He sat at the top of a long table covered with flowers and filled with guests . And beside him sat the empress , supported by twelve cushions . When the princes entered one of the cushions fell down , and there remained only eleven . ` Take off your caps , ' said one of the courtiers . ' A covered head is among men a sign of honour . We wish to seem what we are . ' ` Never mind , ' said the emperor , whose anger had dropped before the silvery tones of the boy 's voice . ` 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 XXXXX the beginning .
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