10\. Look at the Moon
by George MacDonald · from The Light Princess
Adapted Version
Once, a kind Prince watched a pretty Princess. He watched from his cave near a lake. Prince Leo had food. He was not hungry. He saw Princess Lily on the lake. Many people were with her.
The sun was hot. Prince Leo felt warm. He wanted cool water. He wanted to swim. He wanted to meet Princess Lily.
The sun went down. The sky got dark. All the boats left. Princess Lily was alone. She was in her boat. She told her boat to go. The boat went away.
Prince Leo began to sing. He sang a sweet song. "Lady fair, white as snow. Lift your eyes. Come to me. I like you." He wanted her to know. He thought she was special.
Princess Lily heard the song. Her ears helped her. She looked up. She saw Prince Leo. "Hello, Prince!" she said. "Come get me, Prince!" she asked. She was very playful. She smiled at him.
Prince Leo was clever. He took off his scarf. He took off his belt. He tied them. It was a long rope. Princess Lily held it. She climbed up fast.
They jumped in the water. Splash! They swam and played. They were very happy. The lake was cool. They laughed. It was a good swim.
They met each night. They swam in the dark lake. The moon came out. It made them happy. The moon was big and bright. They liked the moon.
They dove deep down. They looked up. The moon was in the water. It looked sparkly. Then they popped up. The moon was far away. It was clear.
Prince Leo saw Princess Lily change. In the water, she was calm. She was very gentle. Out of water, she was playful. She was often loud. She changed.
Prince Leo told Princess Lily. "I like you very much." She laughed loud. She looked confused. She did not know his words. Her face showed it clearly.
Prince Leo knew she changed. Out of water, she was not the same. This made him think. What about their future? It was a little hard.
He thought about it. They must both live in water. He must be a water prince. She was a water princess. Then they could always be near. This was his idea.
Prince Leo knew Princess Lily was special. He liked her very much. She was a water princess. He was a land prince. He wished they could always swim.
Original Story
10. 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 soon 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 sword-belt, 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.
Night after night they met, and swam about in the dark clear lake; where such was the prince's gladness, that (whether the princess's way of looking at things infected him, or he was actually getting light-headed) he often fancied that he was swimming in the sky instead of the lake. But when he talked about being in heaven, the princess laughed at him dreadfully.
When the moon came, she brought them fresh pleasure. Everything looked strange and new in her light, with an old, withered, yet unfading newness. When the moon was nearly full, one of their great delights was, to dive deep in the water, and then, turning round, look up through it at the great blot of light close above them, shimmering and trembling and wavering, spreading and contracting, seeming to melt away, and again grow solid. Then they would shoot up through the blot; and lo! there was the moon, far off, clear and steady and cold, and very lovely, at the bottom of a deeper and bluer lake than theirs, as the princess said.
The prince soon found out that while in the water the princess was very like other people. And besides this, she was not so forward in her questions or pert in her replies at sea as on shore. Neither did she laugh so much; and when she did laugh, it was more gently. She seemed altogether more modest and maidenly in the water than out of it.
But when the prince, who had really fallen in love when he fell in the lake, began to talk to her about love, she always turned her head towards him and laughed. After a while she began to look puzzled, as if she were trying to understand what he meant, but could not—revealing a notion that he meant something. But as soon as ever she left the lake, she was so altered, that the prince said to himself, "If I marry her, I see no help for it: we must turn merman and mermaid, and go out to sea at once."
Story DNA
Plot Summary
A prince, watching a beautiful princess in a lake, sings to her, leading to their first meeting. They discover a shared delight in swimming together nightly, especially under the moon, where the princess seems more herself. However, when the prince confesses his love, the princess responds with laughter and confusion, highlighting her different nature and the fact that her personality changes drastically out of the water. The prince realizes that for their love to work, they would need to fully embrace a life in the water, becoming merman and mermaid.
Themes
Emotional Arc
longing to joy to puzzled love
Writing Style
Narrative Elements
Cultural Context
George MacDonald was a Victorian author known for his fantasy and fairy tales, often imbued with spiritual and philosophical undertones. This story is an excerpt from a larger work, 'The Princess and the Goblin' or 'The Princess and Curdie' (though it's actually from 'Phantastes'), and reflects his unique blend of the fantastical and the introspective.
