Then a crow said to him : `` Why dost thou hesitate ? The old wizard has not told thee wrong , neither have the birds deceived thee ; hasten and dry the maiden 's tears . '' `` Nothing worse than death can befall me , '' thought the Prince , `` and death is better than endless sorrow . '' So he mounted his horse and went to the bridge . Again he heard the water-lily 's lament , and , hesitating no longer , smeared himself all over with mud , and , saying : `` From a man into a crab , '' plunged into the river . For one moment the water hissed in his ears , and then all was silent . He swam up to the plant and began to loosen its roots , but so firmly were they fixed in the mud and reeds that this took him a long time . He then grasped them and rose to the surface , letting the water flow over the flower . The current carried them down the stream , but nowhere could he see the mountain ash . At last he saw it , and close by the large stone . Here he stopped and said : `` From a crab into a man , from a water-lily into a maiden , '' and to his delight found himself once more a prince , and the maiden was by his side . She was ten times more beautiful than before , and wore a magnificent pale yellow robe , sparkling with jewels . She thanked him for having freed her from the cruel witch 's power , and willingly consented to marry him . But when they came to the bridge where he had left his horse it was nowhere to be seen , for , though the Prince thought he had been a crab only a few hours , he had in reality been under the water for more than ten days . While they were wondering how they should reach his father 's court , they saw a splendid coach driven by six gaily caparisoned horses coming along the bank . In this they drove to the palace . The King and Queen were at church , weeping for their son , whom they had long mourned for dead . Great was their delight and astonishment when the Prince entered , leading the beautiful maiden by the hand . The wedding was at once celebrated and there was feasting and merry-making throughout the kingdom for six weeks . Some time afterward the Prince and his bride were sitting in the garden , when a crow said to them : `` Ungrateful creatures !
Have you forgotten the two poor maidens who helped you XXXXX your distress ?
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