小学英语英语故事童话故事The Marsh KingS Daughter沼泽王的女儿

TheMarshKing*SDaughter沼泽王的女儿

Thestorkstellmany,manystoriestotheiryoungones,allaboutthebogsandmarshes.

Ingeneraleachstoryissuitedtotheageandsenseofthelittlestorks.While

theyoungestonesaresatisfiedwith,z，Kribble-krabble,plurry-murry,z，andthink

itaveryfinestory,theolderonesdemandsomethingwithmoresensetoit,orat

leastsomethingaboutthefamily.

Ofthetwooldeststorieswhichhavebeenhandeddownamongthestorks,weallknow

theoneaboutMoses,whowasputbyhismotheronthebanksoftheNile,wherea

King*sdaughterfoundhim.Howwellshebroughthimup,howhebecameagreatman,

andhownooneknowswhereheliesburied,arethingsthatweallhaveheard.

Theothertaleisnotwidelyknown,perhapsbecauseitisalmostafamilystory.

Thistalehasbeenhandeddownfromonemotherstorktoanotherforathousandyears,

andeachsuccedingstorytellerhastolditbetterandbetter,andnowweshalltell

itbestofall.

Thefirstpairofstorkswhotoldthistaleandwhothemselvesplayedapartinit,

hadtheirsummerhomeontheroofoftheViking，swoodencastleupbytheWildMarsh

inVendsyssel.Ifwemustbepreciseaboutourknowledge,thisisinthecountry

oflljorring,highupnearSkageninJutland.Thereisstillabigmarshthere,which

wecanreadaboutintheofficialreportsofthatdistrict.Itissaidthattheplace

oncelayunderthesea,butthelandhasrisensomewhat,andisnowawilderness

extendingformanyamile.Oneissurroundedonallsidesbymarshymeadows,quagmires,

andpeatbogs,overgrownbycloudberriesandstuntedtrees.Dankmistsalmostalways

hangovertheplace,andaboutseventyyearsagowolvesstillmadetheirhomesthere.

WellmayitbecalledtheWildMarsh.Thinkhowdesolateitwas,andhowmuchswamp

andwatertheremusthavebeenamongallthosemarshesandpondsathousandyears

ago!Yetinmostmattersitmusthavelookedthenasitlooksnow.Thereedsgrew

justashigh,andhadthesamelongleavesandfeatherytipsofapurplish-brown

tintthattheyhavenow.Birchtreesgrewtherewiththesamewhitebarkandthe

sameairilydanglingleaves.Asforthelivingcreatures,theflieshavenotchanged

thecutoftheirgauzyapparel,andthefavoritecolorsofthestorkswerewhite

trimmedwithblack,andlongredstockings.

However,peopledressedverydifferentlyfromthefashionoftoday.Butifanyof

them-thrallorhuntsman,itmatterednot-setfootinthequagmire,theyfaredthe

sameathousandyearsagoastheywouldfaretoday.Intheywouldfall,anddown

theywouldsinktohimwhomtheycalltheMarshKing,whorulesbelowthroughout

theentiremarshland.TheyalsocallhimKingotthequicksands,butwelikethe

nameMarshKingbetter,andthatwaswhatthestorkscalledhim.Littleornothing

isknownabouthisrule,butperhapsthatisjustaswell.

NearthemarshandclosetotheLiimFiord,laywoodencastleoftheVikings,three

storieshighfromitswatertightstonecellarstothetoweronitsroof.Thestorks

hadbuilttheirnestonthisroof,andtherethemotherstorksathatchinghereggs.

Shewascertaintheywouldbehatched.

Oneeveningthefatherstorkstayedoutratherlate,andwhenhegothomehelooked

ruffledandflurried.

〃Ihavesomethingsimplydreadfultotellyou,〃hesaidtothemotherstork.

“Thenyouhadbetterkeepittoyourself,“shetoldhim."Remember,Iamhatching

eggs!Ifyoufrightenmeitmighthaveaverybadeffectonthem.，z

“ButImusttellyou,〃heinsisted."ThedaughterofourEgyptianhosthascomehere.