Plot Beats (13)
- The prince, having secured food, watches the princess and her company in the lake from his cave.
- He endures the day's heat, longing for the cool water and the princess.
- As twilight falls and the company leaves, the princess remains alone in her boat, then sends it away.
- The prince sings a poetic song to the princess, expressing his admiration and longing.
- The princess, guided by his voice, finds him and playfully asks him to 'fetch' her.
- The prince uses his clothing to create a rope, which is just long enough for her to climb up.
- They dive into the lake together, experiencing immense joy in their shared swim.
- They continue to meet nightly, swimming in the dark lake, finding new pleasure when the moon appears.
- They enjoy diving deep and looking up at the shimmering moon through the water, then surfacing to see it clear and distant.
- The prince observes that the princess is more modest and maidenly in the water than on land.
- The prince confesses his love to the princess, but she laughs and appears puzzled, not understanding his meaning.
- The prince realizes that her personality shifts dramatically out of the water, making their future together complicated.
- He concludes that for their love to work, they would need to become merman and mermaid and live in the sea.
Characters
The Prince ★ protagonist
A brave and athletic young man, capable of enduring hardship and performing physical feats like climbing and swimming. His build is likely lean and muscular from his adventures.
Attire: Initially wears a scarf, a sword-belt, and a tunic, which he removes. He also wears a turban and carries a purse. These items suggest practical, yet princely, attire suitable for travel and adventure, likely made of fine but durable fabrics in muted colors.
Wants: Initially, survival and finding sustenance. Later, his primary motivation becomes to be with the princess and understand her, driven by love.
Flaw: Can be overly optimistic or 'light-headed' when deeply happy or in love, potentially overlooking practical realities or the princess's true nature. His love for the princess makes him vulnerable to her enigmatic behavior.
He transforms from a prince focused on survival to one deeply in love, willing to adapt his life (even considering becoming a merman) for the object of his affection. He learns about the dual nature of the princess.
Brave, resourceful, persistent, optimistic (bows Care out), romantic, and somewhat light-headed when in love. He is also observant, noticing the princess's different demeanor in and out of the water.
Image Prompt & Upload
A young man with a noble countenance, standing upright, facing forward, full body visible from head to toe. He has a lean, athletic build. He wears a simple, practical tunic of deep blue linen, a sturdy leather sword-belt, and a long, flowing cream-colored scarf draped around his neck. A dark red turban is wrapped around his head. He holds a small, worn leather purse in one hand. His expression is determined yet hopeful. Plain white background, full body visible head to toe, single figure, no watermark, no text, no signature.
The Princess ◆ supporting
Described as 'swan-white' and 'radiant whiteness' in the water, suggesting fair skin and an ethereal beauty. She is graceful and agile, especially when swimming. Her movements are fluid and elegant.
Attire: When in the lake, she is described as 'white speck' and 'radiant whiteness', implying she wears a light-colored, perhaps white, swimming garment or is simply perceived as such due to her fair skin and the water. On shore, she is part of a royal company, suggesting she wears lovely, colorful garments with canopies and flags, but no specific details are given for her personal attire.
Wants: To enjoy herself and the pleasures of the lake. She is driven by a desire for delight and amusement, and perhaps a subconscious desire for connection, though she doesn't fully grasp it.
Flaw: Her inability to comprehend or engage with the concept of love, and her dual nature (different in and out of water), which creates a barrier to a deeper relationship. She can be perceived as superficial or flighty on land.
She remains largely unchanged in her core nature, but her interactions with the prince begin to introduce her to new concepts, like love, which she struggles to understand. She reveals a more gentle side of herself in the water.
Enigmatic, playful, somewhat mischievous, and initially pert and forward on land. In the water, she is more modest, maidenly, and gentle. She is joyful and delights in simple pleasures like swimming and looking at the moon through water. She seems to struggle with understanding abstract concepts like love.
