登陆注册
15486400000028

第28章 The Three Crowns(2)

Next day, he went out after breakfast, and she sent the prince to the castle where the eldest sister was. The same thing happened there; but when the giant was snoring, the princess wakened up the prince, and they saddled two steeds in the stables and rode into the field on them. But the horses' heels struck the stones outside the gate, and up got the giant and strode after them. He roared and he shouted, and the more he shouted, the faster ran the horses, and just as the day was breaking he was only twenty perches behind. But the prince didn't leave the castle of Seven Inches without being provided with something good. He reined in his steed, and flung a short, sharp knife over his shoulder, and up sprung a thick wood between the giant and themselves. They caught the wind that blew before them, and the wind that blew behind them did not catch them. At last they were near the castle where the other sister lived; and there she was, waiting for them under a high hedge, and a fine steed under her.

But the giant was now in sight, roaring like a hundred lions, and the other giant was out in a moment, and the chase kept on. For every two springs the horses gave, the giants gave three, and at last they were only seventy perches off. Then the prince stopped again, and flung the second knife behind him. Down went all the flat field, till there was a quarry between them a quarter of a mile deep, and the bottom filled with black water; and before the giants could get round it, the prince and princesses were inside the kingdom of the great magician, where the high thorny hedge opened of itself to everyone that he chose to let in. There was joy enough between the three sisters, till the two eldest saw their lovers turned into stone. But while they were shedding tears for them, Seven Inches came in, and touched them with his rod. So they were flesh, and blood, and life once more, and there was great hugging and kissing, and all sat down to breakfast, and Seven Inches sat at the head of the table.

When breakfast was over, he took them into another room, where there was nothing but heaps of gold, and silver, and diamonds, and silks, and satins; and on a table there was lying three sets of crowns: a gold crown was in a silver crown, and that was lying in a copper crown. He took up one set of crowns, and gave it to the eldest princess; and another set, and gave it to the second youngest princess; and another, and gave it to the youngest of all; and says he, 'Now you may all go to the bottom of the pit, and you have nothing to do but stir the basket, and the people that are watching above will draw you up. But remember, ladies, you are to keep your crows safe, and be married in them, all the same day. If you be married separately, or if you be married without your crowns, a curse will follow--mind what I say.'

So they took leave of him with great respect, and walked arm-in-arm to the bottom of the draw-well. There was a sky and a sun over them, and a great high wall, covered with ivy, rose before them, and was so high they could not see to the top of it; and there was an arch in this wall, and the bottom of the draw-well was inside the arch. The youngest pair went last; and says the princess to the prince, 'I'm sure the two princes don't mean any good to you. Keep these crowns under your cloak, and if you are obliged to stay last, don't get into the basket, but put a big stone, or any heavy thing inside, and see what will happen.'

As soon as they were inside the dark cave, they put in the eldest princess first, and stirred the basket, and up she went. Then the basket was let down again, and up went the second princess, and then up went the youngest; but first she put her arms round her prince's neck, and kissed him, and cried a little. At last it came to the turn of the youngest prince, and instead of going into the basket he put in a big stone. He drew on one side and listened, and after the basket was drawn up about twenty perches, down came it and the stone like thunder, and the stone was broken into little bits.

Well, the poor prince had nothing for it but to walk back to the castle; and through it and round it he walked, and the finest of eating and drinking he got, and a bed of bog-down to sleep on, and long walks he took through gardens and lawns, but not a sight could he get, high or low, of Seven Inches. He, before a week, got tired of it, he was so lonesome for his true love; and at the end of a month he didn't know what to do with himself.

One morning he went into the treasure room, and took notice of a beautiful snuff-box on the table that he didn't remember seeing there before. He took it in his hands and opened it, and out Seven Inches walked on the table. 'I think, prince,' says he, 'you're getting a little tired of my castle?' 'Ah!' says the other, 'if I had my princess here, and could see you now and then, I'd never know a dismal day.' 'Well, you're long enough here now, and you're wanted there above. Keep your bride's crowns safe, and whenever you want my help, open this snuff-box. Now take a walk down the garden, and come back when you're tired.'

The prince was going down a gravel walk with a quickset hedge on each side, and his eyes on the ground, and he was thinking of one thing and another. At last he lifted his eyes, and there he was outside of a smith's gate that he often passed before, about a mile away from the palace of his betrothed princess. The clothes he had on him were as ragged as you please, but he had his crowns safe under his old cloak.

Then the smith came out, and says he, 'It's a shame for a strong, big fellow like you to be lazy, and so much work to be done. Are you any good with hammer and tongs? Come in and bear a hand, an I'll give you diet and lodging, and a few pence when you earn them.' 'Never say't twice,' says the prince. 'I want nothing but to be busy.' So he took the hammer, and pounded away at the red-hot bar that the smith was turning on the anvil to make into a set of horse-shoes.

