But , alas ! in so doing he let fall the magic sword , and the Yellow Dwarf , who was crouching behind a lettuce , no sooner saw it than he sprang out and seized it , well knowing its wonderful power . The Princess gave a cry of terror on seeing the Dwarf , but this only irritated the little monster ; muttering a few magical words he summoned two giants , who bound the King with great chains of iron . `` Now , '' said the Dwarf , `` I am master of my rival 's fate , but I will give him his life and permission to depart unharmed if you , Princess , will consent to marry me . '' `` Let me die a thousand times rather , '' cried the unhappy King . `` Alas ! '' cried the Princess , `` must you die ? Could anything be more terrible ? '' `` That you should marry that little wretch would be far more terrible , '' answered the King . `` At least , '' continued she , `` let us die together . '' `` Let me have the satisfaction of dying for you , my Princess , '' said he . `` Oh , no , no ! '' she cried , turning to the Dwarf ; `` rather than that I will do as you wish . '' `` Cruel Princess ! '' said the King , `` would you make my life horrible to me by marrying another before my eyes ? '' `` Not so , '' replied the Yellow Dwarf ; `` you are a rival of whom I am too much afraid ; you shall not see our marriage . '' So saying , in spite of Bellissima 's tears and cries , he stabbed the King to the heart with the diamond sword . The poor Princess , seeing her lover lying dead at her feet , could no longer live without him ; she sank down by him and died of a broken heart . So ended these unfortunate lovers , whom not even the Mermaid could help , because all the magic power had been lost with the diamond sword . As to the wicked Dwarf , he preferred to see the Princess dead rather than married to the King of the Gold Mines ; and the Fairy of the Desert , when she heard of the King 's adventures , pulled down the grand monument which she had built , and was so angry at the trick that had been played her that she hated him as much as she had loved him before .
The kind Mermaid , grieved at the sad fate of the lovers , caused them XXXXX be changed into two tall palm trees , which stand always side by side , whispering together of their faithful love and caressing one another with their interlacing branches .
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