Image Prompt & Upload
A young woman with an ethereal, delicate beauty, standing upright, facing forward, full body visible from head to toe. She has fair, luminous skin and striking, intelligent eyes. Her hair is long and flows loosely, appearing wet and dark. She wears a simple, flowing white linen shift that clings slightly, suggesting she has just emerged from water. Her posture is graceful and slightly playful, with a hint of a smile on her lips. Plain white background, full body visible head to toe, single figure, no watermark, no text, no signature.
The King ○ minor
Identified by his crown, suggesting a regal appearance. No further physical details are provided.
Attire: Wears a crown, indicating royal attire. Likely rich fabrics and colors, though not specified.
Wants: To enjoy the day's outing on the lake with his court and family.
Flaw: Not applicable; not enough information.
No arc; a static background character.
Not explicitly shown, but implied to be a ruler who enjoys leisure and leads a royal retinue.
Image Prompt & Upload
A dignified adult man, standing upright, facing forward, full body visible from head to toe. He has a regal bearing. He wears a rich, flowing robe of deep crimson velvet, embroidered with gold thread, and a golden crown adorned with jewels on his head. His expression is calm and authoritative. Plain white background, full body visible head to toe, single figure, no watermark, no text, no signature.
The Queen ○ minor
Identified by her crown, suggesting a regal appearance. No further physical details are provided.
Attire: Wears a crown, indicating royal attire. Likely rich fabrics and colors, though not specified.
Wants: To enjoy the day's outing on the lake with her family and court.
Flaw: Not applicable; not enough information.
No arc; a static background character.
Not explicitly shown, but implied to be a royal who enjoys leisure and participates in court outings.
Image Prompt & Upload
A graceful adult woman, standing upright, facing forward, full body visible from head to toe. She has a serene and elegant bearing. She wears a flowing gown of royal blue silk, intricately embroidered with silver patterns, and a delicate golden crown set with pearls on her head. Her expression is calm and composed. Plain white background, full body visible head to toe, single figure, no watermark, no text, no signature.
Locations
Forester's Hut
A simple, rustic dwelling in a forest, likely built of timber and stone, providing basic sustenance.
Mood: Humble, practical, providing sustenance
The prince finds food and shelter for several days.
Image Prompt & Upload
A small, sturdy forester's hut nestled deep within a dense, ancient European forest. The hut is constructed from rough-hewn logs and has a steeply pitched, moss-covered thatched roof. A wisp of smoke rises from a stone chimney, and a single wooden door stands ajar, revealing a warm, inviting glow within. Sunlight filters through the thick canopy of oak and beech trees, dappling the forest floor around the hut. no border, no frame, no watermark, no text, no signature, edge-to-edge illustration.
Watch-Cave on the Rock
A high, rocky outcrop overlooking a lake, with a natural cave providing a vantage point. The prince uses a scarf, sword-belt, tunic, turban, and purse tied together to help the princess ascend.
Mood: Observational, strategic, later romantic and adventurous
The prince watches the princess and her company, later sings to her, and helps her climb up to him.
Image Prompt & Upload
A rugged, towering limestone cliff face rises sharply from the edge of a vast, clear lake. Halfway up the cliff, a natural, shadowed cave opening provides a hidden vantage point. Sparse, wind-stunted pines cling to the rock crevices, and a long, makeshift rope of tied fabrics dangles precariously from the cave entrance towards the water. The late afternoon sun casts long shadows across the water, highlighting the rough texture of the rock. no border, no frame, no watermark, no text, no signature, edge-to-edge illustration.
The Dark Clear Lake
A large, deep body of water, clear and dark, especially at night. It reflects the moon and appears like the sky when viewed from underwater.
Mood: Magical, intimate, playful, mysterious, romantic
The prince and princess meet and swim, experiencing the lake's magic, especially under the moon.
Image Prompt & Upload
A vast, placid lake under a deep indigo night sky, illuminated by a nearly full, radiant moon. The water's surface is a dark, reflective mirror, occasionally broken by gentle ripples. From an underwater perspective, the moon appears as a shimmering, wavering blot of light directly above, with deep blue water extending into the distance. The air is cool and still, enhancing the sense of profound tranquility. no border, no frame, no watermark, no text, no signature, edge-to-edge illustration.
