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d to each other： it was； of course； what they wanted； andindeed what they lived for。 Then they returned to a nest； and therethe quarrelling began afresh； for in hot countries people are almostall violent and passionate。 But for all that it was pleasant；especially for the old people； who watched them with great joy： allthat their young ones did suited them。 Every day here there wassunshine； plenty to eat； and nothing to think of but pleasure。 Butin the rich castle of their Egyptian host； as they called him；pleasure was not to be found。 The rich and mighty lord of the castlelay on his couch； in the midst of the great hall； with its manycolored walls looking like the centre of a great tulip； but he wasstiff and powerless in all his limbs； and lay stretched out like amummy。 His family and servants stood round him； he was not dead；although he could scarcely be said to live。 The healing moor…flowerfrom the north； which was to have been found and brought to him by herwho loved him so well； had not arrived。 His young and beautifuldaughter who； in swan's plumage； had flown over land and seas to thedistant north； had never returned。 She is dead； so the twoswan…maidens had said when they came home； and they made up quite astory about her； and this is what they told；…
〃We three flew away together through the air；〃 said they： 〃ahunter caught sight of us； and shot at us with an arrow。 The arrowstruck our young friend and sister； and slowly singing her farewellsong she sank down； a dying swan； into the forest lake。 On theshores of the lake； under a spreading birch…tree； we laid her in thecold earth。 We had our revenge； we bound fire under the wings of aswallow； who had a nest on the thatched roof of the huntsman。 Thehouse took fire； and burst into flames； the hunter was burnt withthe house； and the light was reflected over the sea as far as thespreading birch； beneath which we laid her sleeping dust。 She willnever return to the land of Egypt。〃 And then they both wept。 Andstork…papa； who heard the story； snapped with his beak so that itmight be heard a long way off。
'Deceit and lies！〃 cried he； 〃I should like to run my beak deepinto their chests。〃
〃And perhaps break it off；〃 said the mamma stork； 〃then what asight you would be。 Think first of yourself； and then of yourfamily； all others are nothing to us。〃
〃Yes； I know；〃 said the stork…papa； 〃but to…morrow I can easilyplace myself on the edge of the open cupola； when the learned and wisemen assemble to consult on the state of the sick man； perhaps they maye a little nearer to the truth。〃 And the learned and wise menassembled together； and talked a great deal on every point； but thestork could make no sense out of anything they said； neither werethere any good results from their consultations； either for the sickman； or for his daughter in the marshy heath。 When we listen to whatpeople say in this world； we shall hear a great deal； but it is anadvantage to know what has been said and done before； when we listento a conversation。 The stork did； and we know at least as much ashe； the stork。
〃Love is a life…giver。 The highest love produces the highest life。Only through love can the sick man be cured。〃 This had been said bymany； and even the learned men acknowledged that it was a wise saying。
〃What a beautiful thought！〃 exclaimed the papa stork immediately。
〃I don't quite understand it；〃 said the mamma stork； when herhusband repeated it； 〃however； it is not my fault； but the fault ofthe thought； whatever it may be； I have something else to think of。〃
Now the learned men had spoken also of love between this one andthat one； of the difference of the love which we have for ourneighbor； to the love that exists between parents and children； of thelove of the plant for the light； and how the germ springs forth whenthe sunbeam kisses the ground。 All these things were so elaboratelyand learnedly explained； that it was impossible for stork…papa tofollow it； much less to talk about it。 His thoughts on the subjectquite weighed him down； he stood the whole of the following day on oneleg； with half…shut eyes； thinking deeply。 So much learning wasquite a heavy weight for him to carry。 One thing； however； the papastork could understand。 Every one； high and low； had from their inmosthearts expressed their opinion that it was a great misfortune for somany thousands of people… the whole country indeed… to have this manso sick； with no hopes of his recovery。 And what joy and blessing itwould spread around if he could by any means be cured！ But wherebloomed the flower that could bring him health？ They had searchedfor it everywhere； in learned writings； in the shining stars； in theweather and wind。 Inquiries had been made in every by…way that couldbe thought of； until at last the wise and learned men has asserted； aswe have been already told； that 〃love； the life…giver； could alonegive new life to a father；〃 and in saying this； they had overdoneit； and said more than they understood themselves。 They repeated it；and wrote it down as a recipe； 〃Love is a life…giver。〃 But how couldsuch a recipe be prepared… that was a difficulty they could notovere。 At last it was decided that help could only e from theprincess herself； whose whole soul was wrapped up in her father；especially as a plan had been adopted by her to enable her to obtain aremedy。
More than a year had passed since the princess had set out atnight； when the light of the young moon was soon lost beneath thehorizon。 She had gone to the marble sphinx in the desert； shakingthe sand from her sandals； and then passed through the long passage；which leads to the centre of one of the great pyramids； where themighty kings of antiquity； surrounded with pomp and splendor； lieveiled in the form of mummies。 She had been told by the wise men； thatif she laid her head on the breast of one of them； from the head shewould learn where to find life and recovery for her father。 She hadperformed all this； and in a dream had learnt that she must bring hometo her father the lotus flower； which grows in the deep sea； nearthe moors and heath in the Danish land。 The very place and situationhad been pointed out to her； and she was told that the flower wouldrestore her father to health and strength。 And； therefore； she hadgone forth from the land of Egypt； flying over to the open marsh andthe wild moor in the plumage of a swan。
The papa and mamma storks knew all this； and we also know itnow。 We know； too； that the Marsh King has drawn her down tohimself； and that to the loved ones at home she is forever dead。 Oneof the wisest of them said； as the stork…mamma also said； 〃That insome way she would； after all； manage to succeed；〃 and so at last theyforted themselves with this hope； and would wait patiently； infact； they could do nothing better。
〃I should like to get away the swan's feathers from those twotreacherous princesses；〃 said the papa stork； 〃then； at least； theywould not be able to fly over again to the wild moor； and do morewickedness。 I can hide the two suits of feathers over yonder； tillwe find some use for them。〃
〃But where will you put them？〃 asked the mamma stork。
〃In our nest on the moor。 I and the young ones will carry themby turns during our flight across； and as we return； should they provetoo heavy for us； we shall be sure to find plenty of places on the wayin which we can conceal them till our next journey。 Certainly one suitof swan's feathers would be enough for the princess； but two arealways better。 In those northern countries no one can have too manytravelling wrappers。〃
〃No one will thank you for it；〃 said stork…mamma； 〃but you aremaster； and； excepting at breeding time； I have nothing to say。〃
In the Viking's castle on the wild moor； to which the storksdirected their flight in the following spring； the little maiden stillremained。 They had named her Helga； which was rather too soft a namefor a child with a temper like hers； although her form was stillbeautiful。 Every month this temper showed itself in sharperoutlines； and in the course of years； while the storks still madethe same journeys in autumn to the hill； and in spring to the moors；the child grew to be almost a woman； and before any one seemed awareof it； she was a wonderf