and had been enchanted by a Troll, who had transformed her into a loathsome toad.

At the same moment a great agitation and noise arose in the palace, and the court was filled with courtiers, knights, and high-born dames, all of whom had, in like manner, been enchanted. All now came forward and greeted their queen as well as the brave youth who had released them. But the princess, not to lose time, ordered horses to be put instantly to her gilded chariot, and made preparations for immediate departure. She then caused the peasant's son to be clothed in silk and rich scarlet, gave him arms and other equipments, such as might beseem a prince's son; and thus was the poor peasant lad transformed into as noble and stately a youth as ever girded a sword to his side. When everything was ready for the journey, the king's daughter said: "I can well believe that thy thoughts are turned to thy brothers, who are directing their steps towards home together with their brides. We will, therefore, travel to thy father, that he may also know what kind of bride thou hast earned for thyself." With all this the youth was as much bewildered as if he had fallen from the clouds; but there was no time for reflection; he, therefore, immediately stepped into the gilded chariot, and in great state and with a numerous retinue they departed to visit the old peasant in his cottage.

After travelling for some time, they came to the hostel by the wayside, and the youth naturally felt a strong desire to know whether his brothers, as usual, still made it their quarters. He therefore caused the chariot to stop, and stepped into the house. On opening the door, he saw his brothers sitting amid cups and jugs, eating and drinking and making merry. Each of the brothers had with him his betrothed bride, whose persons were of the homeliest cast. When the youth had seen all this, he hastened away without having been recognised, and returning to his bride in the gilded chariot, proceeded on his journey. But the guests in the hostel wondered exceedingly who the great prince might be whom they had just seen.

The youth and his fair bride now travelled on to the old peasant's cottage, at which they did not arrive until late in the evening. They entered and begged to have house

room for the night; but the old man answered, as was the truth, that he was expecting his three sons with their brides, and had, moreover, only a very small cottage, that was ill calculated to receive persons of such high condition. But the king's daughter said that she would be mistress in the present case, and the old peasant could not gainsay her will. She then ordered a sumptuous Yule-feast to be prepared, and sent her pages out into the neighbourhood to invite guests to the entertainment. When the evening was far advanced, and the feast was ready, the two elder sons arrived with their brides; and no one will be disposed to wonder that the old man was not particularly delighted with his daughters-in-law. While they were sitting at table, the king's daughter asked the old man whence he had procured so fine a cloth and such a beautiful drinking-cup. The old peasant answered: "My two elder sons were out, and received them in recompense for their services." Whereupon the princess said: "No, thy elder sons have earned neither the one nor the other; but if thou wilt know the truth, it is thy youngest son who has earned them; and here you see the fellow both of the cloth and cup." When she had thus spoken, the youth rose from the table, fell on his father's neck, and all might now see that the stranger prince was no other than the old peasant's youngest son, the little lad, who had formerly been so despised by his kindred. When the old man recognised his son, and, at the same time, heard all that had taken place, he was stricken with amazement, and could scarcely believe his own eyes and ears. But the two elder sons stood with shame and ignominy before their father and the numerous guests; and their treachery and falsehood became in later times a by-word in the whole neighbourhood.

The youth and the beautiful princess now allowed the guests to drink to their happy union, and there was such a Yule-feast as had not been seen within the memory of man. But when Yule was over, the bride and bridegroom returned to their kingdom, and took the old peasant with them. And the youth became king over the whole realm, and lived with his fair queen in love and concord.

THE PRINCESS IN THE CAVERN.

From South Småland.

THERE was once, in very old times, a king who had an only daughter. The young princess was of a very kind disposition and beautiful in person, so that she won the heart of every one who saw her. When she was grown up, there were many princes and noble youths that sought her hand and affection, and among them was the son of a powerful king from a distant kingdom. He often conversed with the fair maiden, and the youthful pair mutually agreed to possess each other.

