a long-legged stork who was prancing along the same road caught him in her cruel beak , and before he could say a word he had disappeared down her throat . These two unlucky ventures did not prevent the princess from trying once more . This time she changed the turnip into a magpie . ` Flutter from tree to tree , chattering bird , ' said she , 'till you come to Ratibor , my love . Tell him that I am a captive , and bid him come with horses and men , the third day from this , to the hill that rises from the Thorny Valley . ' The magpie listened , hopped awhile from branch to branch , and then darted away , the princess watching him anxiously as far as she could see . Now Prince Ratibor was still spending his life in wandering about the woods , and not even the beauty of the spring could soothe his grief . One day , as he sat in the shade of an oak tree , dreaming of his lost princess , and sometimes crying her name aloud , he seemed to hear another voice reply to his , and , starting up , he gazed around him , but he could see no one , and he had just made up his mind that he must be mistaken , when the same voice called again , and , looking up sharply , he saw a magpie which hopped to and fro among the twigs . Then Ratibor heard with surprise that the bird was indeed calling him by name . ` Poor chatterpie , ' said he ; ` who taught you to say that name , which belongs to an unlucky mortal who wishes the earth would open and swallow up him and his memory for ever ? ' Thereupon he caught up a great stone , and would have hurled it at the magpie , if it had not at that moment uttered the name of the princess . This was so unexpected that the prince 's arm fell helplessly to his side at the sound , and he stood motionless . But the magpie in the tree , who , like all the rest of his family , was not happy unless he could be for ever chattering , began to repeat the message the princess had taught him ; and as soon as he understood it , Prince Ratibor 's heart was filed with joy . All his gloom and misery vanished in a moment , and he anxiously questioned the welcome messenger as to the fate of the princess . But the magpie knew no more than the lesson he had learnt , so he soon fluttered away ; while the prince hurried back to his castle to gather together a troop of horsemen , full of courage for whatever might befall . The princess meanwhile was craftily pursuing her plan of escape . She left off treating the gnome with coldness and indifference ; indeed , there was a look in her eyes which encouraged him to hope that she might some day return his love , and the idea pleased him mightily . The next day , as soon as the sun rose , she made her appearance decked as a bride , in the wonderful robes and jewels which the fond gnome had prepared for her . Her golden hair was braided and crowned with myrtle blossoms , and her flowing veil sparkled with gems . In these magnificent garments she went to meet the gnome upon the great terrace .
` Loveliest of maidens , ' he stammered , bowing low XXXXX her , ` let me gaze into your dear eyes , and read in them that you will no longer refuse my love , but will make me the happiest being the sun shines upon . '
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