“ Thus ended the fate of these two faithful lovers, which the Mermaid very much regretted; but, all her power lying in the sword, she could only change them into two palmtrees; which, preserving a constant mutual affection for each other, caress and unite their branches together. ”

“ At that instant they saw a very beautiful lady in their room who said to them, "I am a fairy; and I promise to grant you the three first things you shall wish; but take care———after having wished for three things. I will not grant one wish further. ”

“ At that instant the pudding dropped off; and the wife, who did not want wit, said to her husband; “The fairy has imposed upon us; she was in the right; possibly we should have been more unhappy with riches than we are at present. Believe me, friend, let us wish for nothing, and take things as it shall please God to send them: in the mean time let us sup upon our pudding, since that's all that remains to us of our wishes.” The husband thought his wife judged right, they supped merrily, and never gave themselves further trouble about the things which they had designed to wish for. ”

“ The king was convinced that nothing could be met with so beautiful; but, being unwiling yet to part with his crown, he told his children, that he must make a further trial of their love & diligence before he performed his promise: they must take another year to find out a web of cloth fine enough to go through the eye of a small needle.
This request, though unjust they thought it best to comply with: and our prince mounted his wooden horse, & returned with speed to his White Cat, on which alone he depended for assistance. ”

“ I do not wish yet, but I think nothing is so good as to be handsome, rich, and to be of great quality.” But the husband answered, “With all these things one may be sick and fretful, and one may die young: it would be much wiser to wish for health, cheerfulness, and longlife.” "But to what purpose is long life with poverty?" ”

“ The two eldest princes with their ladies advanced first, and were received very graciously by the monarch, who declared they had brought him two such beauties, that he knew not to which he should give the preference; but the moment the youngest approached with his queen, both full of grace and dignity, the king cried out in ectacy, “This is the incomparable beauty, whose worth and excellence claims and deerves my crown!”———“I came not to rob you of your crown,” answered the discreet queen ”

“ When they had sailed some time, “Now,” said the Mermaid to the king, “we draw near the place where your princess is kept by the Yellow Dwarf. You will have many enemies to fight before you can come to her, take, therefore, this sword, with which you may overcome every thing, provided you never let it go out of your hand.” The king returned her all the thanks that the most grateful heart could suggest ”

“ Tears started from the prince’s eyes at this repuest, and he was going several times to refuse; but the White Cat insisted upon it so earnestly, that at last, with a trembling hand, he chopped off her head and tail, and threw them according to order into the fire. In an instant the body of the White Cat was changed into the most beautiful lady that ever was seen, and immediately a great number of gentlemen and ladies, holding their cats’ skins over their shoulders, came and fell prostrate at her feet crying, “Long live our gracious queen! ”

“ The king, by pretending to be in love with the fairy, obtained liberty to walk by himself on the shore; and, as he was one day invoking the powers of the sea, he heard a voice, and presently after was surprised with the appearance of a Mermaid, which, coming up with a pleasant smile, spoke these words:———“O King of the Golden Mines, I well know all that has passed in regard to you and the fair princess. Don’t suspect this to be a contrivance of the fairy's to try you, for I am an inveterate enemy both to her and the Yellow dwarf ”