In the meanwhile it happened that a war broke out, and the enemy invaded the country with a large army. Finding himself unable to withstand so great a force, the king caused a cavern to be excavated in the middle of an extensive forest, in which he might place his daughter, remote from the perils of warfare. He provided her abundantly with the necessaries of life, and gave her for company a female attendant, also a dog, and a cock, to enable them to distinguish one day from another. The king then prepared for the contest, and the young prince made himself ready to accompany him. But when the hour of separation came, the prince and princess were sorely afflicted, and conversed long with each other. The princess said: My mind tells me that we shall not soon meet again; I will therefore make one request which thou must not refuse. Thou shalt promise never to marry any one who cannot wash the spots out of this handkerchief, and finish the weaving of this gold-web." With these words she handed the prince a handkerchief, and a web that was curiously worked in gold and silk. The prince received them, saying that he never would forget her request. They then parted from each other, and the princess was consigned to the cavern; but the prince and the king went forth to defend the country against the foe.

The armies met and a desperate conflict ensued; but fortune was unfavourable to the king, who fell gloriously in defence of his kingdom; and the young prince returned to

his own country. The enemy then overran the whole land with plunder and slaughter, burnt the royal palace, and harried around it both far and near. The foe at length departed, leaving the land little better than a desert. But no one knew what was become of the king's daughter, whether she were dead or had fallen into the hands of the enemy.

In the meanwhile the princess and her servant still remained in the cavern, and employed their time in gold embroidery, expecting the king's return. But one day went and another came, and yet he did not come to release them from their prison. And thus passed seven long years. Their provisions were now at an end, so that they had no longer wherewith to sustain life, and were compelled to kill the cock; but from that day they no longer had the means of knowing how the time passed, and their lot appeared harder than ever. Shortly after, the servant died of grief and hunger, and the king's daughter was left alone in the dark cave. In her distress she knew not what course to adopt. At last she took a knife, and began scraping and chipping the roof without intermission, and to such good purpose that at length she made an opening in the top, and on the third day emerged from the cave in which she had been confined so long.

The princess then attired herself in her attendant's clothes, called her dog, and set out to wander in the desert. After long journeying, without meeting with a human being, she perceived a smoke rising among the trees, and at length came to where an aged man was burning charcoal in the forest. The princess approached the coal-burner, and begged of him a little food, saying that she would gladly assist him in his labour. The man gave her a morsel of bread, and she helped him to burn coal. While talking together, the young damsel inquired what had taken place in the country, and the old man informed her of the death of the king, and of all that had occurred during the last seven years. At this narrative the princess was sadly afflicted, and it entered her thoughts "they have few friends who reckon many green graves.

When a short time had elapsed, and the coal was burnt, the

old man told her that he required no further help, and advised her to seek for service up at the king's palace, especially as he could well see that she was not accustomed to hard labour. Thus the princess again commenced her wanderings; but nothing is recorded of her course before she came to a great water; not knowing how to pass which, she sat down on the margin and wept. While she thus sat a large wolf came running out of the forest, and said :— "Give me thy hound,

Then thou shalt cross over wave and ground."

The king's daughter, much as it grieved her, yet durst not deny the wolf's demand, but gave him the dog. When he had satisfied his hunger, he said :—

"On my back set thee,

The waves shall not wet thee."

The princess instantly placed herself on his back, and he conveyed her across the lake to the opposite shore. By the water's edge there stood a fair royal palace, of which the king's son, who in former days had plighted his faith to the princess, was lord and master.

We must now relate that, while the princess was shut up in the cavern, the king had died, and the prince had succeeded to the throne after his father. When some years had passed the king's lieges besought him to choose himself a queen; but he was deaf to their entreaties, for he thought unceasingly on the fair maiden whom he had betrothed in his youth. Thus seven long years passed on, and not the slightest intelligence could be obtained of the princess. The prince then concluded that she could be no longer living, and therefore, after a consultation with his chief men, he issued a proclamation that she should be his queen who could finish the princess's gold web, and wash the stains from her handkerchief. When this was known in various countries, there came maidens from the east and west, all eager to win the youthful king; but there was no one so skilful as to be able to fulfil the conditions. At this juncture there came also a young female of rank, who was in like manner desirous of trying her luck. To this lady the princess went, and begged to be taken into