The White Duck

THE WHITE DUCK

Once upon a time a great and powerful King married a lovely Princess.

No couple were ever so happy; but before their honeymoon was over they

were forced to part, for the King had to go on a warlike expedition to

a far country, and leave his young wife alone at home. Bitter were the

tears she shed, while her husband sought in vain to soothe her with

words of comfort and counsel, warning her, above all things, never to

leave the castle, to hold no intercourse with strangers, to beware of

evil counsellors, and especially to be on her guard against strange

women. And the Queen promised faithfully to obey her royal lord and

master in these four matters.

So when the King set out on his expedition she shut herself up with

her ladies in her own apartments, and spent her time in spinning and

weaving, and in thinking of her royal husband. Often she was very sad

and lonely, and it happened that one day while she was seated at the

window, letting salt tears drop on her work, an old woman, a kind,

homely-looking old body, stepped up to the window, and, leaning upon

her crutch, addressed the Queen in friendly, flattering tones, saying:

‘Why are you sad and cast down, fair Queen? You should not mope all

day in your rooms, but should come out into the green garden, and hear

the birds sing with joy among the trees, and see the butterflies

fluttering above the flowers, and hear the bees and insects hum, and

watch the sunbeams chase the dew-drops through the rose-leaves and in

the lily-cups. All the brightness outside would help to drive away

your cares, O Queen.’

[Illustration: The Witch persuades the Queen to bathe]

For long the Queen resisted her coaxing words, remembering the promise

she had given the King, her husband; but at last she thought to

herself: After all, what harm would it do if I were to go into the

garden for a short time and enjoy myself among the trees and flowers,

and the singing birds and fluttering butterflies and humming insects,

and look at the dew-drops hiding from the sunbeams in the hearts of

the roses and lilies, and wander about in the sunshine, instead of

remaining all day in this room? For she had no idea that the

kind-looking old woman leaning on her crutch was in reality a wicked

witch, who envied the Queen her good fortune, and was determined to

ruin her. And so, in all ignorance, the Queen followed her out into

the garden and listened to her smooth, flattering words. Now, in the

middle of the garden there was a pond of water, clear as crystal, and

the old woman said to the Queen:

‘The day is so warm, and the sun’s rays so scorching, that the water

in the pond looks very cool and inviting. Would you not like to bathe

in it, fair Queen?’

‘No, I think not,’ answered the Queen; but the next moment she

regretted her words, and thought to herself: Why shouldn’t I bathe in

that cool, fresh water? No harm could come of it. And, so saying, she

slipped off her robes and stepped into the water. But scarcely had her

tender feet touched the cool ripples when she felt a great shove on

her shoulders, and the wicked witch had pushed her into the deep

water, exclaiming:

‘Swim henceforth, White Duck!’

And the witch herself assumed the form of the Queen, and decked

herself out in the royal robes, and sat among the Court ladies,

awaiting the King’s return. And suddenly the tramp of horses’ hoofs

was heard, and the barking of dogs, and the witch hastened forward to

meet the royal carriages, and, throwing her arms round the King’s

neck, kissed him. And in his great joy the King did not know that the

woman he held in his arms was not his own dear wife, but a wicked