(1842)
Once upon a time lived a poor prince; his kingdom was very small, but it
was large enough to enable him to marry, and marry he would. It was rather
bold of him that he went and asked the emperor’s daughter: “Will you
marry me?” but he ventured to do so, for his name was known far and wide,
and there were hundreds of princesses who would have gladly accepted
him, but would she do so? Now we shall see.
On the grave of the prince’s father grew a rose-tree, the most beautiful of
its kind. It bloomed only once in five years, and then it had only one single
rose upon it, but what a rose! It had such a sweet scent that one instantly
forgot all sorrow and grief when one smelt it. He had also a nightingale,
which could sing as if every sweet melody was in its throat. This rose and
the nightingale he wished to give to the princess; and therefore both were
put into big silver cases and sent to her.
The emperor ordered them to be carried into the great hall where the
princess was just playing “Visitors are coming” with her ladies-in-waiting;
when she saw the large cases with the presents therein, she clapped her
hands for joy.