Shehasventuredtotakethislongjourney,and-she，slost!z/

“Shewhocomesoffairystock?Speakup.YouknowthatImustnotbekeptinsuspense

whilermonmyeggs.〃

〃It'sthisway,Mother.Justasyoutoldme,shemusthavebelievedthedoctor，s

advice.Shebelievedthattheswampflowersupherewouldcurehersickfather,and

shehasflownhereintheguiseofaswan,togetherwithtwootherPrincesseswho

putonswanplumageandflynortheveryyear,totakethebathsthatkeepthemyoung.

Shehascome,andsheislost.，z

“Youmakeyourstorytoolong-winded,/zthemotherstorkprotested.〃Myeggsareapt

tocatchcold.Ican,tbearsuchsuspenseatatimelikethis.

〃Ihavebeenkeepingmyeyesopen,，zsaidthefatherstork,〃andthiseveningIwent

amongthereedswherethequagmirewillbarelysupportme.ThereIsawthreeswans

flyingmyway.Therewassomethingabouttheirflightthatwarnedme,'Seehere!

Thesearenotrealswans.Thesecreaturesaremerelydisguisedinswanfeathers!*

YouknowaswellasIdo,Mother,thatonefeelsinstinctlywhetherathingistrue

orfalse./z

〃Tobesure,Ido,〃saidshe."ButtellmeaboutthePrincess.Iamtiredofhearing

aboutswanfeathers.〃

〃Well,〃thefatherstorksaid,“asyouknow,inthemiddleofthemarshthereis

asortofpool.Youcancatchaglimpseofitfromhereifyouwillriseupatrifle.

There,betweenthereedsandthegreenscumofthepool,alargealderstumpjuts

up.Onitthethreeswansalighted,flappedtheirwingsandlookedaboutthem.One

ofthemthrewoffherswanplumageandimmediatelyIcouldseethatshewasthe

PrincessfromourhomeinEgypt.Thereshesatwithnoothercloakthanherownlong

hair.Iheardherasktheotherstotakegoodcareofherswanfeathers,whileshe

diveddowninthewatertoplucktheswampflowerwhichshefanciedshesawthere.

Theynodded,andheldtheirheadshighastheypickedupheremptyplumage.

〃1Whataretheygoingtodowithit?'Iwondered,andshemusthavewonderedtoo.

Ouranswercamesoonenough,fortheyflewupintheairwithherfeathergarment.

〃*Diveaway,?theycried.*Nevermoreshallyouflyaboutasaswan.Nevermore

shallyouseethelandofEgypt.Youmayhaveyourswampforever.?Theytoreher

swanguiseintoahundredpieces,sothatfeatherswhirledaroundlikeaflurryof

snow.Thenawaytheyflew,thosetwodeceitfulPrincesses.

“Why,that，sdreadful,z，themotherstorksaid.can'tbeartolisten.Tellmewhat

happenednext.〃

“ThePrincesssobbedandlamented.Hertearssprinkleddownonthealderstump,and

thestumpmoved,foritwastheMarshKinghimself,wholivesunderthequagmire.

Isawthestumpturn,andthiswasnolongeratreestumpthatstretchedoutits

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twomuddy,branch-likearmstowardthepoorgirl.Shewassofrightenedthatshe

jumpedoutonthegreenscumwhichcannotbearmyweight,muchlesshers.Shewas

instantlyswallowedup,anditwasthealderstump,whichplungedinafterher,that

draggedherdown.Bigblackbubblesrose,andthesewerethelasttracesofthem.

SheisnowburiedintheWildMarshandneverwillshegetbackhometoEgyptwith

theflowersshecametofind.Mother,youcouldnothaveenduredthesightsIsaw.〃

〃Yououghtnottotellmesuchataleatatimelikethis.Oureggsmaybetheworse

forit.ThePrincesscanlookoutforherself.Someonewillsurelyhelpher.Now

ifithadbeenI,oryou,oranyofourfamily,itwouldhavebeenalloverwith

〃

us.

〃Ishalllookoutforher,everyday,“saidthefatherstork,andhedidso.

