01-the twelve dancing princesses-第3部分

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‘Don't　drink！'　suddenly　cried　out　the　little　Princess；　‘I　would

rather　marry　a　gardener。'



And　she　burst　into　tears。



Michael　flung　the　contents　of　the　cup　behind　him；　sprang　over

the　table；　and　fell　at　Lina's　feet。　The　rest　of　the　princes　fell

likewise　at　the　knees　of　the　princesses；　each　of　whom　chose　a　husband

and　raised　him　to　her　side。　The　charm　was　broken。



The　twelve　couples　embarked　in　the　boats；　which　crossed　back

many　times　in　order　to　carry　over　the　other　princes。　Then　they　all

went　through　the　three　woods；　and　when　they　had　passed　the　door

of　the　underground　passage　a　great　noise　was　heard；　as　if　the

enchanted　castle　was　crumbling　to　the　earth。



They　went　straight　to　the　room　of　the　Duke　of　Beloeil；　who　had

just　awoke。　Michael　held　in　his　hand　the　golden　cup；　and　he

revealed　the　secret　of　the　holes　in　the　shoes。



‘Choose；　then；'　said　the　Duke；　‘whichever　you　prefer。'



‘My　choice　is　already　made；'　replied　the　garden　boy；　and　he

offered　his　hand　to　the　youngest　Princess；　who　blushed　and

lowered　her　eyes。





XVI





The　Princess　Lina　did　not　become　a　gardener's　wife；　on　the

contrary；　it　was　the　Star　Gazer　who　became　a　Prince：　but　before

the　marriage　ceremony　the　Princess　insisted　that　her　lover　should

tell　her　how　he　came　to　discover　the　secret。



So　he　showed　her　the　two　laurels　which　had　helped　him；　and

she；　like　a　prudent　girl；　thinking　they　gave　him　too　much　advantage

over　his　wife；　cut　them　off　at　the　root　and　threw　them　in　the　fire。

And　this　is　why　the　country　girls　go　about　singing：



Nous　n'irons　plus　au　bois；

Les　lauriers　sont　coupes；'



and　dancing　in　summer　by　the　light　of　the　moon。