Pagina 569 van 626

Then the fiddler went his way, and took her with him, and they

soon came to a great wood. 'Pray,' said she, 'whose is this

wood?' 'It belongs to King Grisly-beard,' answered he; 'hadst

thou taken him, all had been thine.' 'Ah! unlucky wretch that I

am!' sighed she; 'would that I had married King Grisly-beard!'

Next they came to some fine meadows. 'Whose are these beautiful

green meadows?' said she. 'They belong to King Grisly-beard,

hadst thou taken him, they had all been thine.' 'Ah! unlucky

wretch that I am!' said she; 'would that I had married King

Grisly-beard!'

Then they came to a great city. 'Whose is this noble city?' said

she. 'It belongs to King Grisly-beard; hadst thou taken him, it

had all been thine.' 'Ah! wretch that I am!' sighed she; 'why did

I not marry King Grisly-beard?' 'That is no business of mine,'

said the fiddler: 'why should you wish for another husband? Am

not I good enough for you?'