Alongtimewentby,butonedayhesawagreenstalkshootingupfromthebottom

ofthepool.Whenitcametothesurfaceitgrewaleaf,whichgotbroaderandbroader,

andthenabudappeared.Asthestorkwasflyingbyonemorning,thebudopenedin

thestrongsunbeams,andinthecenterofitlayabeautifulchild,ababygirlwho

lookedasfreshasifshehadjustcomefromherbath.Socloselydidthebabyresemble

thePrincessfromEgyptthatthestorkthoughtitwasshe,whohadbecomeachild

again.Butwhenheconsideredthematterhedecidedthatthischildwholayinthe

cupofawaterlilymustbethedaughterofthePrincessandtheMarshKing.

“Shecannotremainthere,，zthestorksaidtohimself,〃yetmynestisalready

overcrowded.ButIhaveanidea.TheViking，swifehasn'tanychildren,although

sheisalwayswishingforalittleone.I'moftenheldresponsibleforbringing

children,andthistimeIshallreallybringone.Ishallflywiththisbabytothe

Viking'swife.Whatjoytherewillbe.〃

Thestorkpickedupthelittlegirl,flewwithhertothelogcastle,peckedahole

withhisbeakinthepieceofbladderthatservedasawindowpane,andlaidthe

babyinthearmsoftheVikingwoman.Thenheflewhometohiswife,andtoldher

allaboutit.Thebabystorkslistenedattentively,fortheywereoldenoughnow

tobecurious.

“Justthink!ThePrincessisnotdead,“hetoldthem."Shesentherlittleoneup

tome,andIhavefoundagoodhomeforit.”

〃Itoldyou,tostartwith,thatitwouldcomeoutallright,〃saidthemotherstork.

“Turnyourthoughtsnowtoyourownchildren.Itisalmosttimeforustostarton

ourlongjourney.Iambeginningtotingleundermywings.Thecuckooandthe

nightingalehaveflownalready,andIheardthequailsayingthatweshallsoonhave

afavorablewind.Ouryoungoneswilldouscreditontheflight,orIdon'tknow

myownchildren./z

HowpleasedtheViking'swifewaswhensheawokeinthemorningandfoundthelovely

childinherarms.Shekisseditandcaressedit,butitscreamedfrightfullyand

thrashedaboutwithitslittlearmsandlegs.Therewasnopleasingituntilatlast

itcrieditselftosleep,andasitlaythereitwasoneoftheloveliestlittle

creaturesthatanyoneeversaw.TheViking，swifewassooverjoyedthatshefelt

light-headedaswellaslight-hearted.Sheturnedquitehopefulabouteverything,

andfeltsurethatherhusbandandal1hismenmightreturnasunexpectedlyasthe

3

littleonehadcometoher.Soshesetherselfandherentirehouseholdtowork,

inordertohaveeverythinginreadiness.Thelong,coloredtapestryonwhichshe

andherhandmaidenshadembroideredfiguresoftheirgods-Odin,Thor,andFreya,

astheywerecalled-werehunginplace.Thethrallsweresettoscouringandpolishing

theoldshieldsthatdecoratedthewalls;cushionswerelaidonthebenches;and

drylogswerestackedonthefireplaceinthemiddleofthehall,sothatthepile

mightbelightedatamoment'snotice.TheViking'swifeworkedsohardthatshe

wastiredout,andsleptsoundlywheneveningcame.

Alongtowardmorningsheawoke,andwasgreatlyalarmedtofindnotraceofherlittle

child.Shesprangup,lightedasplinterofpinewood,andsearchedtheroom.To

herastonishment,shefoundatthefootofherbednotthebeautifulchild,buta

big,uglyfrog.Shewassoappalledthatshetookupaheavysticktokillthecreature,

butitlookedatherwithsuchstrange,sadeyesthatshecouldnotstrike.Asshe

renewedhersearch,thefroggaveafaint,pitifulcroak.Shesprangfromthebed

tothewindow,andthrewopentheshutter.Thelightoftherisingsunstreamedin

andfelluponthatbigfrogonthebed.Itseemedasifthecreature'swidemouth

contractedintosmall,redlips.Thefroglegsunbentasthemostexquisitelyshaped

limbs,anditwasherlovelylittlechildthatlaythere,andnotthatuglyfrog.

