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The Philopena
by
“The road to the north,” he said, “lies along the river bank; therefore, you can easily keep him company.”
The Water Sprite bowed, and dancing over the dewy grass to the river, threw herself into it. Sometimes she swam beneath the clear water; sometimes she rose partly in the air, where she seemed like a little cloud of sparkling mist borne onward by the wind; and sometimes she floated upon the surface, her pale blue robes undulating with the gentle waves, while her white hands and feet shone in the sun like tiny crests of foam. Thus, singing to herself, she went joyously and rapidly on, aided by a full, strong wind from the south. She did not forget to glance every now and then upon the road which ran along the river bank; and, in the course of the morning, she perceived the Prince. He was sitting in the shade of a tree near the water’s edge, while his white horse was grazing near by.
The Water Sprite came very gently out of the river, and seating herself upon the edge of the grassy bank, she spoke to him. The Prince looked up in astonishment, but there was nothing in her appearance to frighten him.
“I came,” said the Water Sprite, “at the command of my master, to ask you why you left your city, where you are going, and what you intend to do when you get there.”
The Prince then told her why he had left his city, and what he intended to do when he had found the Princess.
“But where I am going,” he said, “I do not know, myself. I must travel and travel until I succeed in the object of my search.”
The Water Sprite reflected for a moment, and then she said:
“If I were you, I would not travel to the north. It is cold and dreary there, and your Princess would not dwell in such a region. A little above us, on the other side of this river, there is a stream which runs sometimes to the east and sometimes to the south, and which leads to the Land of the Lovely Lakes. This is the most beautiful country in the world, and you will be much more likely to find your Princess there than among the desolate mountains of the north.”
“I dare say you are right,” said the Prince; “and I will go there, if you will show me the way.”
“The road runs along the bank of the river,” said the Water Sprite; “and we shall soon reach the Land of the Lovely Lakes.”
The Prince then mounted his horse, forded the river, and was soon riding along the bank of the stream, while the Water Sprite gayly floated upon its dancing ripples.
* * * * *
When the Gryphoness started southward, in pursuit of the Princess, she kept out of sight among the bushes by the roadside; but sped swiftly along. The Absolute Fool, however, mounted upon a fine horse, rode boldly along upon the open road. He was a good-looking youth, with rosy cheeks, bright eyes, and a handsome figure. As he cantered gayly along, he felt himself capable of every noble action which the human mind has ever conceived. The Gryphoness kept near him, and in the course of the morning they overtook the Princess, who was allowing her horse to walk in the shade by the roadside. The Absolute Fool dashed up to her, and, taking off his hat, asked her why she had left her city, where she was going, and what she intended to do when she got there.
The Princess looked at him in surprise. “I left my city because I wanted to,” she said. “I am going about my business, and when I get to the proper place, I shall attend to it.”