同类推荐
  • 许真君玉匣记

    许真君玉匣记

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 翰苑遗事

    翰苑遗事

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 十二因缘论

    十二因缘论

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 大悲经

    大悲经

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 永安县志-顺治本

    永安县志-顺治本

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
热门推荐
  • 《呐,你要的糖果》

    《呐,你要的糖果》

    为什么话说到嘴边就变了呢?为什么你就算知道你还是装作不知道的样子?“忆笙?一生?忆起此生,好名字啊,谁给你起的?”“除了我爸妈还有谁”“你哥啊”“雾草!”
  • 毒步天下:暴君请绕行

    毒步天下:暴君请绕行

    她是剧毒闻名的毒女,一朝穿越成不受宠的废材小姐。说她丑?抹掉脸上的毒斑,什么闭月羞花、花容月貌滚一边去,谁有本大小姐倾城之姿?万恶姨娘,嫡姐想要毒死她?跟毒药的祖宗玩毒药,纯属找死,废了!召唤师妹妹想要当少主?睁开你们的钛合金狗眼看清楚了,本大小姐可是全能召唤师!就你那一只魔兽够看?看本小姐的魔兽大军,碾压你好吗!然而一朝失足,竟落入了某伪纯洁的腹黑男手中。甩不掉,逃不了……大小姐幽怨的看着床榻上的某人。却见某男敞开衣服,露出白皙的皮肤,摆出一副任君采摘的模样:“娘子,为夫已经把床暖好了。”
  • 萌宠ing妖之幽纤

    萌宠ing妖之幽纤

    作为一只妖。尧纤从没有想过,她一出山竟会附身在一个小小的人类身上。对于人类的世界,她懵懂而好奇,但从不贪恋。带她修炼的清姑姑告诉她,人间尘,不沾,不贪。沾的是毒,贪的是心。对于人类的躯体,她谨慎而诧异,但从不窥视。人类是上天的宠儿。他们虽然没有她柔软的枝桠,坚韧的赤株,无害的皮囊及出其不意迸发的毒液。但他们有着高傲聪慧的脑子,这里面的明智,令他们学会利用,学会掩饰。他们也用这些,弥补了他们的无能。这一次,她竟附在了人类身上!这究竟是怎么回事?尧纤懒得想。头一次出现在人类的世界,她兴奋不已。而现在,前面这几个人是怎么回事?“小妹妹,要吃大饼吗?来,跟叔叔走吧……”
  • 宠妻无下限:王爷夫君求放过

    宠妻无下限:王爷夫君求放过

    “南宫羽,你混蛋”“哦,那你是混蛋他媳妇,你也是混蛋”“你……你无耻”“那你也是无耻他媳妇,你也无耻”小片段:“报,王爷,王妃去找林公子了。”“给本王备马,本王要她知道本王的厉害。”本文为“宠妻无下限”系列,保证不会虐
  • 修真之魔修难为

    修真之魔修难为

    柳昔卿一朝穿越到修真界,连受惊吓无数。面对口嫌体直的大妖兽、用人骨作歌的美少女、邪气凛然的书生郎……她决定认命,按部就班修真养老,以期得道飞升。然而回过头才发现,她修的……竟然是魔道?摔,简直不能更坑好嘛!
  • tfboys之唯爱凯源玺

    tfboys之唯爱凯源玺

    有可能,遇见你,是上天注定,有可能,分手,是我们不配。只有爱过了,才懂得真正的爱。
  • 凤起不凡

    凤起不凡

    生为神,却因自己而让整个世界毁灭,而造成这个结果的另外一个却是竹马季不凡,为了不让人类再度受苦,凤栖选择同归于尽,不料她却没有死,反而重生为人,只是,重生为人也就罢了,为什么还要派那个变态来折磨她!
  • 以农梦三斤

    以农梦三斤

    作为一棵垃圾堆的草她原本是没有机会遇到男神范以农的。她没有妈妈,爸爸也被关进了监狱。生活无望,未来渺茫。幸亏有兰秋阿姨,她才能遇到他。能相遇便能相爱,何况他刚刚被甩。男神大家都爱的,她自然也很爱他。一场往事深埋在心里。回不去的不仅仅是昨天还有被抛弃的爱情。当整个城市的合(欢)花树为一人而栽,所有的合欢花为一人而开,我们不得不相信爱情真的存在。只是,相爱,注定要分开吗?
  • 重生之溺宠侯门贵妻

    重生之溺宠侯门贵妻

    她是皇上亲封一品郡主,镇南王府嫡亲小姐。一朝惊变,家族落魄,她与腹中的孩儿被残害!涅槃重生,这一世,她势要护住母亲与胞弟,那些害她之人一个也不放过。一家人和美一生,却不想,那个邪魅温暖的身影,不知何时渗入她的内心!王妃,这叫攻心计!本文纯属虚构,请勿模仿。
  • 倾国魑璃:我还有机会么

    倾国魑璃:我还有机会么

    他,阅女人无数,却又痴情于一人;她,清纯如白兔,却也有人悉心呵护;当小白兔遇上大灰狼,当他们相识、相知、相爱,真特么是白天甜蜜蜜,晚上却他妈的精疲力竭······(窝心)