/，What，sallthis?”sheexclaimed."HaveIhadanightmare?Thisismyprettylittle

elflyinghere."Shekisseditandpresseditaffectionatelytoherheart,butit

struggledandtriedtobite,likethekittenofawildcat.

NeitherthatdaynorthenextdidherVikinghusbandcomehome.Thoughhewason

hisway,thewindswereagainsthim.Theywereblowingsouthwardtospeedthestorks.

Afairwindforoneisafoulwindforanother.

Inthecourseofafewdaysandnights,itbecameplaintotheViking'swifehow

thingswerewiththelittlechild.Itwasundertheinfluenceofsometerriblespell

ofsorcery.Bydayitwasaslovelyasafairychild,butithadawickedtemper.

Atnight,onthecontrary,itwasanuglyfrog,quietandpathetic,withsorrowful

eyes.Hereweretwonaturesthatchangedaboutbothinwardlyandoutwardly.This

wasbecausethelittlegirlwhomthestorkhadbroughthadbydayhermother's

appearance,togetherwithherfather'stemper.Butatnightsheshowedherkinship

withhiminheroutwardform,whilehermother'smindandheartinwardlybecamehers.

Whowouldbeabletoreleaseherfromthispowerfulspellofsorcerythatlayupon

her?TheViking,swifefeltmostanxiousanddistressedaboutit,yetherheartwent

outtothepoorlittlething.

Sheknewthatwhenherhusbandcamehomeshewouldnotdaretellhimofthisstrange

stateofaffairs,forhewouldcertainlyfollowthecustomofthosetimesandexpose

thepoorchildonthehighroad,toletanyonetakeitwhowould.TheViking's

good-naturedwifehadnotthehearttodothis,soshedeterminedthatheshould

onlyseethechiIdinthedaytime.

Atdaybreakonemorning,thewingsofstorkswereheardbeatingovertheroof.During

thenightmorethanahundredpairsofstorkshadrestedthere,andnowtheyflew

uptomaketheirwaytothesouth.

“Everymanready,〃wastheirwatchword."Letthewivesandchildrenmakereadytoo.〃

4

〃Howlightwefeel!”clackedthelittlestorks."Wetingleanditchrightdownto

ourtoes,asifwewereful1oflivefrogs.Howfineitfeelstobetravelingto

far-offlands.”

“Keepcloseinoneflock,“criedtheirfatherandmother."Don'tclackyourbeaks

somuch,it'sbadforyourchest.〃

Andawaytheywent.

Atthatveryinstanttheblastofahornrangovertheheath,togivenoticethat

theVikinghadlandedwithallofhismen.Theycamehomewithrichbootyfromthe

Gaeliccoast,where,asinBritain,theterrifiedpeoplesang:

“DeliverusfromthewildNorthmen.

WhatalivelybustlenowstruckthisViking，scastleneartheWildMarsh!Acask

ofmeadwasrolledoutintothehall,thepileofwoodwaslighted,andhorseswere

slaughtered.Whatafeasttheyweregoingtohave!Priestssprinkledthehorses"

warmbloodoverthethrallsasabloodoffering.Thefirescrackled,thesmokerolled

uptotheroof,andsootdroppeddownfromthebeams,buttheywereusedtothat.

Guestswereinvited,andweregivenhandsomepresents.Oldgrudgesand

double-dealingswereforgotten.Theyalldrankdeep,andthrewthegnawedbonesin

eachother,sfaces,butthatwasasignofgoodhumor.Theskald,asortofminstrel

butatthesametimeafightingmanwhohadbeenwiththemandknewwhathesang

about,trolledthemasong,inwhichhetoldofalltheirvaliantdeedsinbattle,

andalltheirwonderfuladventures.Aftereachversecamethesamerefrain:

“Fortunesperish,friendsdie,onediesoneself,

Butagloriousnameneverdies!”

