Then these again melted into fountains , whose waters interlaced and , rushing down the sides of the hall , poured out in a cascade down the steps , and formed a river found the castle , with the most beautiful little boats upon it , all painted and gilded . ` Oh , let us go in them for a sail ! ' cried the princess , who had long ago left her game of ball for a sight of these marvels , and , as she was bent upon it , the ambassadors , who had been charged never to lose sight of her , were obliged to go also , though they never entered a boat if they could help it . But the moment they and the princess had seated themselves on the soft cushions , river and boats vanished , and the princess and the ambassadors vanished too . Instead the snails and grasshoppers and water-rats stood round the frog in their natural shapes . ` Perhaps , ' said she , ` your Majesty may now be convinced that I am a fairy and speak the truth . Therefore lose no time in setting in order the affairs of your kingdom and go in search of your wife . Here is a ring that will admit you into the presence of the queen , and will likewise allow you to address unharmed the Lion Fairy , though she is the most terrible creature that ever existed . ' By this time the king had forgotten all about the princess , whom he had only chosen to please his people , and was as eager to depart on his journey as the frog was for him to go . He made one of his ministers regent of the kingdom , and gave the frog everything her heart could desire ; and with her ring on his finger he rode away to the outskirts of the forest . Here he dismounted , and bidding his horse go home , he pushed forward on foot . Having nothing to guide him as to where he was likely to find the entrance of the under-world , the king wandered hither and thither for a long while , till , one day , while he was resting under a tree , a voice spoke to him . ` Why do you give yourself so much trouble for nought , when you might know what you want to know for the asking ? Alone you will never discover the path that leads to your wife . ' Much startled , the king looked about him . He could see nothing , and somehow , when he thought about it , the voice seemed as if it were part of himself . Suddenly his eyes fell on the ring , and he understood . ` Fool that I was ! ' cried he ; ` and how much precious time have I wasted ? Dear ring , I beseech you , grant me a vision of my wife and my daughter ! '
And even XXXXX he spoke there flashed past him a huge lioness , followed by a lady and a beautiful young maid mounted on fairy horses .
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