THE WILD SWANS. 563

« Your brothers can be delivered,” said she ; “ but have you
snfficient courage and constancy to break the spell, Water is
softer than your delicate hands, and yet it wears away stones 5
but it does not feel the pains your fingers will have to feel ;
and, having no heart, it cannot suffer the cares and anxiety that
you will have to endure. Do you gee this stinging-nettle that
Thold in my hand? A number of the same sort grow round
the cavern in which you are sleeping ; and, mark me well, only
those, arid such as grow in churchyards, are available for the
purpose in question. You must pluck them, although they
will blister your hands. By treading upon them with your
fect, you will obtain flax, with which you must braid eleven
coats of mail, with long sleeves that will no sooner be thrown
over the cleven swans, than the spell will be broken, But
remember that, from the moment you begin this work, until
it be finished, though it should take years to accomplish,
you must not speak a word, or the first syllable you pro-
ounce would strike a death dagger through your brothers’
hearts. Their lives depend on your silence. Mark this well.”

‘And at the same time she touched her hand with the nettle,
which was like burning fire, and caused Elise to wake. It
was broad day, and close beside her lay a nettle, like those she
had seen in her dream. She then fell on her knees, and thanked
God, and left the cave to begin her work.

Her delicate hands now plucked the ugly nettles, that were
like fire. Large blisters rose on her hands and arms; yet she
suffered cheerfully, in the hopes of delivering her beloved
brothers. She trod each nettle with her bare feet, and then began
to braid the green flax.

When the sun had sank, her brothers came home, and were
frightened to find her dumb. They thought it some fresh spell

contrived by their wicked step-mother, But on seeing her
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