“She was so beautiful as she stood thus before him, blushing and smiling at the same time, that the Prince, falling on his knees, begged her to give him a sign by which he might hope to see her again and win her love.
“She tore off a piece of her blue girdle, and dropping it on the earth, put her foot lightly upon it. ‘I leave you a flower,’ she said, ‘may it comfort you. Forget me not’; and saying this, she disappeared.
“The Prince rubbed his eyes, for as she vanished he found himself again gazing at the feathery green palms across the big river, and looking around, found the yellow desert stretching in boundless sands to meet the horizon. The forest, the mountain, all had gone. But as he turned away from the great tawny hills in despair, he saw at his feet a tiny bit of blue. Stooping, he picked up the prettiest flower he had ever seen. It was as blue as the silver maid’s eyes, and as he held it to his lips he repeated her words, ‘Forget me not’; and since that day the little flower has always been called the forget-me-not.
“Now, as Prince Asgard went home he pondered deeply on what he had seen, and gaining the consent of his father and the wise men of the country, he gathered together a great army and started out into the world in quest of the unknown princesses. No person believed he would succeed in finding the Rainbow Sisters or in bringing rain into the country. The story of the Rainbow Maidens was well known to the wise men, but they counted it a myth, a fairy tale, and they smiled among themselves when they heard that Prince Asgard believed it firmly. But they did not object to his trying: it would do no harm; and in the meanwhile they would still study and devise other methods.
“Prince Asgard said good-bye to his father and the people, and at the head of a great army sparkling in gold and silver helmets and shields, he started on his journey. He was going to look for the Rainbow Sisters because his country needed rain, yet in his heart he knew it was because of love for the youngest and prettiest of those sisters that he was so eagerly searching.
“The army travelled everywhere throughout the world. By sea and by land they went, and they had many wonderful adventures. Tigers and wolves, bears and panthers, attacked them, and strange people told them they were on a foolish quest, but they did not heed such remarks, and continued on their way. But after several years had passed, and they seemed no nearer the Rainbow Mountain, the soldiers became discontented, and said it was a foolish trip after all, and begged to be allowed to return to their own homes. The strange countries through which they passed taught them much, and they often saw rain and splendid storms; yet when some of their fine ships were wrecked and lost at sea, many of them felt that perhaps it was pleasanter after all to be in a country where only sand-storms of the desert were known. One by one the soldiers were released by Prince Asgard from their promises; they returned to their homes, and at last the Prince was entirely alone. But he was not discouraged. Determined and brave, he vowed he would never give up the search, and he started out again with renewed courage to find the beautiful Princess of the Silver Dress.
“He wandered many months, but without success. At last one night he stood, almost despairing, on the edge of a dark forest. He had just made up his mind that he would live and die in a foreign country, because he would never go back to his own home until he found the Silver Princess. ‘O beautiful Princess,’ he said aloud, ‘some way I shall find you and prevail upon you to marry me, for I can never be happy without you’; and yet as he said it, it seemed to him almost an impossibility.
“He entered the forest and sat down within its gloomy depths to rest a while. The Moon was just rising, and in a little while her bright rays penetrated the black density of the trees. Little patches of silver lay along the ground, and a light wind stirring the trees made the silver rays dance along, until the earth seemed sprinkled with millions of shining jewels. He was watching the pretty sight intently, for it made him think of the dress of silver that the little Princess wore. He was so absorbed that he was considerably startled when he heard a musical sound such as he had heard on the edge of the desert.
“Looking up quickly, he beheld, to his amazement and joy, the same big mountain, and heard the rippling waters of the crystal streams flowing over the rocks. He could hardly breathe, he was so excited, and so fearful lest it should prove a dream.
“But again the beautiful sister emerged as before. Her magical wand sent forth its cloud-vapors as she danced forward; again the other lovely maidens followed, and again they formed a ring of rainbow brilliancy. The Prince sat expectant and trembling. Would the Silver Princess appear? A moment more and the little Princess tripped out, more beautiful than ever. Her silver dress gleamed and sparkled in shining light as she floated forward. Her eyes were tender and blue, and her dainty girdle, with its touch of color, bound her slender waist. Her lovely arms shone white and firm through the thin gauze of her dress. Butterflies floated about her, airy, exquisite things, marvellous in color, and lighting on her hair and shoulders, gave a curiously beautiful touch to the picture.