Ep. 1211 - The Goose-Girl, Pt. 2

The waiting-maid now mounted Falada, and the real bride the worse horse, and so they continued their journey till at length they arrived at the palace yard. There was great rejoicing over the arrival, and the Prince sprang forward to meet them, and taking the waiting-maid for his bride, he lifted her down from her horse and led her upstairs to the royal chamber. In the meantime the real Princess was left standing below in the courtyard. The old King, who was looking out of his window, beheld her in this plight, and it struck him how sweet and gentle, even beautiful, she looked. He went at once to the royal chamber, and asked the bride who it was she had brought with her and had left thus standing in the court below. ‘Oh!’ replied the bride, ‘I brought her with me to keep me company on the journey; give the girl something to do, that she mayn’t be idle.’ But the old King had no work for her, and couldn’t think of anything; so he said, ‘I’ve a small boy who looks after the geese, she’d better help him.’ The youth’s name was Curdken, and the real bride was made to assist him in herding geese.