The Wonder Clock; or, four & twenty marvellous Tales: being one for each hour of the dayPyle, Howard
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The Wonder Clock; or, four & twenty marvellous Tales: being one for each hour of the day
Pyle, Howard
Children's poetry; Fairy tales
Then the Raven knew that she was no true princess to be contented with
bitter beer out of an earthenware jug when she could have good red wine
from a golden goblet. “Come,” said he, “home we go again, for you are
not the bride I seek!” Therewith he took her upon his back once more,
and away they flew over hill and valley till they had come back to the
king’s castle again.
“See,” said the Raven, “this is not the one I want. Let me have my true
bride or you will suffer for it.”
At this the king was frightened. “Very well,” said he, “come to-morrow
and you shall have your true bride.”
[Illustration: The King being lost in y^e Forest meets with the Great
Black Raven.]
Well, when the next morning came, there was the Raven waiting outside of
the castle gateway. But, after all, it was not the princess that he got,
for the king had ordered that the steward’s daughter should be dressed
in the princess’s dress, “for surely,” said he to himself, “she is a
good enough bride for a Great Black Raven.”
So the Raven took her on his back and away he flew till he had come to
the little hut on top of the bleak hill. There stood the golden goblet,
the silver cup, and the earthenware jug just as they had done before.
And now would not the dear maiden drink a drop after her long journey?
Yes, indeed, that she would; so she took a good, hearty drink of the
white wine in the silver cup, “for,” said she to herself, “silver is
none too good for a steward’s daughter.”
But the Raven saw very well that she was no true princess, or she would
never have been contented with the silver cup. “Come,” said he, “home we
go again, for you are not the bride I seek.” So he took her on his back
once more and away he flew to the king’s castle. “See how you treat me,”
said he to the king, “you promise me one bride and give me another.
To-morrow morning I will come for the true one again, and if I do not
get her this time you will suffer for it, for I will pick out your eyes
and tear down your castle about your ears!” And away he flew.
And now the king was terribly frightened, and saw that there must be no
trickery this time. So the next morning when the Raven came it was the
Princess Golden-Hair herself whom he got and none other. Up he took her
on his back and away he flew with her. As for the princess, she did
nothing but weep and weep, so that when they came to the little hut on
top of the bleak hill, she was glad enough to drink a drop for
refreshment’s sake. She never looked at the earthen jug or the silver
cup, but going straight to the golden goblet she wet her lips with the
good red wine.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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