Принц-лягушка

           Inoldtimeswhenwishingstillhelpedone,therelivedakingwhosedaughterswereallbeautiful, buttheyoungestwassobeautifulthatthesunitself,whichhasseensomuch,wasastonishedwheneveritshoneinherface. ClosebytheKing’scastlelayagreatdarkforest, andunderanoldlime-treeintheforestwasawell, andwhenthedaywasverywarm,theKing’schildwentoutintotheforestandsatdownbythesideofthecoolfountain, andwhenshewasdullshetookagoldenball, andthrewituponhighandcaughtit,andthisballwasherfavoriteplaything. 

           Nowitsohappenedthatononeoccasiontheprincess’sgoldenballdidnotfallintothelittlehandwhichshewasholdingupforit,butontothegroundbeyond,androlledstraightintothewater. TheKing’sdaughterfolloweditwithhereyes,butitvanished,andthewellwasdeep,sodeepthatthebottomcouldnotbeseen. Onthisshebegantocry,andcriedlouderandlouder,andcouldnotbecomforted. Andasshethuslamentedsomeonesaidtoher, "Whatailsthee,King’sdaughter? Thouweepestsothatevenastonewouldshowpity." Shelookedroundtothesidefromwhencethevoicecame,andsawafrogstretchingforthitsthick,uglyheadfromthewater. "Ah!oldwater-splasher,isitthou?"saidshe; "Iamweepingformygoldenball,whichhasfallenintothewell.""