Where you and I were together, love a keeping,
And think of the well in the wood."
So she looked out of the window, and there was the frog in boots and spurs. So says she, "I sha'n't open the door for a frog." Then says her father, "Open the door to the gentleman. Who knows what it may come to at last?" So she opened the door, and the frog came in. Then says the frog,—
"Set me a chair, my dearest sweet one,
And think," &c.
"I'm sure I sha'n't set a chair; the floor's good enough for a frog." The frog makes many requests, to all of which the lady returns uncivil answers. He asks for beer, and is told "Water is good enough for a frog;" to be put to bed, but "The cistern is good enough for a frog to sleep in." The father, however, insists on her compliance; and even when the frog says, "Cuddle my back, my dearest sweet one," orders her to do so, "For who knows what it may come to at last?" And in the morning, when she woke, she saw by her side the handsomest gentleman that ever was seen, in a scarlet coat and top-boots, with a sword by his side and a gold chain round his neck, and gold rings on his fingers and he married her and made her a lady, and they lived very happy together.
I suspect the scarlet coat and top-boots to be a modern interpolation, the natural product of a sporting neighbourhood. It destroys the unity of costume, as I believe Alderman Sawbridge is the only person recorded as having gone hunting in a gold chain, and with a sword by his side.
Grimm's frog sings,—
"Königstochter, jüngste, mach mir auf,
Weisst du nicht wie gestern du zu mir gesagt