave. The people in the houses and in the street, walking, sitting, standing; all the cats, dogs, hens, horses, sheep, flies on the wall, and even the very smoke from the chimneys,—were all and each asleep. Such was the condition of the kingdom when Prince John rode through with the princess. They rode up to the palace, and there, on the marble steps, they saw the bodies of Prince Clement and Prince Peter, whom the immortal skeleton had killed.

Prince John went up the stairs; all was quiet. In the large hall there was evidently going to be a feast, people were standing all round, dressed in their Sunday best, but every one was sleeping. King Dymion was standing with all his courtiers behind him, while judges sat with unspoken words on their lips.

Prince John laughed at the sight, for it really was most amusing; then he brought in the dulcimers, and made them play. Hardly had they begun when up jumped all the people and began dancing, jumping, and turning somersaults—which were very fashionable in those days. The judges at once pronounced the words which they had not had time to utter. What they were I do not know.

When King Dymion woke and saw his beloved son standing before him with the beautiful princess, he was too delighted for words. He laughed, he cried, he looked at them, and fondled and embraced