Page:Tales and Legends from the Land of the Tzar.djvu/208

192 duced him to the king. The wolf returned King Dymion's bow, and then sat down on his hind-legs, greatly to the amusement of the guests, and respectfully complimented the ladies and gentlemen, saying such very agreeable things that it made them feel even more at their ease than they had done before.

The grey wolf's costume was most extraordinary. He had a red cap on his head with green feathers in it; round his neck he had a blue silk ribbon; he wore a red velvet jacket embroidered with gold, lilac gloves with lace ruffles, a scarf round his waist; on his hind-feet he had slippers, and on his tail he wore a silver net ornamented with diamonds.

The feast continued until very late at night; but as soon as it was dark the golden cassowary was brought in with its golden cage, and hung up on the balcony. The whole court shone like lightning immediately, so that no lamps were wanted, not even in the streets round about the palace, as the cassowary afforded light enough.

The grey wolf stopped all night at the palace, but when morning came he was ready to go. However, Prince John begged him to remain in the palace, saying that they would give him all the comforts that could be desired, and that they would even give him a set of rooms all to himself if he wished it. The grey wolf at last consented, much to the prince's joy.

After a long period of happiness King Dymion died, and left all the kingdom to his son, who lived to a very old age with his queen, and was surrounded by a number of beautiful children.