Thentheyallbangedtheirshields,andrattledonthetablewiththeirknivesor

theknuckle-bones,makingaterrificnoise.

TheViking，swifesatonthebenchthatranacrossthispublicbanquethall.She

woreasilkendresswithgoldbraceletsandbigamberbeads.Shewasinherfinest

attire,andtheskaldincludedherinhissong.Hespokeofthegoldentreasurewhich

shehadbroughtherrichhusband.Thishusbandofhersrejoicedinthelovelychild

whomhehadseenonlybyday,inallitscharmingbeauty.Thesavagetemperthat

wentwithherdaytimebeautyratherpleasedhim,andhesaidthatshemightgrow

uptobeastalwartsoldiermaid,abletoholdherown-thesortwhowouldnotflinch

ifaskilledhand,infun,tookasharpswordandcutoffhereyebrowsforpractice.

Themeadcaskwasemptied,afullonewasrolledin,andittoowasdrunkdry.These

werefolkwhocouldholdagreatdeal.Theywerefamiliarwiththeoldproverbto

theeffectthat,“Thecattleknowwhentoquittheirpasture,butafoolneverknows

themeasureofhisstomach.

Yes,theyallknewitquitewell,butpeopleoftenknowtherightthinganddothe

wrongthing.Theyalsoknewthat,“Onewearsouthiswelcomewhenhesitstoolong

inanotherman'shouse,，zbuttheystayedon,forallthat.Meatandmeadaresuch

goodthings,andtheywereajovialcrew.Thatnightthethrallssleptonthewarm

ashes,dippedtheirfingersintothefatdrippings,andlickedthem.Ohyes,those

weregloriousdays.

5

TheVikingsventuredforthononemoreraidthatyear,thoughthestormsofautumn

werebeginningtoblow.TheVikingandhismenwenttothecoastofBritain-"just

acrossthewater,/zhesaid-andhiswifestayedathomewithherlittlegirl.Itsoon

cameaboutthatthefostermothercaredmoreforthepoorfrogwithitssadeyes

andpatheticcroaking,thanforthelittlebeautywhoscratchedandbiteveryone

whocamenearher.

Theraw,dankmistoffallinvadedthewoodsandthickets."Gnaw-worms,“theycalled

it,foritgnawedtheleavesfromthetrees."Pluck-feathers,〃astheycalledthe

snow,fellinflurryuponflurry,forwinterwasclosingin.Sparrowstookoverthe

storknestandgossipedabouttheabsentowners,astenantswill.Thetwostorks

andalltheiryoungones-whereweretheynow?

ThestorkswerenowinthelandofEgypt,wherethesunshoneaswarmasitdoes

uponusonafinesummerday.Tamarindandacaciatreesbloomedinprofusion,and

theglitteringcrescentofMohammedtoppedthedomesofallthemosques.Onthe

slenderminaretsmanyapairofstorksrestedaftertheirlongjourney.Wholeflocks

ofthemnestedtogetheronthecolumnsofancienttemplesandtheruinedarchesof

forgottencities.Thedatepalmlifteditshighscreenofbranches,likeaparasol

inthesun.Thegray-whitepyramidsweresharplyoutlinedagainsttheclearairof

thedesert,wheretheostrichknewhecouldusehislegsandthelioncrouchedto

gazewithbigsolemneyesatthemarblesphinxhalfburiedinthesand.Thewaters

oftheNilehadreceded,andthedeltawasalivewithfrogs.Thestorksconsidered

thisthefinestsightinalltheland,andtheyoungstorksfoundithardtobelieve

theirowneyes.Yes,everythingwaswonderful.

“See!itisalwayslikethisinoursouthernhome,〃theirmothertoldthem.Andtheir

littlebelliestingledatthespectacle.

〃Doweseeanymore?”theyasked."Shallwetravelonintothecountry?”

