"I'm a shepherd," the man dressed like a prince said. "A shepherd is a far better match for a goose-girl than a prince is."
"But why were either of you so deceitful?" the Queen said. "Because it's so ridiculous. You don't look like a shepherd, prince—your skin is much too fair; and you are much too brawny to be a prince, shepherd."
"Well, I thought it was not quite respectable for a prince to be seen visiting a witch, and so I changed clothes with the shepherd here."
"And I changed clothes with the prince because I had seen you from afar, and had loved you; and because I thought a prince would have seemed more splendid than a common shepherd."
"But you were both wrong to try to deceive me," the Queen said. "As for you, prince, I will not marry you to be made a princess, for I am a Queen already; and for you, shepherd, I will not marry you to become a shepherdess, for I am goose-girl already, though my flock has turned back from its goose-shape again. But how did you become geese, anyhow?" she asked of them.
And he who had been the old grey gander answered, "The witch turned us into it when we came to ask for the Elixir of Love."
"Dear me!" the Queen said. "Does love make such geese of people?"
And the shepherd in prince's clothing said, "I'm afraid it does."
"You see, it was as I said," the old grey gander said; "those young men are all fools. You had much better marry me."
He had no sooner said the words than a perfect whirlwind of shouts arose.