by Hans Christian Andersen

translation by H P Paull (1872)

ONCE upon time lived poor prince; his kingdom was , but large enough to enable him to marry, and marry rather bold of him that he went and asked the emperor's daughter: " marry me ? " but he ventured , name was known far and wide, and there were hundreds of princesses gladly accepted him, but would she ? Now see

grave prince's father grew rose-tree, the most beautiful kind It bloomed only once in five years, and then it had single rose upon it, but what rose ! It had such sweet scent that one instantly forgot all sorrow and grief when one smelt it He had also nightingale, which could sing every sweet melody was in its throat This rose nightingale princess; and therefore both were put into big silver cases and sent to her

The emperor ordered them carried great hall where the princess was just playing "Visitors are coming" with her ladies-in-waiting; when she saw the large cases presents therein, she clapped her hands for joy

" it were little pussy cat," she said But then the rose-tree beautiful rose was unpacked

"Oh, how nicely made," exclaimed the ladies

" more than nice," said the emperor, " charming "

The princess touched it and nearly began to cry

"For shame, pa," she said, " artificial, natural ! "

"For shame, natural" repeated all her ladies

" first see what the other case contains before angry," said the emperor; then the nightingale was taken out, and it sang so beautifully that no one could possibly say anything unkind

"Superbe, charmant," said the ladies court, for they all prattled French, one worse other

" the bird reminds me musical box late lamented empress," said an old courtier, "it has exactly the same tone, the same execution "

" right," said the emperor, and began to cry like little child

" natural," said the princess

"Yes, certainly natural," replied those who had brought the presents

"Then let it fly," said the princess, and refused the prince

But the prince was not discouraged He painted his face, put on common clothes, pulled his cap over his forehead, and came back

"Good day, emperor," , "could you not some employment court ? "

" ," replied the emperor, "who apply for places, that no vacancy, but remember you But wait moment; it just comes into my mind, I require somebody to look after my pigs, for "

Thus the prince was appointed imperial swineherd, and as such he lived in wretchedly small room near the pigsty; there he worked all day long, and when night he had made pretty little pot There were little bells round the rim, and water began to boil , the bells began to play the old tune:

"A jolly old sow once lived in sty, Three little piggies had she," &c

But more wonderful , when one put finger steam rising pot, one could at once smell what meals they were preparing on every fire whole town That was indeed much more remarkable rose princess with her ladies passed by and heard the tune, she stopped and looked quite pleased, for she also could play it- , it only tune play, and she played it with one finger

" tune ," she exclaimed " well-educated swineherd Go and ask him the instrument is "

ladies had and ask; but she put on pattens

" you take for your pot ? " asked the lady

" ten kisses princess," said the swineherd

"God forbid," said the lady

"Well, sell it for less," replied the swineherd

"What did he say ? " said the princess

I really cannot tell you," replied the lady

" whisper it into my ear "

" very naughty," said the princess, and walked off

But when she had gone little distance, the bells rang again so sweetly:

"A jolly old sow once lived in sty, Three little piggies had she," &c

"Ask him," said the princess, "if satisfied with ten kisses from one ladies "

"No, ," said the swineherd: "ten kisses princess, or I keep my pot "

" tiresome," said the princess "But stand before me, nobody it "

The ladies placed themselves in front of her and spread out their dresses, and she gave the swineherd ten kisses and received the pot

That was pleasure ! Day and night the water pot was boiling; not single fire whole town know preparing , the chamberlain's shoemaker's The ladies danced and clapped their hands for joy

" eat soup and pancakes; eat porridge and cutlets; oh, how interesting ! "

"Very interesting, indeed," said the mistress household "But not betray me, for the emperor's daughter "

" not," they all said

The swineherd- , the prince- but know otherwise than that real swineherd- waste single day without doing something; rattle, which, when turned quickly round, played all the waltzes, galops, and polkas known creation world

"But superbe," said the princess passing by " never heard more beautiful composition Go down and ask him what the instrument costs; but kiss him again "

" hundred kisses princess," said the lady, who had gone down to ask him

"I believe mad," said the princess, and walked off, but soon she stopped "One must encourage art," she said " the emperor's daughter ! Tell him give him ten kisses, as the other day; the remainder one ladies can give him

"But like to kiss him" said the ladies

" nonsense," said the princess; "if kiss him, also Remember that I food and employment " lady had down once more

"A hundred kisses princess," said the swineherd, "or everybody keeps his own "

"Place yourselves before me," said the princess then were bidden, princess kissed him

"I wonder what that crowd near the pigsty means ! " said the emperor, who had just come out balcony He rubbed his eyes and put his spectacles on

"The ladies court are some mischief, down " He pulled up his shoes, for they were down heels, and very quick When he had come down courtyard he walked quite softly, ladies were so busily engaged in counting the kisses, that all fair, that notice the emperor He raised himself on tiptoe

"What does this mean ? " , when that his daughter was kissing the swineherd, and then hit their heads shoe just swineherd received the sixty-eighth kiss

"Go out sight," said the emperor, for very angry; and both the princess swineherd were banished empire There she stood and cried, the swineherd scolded her, rain came down in torrents

"Alas, unfortunate creature that ! " said the princess, " I had accepted the prince Oh, how wretched ! "

The swineherd went behind tree, wiped his face, threw off his poor attire and stepped forth princely garments; he looked so beautiful princess help bowing to him

" now learnt to despise you," "You refused an honest prince; appreciate the rose nightingale; but mind kissing swineherd toys; no one but yourself to blame ! "

And then he returned into his kingdom and left her behind now sing at her leisure:

"A jolly old sow once lived in sty, Three little piggies has she," &c

THE END