“Thereisnothingelseworthseeing,〃theirmothersaid."Beyondthisfertiledelta

liethedeepforests,wherethetreesaresointerwovenbythornycreepersthatonly

theelephantcantrampleapaththroughthemwithhishuge,heavyfeet.Thesnakes

therearetoobigforustoeat,andthelizardstoonimbleforustocatch.And,

ifyougooutinthedesert,theslightestbreezewillblowyoureyesfullofsand,

whileastormwouldburyyouunderthedunes.No,itisbesthere,wherethereare

plentyoffrogsandlocusts.HereIstop,andhereyoustay.〃

Sotheystayed.Innestsatoptheslenderminaretstheoldstorksrested,yetkept

quitebusysmoothingtheirfeathersandsharpeningtheirbillsagainsttheirred

stockings.Fromtimetotimetheywouldstretchtheirnecks,bowverysolemnly,and

holduptheirheadswithsuchhighforeheads,finefeathers,andwisebrowneyes.

Theyoungmaidenstorksstrolledsolemnlythroughthewetreeds,makingeyesatthe

otheryoungstorks,andscrapingacquaintances.Ateverythirdsteptheywouldgulp

downafrog,orpausetodangleasmallsnakeintheirbills.Theywereunderthe

impressionthatthisbecamethemimmenselyand,besides,ittastedsogood.

Theyoungbachelorstorkspickedmanyasquabble,buffetedeachotherwiththeir

wings,andevenstabbedateachotherwiththeirsharpbillstillbloodwasshed.

Yes,andthenthisyoungstorkwou1dgetengaged,andthatyoungstorkwouldget

6

engaged.Maidensandbachelorswouldpairoff,forthatwastheironlyobjectin

life.Theybuiltnestsoftheirownandsquabbledanew,forinthehotcountries

everyoneishot-headed.Butitwasverypleasantthere,particularlysofortheold

storks,whothoughtthattheirchildrencoulddonowrong.Thesunshoneeveryday,

therewasplentytoeat,andtheyhadnothingtodobutenjoythemselves.

However,inthesplendidpalaceoftheirEgyptianhost,astheycalledhim,there

wasnoenjoyment.Thiswealthyandpowerfullordlayonhiscouch,asstiffandstark

asamummy.Inthegreathall,whichwasascolorfulastheinsideofatulip,he

wassurroundedbyhiskinsmenandservants.Thoughhewasnotquitedead,hecould

hardlybesaidtobealive.Thehealingflowerfromthenorthernmarshes,whichshe

whohadlovedhimbesthadgonetoseek,wouldneverreachhim.Hislovelyyoung

daughter,whohadflownoverlandandseaintheguiseofaswan,wouldnevercome

homefromthefarNorth.

“Sheisdeadandgone,〃thetwootherswanPrincessesreported,whentheyreturned.

Theyconcoctedthefollowingyarn,whichtheytold:

/zWethreewereflyingtogetherthroughtheair,whenahuntsmanshotanarrowat

us,anditstruckourcompanion,ouryoungfriend.Likeadyingswan,shesangher

farewellsongassheslowlydroppeddowntoalakeintheforest.Thereontheshore

weburiedher,underadroopingbirchtree.Butweavengedher.Weboundcoalsof

firetothewingsofaswallowthatnestedunderthethatchedeavesofthehuntsman's

cottage.Theroofblazedup,thecottageburstintoflames,andthehuntsmanwas

burnedtodeath.Theflameswerereflectedacrossthelake,underthedroopingbirch

treewhereshelies,earthofthisearth.Never,alas!shallshereturntotheland

ofEgypt."

Theybothwept.Butwhenthefatherstorkheardtheirtaleherattledhisbill,and

said,“Allliesandinvention!Ishoulddearlylovetodrivemybillrightthrough

theirbreasts.〃

“Andmostlikelybreakit,〃saidthemotherstork.〃Anicesightyou*dbethen.Think

firstofyourself,andthenofyourfamily.Nevermindaboutoutsiders.

^Nevertheless,Ishallperchontheopencupolatomorrow,whenallthewiseand

learnedfolkcometoconferaboutthesickman.Perhapstheywillhituponsomething

nearerthetruth.〃

Thewisemenassembled,andtalkedloudandlong,butneithercouldthestorkmake

senseoutofwhattheyhadtosay,nordidanygoodcomeofittothesickmanor

tohisdaughterintheWildMarsh.Yetwemayaswellhearwhattheyhadtosay,

forwehavetolistentoalotinthisworld.

