yellow fairy tale book

Chapter 27 White Duck
Once upon a time, there was a powerful and prestigious king who married a lovely princess as his queen.No one else lived as happily as this couple.But the honeymoon period is over and they have to separate.For the king had an expedition of a military nature, and left the young wife alone in the palace.The queen shed many tears, and the husband could find no words to comfort her.Finally, the king solemnly enjoined his wife to keep four things in mind.First, never leave the castle; second, never speak to strangers; third, always watch out for evil counselors; fourth, especially beware of suspicious women.The queen made a solemn promise that she would follow the four pieces of advice given by her husband.

After the king went on an expedition, the queen locked herself in the palace, and was with the lady all day long, either spinning or weaving, and then she missed her noble husband.Of course, this kind of life is very sad and lonely.One day, she was sitting by the window, letting the salty tears drip on the cloth, when she suddenly saw a very kind and kind old lady, leaning on a walking stick, coming to the window, with a kind and flattering expression In the same tone of voice, he addressed the queen the following touching words:
"Why are you so sad, so downcast, fair queen? You should not be morose in the house all day. You should come out into the garden and hear the birds singing, the butterflies among the flowers, and the bees. and the buzzing of insects, and watch how the sun chases the dew on the petals of roses, and the cups of lilies. Oh, my queen, the delights of the open air will drive away your melancholy Without a trace."

The queen hesitated for a long time at these alluring words, for she remembered the promise she had made to the king's husband, but at last she thought: Yes, if I go and play in the garden for a while, to admire the flowers and trees, to hear the birdsong, to see the butterflies What harm can it do to see the sun chasing the dew with the bees?It's better than being in the house all day.Of course, the queen didn't know that this kind-hearted old woman with a cane was actually an old witch who knew witchcraft. She was jealous of the queen's good luck and was determined to destroy her.In this way, the queen was unaware, followed the old woman to the garden, and continued to listen to her sweet talk.In the middle of the garden is a pond with crystal clear water.The old woman said to the queen:
"It's hot and the sun's shining, and the water looks cool and inviting. Don't you want to go down and take a bath, fair queen?"

"No, I don't want to go," said the Queen, but she regretted the answer at once, and thought why the pond was so clear why didn't I go and take a bath?It won't hurt!Thinking of this, she took off her robe and walked into the pond.No sooner had her delicate delicate feet touched the cool water than she felt the weight of her shoulders, and it was the old hag who pushed her deeper into the water, crying:
"Go swim from now on, White Duck!"

The old witch herself became a queen, put on a noble robe, entered the palace, and waited for the king's return surrounded by the ladies.The sound of horseshoes, dogs barking, approaching from a distance, and the noise of people, the witch rushed to meet the royal carriage.The witch stepped forward and embraced the king with open arms, and kissed the king.The king was so delighted that he could not tell that he was not holding his dear queen in his arms, but an old hag.

At the same time, outside the palace wall, the poor "White Duck" was swimming back and forth in the pool.There are three eggs by the pond.One day, two fluffy little female ducks and an ugly little drake came out of the eggs.The white duck took the responsibility of raising it, and the three ducklings followed behind it, playing in the pond, looking for goldfish, or crawling to the bank to waddle, flapping their wings and making a "quack, quack" sound.The mother White Duck warned the ducklings not to go too far, and told them that in the castle beyond the garden lived an old witch. "She ruined me, and she will try her best to ruin you." However, the three little ducklings didn't listen to these words.One day, three little ducklings were playing in the garden and approached the window of the castle.The witch recognized them by their scent, and immediately grinned at them.But at once she concealed her real feelings, put on a genial face, called them into the palace, let them into a beautiful room, gave them food, and pointed them to a comfortable cushion for them to sleep on.Then she left them, and went into the kitchen, where she had the servants sharpen the knives, and lighted a fire, on which a cauldron full of water was set.

At this time, the two little ducks fell asleep.The drake lay among them, and warmed himself under their wings, but he could not sleep, but kept awake, so he heard the Witch come to the door and say:
"Little one, are you asleep?"

The little drake answered for the two hens:
"We can't sleep, we just cry,

The knife is sharpened, life is in danger,

The fire is burning, the pot of water is boiling,
We wake up, we lie down, and weep. "

"They are not asleep yet!" said the old witch to herself.She walked up and down the passage, then came back to the door and asked:
"Three little guys, are you asleep?"

The little drake said again for the two sisters:

"We can't sleep, we just cry,

The knife is sharpened, life is in danger,

The fire is burning, the pot of water is boiling,
We wake up, we lie down, and weep. "

"It's still the same answer," the old witch said to herself, "I think I should go in and have a look." So she opened the door gently and killed the ducklings at once.

The next day, the white duck swam round and round in the pond, looking for the three ducklings, restless.It called, it looked, and found no trace.Suspicious in its heart, disaster must have befallen them, so it jumped out of the pond and flew to the palace.On the marble floor of the palace, three ducklings lay stiff.The white duck threw itself on them, covered them with its wings, and cried:
Oh, oh, my dear,
Oh oh my little baby!
I worked hard to raise you up,

In front of you are your corpses!
I gave you the best,

I protect you with my wings,

I love you and take care of you day and night,
Only you give me hope and happiness!
Hearing the white duck's mournful cry, the king said to the witch, "My dear wife, this is so strange. Listen to what the white duck has to say."

The witch replied, "My dear husband, what do you mean? There is nothing strange about the duck croaking. Come, attendants! Drive the duck out of the court!" Although the attendants shouted back and forth, they could not drive the white duck away.For the white duck ran round and round, and each time came back to where the three children lay, and cried:
Oh, oh, my dear,
Oh oh my little baby!
It was the old hag who took your life,
It was the old hag, the cunning snake!
At first she stole my king,
Later she killed my child.

she took me from a happy wife
Become a duck forever.

Won't I return to my queen form,
Won't you die?
When the king heard these words, he suspected that he had been deceived.He told his attendants: "Catch that white duck and bring it to me." However, the attendants chased after him, but they couldn't catch the duck.So the king himself came down, and chased after him with his attendants.The white duck immediately jumped into the king's palm.The king gently caressed the white duck's wings with his hands, and the white duck immediately turned into a beautiful woman, and the king recognized her as his dear wife.The queen told the king that in her nest in the garden she had a bottle containing water from a healing spring.The bottle was found.The spring water splashed on the three little ducklings, and the three little ducklings became three lovely children.The king and queen were overjoyed to see their three children.The family lives in happiness.The king gave the order, and the old witch naturally did not die well.

(End of this chapter)