"How did you come here, my sweet child ? " he asked But Eliza shook her head She dared not speak, cost of her brothers' lives And she hid her hands under her apron, so king see how be suffering

"Come with me," ; "here remain as good beautiful, dress you in silk and velvet, place golden crown upon your head, and you shall dwell, and rule, and make your home in my richest castle " And then he lifted her horse She wept and wrung her hands, but the king said, " only for your happiness time will come will thank me " And then he galloped away over the mountains, holding her before him horse, hunters followed behind them sun went down, they approached fair royal city, with churches, and cupolas On arriving castle the king led her into marble halls, where large fountains played, and where the walls ceilings were covered with rich paintings But she had no eyes for all these glorious sights, only mourn and weep Patiently she allowed the women to array her in royal robes, to weave pearls in her hair, and draw soft gloves over her blistered fingers As she stood before them in all her rich dress, she looked so dazzingly beautiful court bowed low in her presence Then the king declared his intention of making her his bride, but the archbishop shook his head, and whispered fair young maiden was only witch who had blinded the king's eyes and bewitched his heart But the king listen ; he ordered the music to sound, the daintiest dishes served, loveliest maidens to dance After-wards he led her through fragrant gardens and lofty halls, but not smile appeared on her lips or sparkled in her eyes She looked the very picture of grief Then the king opened the door of little chamber she was to sleep; adorned with rich green tapestry, and resembled the cave he had found her floor lay the bundle of flax which she had spun nettles, and under the ceiling hung the coat she had made These things brought away cave as curiosities by huntsmen

"Here dream yourself back again old home cave," said the king; " work you employed yourself amuse you now midst of all this splendor "

When Eliza saw all these things which lay so near her heart, smile played around her mouth, crimson blood rushed to her cheeks She thought of her brothers, and their release made her so joyful that she kissed the king's hand Then he pressed her heart the joyous church bells announced the marriage feast, and beautiful dumb girl wood was made the queen country Then the archbishop whispered wicked words king's ear, but sink into his heart The marriage was still place, archbishop himself had the crown bride's head; wicked spite, he pressed the narrow circlet so tightly on her forehead caused her pain But heavier weight encircled her heart- sorrow for her brothers She felt not bodily pain Her mouth was closed; single word would cost the lives of her brothers But she loved the kind, handsome king, who did everything her happy more and more ; she loved him with all her heart, and her eyes beamed love she dared not speak Oh ! if she had only been able to confide in him and tell him of her grief But dumb remain till her task was finished Therefore at night she crept away into her little chamber, which decked out to look like the cave, and quickly wove one coat after another But when she began the seventh she found she had no more flax She knew nettles she wanted to use grew churchyard, pluck them herself How should she get out there ? "Oh, the pain in my fingers torment which my heart endures ? " said she " venture, denied help from heaven " Then with trembling heart, she were about to perform wicked deed, she crept garden broad moonlight, and passed narrow walks deserted streets, till she reached the churchyard Then she saw on broad tombstones group of ghouls These hideous creatures took off their rags, as intended to bathe, and then clawing open the fresh graves with their long, skinny fingers, pulled out the dead bodies and ate the flesh ! Eliza had close , fixed their wicked glances upon her, but she prayed silently, gathered the burning nettles, and carried them home with her castle One person only had seen her, archbishop- awake while everybody was asleep Now he thought his opinion was evidently correct All was not right queen She was witch, and had bewitched the king and all the people Secretly the king what he had seen and what he feared, and hard words came tongue, the carved images saints shook their heads as say " so Eliza is innocent "

But the archbishop interpreted it in another way; he believed witnessed against her, and were shaking their heads at her wickedness Two large tears rolled down the king's cheeks, and he went home with doubt heart, and at night he pretended to sleep, but there came no real sleep eyes, for Eliza get up every night and disappear in her own chamber From day to day his brow became darker, and Eliza saw it and understand the reason, but it alarmed her and made her heart tremble for her brothers Her hot tears glittered like pearls regal velvet and diamonds, while all who saw her were wishing be queens mean time she had almost finished her task; coat of mail was wanting, but she had no flax left, and not single nettle Once more only, and time, must she venture churchyard and pluck few handfuls She thought with terror solitary walk, and horrible ghouls, but her will was firm, as her trust in Providence Eliza went, king archbishop followed her They saw her vanish wicket gate churchyard, and came nearer they saw the ghouls sitting tombstone, as Eliza had seen them, king turned away his head, for he thought she was - she whose head had rested breast that very evening "The people must condemn her," said he, and she was very quickly condemned by to suffer death by fire Away gorgeous regal halls was she led to dark, dreary cell, where the wind whistled iron bars Instead velvet and silk dresses, they gave her the coats of mail which she had woven her, bundle of nettles for pillow; but nothing give her pleased her more She continued her task with joy, and prayed for help, while the street-boys sang jeering songs about her, and not soul comforted her with kind word Towards evening, she heard grating the flutter of swan's wing, her youngest brother- he had found his sister, and she sobbed for joy, although she knew that very likely the last night she to live But still hope, for her task was almost finished, and her brothers were come Then the archbishop arrived, with her during her last hours, as he had promised the king But she shook her head, and begged him, by looks and gestures, not to stay; for night she knew finish her task, otherwise all her pain and tears and sleepless nights suffered in vain The archbishop withdrew, uttering bitter words against her; but poor Eliza knew that she was innocent, and diligently continued her work

The little mice ran floor, they dragged the nettles to her feet, to help as ; thrush sat outside the grating window, and sang to her the whole night long, as sweetly as possible, up her spirits

still twilight, and an hour before sunrise, eleven brothers stood castle gate, and demanded brought king They were told it , yet almost night, and king slept they dared not disturb him They threatened, they entreated Then the guard appeared, and even the king himself, inquiring what all the noise meant moment the sun rose The eleven brothers were seen no more, but eleven wild swans flew away over the castle

And now all the people came streaming forth gates city, the witch burnt An old horse drew the cart she sat They had dressed her in garment of coarse sackcloth Her lovely hair hung loose on her shoulders, her cheeks were deadly pale, her lips moved silently, while her fingers still worked green flax Even way to death, not give up her task The ten coats of mail lay at her feet, she was working hard eleventh, while the mob jeered her and said, "See the witch, how she mutters ! She has no hymn-book in her hand She sits there with her ugly sorcery tear it in thousand pieces "

And then they pressed towards her, and destroyed the coats of mail, but same moment eleven wild swans flew over her, and alighted cart Then they flapped their large wings, crowd drew on one side in alarm

" sign from heaven that innocent," whispered ; but they ventured not it aloud

executioner seized her hand, to lift her cart, she hastily threw the eleven coats of mail over the swans, immediately became eleven handsome princes; but the youngest had swan's wing, instead of an arm; for she able to finish the last sleeve coat

"Now speak," she exclaimed " innocent "

Then the people, who saw what happened, bowed to her, as before saint; but she sank lifeless in her brothers' arms, overcome with suspense, anguish, and pain

"Yes, innocent," said the eldest brother; and then he related all that had taken place; and while he spoke there rose air fragrance as from millions of roses Every piece of faggot pile had taken root, and threw out branches, and appeared thick hedge, large and high, covered with roses; while above all bloomed white and shining flower, that glittered like star This flower the king plucked, and placed in Eliza's bosom, when she awoke from her swoon, with peace and happiness in her heart And all the church bells rang of themselves, birds came in great troops And marriage procession returned castle, such as no king had ever before seen