But their stern words and forbidding gestures made no impression whatever on the old woman , and she resolutely continued to climb the stairs , bent on carrying out her son 's orders . Upon this some of the courtiers seized her by the arms , and held her back by sheer force , at which she set up such a yell that the King himself heard it , and stepped out on to the balcony to see what was the matter . When he beheld the old woman flinging her arms wildly about , and heard her scream that she would not leave the place till she had laid her case before the King , he ordered that she should be brought into his presence . And forthwith she was conducted into the golden presence chamber , where , leaning back amongst cushions of royal purple , the King sat , surrounded by his counsellors and courtiers . Courtesying low , the old woman stood silent before him . ` Well , my good old dame , what can I do for you ? ' asked the King . ' I have come , ' replied Martin 's mother -- ` and your Majesty must not be angry with me -- I have come a-wooing . ' ` Is the woman out of her mind ? ' said the King , with an angry frown . But Martin 's mother answered boldly : ` If the King will only listen patiently to me , and give me a straightforward answer , he will see that I am not out of my mind . You , O King , have a lovely daughter to give in marriage . I have a son -- a wooer -- as clever a youth and as good a son-in-law as you will find in your whole kingdom . There is nothing that he can not do . Now tell me , O King , plump and plain , will you give your daughter to my son as wife ? ' The King listened to the end of the old woman 's strange request , but every moment his face grew blacker , and his features sterner ; till all at once he thought to himself , ` Is it worth while that I , the King , should be angry with this poor old fool ? ' And all the courtiers and counsellors were amazed when they saw the hard lines round his mouth and the frown on his brow grow smooth , and heard the mild but mocking tones in which he answered the old woman , saying : ` If your son is as wonderfully clever as you say , and if there is nothing in the world that he can not do , let him build a magnificent castle , just opposite my palace windows , in four and twenty hours . The palace must be joined together by a bridge of pure crystal . On each side of the bridge there must be growing trees , having golden and silver apples , and with birds of Paradise among the branches . At the right of the bridge there must be a church , with five golden cupolas ; in this church your son shall be wedded to my daughter , and we will keep the wedding festivities in the new castle .
But if he fails to execute this my royal command , then , XXXXX a just but mild monarch , I shall give orders that you and he are taken , and first dipped in tar and then in feathers , and you shall be executed in the market-place for the entertainment of my courtiers . '
At as before by for if that till to with