PerhapsitwillbewelltohearwhathadgoneonbeforedownthereinEgypt.Then

weshallknowthewholestory,oratleastasmuchofitasthefatherstorkknew.

z，Lovebringslife.Thegreatestlovebringsthegreatestlife.Onlythroughlove

maylifebebroughtbacktohim.〃Thisdoctrinethelearnedmenhadstatedbefore,

andtheynowsaidtheyhadstateditwiselyandwell.

〃Itisabeautifulthought,，zthefatherstorkquicklyagreed.

〃Idon'tquiteunderstandit,〃saidthemotherstork."That'sitsfaultthough,not

mine.Butnomatter.Ihaveotherthingstothinkabout.”

7

Thelearnedmentalkedonaboutallthedifferentkindsoflove:theloveof

sweethearts,thelovebetweenparentsandtheirchildren,plants*loveofthelight,

andthelovethatmakesseedsgrowwhenthesun'srayskisstheearth.Theirtalk

wassoelaborateandlearnedthatthefatherstorkfounditimpossibletofollow,

muchlessrepeat.However,theirdiscussionmadehimquitethoughtful.Allthenext

dayhestoodononeleg,withhiseyeshalfclosed,andthought,andthought.So

muchlearninglayheavyuponhim.

Butonethingheunderstoodclearly.Boththepeopleofhighdegreeandthehumble

folkhadsaidfromthebottomoftheirheartsthatforthismantobesick,without

hopeofrecovery,wasadisastertothousands,yes,tothewholenation,andthat

itwouldbringjoyandhappinesstoeveryoneifherecovered.

“Butwheredoestheflowergrowthatcanhealhim?”theyasked.Fortheanswerthey

lookedtotheirscholarlymanuscripts,tothetwinklingstars,tothewind,andto

theweather.Theysearchedthroughal1thebypathsofknowledge,butalltheirwisdom

andknowledgeresolveddowntothedoctrine:"Lovebringslife-itcanbringback

afather*slife,“andalthoughtheysaidrathermorethantheyunderstood,they

acceptedit,andwroteitdownasaprescription."Lovebringslife.〃Wellandgood,

buthowwasthisprecepttobeapplied?Thatwastheirstumblingblock.

However,theyhadatlastagreedthathelpmustcomefromthePrincess,wholoved

herfatherwithallherheart.Andtheyhaddevisedawayinwhichshecouldhelp

him.ItwasmorethanayearagothattheyhadsentthePrincessintothedesert,

justwhenthenewmoonwassetting,tovisitthemarblesphinx.Atthebaseofthe

sphinxshehadtoscrapeawaythesandfromadoorway,andfollowalongpassage

whichledtothemiddleofagreatpyramidwhereoneofthemightiestkingsofold

laywrappedasamummyinthemidstofhisgloryandtreasure.Theresheleanedover

thecorpsetohaveitrevealedtoherwhereshemightfindlifeandhealthforher

father.Whenshehaddoneallthis,shehadadreaminwhichshelearnedthatin

theDanes'landtherewasadeepmarsh-theveryspotwasdescribedtoher.Here,

beneaththewater,shewouldfeelalotusflowertouchherbreast,andwhenthat

flowerwasbroughthometoherfatheritwouldcurehim.So,intheguiseofaswan

shehadflownfromthelandofEgypttotheWildMarsh.

Allthiswasknowntothefatherandmotherstork,andnowwetooarebetterinformed.

Furthermore,weknowthattheMarshKingdraggedherdown,andthatthoseathome

thoughtherdeadandgone.Onlythewisestamongthemsaid,asthestorkmotherhad

putit,“Shecanlookoutforherself.，zTheywaitedtoseewhatwouldcometopass,

fortheyknewnothingbettertheycoulddo.

〃IbelieveIshallmakeoffwiththoseswanfeathersofthefaithlessPrincesses,

saidthefatherstork."Thentheywillflynomoretodomischiefint