The Frog King, or Iron Henry

Reading section 1

In the days of old, when wishes still held their power, there lived a king whose daughters were all beautiful. But the youngest was so exceedingly fair that even the sun, which had looked upon so many wonders, marvelled whenever its rays fell upon her face. Near the king's castle stood a great, dark forest, and deep within that forest, beneath an ancient linden tree, lay a well. On days when the heat was particularly great, the young princess would wander into the forest and sit beside the cool waters of the well. Whenever she grew weary of sitting there, she would take a golden ball, toss it high into the air, and catch it again as it fell. Of all her playthings, this was the one she loved most dearly. Now it happened one day that, as the princess tossed her golden ball into the air, it did not fall into the little hands she had raised to catch it. Instead, it struck the ground beside her and rolled straight into the well. The princess watched it disappear beneath the water. But the well was deep, so deep that its bottom could not be seen. Then she began to weep. And she wept ever more bitterly, for nothing could console her. As she sat there lamenting her loss, a voice suddenly called out to her. “What troubles you, daughter of the king? You weep so sorrowfully that even a stone might take pity upon you.” She looked around to discover whence the voice had come, and there, rising out of the water, she saw a frog stretching forth his great, ugly head. “Ah, it is you, old water-splasher,” she said. “I am weeping for my golden ball, which has fallen into the well.” “Be still, and weep no more,” answered the frog. “I can help you. But what will you give me if I bring your plaything back?” “Whatever you wish, dear frog,” said the princess. “My dresses, my pearls and precious jewels, even the golden crown that rests upon my head.” But the frog replied: “Your dresses, your pearls and precious jewels, and your golden crown — none of these do I desire.

“But if you will love me, and let me be your companion and playmate; if you will allow me to sit beside you at your little table, to eat from your little golden plate, to drink from your little cup, and to sleep in your little bed — if you will promise me all this, then I shall descend into the well and bring your golden ball back to you.” “Oh, yes,” she said. “I promise you everything you ask, if only you will bring me my ball again.” But to herself she thought: What foolish nonsense this frog speaks! He belongs in the water, among others of his kind, croaking away. How could such a creature ever become the companion of a human being? The frog, having received her promise, lowered his head beneath the water and sank out of sight. After a little while, he came swimming back to the surface, the golden ball held firmly in his mouth, and tossed it onto the grass. The princess was overcome with joy when she saw her beloved plaything once more. She snatched it up and ran away. “Wait! Wait!” cried the frog. “Take me with you! I cannot run as swiftly as you!” But what good did it do him to croak after her as loudly as he could? She paid him no heed. She hurried home to the castle, and before long had quite forgotten the poor frog, who had no choice but to descend once more into his well. The following day, the princess was seated at table with the king and all the members of his court, eating from her little golden plate. Suddenly, something could be heard creeping up the marble staircase. Splish, splash. Splish, splash. And when it had reached the top, there came a knock upon the door. A voice called out: “Youngest daughter of the king, open the door to me!” The princess rose and hurried to see who stood outside. But when she opened the door, there sat the frog. At once she slammed the door shut, returned hastily to her place at the table, and sat trembling with fear. The king noticed how violently her heart was beating. “My child,” he said, “what is it that frightens you? Is there perhaps a giant standing outside the door, come to carry you away?” “Oh, no,” she answered. “It is no giant, but a dreadful frog.” “And what does this frog want with you?” “Ah, dearest Father, yesterday, as I sat playing beside the well in the forest, my golden ball fell into the water. And because I wept so bitterly, the frog brought it back to me.

Reading section 2

“But he insisted that I promise to make him my companion, and so I did. Yet I never imagined he could come out of the water.

Reading section 3

“And now he is standing outside, demanding to be let in.” At that very moment, there came another knock upon the door, and the voice called again: “Youngest daughter of the king, Open the door to me. Have you forgotten what you promised Yesterday beside the cool waters of the well? Youngest daughter of the king, Open the door to me.” Then the king said: “What you have promised, you must fulfil. Go now, and open the door for him.”

So the princess went and opened the door. The frog hopped inside and followed closely at her heels, all the way to her chair. There he sat and cried: “Lift me up beside you!” But she hesitated, and would not do so until the king commanded her. Once the frog had been lifted onto the chair, he wished to sit upon the table. And when he had been placed there, he said: “Now push your little golden plate closer, so that we may eat together.” She did as he asked, though anyone could see how unwillingly she obeyed. The frog enjoyed his meal exceedingly. But as for the princess, scarcely a morsel would pass down her throat. At last the frog said: “I have eaten my fill, and now I am weary. Carry me to your chamber, prepare your little silken bed, and there we shall lie down to sleep.” At these words, the princess began to weep. She was afraid of the cold frog, whom she could scarcely bear to touch, and who now expected to sleep in her beautiful, clean bed. But the king grew angry. “He who helped you when you were in need,” he said, “must not afterwards be despised.” So the princess took the frog between two fingers, carried him upstairs, and placed him in a corner of her chamber. But when she had lain down in her bed, the frog came creeping towards her. “I am weary,” he said, “and I wish to sleep as well as you. Lift me up, or I shall tell your father.” At this, the princess was seized with bitter anger. She picked up the frog and hurled him against the wall with all her strength. “Now you shall have your rest, you horrid frog!” But when the creature fell to the ground, he was no longer a frog. He had become a young prince, with beautiful and kindly eyes. And by her father's will, he was now her beloved companion and husband. Then the prince told her how a wicked witch had cast a spell upon him, and how no one but the princess herself could have freed him from the well. He told her, too, that on the following day they would journey together to his kingdom. Then they fell asleep. And the next morning, when the sun awakened them, a splendid carriage arrived before the castle. It was drawn by eight white horses, each adorned upon its head with white ostrich plumes, and harnessed with golden chains. At the back of the carriage stood the servant of the young king. His name was Faithful Henry. When his master had been transformed into a frog, Henry had been so overcome with sorrow that he had caused three iron bands to be fastened around his heart, lest it should burst from grief and anguish. Now the carriage had come to carry the young king home to his kingdom. Faithful Henry helped the prince and princess into their seats, then climbed onto his place at the back. His heart was filled with joy, for at last his master had been delivered from the enchantment. After they had travelled some distance, the prince suddenly heard a loud cracking sound behind him, as though something had broken. He turned and called out:

Reading section 4

“Henry, the carriage is breaking!” But Henry answered: “No, my lord, it is not the carriage. It is an iron band about my heart, That long was bound in grief and pain, When in the well you had to dwell, When you were a frog beneath the spell.” A little farther along the road, another loud crack was heard. And once again, the prince believed that the carriage was breaking apart. But it was only another of the iron bands springing free from the heart of Faithful Henry. And yet a third time came the sound of something breaking. Still the prince thought that the carriage was falling to pieces. But it was not the carriage. It was the last of the iron bands that had bound Faithful Henry's heart. For now that his master was free, and happy once more, there was no longer any need for those bands to hold his heart together.