Description
The Frog King (The Brothers Grimm)
Once upon a time, there lived a king whose daughters were all very beautiful, especially the youngest. Close by the king’s castle lay a great dark forest, and under an old lime tree in the forest was a well. The princess often went out into the forest and played with a golden ball.
One day the princess’s golden ball fell straight into the well, which was so deep, that the bottom could not be seen. She began to cry, and someone said to her, »What happened? You weep so that even a stone would show pity.« She looked around and saw a frog stretching forth its big, ugly head from the water. »Ah,« she said, »I am weeping for my golden ball, which has fallen into the well.« »Be quiet, and do not weep,« answered the frog, »I can help you, but what will you give me if I bring your plaything up again?« »Whatever you will have, dear frog,« said she. The frog answered, »If you will love me and let me be your companion, sit by you at your little table, eat off your little golden plate, drink out of your little cup, and sleep in your little bed, I will go down and bring you your golden ball up again.« »Oh yes,« said she, »I promise you all you wish.« But she thought, »How the silly frog does talk. He can be no companion to any human being.« The frog sank into the water and brought the ball up again. The king’s daughter was delighted, picked up the ball, and ran away with it. »Wait, wait,« said the frog. But the princess did not listen to him and ran home. The next day when she was eating at the table, something knocked at the door and cried, »Princess, open the door for me.« She ran to see who was outside, and when she soo the frog, she slammed the door and sat down to dinner again. She was frightened, so the king asked, »My child, what are you so afraid of? Is there a giant outside?« »Ah, no, it is no giant but a disgusting frog,« she replied and explained to her father what happened the previous day. Then said the king, »That which you have promised must you perform. Go and let him in.« She went and opened the door, and the frog wanted to eat with her from her golden plate. Then he said,« I am tired, carry me into your silken bed, and we will both lie down and go to sleep.” At this, she was angry, so she took the frog up and threw him against the wall. »Now, you will be quiet «, she said. But when he fell, he was not a frog, but a beautiful king’s son. He by her father’s will was now her dear companion and husband. And they lived ever after.
