《安徒生童话英文版》第348章

　　"There are so many," replied the emperor, "who apply for places,that for the present I have no vacancy, but I will remember you. Butwait a moment; it just comes into my mind, I require somebody tolook after my pigs, for I have a great many."

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

　　"A jolly old sow once lived in a sty,

　　Three little piggies had she," &c.But what was more wonderful was that, when one put a finger into thesteam rising from the pot, one could at once smell what meals theywere preparing on every fire in the whole town. That was indeed muchmore remarkable than the rose. When the princess with her ladiespassed by and heard the tune, she stopped and looked quite pleased,for she also could play it- in fact, it was the only tune she couldplay, and she played it with one finger.

　　"That is the tune I know," she exclaimed. "He must be awell-educated swineherd. Go and ask him how much the instrument is."

　　One of the ladies had to go and ask; but she put on pattens.

　　"What will you take for your pot?" asked the lady.

　　"I will have ten kisses from the princess," said the swineherd.

　　"God forbid," said the lady.

　　"Well, I cannot sell it for less," replied the swineherd.

　　"What did he say?" said the princess.

　　I really cannot tell you," replied the lady.

　　"You can whisper it into my ear."

　　"It is very naughty," said the princess, and walked off.

　　But when she had gone a little distance, the bells rang again sosweetly:

　　"A jolly old sow once lived in a sty,

　　Three little piggies had she," &c.

　　"Ask him," said the princess, "if he will be satisfied with tenkisses from one of my ladies."

　　"No, thank you," said the swineherd: "ten kisses from theprincess, or I keep my pot."

　　"That is tiresome," said the princess. "But you must standbefore me, so that nobody can see it."

　　The ladies placed themselves in front of her and spread outtheir dresses, and she gave the swineherd ten kisses and receivedthe pot.

　　That was a pleasure! Day and night the water in the pot wasboiling; there was not a single fire in the whole town of which theydid not know what was preparing on it, the chamberlain's as well asthe shoemaker's. The ladies danced and clapped their hands for joy.

　　"We know who will eat soup and pancakes; we know who will eatporridge and cutlets; oh, how interesting!"

　　"Very interesting, indeed," said the mistress of the household."But you must not betray me, for I am the emperor's daughter."

　　"Of course not," they all said.

　　The swineherd- that is to say, the prince- but they did not knowotherwise than that he was a real swineherd- did not waste a singleday without doing something; he made a rattle, which, when turnedquickly round, played all the waltzes, galops, and polkas knownsince the creation of the world.

　　"But that is superbe," said the princess passing by. "I have neverheard a more beautiful composition. Go down and ask him what theinstrument costs; but I shall not kiss him again."

　　"He will have a hundred kisses from the princess," said thelady, who had gone down to ask him.

　　"I believe he is mad," said the princess, and walked off, but soonshe stopped. "One must encourage art," she said. "I am the emperor'sdaughter!