put both his legs into it, sitting on the stone, and, stooping forward, covered the corner that remained open with his two hands. In this uncomfortable position he resolved to abide his fate, and turning to the people, said—
“Now you can go.”
The king had already gone home to dinner.
“Now you can go,” repeated the princess after him, like a parrot.
The people obeyed her and went.
Presently a little wave flowed over the stone, and wetted one of the prince’s knees. But he did not mind it much. He began to sing, and the song he sung was this:—
“As a world that has no well, Darkly bright in forest dell; As a world without the gleam Of the downward-going stream; As a world without the glance Of the ocean’s fair expanse; As a world where never rain Glittered on the sunny plain;— Such, my heart, thy world would be, If no love did flow in thee. “As a world without the sound Of the rivulets underground; Or the bubbling of the spring Out of darkness wandering; Or the mighty rush and flowing Of the river’s downward going; Or the music-showers that drop On the outspread beech’s top; Or the ocean’s mighty voice, When his lifted waves rejoice;— Such, my soul, thy world would be, If no love did sing in thee. “Lady, keep thy world’s delight; Keep the waters in thy sight. Love hath made me strong to go, For thy sake, to realms below, Where the water’s shine and hum Through