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refused to eat； and would not put on her fine clothes nor go out
walking； and declared that she would rather die than become a
laughing…stock to the world。 But the King would not allow her to
do anything so wrong； and he comforted her in all possible ways。
So the time passed； till lo and behold！ one fine day an enormous
pig from the North walked into the palace； and going straight
up to the King said； ‘Hail！ oh King。 May your life be as prosperous
and bright as sunrise on a clear day！'
‘I am glad to see you well； friend；' answered the King； ‘but
what wind has brought you hither？'
‘I come a…wooing；' replied the Pig。
Now the King was astonished to hear so fine a speech from a Pig；
and at once it occurred to him that something strange was the
matter。 He would gladly have turned the Pig's thoughts in another
direction； as he did not wish to give him the Princess for a wife； but
when he heard that the Court and the whole street were full of all
the pigs in the world he saw that there was no escape； and that he
must give his consent。 The Pig was not satisfied with mere promises；
but insisted that the wedding should take place within a
week； and would not go away till the King had sworn a royal oath
upon it。
The King then sent for his daughter； and advised her to submit
to fate； as there was nothing else to be done。 And he added：
‘My child； the words and whole behaviour of this Pig are quite
unlike those of other pigs。 I do not myself believe that he always
was a pig。 Depend upon it some magic or witchcraft has been at
work。 Obey him； and do everything that he wishes； and I feel sure
that Heaven will shortly send you release。'
‘If you wish me to do this； dear father； I will do it；' replied the
girl。
In the meantime the wedding…day drew near。 After the marriage；
the Pig and his bride set out for his home in one of the royal
carriages。 On the way they passed a great bog； and the Pig ordered
the carriage to stop； and got out and rolled about in the mire till
he was covered with mud from head to foot； then he got back
into the carriage and told his wife to kiss him。 What was the
poor girl to do？ She bethought herself of her father's words； and；
pulling out her pocket handkerchief； she gently wiped the Pig's
snout and kissed it。
By the time they reached the Pig's dwelling； which stood in a
thick wood； it was quite dark。 They sat down quietly for a little； as
they were tired after their drive； then they had supper together； and
lay down to rest。 During the night the Princess noticed that the Pig
had changed into a man。 She was not a little surprised； but
remembering her father's words； she took courage； determined to
wait and see what would happen。
And now she noticed that every night the Pig became a man；
and every morning he was changed into a Pig before she awoke。
This happened several nights running； and the Princess could not
understand it at all。 Clearly her husband must be bewitched。 In
time she grew quite fond of him； he was so kind and gentle。
One fine day as she was sitting alone she saw an old witch go past。
She felt quite excited； as it was so long since she had seen a human
being； and she called out to the old woman to come and talk to her。
Among other things the witch told her that she understood all
magic arts； and that she could foretell the future； and knew the
healing powers of herbs and plants。
‘I shall be grateful to you all my life； old dame；' said the
Princess； ‘if you will tell me what is the matter with my husband。
Why is he a Pig by day and a human being by night？'
‘I was just going to tell you that one thing； my dear； to show
you what a good fortune…teller I am。 If you like； I will give you a
herb to break the spell。'
‘If you will only give it to me；' said the Princess； ‘I will give
you anything you choose to ask for； for I cannot bear to see him in
this state。'
‘Here； then； my dear child；' said the witch； ‘take this thread；
but do not let him know about it； for if he did it would lose its
healing power。 At night； when he is asleep； you must get up very
quietly； and fasten the thread round his left foot as firmly as
possible； and you will see in the morning he will not have changed
back into a Pig； but will still be a man。 I do not want any reward。
I shall be sufficiently repaid by knowing that you are happy。 It
almost breaks my heart to think of all you have suffered； and I only
wish I had known it sooner； as I should have come to your rescue
at once。'
When the old witch had gone away the Princess hid the thread
very carefully； and at night she got up quietly； and with a beating
heart she bound the thread round her husband's foot。 Just as she
was pulling the knot tight there was a crack； and the thread broke；
for it was rotten。
Her husband awoke with a start； and said to her； ‘Unhappy
woman； what have you done？ Three days more and this unholy
spell would have fallen from me； and now； who knows how long I
may have to go about in this disgusting shape？ I must leave you
at once； and we shall not meet again until you have worn out three
pairs of iron shoes and blunted a steel staff in your search for me。'
So saying he disappeared。
Now； when the Princess was left alone she began to weep and
moan in a way that was pitiful to hear； but when she saw that
her tears and groans did her no good； she got up； determined to go
wherever fate should lead her。
On reaching a town； the first thing she did was to order three
pairs of iron sandals and a steel staff； and having made these
preparations for her journey； she set out in search of her husband。 On
and on she wandered over nine seas and across nine continents；
through forests with trees whose stems were as thick as beer…
barrels； stumbling and knocking herself against the fallen branches；
then picking herself up and going on； the boughs of the trees hit
her face； and the shrubs tore her hands； but on she went； and never
looked back。 At last； wearied with her long journey and worn out
and overcome with sorrow； but still with hope at her heart； she
reached a house。
Now who do you think lived there？ The Moon。
The Princess knocked at the door； and begged to be let in that
she might rest a little。 The mother of the Moon； when she saw her
sad plight； felt a great pity for her； and took her in and nursed and
tended her。 And while she was here the Princess had a little
baby。
One day the mother of the Moon asked her：
‘How was it possible for you； a mortal； to get hither to the
house of the Moon？'
Then the poor Princess told her all that happened to her； and
added ‘I shall always be thankful to Heaven for leading me
hither； and grateful to you that you took pity on me and on my
baby； and did not leave us to die。 Now I beg one last favour of
you； can your daughter； the Moon； tell me where my husband is？'
‘She cannot tell you that； my child；' repl