Part 7 (1/2)
When they got to the Shepherds' hill, the Shepherds were dreadfully frightened. At first they thought that the strangers were a gang of robbers; and when they saw that it was the King, their next thought was that one of their misdeeds had been found out, and each of them began thinking what was the last thing he had done, and wondering, was it that? But the King and his Court got off their horses, and said good-day in the most civil way. So the Shepherds felt their minds set at ease again. Then the King said--
”Worthy Shepherds, we have a question to put to you, which not all the judges in all the courts of my city have been able to solve. Here is my son, and here, as you see, is a Snake coiled round his neck. Now, the husband of this Snake came creeping into my palace hall, and my son the Prince killed him; so this Snake, who is the wife of the other, says that as my son has made her a widow, so she has a right to widow my son's wife. What do you think about it?”
The first Shepherd said, ”I think she is quite right, my lord King. If any one made my wife a widow, I would pretty soon do the same to him.”
This was brave language, and the other Shepherds shook their heads and looked fierce. But the King was puzzled, and could not quite understand it. You see, in the first place, if the man's wife were a widow, the man would be dead; and then it is hard to see how he could do anything. So to make sure, the King asked the second Shepherd whether that was his opinion too?
”Yes,” said the second Shepherd; ”now the Prince has killed the Snake, the Snake has a right to kill the Prince, if he can.”
But that was not of much use either, as the Snake was as dead as a door-nail. So the King pa.s.sed on to the third.
”I agree with my mates,” said the third Shepherd, ”because, you see, a Prince is a Prince, but then a Snake is a Snake.”
That was quite true, they all admitted; but it did not seem to help the matter much. Then the King asked the fourth Shepherd to say what he thought.
The fourth Shepherd said, ”An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth; so I think a widow should be a widow, if so be she don't marry again.”
[Ill.u.s.tration]
By this time the poor King was so puzzled that he hardly knew whether he stood on his head or his heels. But there was still the fifth Shepherd left, the oldest and wisest of them all; and the fifth Shepherd said--
”O King, I should like to ask two questions.”
”Ask twenty, if you like,” said the King. He did not promise to answer them, so he could afford to be generous.
”First, I ask the Princess how many sons she has?”
”Four,” said the Princess.
”And how many sons has Mistress Snake here?”
”Seven,” said the Snake.
”Then,” said the old Shepherd, ”it will be quite fair for Mistress Snake to kill his Highness the Prince, when her Highness the Princess has had three sons more.”
”I never thought of that,” said the Snake. ”Good-bye, King, and all you good people. Send a message when the Princess has had three more sons, and you may count upon me--I will not fail you.” So saying, she uncoiled from the Prince's neck and slid away among the gra.s.s.
The King and the Prince and everybody shook hands with the wise old Shepherd, and went home again. And as the Princess never had any more sons at all, she and the Prince lived happily for many years; and if they are not dead they are living still.
[Ill.u.s.tration]
Beware of Bad Company
A BEAUTIFUL young Swan lived by a beautiful lake. All day long he used to sail gracefully over the water, curving his neck to look at his own image, or pluming his white wings; and when he was tired, he would go to his nest in the rushes, and sleep, or play with his brothers and sisters.
In a tree above that lake was a Crow. You know that Crows are dirty birds, and they feed on offal and refuse, and people dislike them; but the Swan was white and clean. Still, strange as it may seem, this Swan struck up a fast friends.h.i.+p with the Crow. His mother and father begged him to keep out of bad company, but he would not listen to them. He had done better to keep to his own kind, but wilful will have his way, and the Swan was sorry for it too late.