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e floorsighing piteously； and staring with their glass eyes； they allwanted to be rubbed with the ointment； so that； like the queen； theymight be able to move of themselves。 The queen threw herself on herknees； took off her beautiful crown； and； holding it in her hand；cried； 〃Take this from me； but do rub my husband and his courtiers。〃
The poor man who owned the theatre could scarcely refrain fromweeping； he was so sorry that he could not help them。 Then heimmediately spoke to John's rade； and promised him all the money hemight receive at the next evening's performance； if he would onlyrub the ointment on four or five of his dolls。 But thefellow…traveller said he did not require anything in return； exceptingthe sword which the showman wore by his side。 As soon as he receivedthe sword he anointed six of the dolls with the ointment； and theywere able immediately to dance so gracefully that all the living girlsin the room could not help joining in the dance。 The coachman dancedwith the cook； and the waiters with the chambermaids； and all thestrangers joined； even the tongs and the fire…shovel made anattempt； but they fell down after the first jump。 So after all itwas a very merry night。 The next morning John and his panion leftthe inn to continue their journey through the great pine…forests andover the high mountains。 They arrived at last at such a great heightthat towns and villages lay beneath them； and the church steepleslooked like little specks between the green trees。 They could seefor miles round； far away to places they had never visited； and Johnsaw more of the beautiful world than he had ever known before。 The sunshone brightly in the blue firmament above； and through the clearmountain air came the sound of the huntsman's horn； and the soft；sweet notes brought tears into his eyes； and he could not helpexclaiming； 〃How good and loving God is to give us all this beauty andloveliness in the world to make us happy！〃
His fellow…traveller stood by with folded hands； gazing on thedark wood and the towns bathed in the warm sunshine。 At this momentthere sounded over their heads sweet music。 They looked up； anddiscovered a large white swan hovering in the air； and singing asnever bird sang before。 But the song soon became weaker and weaker；the bird's head drooped； and he sunk slowly down； and lay dead attheir feet。
〃It is a beautiful bird；〃 said the traveller； 〃and these largewhite wings are worth a great deal of money。 I will take them with me。You see now that a sword will be very useful。〃
So he cut off the wings of the dead swan with one blow； andcarried them away with him。
They now continued their journey over the mountains for manymiles； till they at length reached a large city； containing hundredsof towers； that shone in the sunshine like silver。 In the midst of thecity stood a splendid marble palace； roofed with pure red gold； inwhich dwelt the king。 John and his panion would not go into thetown immediately； so they stopped at an inn outside the town； tochange their clothes； for they wished to appear respectable as theywalked through the streets。 The landlord told them that the king was avery good man； who never injured any one： but as to his daughter；〃Heaven defend us！〃
She was indeed a wicked princess。 She possessed beauty enough…nobody could be more elegant or prettier than she was； but what ofthat？ for she was a wicked witch； and in consequence of her conductmany noble young princes had lost their lives。 Any one was atliberty to make her an offer； were he a prince or a beggar； itmattered not to her。 She would ask him to guess three things which shehad just thought of； and if he succeed； he was to marry her； and beking over all the land when her father died； but if he could not guessthese three things； then she ordered him to be hanged or to have hishead cut off。 The old king； her father； was very much grieved at herconduct； but he could not prevent her from being so wicked； because heonce said he would have nothing more to do with her lovers； shemight do as she pleased。 Each prince who came and tried the threeguesses； so that he might marry the princess； had been unable tofind them out； and had been hanged or beheaded。 They had all beenwarned in time； and might have left her alone； if they would。 Theold king became at last so distressed at all these dreadfulcircumstances； that for a whole day every year he and his soldiersknelt and prayed that the princess might bee good； but shecontinued as wicked as ever。 The old women who drank brandy wouldcolor it quite black before they drank it； to show how they mourned；and what more could they do？
〃What a horrible princess！〃 said John； 〃she ought to be wellflogged。 If I were the old king； I would have her punished in someway。〃
Just then they heard the people outside shouting； 〃Hurrah！〃 and；looking out； they saw the princess passing by； and she was really sobeautiful that everybody forgot her wickedness； and shouted〃Hurrah！〃 Twelve lovely maidens in white silk dresses； holdinggolden tulips in their hands； rode by her side on coal…black horses。The princess herself had a snow…white steed； decked with diamondsand rubies。 Her dress was of cloth of gold； and the whip she held inher hand looked like a sunbeam。 The golden crown on her head glitteredlike the stars of heaven； and her mantle was formed of thousands ofbutterflies' wings sewn together。 Yet she herself was more beautifulthan all。
When John saw her； his face became as red as a drop of blood；and he could scarcely utter a word。 The princess looked exactly likethe beautiful lady with the golden crown； of whom he had dreamed onthe night his father died。 She appeared to him so lovely that he couldnot help loving her。
〃It could not be true；〃 he thought； 〃that she was really awicked witch； who ordered people to be hanged or beheaded； if theycould not guess her thoughts。 Every one has permission to go and askher hand； even the poorest beggar。 I shall pay a visit to the palace；〃he said； 〃I must go； for I cannot help myself。〃
Then they all advised him not to attempt it； for he would besure to share the same fate as the rest。 His fellow…traveller alsotried to persuade him against it； but John seemed quite sure ofsuccess。 He brushed his shoes and his coat； washed his face and hishands； bed his soft flaxen hair； and then went out alone into thetown； and walked to the palace。
〃e in；〃 said the king； as John knocked at the door。 John openedit； and the old king； in a dressing gown and embroidered slippers；came towards him。 He had the crown on his head； carried his sceptre inone hand； and the orb in the other。 〃Wait a bit；〃 said he； and heplaced the orb under his arm； so that he could offer the other hand toJohn； but when he found that John was another suitor； he began to weepso violently； that both the sceptre and the orb fell to the floor； andhe was obliged to wipe his eyes with his dressing gown。 Poor old king！〃Let her alone；〃 he said； 〃you will fare as badly as all the others。e； I will show you。〃 Then he led him out into the princess'spleasure gardens； and there he saw a frightful sight。 On every treehung three or four king's sons who had wooed the princess； but had notbeen able to guess the riddles she gave them。 Their skeletonsrattled in every breeze； so that the terrified birds never dared toventure into the garden。 All the flowers were supported by human bonesinstead of sticks； and human skulls in the flower…pots grinnedhorribly。 It was really a doleful garden for a princess。 〃Do you seeall this？〃 said the old king； 〃your fate will be the same as those whoare here； therefore do not attempt it。 You really make me veryunhappy；… I take these things to heart so very much。〃
John kissed the good old king's hand； and said he was sure itwould be all right； for he was quite enchanted with the beautifulprincess。 Then the princess herself came riding into the palace yardwith all her ladies； and he wished her 〃Good morning。〃 She lookedwonderfully fair and lovely when she offered her hand to John； andhe loved her more than ever。 How could she be a wicked witch； as allthe people asserted？ He acpanied her into the hall； and thelittle pages offered them gingerbread nuts and sweetmeats； but the oldking was so unhappy he cou