` Stay as you are , but tell me WHO you are ! Where do you come from , and what do you want ? ' ` We are twins , two shoots from one stem , which has been broken , and half lies in the ground and half sits at the head of this table . We have travelled a long way , we have spoken in the rustle of the wind , have whispered in the wood , we have sung in the waters , but now we wish to tell you a story which you know without knowing it , in the speech of men . ' And a second cushion fell down . ` Let them take their silliness home , ' said the empress . ` Oh , no , let them go on , ' said the emperor . ` You wished to see them , but I wish to hear them . Go on , boys , sing me the story . ' The empress was silent , but the princes began to sing the story of their lives . ` There was once an emperor , ' began they , and the third cushion fell down . When they reached the warlike expedition of the emperor three of the cushions fell down at once . And when the tale was finished there were no more cushions under the empress , but the moment that they lifted their caps , and showed their golden hair and the golden stars , the eyes of the emperor and of all his guests were bent on them , and they could hardly bear the power of so many glances . And there happened in the end what should have happened in the beginning . Laptitza sat next her husband at the top of the table . The stepmother 's daughter became the meanest sewing maid in the palace , the stepmother was tied to a wild horse , and every one knew and has never forgotten that whoever has a mind turned to wickedness is sure to end badly . -LRB- Rumanische Marchen . -RRB- THE FROG Once upon a time there was a woman who had three sons . Though they were peasants they were well off , for the soil on which they lived was fruitful , and yielded rich crops . One day they all three told their mother they meant to get married .
To which their mother replied : ` Do as you like , but see XXXXX you choose good housewives , who will look carefully after your affairs ; and , to make certain of this , take with you these three skeins of flax , and give it to them to spin .
Though at in next of on that to under without