THE FAIRY PRINCE AND THE MERMAIDS. 163

maids, and looking far out into the ocean, he
murmured : —

“Monarch of the ocean wide
And all that dwell within its tide,
Wilt thou kindly take us where
In its depths sport mermaids fair?”

The ocean became agitated, and small, white-
capped waves broke against the sandy beach,
and from the depths of the ocean a tiny figure
appeared, wearing a golden crown and bearing
in its hand asceptre. Its garments were made
of shining seaweed, and its golden crown and
sceptre were studded with precious stones. In
a voice that sounded like waves gently break-
ing on the shore, the monarch of the sea
murmured :—

“ Prince, the boon thou ask’st of me
Shall ere long be granted thee ;
But this thing know — if any word
Of rage or spite from thee is heard,
Where’er thou art, there shalt thou stay,
Thou shalt not return this way.”

With these words the monarch of the sea
vanished beneath the waves, and the waters