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Look at the Moon

Early the next morning the prince set out to look for something to eat, which he soon found at a forester’s hut, where for many following days he was supplied with all that a brave prince could consider necessary.  And having plenty to keep him alive for the present, he would not think of wants not yet in existence.  Whenever Care intruded, this prince always bowed him out in the most princely manner.

When he returned from his breakfast to his watch-cave, he saw the princess already floating about in the lake, attended by the king and queen—­whom he knew by their crowns—­and a great company in lovely little boats, with canopies of all the colours of the rainbow, and flags and streamers of a great many more.  It was a very bright day, and the prince, burned up with the heat, began to long for the cold water and the cool princess.  But he had to endure till twilight; for the boats had provisions on board, and it was not till the sun went down that the gay party began to vanish.  Boat after boat drew away to the shore, following that of the king and queen, till only one, apparently the princess’s own boat, remained.  But she did not want to go home even yet, and the prince thought he saw her order the boat to the shore without her.  At all events it rowed away; and now, of all the radiant company, only one white speck remained.  Then the prince began to sing.

And this is what he sung: 

  “Lady fair,
   Swan-white,
   Lift thine eyes,
   Banish night
   By the might
   Of thine eyes.

  “Snowy arms,
   Oars of snow,
   Oar her hither,
   Plashing low. 
   Soft and slow,
   Oar her hither.

  “Stream behind her
   O’er the lake,
   Radiant whiteness! 
   In her wake
   Following, following, for her sake,
   Radiant whiteness!

  “Cling about her,
   Waters blue;
   Part not from her,
   But renew
   Cold and true
   Kisses round her.

  “Lap me round,
   Waters sad
   That have left her
   Make me glad,
   For ye had
   Kissed her ere ye left her.”

Before he had finished his song, the princess was just under the place where he sat, and looking up to find him.  Her ears had led her truly.

“Would you like a fall, princess?” said the prince, looking down.

“Ah! there you are!  Yes, if you please, prince,” said the princess, looking up.

“How do you know I am a prince, princess?” said the prince.

“Because you are a very nice young man, prince,” said the princess.

“Come up then, princess.”

“Fetch me, prince.”

The prince took off his scarf, then his swordbelt then his tunic, and tied them all together, and let them down.  But the line was far too short.  He unwound his turban, and added it to the rest, when it was all but long enough; and his purse completed it.  The princess just managed to lay hold of the knot of money, and was beside him in a moment.  This rock was much higher than the other, and the splash and the dive were tremendous.  The princess was in ecstasies of delight, and their swim was delicious.