023-第2节

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promise　never　to　come　back　here　again；　because　you　were　so
angry　with　her。〃　　Then　spoke　the　king；　〃I　will　go　as　far　as
the　sky　is　blue；　and　will　neither　eat　nor　drink　until　I　have
found　again　my　dear　wife　and　my　child；　if　in　the　meantime　they
have　not　been　killed；　or　died　of　hunger。〃

Thereupon　the　king　traveled　about　for　seven　long　years；　and
sought　her　in　every　cleft　of　the　rocks　and　in　every　cave；　but
he　found　her　not；　and　thought　she　had　died　of　want。　　During　the
whole　time　he　neither　ate　nor　drank；　but　God　supported　him。　　At
length　he　came　into　a　great　forest；　and　found　therein　the　little
house　whose　sign　was；　here　all　dwell　free。　　Then　forth　came
the　white　maiden；　took　him　by　the　hand；　led　him　in；　and　said；
〃Welcome；　lord　king；〃　and　asked　him　from　whence　he　came。　　He
answered；　〃Soon　shall　I　have　traveled　about　for　the　space　of
seven　years；　and　I　seek　my　wife　and　her　child；　but　cannot　find
them。〃　　The　angel　offered　him　meat　and　drink；　but　he　did　not
take　anything；　and　only　wished　to　rest　a　little。　　Then　he　lay
down　to　sleep；　and　laid　a　handkerchief　over　his　face。

Thereupon　the　angel　went　into　the　chamber　where　the　queen
sat　with　her　son；　whom　she　usually　called　Sorrowful；　and
said　to　her；　go　out　with　your　child；　your　husband　has　come。　　So
she　went　to　the　place　where　he　lay；　and　the　handkerchief
fell　from　his　face。　　Then　said　she；　〃Sorrowful；　pick　up　your
father's　handkerchief；　and　cover　his　face　again。〃　　The　child　picked
it　up；　and　put　it　over　his　face　again。　　The　king　in　his　sleep
heard　what　passed；　and　had　pleasure　in　letting　the　handkerchief
fall　once　more。　　But　the　child　grew　impatient；　and　said；
〃Dear　mother；　how　can　I　cover　my　father's　face　when　I　have　no
father　in　this　world。　　I　have　learnt　to　say　the　prayer　…　Our
Father；　which　art　in　heaven　…　you　have　told　me　that　my　father
was　in　heaven；　and　was　the　good　God；　and　how　can　I　know　a　wild
man　like　this。　　He　is　not　my　father。〃　　When　the　king　heard　that；
he　got　up；　and　asked　who　they　were。　　Then　said
she；　〃I　am　your　wife；　and　that　is　your　son；　Sorrowful〃。　　And　he
saw　her　living　hands；　and　said；　〃My　wife　had　silver　hands。〃　　She
answered；　〃The　good　God　has　caused　my　natural　hands　to　grow　again；〃
and　the　angel　went　into　the　inner　room；　and　brought　the　silver
hands；　and　showed　them　to　him。　　Hereupon　he　knew　for　a　certainty
that　it　was　his　dear　wife　and　his　dear　child；　and　he　kissed
them；　and　was　glad；　and　said；　〃A　heavy　stone　has　fallen　from　off
my　heart。〃　　Then　the　angel　of　God　ate　with　them　once　again；　and
after　that　they　went　home　to　the　king's　aged　mother。　　There　were
great　rejoicings　everywhere；　and　the　king　and　queen　were　married
again；　and　lived　contentedly　to　their　happy　end。