THE
FROG
PRINCE

observed. To break a promise was dishonourable
in a poor man, it was most disgraceful in one of
royal blood.

So she went to her room, with the frog squatted
on her shoulder, and when there, she threw him
on her counterpane.

Then the frog said—

‘Chop off my head, my honey, my heart,
Come, chop off my head, my dear.

If you love me strong, be speedy, not long,
And chop off my head without fear.’

The princess was greatly alarmed, but she got an
axe and chopped, and cut off the head of the frog.
Then all at once there stood before her a beautiful
prince, and all traces of the frog had disappeared.
And he told her how that he had been transformed
into a frog by a witch, and that he could never
have recovered his own shape again, unless some
young girl had promised to let him eat out of her
plate, drink out of her cup, sit on her shoulder,
and sleep on her bed.
The princess was so delighted that she ran and
called her father and mother and all the court.
And they all sat down to table again, and ate a
second supper, for delight and surprise had made
them all hungry again; and at this second supper
it was agreed that the princess and the prince
should be married.
Next day, when the sun rose, a carriage drawn by
eight white horses with golden harness drove up
to the door of the palace, and behind the carriage
stood trusty Henry, the servant of the young
prince. When his master was transformed into
a frog, trusty Henry had grieved so greatly that -
he had bound three iron hoop-bands round his
heart, for fear lest it should break with grief.
Now he came with the carriage to take the prince
back to his own country, and the faithful fellow
234