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The Princes and the
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![]() The Sun Prince went into the pond. |
When the Sun Prince went into the pond the water-sprite saw him and asked him the question, "What are the Good Fairies like?"
"They are like the Sun and the Moon," said the Sun Prince.
"You don't know what the Good Fairies are like," cried the water-sprite, and he carried the poor boy down into his cave.
By and by the eldest brother said, "Moon Prince, go down and see why our brother stays so long in the pond!"
As soon as the Moon Prince reached the water's edge the water-sprite called to him and said, "Tell me what the Good Fairies are like!"
"Like the sky above us," replied the Moon Prince.
"You don't know, either," said the water-sprite, and dragged the Moon Prince down into the cave where the Sun Prince sat.
"Something must have happened to those two brothers of mine," thought the eldest. So he went to the pond and saw the marks of the footsteps where his brothers had gone down into the water. Then he knew that a water-sprite must live in that pond. He girded on his sword, and stood with his bow in his hand.
The water-sprite soon came along in the form of a woodsman.
![]() The water-sprite in the form of a woodman. |
"You seem tired, Friend," he said to the prince. "Why don't you bathe in the lake and then lie on the bank and rest?"
But the prince knew that it was a water-sprite and he said, "You have carried off my brothers!"
"Yes," said the water-sprite.
"Why did you carry them off?"
"Because they did not answer my question," said the water-sprite, "and I have power over all who go down into the water except those who do give the right answer."
"I will answer your question," said the eldest brother. And he did. "The Good Fairies are like
The pure in heart who fear to sin, The good, kindly in word and deed." |
"O Wise Prince, I will bring back to you one of your brothers. Which shall I bring?" said the water-sprite.
"Bring me the younger one," said the prince. "It was on his account that our father sent us away. I could never go away with Moon Prince and leave poor Sun Prince here."
"O Wise Prince, you know what the good should do and you are kind. I will bring back both your brothers," said the water-sprite.
After that the three princes lived together in the forest until the king died. Then they went back to the palace. The eldest brother was made king and he had his brothers rule with him. He also built a home for the water-sprite in the palace grounds.
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