promised rich rewards, as well as official rank, if they would make a branch just like the one the princess ordered.
This they had done, but receiving neither rank nor wages, they had made bold to come to the palace of the princess, since they had heard that she was soon to wed this prince and had received the jewel-branch as a marriage gift.
The princess, whose heart had been sinking with the declining sun, now sprang up all smiles and clapping her little hands ordered the men to be well paid for their good news, then hastily replacing the jewels in their case; she gave them to the old wood-cutter, who, going to the prince, so pitied his mortification, that without a word he placed it by his side and withdrew.
The poor prince could neither sit nor stand but lay crouching on the porch, |
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from which he would not move till the sun set, when he stole away into the darkness.
The workmen, rejoicing in their good fortune, were returning to their homes, when they were attacked by the miserable prince smarting with shame, who, snatching away the money bestowed by the princess, trampled it in the dust and beat them most unmercifully, till they were glad to escape with their lives.
As for the prince he did not dare to return to his palace, for he knew that every one would hear of his disgrace, which he could never hope to outlive, so he fled to the moutains and would not let even his friends know where he was; and though search was made far and near he has never been heard of to this day. |
