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By Root 1952 0

stay,” knocked at the gate, and cried: “A guest is without—open, that he may enter.” When the gate was not opened, he sat down, took his lute and played it in the most delightful manner with his two fore-feet. Then the door-keeper opened his eyes, and gaped, and ran to the King and said: “Outside by the gate sits a young donkey which plays the lute as well as an experienced master!” “Then let the musician come to me,” said the King. But when a donkey came in, everyone began to laugh at the lute-player. And when the donkey was asked to sit down and eat with the servants, he was unwilling, and said: “I am no common stable-ass, I am a noble one.” Then they said: “If that is what you are, seat yourself with the soldiers.” “No,” said he, “I will sit by the King.” The King smiled, and said good-humoredly: “Yes, it shall be as you will, little ass, come here to me.” Then he asked: “Little ass, how does my daughter please you?” The donkey turned his head towards her, looked at her, nodded and said: “I like her above measure, I have never yet seen anyone so beautiful as she is.” “Well, then, you shall sit next her too,” said the King. “That is exactly what I wish,” said the donkey, and he placed himself by her side, ate and drank, and knew how to behave himself daintily and cleanly. When the noble beast had stayed a long time at the King’s court, he thought: “What good does all this do me, I shall still have to go home again,” let his head hang sadly, and went to the King and asked for his dismissal. But the King had grown fond of him, and said: “Little ass, what ails you? You look as sour as a jug of vinegar, I will give you what you want. Do you want gold?” “No,” said the donkey, and shook his head. “Do you want jewels and rich dress?” “No.” “Do you wish for half my kingdom?” “Indeed, no.” Then said the King: “If I did but know what would make you content. Will you have my pretty daughter to wife?” “Ah, yes,” said the ass, “I should indeed like her,” and all at once he became quite merry and full of happiness, for that was exactly what he was wishing for. So a great and splendid wedding was held. In the evening, when the bride and bridegroom were led into their bed-room, the King wanted to know if the ass would behave well, and ordered a servant to hide himself there. When they were both within, the bridegroom bolted the door, looked around, and as he believed that they were quite alone, he suddenly threw off his ass’s skin, and stood there in the form of a handsome royal youth. “Now,” said he, “you see who I am, and see also that I am not unworthy of you.” Then the bride was glad, and kissed him, and loved him dearly. When morning came, he jumped up, put his animal’s skin on again, and no one could have guessed what kind of a form was hidden beneath it. Soon came the old King. “Ah,” cried he, “so the little ass is already up! But surely you are sad,” said he to his daughter, “that you have not got a proper man for your husband?” “Oh, no, dear father, I love him as well as if he were the handsomest in the world, and I will keep him as long as I live.” The King was surprised, but the servant who had concealed himself came and revealed everything to him. The King said: “That cannot be true.” “Then watch yourself the next night, and you will see it with your own eyes; and hark you, lord King, if you were to take his skin away and throw it in the fire, he would be forced to show himself in his true shape.” “Your advice is good,” said the King, and at night when they were asleep, he stole in, and when he got to the bed he saw by the light of the moon a noble-looking youth lying there, and the skin lay stretched on the ground. So he took it away, and had a great fire lighted outside, and threw the skin into it, and remained by it himself until it was all burnt to ashes. But since he was anxious to know how the robbed man would behave himself, he stayed awake the whole night and watched. When the youth had slept his fill, he got up by the first light of morning, and wanted to put on the ass’s skin, but it was not to be found. At this