|
"THE GARDEN OF THE PRINCESS MARY RADIANT" No man shall be admitted here, Till he a fine doth pay. And he who will not pay the fine From hence must ride away. By him that rides here over land, A silver bell is paid. He that flies hither through the air, Must bring a dark-faced maid. While he that through the sea doth swim, Must bring a cockle-shell with him. By order, M. R. |
"'He that through the sea doth swim,
Must bring a cockle-shell with him.'
Well, here it is," said the King. "So I will just walk in."
This time the old man did not appear, and the King walked straight into the garden, holding the shell in his hand.
"Ah-h-h, this is the garden I should like to have, perhaps the Princess could have it transplanted to my palace," said the King. "What a number of gardeners they must employ here!"
"No, only myself," said a soft voice behind him, "a few Bees, a few Byrdes and the nymphs Wynde and Worta."
The King turned, but could see no one, though he thought he caught a glimpse of a gold skirt among the bushes.
He threw down the shell by the path, and running forward, cried—"Oh Princess, come with me to my back-yard, and make it into a lovely garden such as this."
Then, for one moment through the arching branches of the trees, there appeared before him a maiden so beautiful that he was almost blinded with the sight of her. She was all gold and shining, like the pictures of Queen Elizabeth. She was smiling, too, but oh, so sadly!
"I will come," she said, "but you, yourself, must prepare the place for the garden. When it is ready I will smile on it and you. Till then, though I will come back with you and tell you what to do, you will never see my face."