The
kind people of the house were quite sorry to part with their guests
and begged them to come again, and the daffodil maidens set off in
high spirits, following the cuckoo as he flew slowly ahead across
the sunlit meadows. About noon they came in sight of the king's
court. The gorgeous tents were of cloth of silver fastened with
silver ropes; fountains were playing in the open spaces, and flags
flying everywhere. The daffodils attracted a great deal of
attention as they made their way, blushing and a little frightened,
through the crowds of soldiers, court ladies and attendants. At
the door of the largest and most gorgeous tent stood three
beautiful princes dressed in silver.
When they saw the maidens approaching, hand in hand, they gave a
cry of joy and ran forward to greet them.
"Dear beautiful princesses," they cried, "welcome to our court!
May we ask your names and the country you come from?"
The cuckoo, perched on a tent-pole hard by, answered for them.
"These are the Princesses Daffodil, daughters of the great King of
Goldenland. They have come very many days' journey to be present
at your revels."
Think of the cuckoo telling such a dreadful story and those naughty
daffodils not contradicting him!
When the princes heard the cuckoo's words they were almost beside
themselves with joy, for, as it happened, there was a real King of
Goldenland (but the cuckoo did not know it), and he had three
daughters of the same age whom the Silver princes were anxious to
see.
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